Entomobrya loftyensis sp. nov.

(Figs 2F, 5A, 24 A–F)

Holotype. Male SA, Belair NP, Nov. 2010, - 35.0079°S, 138.6339°E, 349m asl, PG leg., [SAMA 22652–01].

Paratypes. Three specimens, same locality and date, in ethyl alcohol, [SAMA 22652–02] [SAMA 22652–02].

Other material examined. Male SA, Belair NP, sweeping grasses, 10.viii.1974, PG leg., [SAMA]; one male subadult, female and juvenile, SA, Engelbrook Reserve, Bridgewater, - 35.0167°S, 138.7664°E, 366m asl, sweeping, 18.iv.72, PG leg.; male, female, SA, Coorong, Coolatoo, - 32.433°S, 139.779°E, on road, 28.vii.74 and disturbance pitfall traps, 28.ix.1975, PG leg.

Description. Size. Length up to 1.861 mm excluding antennae (holotype).

Colour. Whitish. Head with an anterior black spot between antennae, ocular spot black. Antennae not pigmented, Abd III with two lateral medial blue triangles and a central posterior, more or less rectangular spot. Abd IV with two medio-lateral longitudinal bands and a central stripe sometimes extending from Th III.

Head. Eight eyes, G and H 50% smaller than E and F. Antennal length 1633 μm, 4.1 times length of the head. Ant IV with bilobed apical vesicle; 3.88 is the ratio Head/ length of Ant. Sensory organ of Ant III with small roundish rod-like sensillum in addition to 3 guard sensilla (as Fig. 24A); four round, smooth, labral papillae. Labial base with Mc MREL 1 L 2, all ciliated and R half-length of M. External process of papilla E reaching to the tip.

Body. Ratio lengths of Abd IV/III=5.8. Tibiotarsus without differentiated chaetae, with exception of smooth terminal chaetae on legs 3, characteristic for the genus. Unguis (Fig. 24B) with 4 teeth: paired two at 50% from base and first unpaired tooth at 75 % from base, one longer than the other; lateral teeth below the level of paired ones. Unguiculus truncate, with an anteapical internal tooth and with tooth on external lamella. Tenent hair clavate, longer than unguis. Trochanteral organ with 25 chaetae. Manubrial plate with two internal chaetae, two pseudopores and 8 external chaetae, Mucro bidentate with anteapical tooth similar in size to apical one; mucronal basal spine reaching the tip of subapical tooth.

Macrochaetotaxy. Simplified Mc formula: 3,1,0,3,2/3,4/2,3/0,0,1/0,2,4,2,2. Head chaetotaxy (Fig. 24C) An 2, An 3a1, An 3 and A 5 Mac. Only M 1, M 2 and M 4 present as Mc. In sutural row S 0, S 1, S 2, S 3, S 4i, S 4, S 5i and S 5. Ps 2 and Ps 5 present. Thoracic chaetotaxy of Th II (Fig. 24D) Mc m 1, m 2 and m 2i on T1 area, on T2 area Mc a 5, m 4, m 4p and m 5 present (a 5 as mes absent). Abdominal chaetotaxy a 2 and a 3 present on A1 area at Abd II and sensillum before the line that unite the two bothriotricha, m 3, m 3ep and m 3e Mc present on A2 area of Abd II (Fig. 24E), distribution of the chaetae on this segment on the posterior part of the tergite. On Abd III only m 3 Mc present on A5 area; Abd IV (Fig. 24F) with Mc A 3 –A 6. A e4, and B 4 –B 6, C 2a and E 1. Sensillary formula usual for Entomobrya.

Remarks. The antennae in this species are exceptionally long, being as long as the body minus the head. The unguiculus is truncate with internal and external teeth. Because of the chaetotaxy, the antennae, the unguiculus and the colour, E. loftyensis sp. nov. is distinguished from all other Entomobrya. Furthermore, the pattern of chaetotaxy of Abd II and III (2,3/0,0,1 Mc) is not present in any other Entomobrya species.

Etymology. Named for the range of hills on which it was found.