Entomobrya ludimus sp. nov.

(Figs 2G, 5B, 25 A–E)

Holotype. Female, QLD, Emu Vale, 24 km E Warwick, - 28.233°S, 152.25°E, 515m asl, sweeping grasses, 14. v.1974, PG leg, [SAMA 2265301].

Paratypes. Two females, same locality and date, [SAMA 22653–02].

Other material examined. Female, NSW, Armidale, - 30.5016°S, 151.6662°E, 980m asl, under bark of Eucalyptus tree, 31.viii.1974, PG leg.; juvenile, QLD, Mt Cordeaux, Cunningham Highway, - 28.0500°S, 152.4000°E, 700m asl, sweeping grasses, 15.v.1974, PG leg.

Description. Size. Length up to 1.787 mm excluding antennae, (n= 3).

Colour. Whitish. Head with an anterior transversal purple stripe; a medial longitudinal between black ocular spot. Ant 1 to 3 pigmented only at tip and with a lateral line; Ant IV violet. Th II to Abd III with five longitudinal bands similar to E. quinquelineata Börner, 1901 (Fig. 2G).

Head. Eight eyes, G and H 75% in size compared to E and F.Antennal length 795 μm (n=2), 2.4 times the length of the head. Ant IV with bilobed apical vesicle; relative length of Ant I/II/III/IV=1/1.8/1.7/2.9. Sensory organ of Ant III with straight rod-like sensilla in addition of the 3 guard sensilla. Four labral papillae round and smooth, with one or two short conical small projections (Fig. 25A). Labral formula 4/554, 4 prelabral ciliated chaetae, labral chaetae smooth. Labial posterior row with MREL 1 L 2 chaetae all ciliated, R small than M. External process of labial papilla E surpassing the papilla tip.

Thorax and abdomen. Length ratio of Abd IV/III=3:4 (n= 3). Tibiotarsus without differentiated chaetae, with exception of the presence of the smooth terminal chaetae on legs 3, characteristic for the genus. Unguis with 4 teeth, paired two at 50% from base and first unpaired tooth at 75 % from base; lateral teeth below the level of paired ones. Unguiculus lanceolate, with external serrated lamella. Tenent hair clavate, longer than unguis. Trochanteral organ with near 14 chaetae. The length of manubrium and dentes 267 + 367= 653 μm (n= 3). Manubrial plate with 4 chaetae and 2 pseudopores. Mucro bidentate with anteapical tooth similar in size to apical one, and with mucronal basal spine reaching tip of subapical tooth. Mucro 12 μm, (n=3). The length of smooth apical dens nearly twice mucro.

Macrochaetotaxy. Simplified Mc formula: 2,1,0,2,1a/1,3/1,2/0,0,1/0,0,2,2,2. Head chaetotaxy (Fig. 25B) An 1, An 2 and An 3a1 and A 5 Mac. Only M 2 and M 4 present as Mc. In sutural row S 0, S 2, S 3, S 4i, S 4, S 5i and S 5. Only Ps 5 present. Thoracic chaetotaxy with Th II (Fig. 25C) Mc m 2 on T1 area, on T2 area Mc a 5, m 4 and m 4i present (a 5’ as mesochaeta absent). Abdominal chaetotaxy a 3 present on A1 area at Abd II and as sensillum anterior to line that unites the two bothriotricha, only m 3 and m 3e Mc present on A2 area of Abd II (Fig. 25D). On Abd III only m 3 Mc present on A5 area; Abd IV (Fig. 25E) with Mc A 4 –A 6 and B 5 –B 6 and C 2a. Sensillary formula normal for Entomobrya.

Remarks. The new species is the same colour as E. quinquelineata group with five longitudinal stripes dorsally. In Australia, it is similar in colour to E. stirlingensis sp. nov., but the chaetotaxy differs, see Table 7.

Etymology. Named for the occasion and site on which it was collected i.e. a picnic ground.