Plusiocampa (Stygiocampa) nivea (Joseph, 1882)

Figs 157–180, 207

Campodea nivea Joseph, 1882: 25 .

Campodea erebophila Hamann, 1896: 153, figs i–ii, table 3.

Diagnosis (Denis 1923; Condé 1947a, 1959; Silvestri 1947; Bareth 1968)

Troglomorphic species. Antennae with 28–36 antennomeres; abundant sheet-shaped olfactory chemoreceptors in cupuliform organ; protruding frontal process with tubercular setae. Pronotum with 1+1 ma, 3+3–4+4 la, 2+2 lp macrosetae; mesonotum with 1+1 la, 2+2 (3+2) lp macrosetae; metanotum with 2+2 lp macrosetae; long, barbed notal macrosetae; abundant barbed notal clothing setae. No ventral tibial macrosetae; unequal claws (1.35) with large lateral crests, posterior claw with a backward overhang. Urotergite IV with 0+0–1+1 la macrosetae; urotergites V–VII with 1+1 la, 4+4 post macrosetae; urotergite VIII with 5+5–6+6 post macrosetae; abdominal segment IX with 8+8–9+9 (9+10) post macrosetae; urosternite I with 11+1+11–15+15 (15+16), urosternites II–VII with 11+11– 14+14, urosternite VIII with 2+2–4+4 macrosetae. Male without glandular g 1 setae, thick subcylindrical appendages without glandular a 2 setae; female with subcylindrical appendages without glandular a 2 setae.

Remarks

The new material studied (see Table S 2 in Supplementary Material) allowed the addition of minor taxonomic details revealed by SEM microscopy.The epicuticle, apparently smooth in optical microscopy, shows a subtle reticulate surface (Figs 166, 168) covered by well-barbed clothing setae (Figs 167–168). The macrosetae are also well barbed, but the multi-barbed urosternal macrosetae (Figs 169–170) are remarkable. The gouge sensilla are abundant and as long as 28 µm, with transversal stripes in a V shape (Figs 161–162). The cupuliform organ has a narrow hole that does not allow an adequate observation of the olfactory chemoreceptors; however, these can be described under the optical microscope as having a multiple laminal shape and under SEM as a central structure with a pronounced terminal pore, semiradially and irregularly folded (Figs 157–160). The protruding frontal process with tubercular setae is clearly visible under SEM (Figs 163–165). Claws have well-developed lateral crests with a complex, grooved ventral surface (Figs 171–174). The completely barbed abundant macrosetae and setae cover the entire surface of the sternites (Figs 169–170). The entire length of the stylar setae is totally covered by barbs (Figs 177–178) and the eversible vesicles are large (Fig. 179). Males have large subcylindrical appendages with a large area of glandular a 1 setae (Figs 175–176, 180).

Habitat and distribution

Subterranean species, well distributed around the northwestern Dinaric Mountains, so far found in 75 caves (Fig. 207).