Caribesella, Molero-Baltanás & Gaju-Ricart & Smith, 2024

Molero-Baltanás, Rafael, Gaju-Ricart, Miquel & Smith, Graeme B., 2024, New insights in the taxonomy of Lepismatidae (Insecta, Zygentoma) with an updated key to genera and future challenges, European Journal of Taxonomy 943 (1), pp. 80-126 : 104-107

Genus Caribesella gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BF259603-3537-47A4-9033-DF6D14FCB007

Figs 7B , 9A , 10B , 13B–C , 18–19

Type species

Acrotelsa impudica Escherich, 1905: 112 .

Diagnostic description

Body fusiform, with abundant feathered macrochaetae, as typical in subfamily Ctenolepismatinae . Chaetotaxy of head as shown in Wygodzinsky (1959a: fig. 35), with two subtriangular setal areas on the frontal margin anteromedially interrupted by a wide gap; in each subtriangular area macrochaetae are arranged in longitudinal rows that are longer near the median gap. On each side, there is also a periocular group, an antennal basal setal group that is not clearly separated from the subtriangular frontal group and a smaller group longitudinally elongated at each side. Clypeus with 1+1 tufts of macrochaetae, labrum with disperse setae but lacking tufts ( Fig. 18 ). Scales orbicular (i.e., with their bases extended to surround more or less the posterior part of the socket area), rounded or elliptical, but variable in shape, with numerous thin rays that do not surpass or slightly surpass their apical margins, covering all the body dorsally and ventrally. The scales illustrated by Wygodzinsky (1959a) have not been found (in our opinion, they could be an artifact coming from another insect). Scales covering the scapus, legs (except on tarsal articles) and abdominal styli but absent from the pedicel and the flagellum of the antennae, maxillary and labial palps, and terminal filaments. The scales of appendages are different in size and shape to those covering the body; they are smaller, not orbicular in their basal area, rounded or subquadrangular and with the distal margin more or less denticulate.

Flagellum of the antenna with trichobothria, trichoid sensilla, basiconic sensilla of several types, as well as coeloconic and chaetic sensilla that are feathered in the basal part of the antenna.

Labial palp with five papillae on its ultimate article, arranged in a single row. The apical articles of maxillary and labial palps have some basiconic sensilla.

Pronotum with setal collar. Lateral margins of nota with several combs of macrochaetae; posterior margin with 1+1 combs. Trichobothrial areas of nota open, with the exception of posterior areas of the pronotum, which are closed ( Fig. 19G ). Thoracic sterna well developed, covering coxae, each one with 1 or 2 pairs of combs of macrochaetae.

Outer coxal margins with several submarginal combs of macrochaetae. Praetarsi with microtrichia covering the surface of empodium and lateral claws (those of the empodium fused to form parallel ribs). Urotergite I with 1+1 combs of macrochaetae, urotergites II–VII with 3+3 combs, urotergite VIII with 2+2 combs and urotergite IX bare. Urosternites I and II bare, III–VIII with 1+1 lateral combs. Urotergite X triangular, acute or almost acute at its hind apex, with several pairs of combs inserted along their lateral margins, usually 3+3.

Two pairs of styli on abdominal sternites VIII and IX. Inner process of the coxite IX of the females triangular, with acute apex. Parameres lacking. Ovipositor short, of secondary type, with several spiniform setae on the apical divisions, and at the apex of gonapophyses with short, heavily sclerotized spines, more or less hook-shaped (fossorial).

Etymology

The name of the new genus refers to the Caribbean Sea, with the same ending as the related genus Acrotelsella . The word Caribbean means ‘relating to the Caribs’ and comes from the name that Taino Indians living in the Lesser Antilles at the end of the 15 th century gave to another group of Indian people of this area. The name was transferred to the Spanish word for Caribbean: ‘Caribe’, meaning ‘strong, brave’, as opposed to the Taino tribe, meaning ‘gentle’.

Remarks

Escherich (1905) described the species Acrotelsa impudica on the basis of specimens collected in Santa Marta ( Colombia). This species was later redescribed by Wygodzinsky (1959a) as Stylifera impudica , who reported it from several areas of Central and South America, including continental South America and several Caribbean islands. When the genus Stylifera was divided into two genera, this species was included in the genus Acrotelsella , characterized by a lower number of abdominal styli than Stylifera . This division was used by Mendes (1986c) and accepted by Irish (1988d). Acrotelsella impudica was the only American species of the genus Acrotelsella , while the remaining species were recorded in Australia, Africa and South Asia. Australian species include the type-species of this genus, Acrotelsella producta ( Escherich, 1905) . A comparison of the American species with several collected in Australia and some from Africa and Asia reveals that the South American taxon is sufficiently different to consider it as belonging to an independent genus. The arrangement of trichobothrial areas of the pronotum, that which all open in Australian species, the absence of tufts on the labrum and the absence of scales on the maxillary palps and terminal filaments, which are always present in Australian species, the microtrichiae of praetarsal claws (a character shared with the American genus Stylifera ), the special type of spines of the ovipositor and the different shape of the inner process of the coxite IX (longer and with rounded apex in most Australian and Asian species) are, among others, distinctive characters to support this new genus.

Figures

Fig. 7. Trichobothrial areas, SEM photographs. A. Open trichobothrial areas of the pronotum of Sceletolepisma guadianicum (Mendes, 1992); the anterior area is visible in the upper part of the photo, and the posterior area is placed in the lower part. B. Closed trichobothrial area of Caribesella impudica (Escherich, 1905) comb. nov. (formerly Acrotelsella impudica). Scale bars: A = 0.2 mm; B = 50 μm.

Fig. 9. Chaetotaxy of coxae in Lepismatidae Latreille, 1802, micrographs of the external margin of the coxa. A. Caribesella impudica (Escherich, 1905) comb. nov., showing discrete combs of few macrochaetae. B. Neoasterolepisma curtiseta Mendes, 1988, showing isolated macrochaetae inside a row of setulae. C. Ctenolepisma nicoletii (Lucas, 1846), with an irregular row of macrochaetae not clearly arranged in combs. Scale bars: A, C = 0.1 mm; B = 50 μm.

Fig. 10. Praetarsal claws in Lepismatidae Latreille, 1802, SEM photographs. A. Praetarsus of Ctenolepisma nicoletii (Lucas, 1846), showing lateral claws with smooth base and finely striated tegument. B. Pretarsal claw of Caribesella impudica (Escherich, 1905) comb. nov., with microtrichia, and the empodium with striated tegument. Scale bars: A = 100 μm; B = 50 μm.

Fig. 13. Ovipositor types in Lepismatidae Latreille, 1802. A. Primary ovipositor of Ctenolepisma rothschildi Silvestri, 1907, SEM photograph. B–C. Secondary ovipositor of Caribesella impudica (Escherich, 1905) comb. nov., SEM photograph (B) and micrograph (C). Scale bars: A = 10 μm; B = 90 μm; C = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 18. Caribesella gen. nov., diagnostic characters of the head not previously illustrated. Micrograph showing part of the head chaetotaxy: the clypeal tuft of one side (white arrow) and the labrum with no tufts (blue arrow); the frontal tuft of the same side is visible (yellow arrow). Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 19. Caribesella gen. nov., diagnostic characters not previously illustrated, SEM photographs. A. Orbicular scales of dorsal side of the abdomen. B. An indented scale of the dorsal side of the thorax. C. Coxal scales. D. Scales on the apex of the femur. E. Scales and setae on the basal part of the tibia. F. Scales on stylus IX. G. Open anterior trichobothrial area of the pronotum. Scale bars: A = 70 μm; B, G = 50 μm; C = 60 μm; D–E = 90 μm; F = 80 μm.