Australotomurus morbidus, Greenslade, Penelope & Jordana, Rafael, 2014

Greenslade, Penelope & Jordana, Rafael, 2014, Description and conservation status of a new species of Australotomurus (Collembola: Entomobryidae: Orchesellinae) from urban Perth remnant bushland, Zootaxa 3872 (5), pp. 561-576 : 564-573

Australotomurus morbidus sp. nov.

Figs 1–30

Material examined. Holotype, Australia: Western Australia: male, South Guildford Cemetery ( Fig. 1 ), 31°55′S, 115°59′E, Kalamunda Road, 29 September 1983, Banksia heathland, in pitfall, G. Barrett (South Australian Museum Adelaide I22621). Paratypes, Australia: Western Australia: 2 males, 1 female, 19 specimens in alcohol, collected with holotype (South Australian Museum).

Other material examined. Australia: Western Australia: 5 females, 1 male, Perth Airport ( Fig. 1 ) PA6, wet pitfalls, 31°58′05″S, 115°58′05″E, 10 May–24 June 1993, J.M. Waldock (Western Australian Museum E83003 ); 2 females, 3 males, 1 immature male, same locality, 24 June–28 July 1993 (South Australian Museum, Adelaide, on slides). Additional alcohol specimens, all in Western Australian Museum. Western Australian Museum registration number, number of specimens and locality respectively: E82999 , 11, Talbot Road ( Fig. 1 ), E83000 , 17, Tuart Hill ( Fig. 1 ), E83001 , 2, Tuart Hill, E83002 , 10, Tuart Hill, E83003 , 12, Tuart Hill,, E83004 , 44, Perth airport, E83005 , 29, Perth airport, E83006 , 105, Perth airport, E83007 , 23, Perth airport, E83008 , 2, Perth airport, E83009 , 3, Perth airport, E83010 , 49, Perth airport, E83011 , 24, Perth airport, E83012 , 8, Perth airport ( Fig. 1 ).

Diagnosis. Australotomurus morbidus sp. nov. specimens are distinguished from other species in the genus by the following characters: males with spines on antennal segment III and not antennal segment II; only ocelli H reduced; 2 + 2 broad, toothed spines distally on the manubrium; colour pattern and large size (3 mm). The only other species that are equally large, A. johanni , A. echidnus and A. womersleyi , are from southern Australia while the more northerly species, A. montanus , A. barbatus and A. immodestus , are smaller. The colour pattern is similar to A. johanni and A. womersleyi but with differences in pigment distribution on the head and antennae.

Description. Adults. Colour: Background colour white with dark purple markings, in lateral view giving a blotchy appearance, dark pigments forming bands and stripes in a consistent pattern although the extent and intensity of the pigment may vary between individuals ( Figs 2–4 ). Antennal segment Ia dark, antennal segment Ib and II with white ring basally otherwise dark, antennal segment III and IV paler but with diffuse dark pigments in distal half. Head dorsally with 2 distinct V-shaped pigment patches on vertex, otherwise diffuse pigment anteriorly and posteriorly, laterally pale and with 2 stripes below ocelli patch extending ventrally. Coxal, precoxal and extreme lateral part of thorax darkly pigmented, dorsally paler but with thin longitudinal stripe from thoracic segment 1 to abdominal segment II; legs paler below coxa but with some diffuse pigment. Abdomen pale dorsally, abdominal segment II with small midline and pair of dorsolateral patches; abdominal segment III and IV with thin anterior band, on abdominal segment III, band extending towards posterior margin medially and dorsolaterally; abdominal segment IV with semicircle of dark spots from mid position curving anteriorly, 6 to 8 spots on each side, posterior part of segment with some pigment; abdominal segment IV with median rectangular dark patch and doors-lateral patches; abdominal segment VI all darkly pigmented. Manubrium with diffuse pigment and dens pale ( Figs 2–4 ).

Length up to 2.5 mm for males and 3 mm for females, antennae longer in relation to body length in male (a little over half body length) than in female but easily damaged, many preserved specimens with incomplete antennae.

Ratios: length of body plus head:antennae = 2.5: 1 females; lengths of antennal segment Ia:Ib:II:III:IV = 1:3:5:7:9 (male), 1:2:5:8:9 (females); lengths abdominal segment III:IV = 1:1.5 to 1.6.

Body chaetotaxy comprised of numerous dense, thick, parallel-sided, pale brown, finely serrated, somewhat blunt macrochaetae, short, serrated, pointed mesochaetae, long, thin, finely serrated trichobothria, a few short broad spines distally on manubrium, and a smooth, fine, pointed opposite seta on each tibiotarsus ( Fig. 23 ). Long ciliated bothriotriches on abdominal segment II, III, IV as 2, 3, 2, respectively, one fairly long bothriothrix on head posterior to eye patch and one short, erect, smooth trichobothrium-like seta (?) laterally on antennal segment Ib. Male with thick brown spine-like setae and, broad densely, blunt and finely toothed setae on antennal segment Ib ( Fig. 7 ) and five long spines on antennal segment III ( Figs 10–11 ), respectively. S chaetae not distinct but antennae furnished with numerous thickish, short serrated setae and shorter fine, thin, smooth setae. Cuticle finely granulate over entire body, cuticular tubercles absent.

Head and antennae, antennal segment IV indistinctly annulated, with simple apical bulb, pin seta three or twopronged ( Fig. 6 ); all setae short and finely serrated but on more basal antennal segments becoming longer. Antennal segment III with tendency for subdivision of basal third and angled at this point, at this position 5 long, strong macrochaetae arranged in half whorl ( Figs 10–11 ); distal external antennal segment Antennal segment III organ composed of two thick s chaetae bent inwards surrounded by three smaller s chaetae, two dorsal and one ventral( Fig. 9 ); antennal segment I with ventrolateral field of about 40 to 50 short finely and densely ciliated setae, each elongated and lozenge-shaped with a blunt, bare tip ( Fig. 7 ) in the central region, and pointed at exterior part of this field; line of about 10 fine short setae within antennal segment II field. Anterior lateral margin of head of males without field of spines or dense, strong mesochaetae; 4 preclypeal setae; head chaetotaxy as in Figure 16 ; anterior margin of labrum with 4 round, broad, upturned papillae and 5, 5, 4 smooth setae arranged from posterior to anterior in regular arrangement, posterior row slightly longer than others ( Fig. 13 ). Ocelli 8 + 8, only H indistinctly reduced; simple round postantennal organ present ( Fig. 5 ). Maxillary palp with 3 sublobal hairs, simple ( Fig. 15 ). Posterior labial row with supernumerary ciliated setae; labial palp with 5 tubercles, each supplied with up to five spines, E with smooth, curved external seta; 4 proximal setae. Mandible with three to five teeth and large grinding mandibular plate ( Fig. 12 ). Maxilla with lamella I very finely toothed, narrow and slightly longer than 3 teeth, two other lamellae also finely toothed but broad and shorter; three of them fairly broad. Hypopharynx with finely toothed internal margin. Ventral head setae numerous, all short and finely toothed.

Thorax and legs: macrochaeta distribution on thorax as in Fig. 16 ( Table 3); precoxa with some macrochaetae (e. g. Prcx1 with 4, Prcx2 with 5); trochanteral organ with up to 25 short fine, pointed setae, 4 to 6 longer spine-like setae ( Fig. 25 ); empodial appendage with small, inconspicuous external tooth, length <inner claw; two small single, inner teeth slightly past mid-claw; occasionally a pair of inner teeth below these, a third more distal tooth very small and indistinct; pair of lateral teeth at base of claw and small basal tooth between them; ( Figs 23–24 ); smooth, pointed external setae on tibiotarsus. Ratio of empodial appendage to inner claw 1:1.8.

Abdomen: ventral tube with about 30 short setae basally and laterally, 3 to 5 longer setae among them, 40 setae laterally of which 7 are long; rami of tenaculum with 4 + 4 teeth and 11 setae ( Fig. 20 ). Furcal apodemes particularly long ( Fig. 26 ); manubrium distally and anteriorly with 2 strong but short toothed spines on each side ( Fig. 18 ); dens crenulated its entire length, with numerous moderately short, finely ciliated setae on all sides, mucro with 2 teeth and no basal spine, smooth part of mucro long ( Fig.19 ). Anal lobes each with up to 30 macrochaetae. Male genital plate with 18 to 20 long strong setae ( Fig. 22 ); female plate with 1 + 1 spine-like internal setae and 1 + 1 external microsetae on posterior lobe, and 1 + 1 internal microsetae on anterior lobe ( Fig. 21 ). Ratio of smooth part of mucro to toothed part 1:1.8.

Remarks. Australotomurus morbidus sp. nov. occurs in coastal heath remnants on the Swan coastal plain, much of which has been cleared during European settlement over the last nearly 200 plus years. Only small, vulnerable fragments remain in the urban area. As the new species was found in only four of the nine remnants sampled, the species probably has already been extirpated from large areas since the population likely was nearly continuous before land clearing. The original potential area is therefore estimated as a minimum of 40 km 2. There have been no surveys made since 1993 so its distribution may well have been reduced even further with the impacts of urbanisation, such as pollutants from vehicles, fire, invasion of weeds and inappropriate management including mowing and tree planting. To illustrate the vulnerable nature of the remaining remnants two hectares of the native vegetation on the Guildford Cemetery were cleared in 2009 to make more land available for graves and a permit was only applied for retroactively. Only 14 hectares of land without graves remain on the cemetery land together with some narrow road side remnants, which is only about 70% vegetated. All this land is part of the State “Bush Forever” programme (site no. 311, South Guildford Bushland, 21.4 ha, Directory of Bush Forever, 2000). In spite of the site being designated “Bush Forever” in 2000, the clearing of 2 ha in 2009 for graves has reduced potential habitat for the species to no more than 19.4 ha.

Character

A. A. womersleyi A. echidnus A. johanni A. immodestus A.barbatus A. montanus morbidus

Size in mm 3 2.9 3.0 3.8 2.3 2.2 1.8

Male antennal segment Iii no. 30–40 30 (7) 50 (30) 40–60 45 (19) 45 (12–13) 40–45 (10–14)

of specialised setae

Male antennal segment I no yes Yes yes yes (yes) yes?

modified

Male antennal segment yes no No no no no no

Antennal segment III

modified

Angled antennal segment III yes yes No yes no no no

Ocelli 8 + 8 8 + 8 but G, H. 8 + 8 but G, H. 8 + 8 but G, H. 8 + 8 but G, H. 8 + 8 but G, H. 8 + 8 but G, H. reduced reduced reduced reduced reduced reduced

antennal segment IV pin seta distinctly 3 single prong, Not observed single with single prong single prong single with pronged slightly curved small lateral minute tooth at tip tooth

antennal segment IV apical simple 2 lobed 2 lobed 2 lobed 2 lobed 1–2 lobes 2 lobed

bulb

Trochanteral organ setae 25 24 45 29 34–35 25 20

Tenaculum setae 7 7–9 15 7–9 8 5–7 6–7

Male lateral margin of head normal 3 + 3 strong normal normal normal field of 65 normal

spines densely packed spine-like setae

Spines distally on manubrium 2 + 2 well 2 + 2 narrow 2 + 2 very short 2 + 2 small 2 + 2 small 2 + 2 2 + 2 thin, narrow

developed

Internal teeth on claw 3 3 2 3 2 3 3 Chaetotaxy

Areas A. morbidus A. womersleyi A. echidnus A. johanni A. immodestus A. barbatus A. montanus 1H2H3H4H4’H5 on Head 431542 6 31 630 7 315 61b 6 3154 1b 7 315 61b 7 315 61b 65 15 32 1 area on Th II 5 (1m 1+ 4m 2) 6m - - - - - 2 area on Th II 1a5 + 5m 4+ 2m 5 10m - - - - - 1 on Abd II 4a2 –3 7a2–3 8a2–3 7a2–3 5a2–3 7a2–3 9a2–3 2 on Abd II 4 m+4a4 7m +6a4 6m +6a4 7m +6a4 4m + 3a4 8m +4a4 6m +5a4 3 on Abd III a1 a1 a1 - - - - 4 on Abd III 3-6 (a2-3) 4a2-3 5a2-3 1 +4a2-3 1 +4a2-3 6a2-3 4a2-3 5 on Abd III 3 m3 5m 3+1a4 6m 3+1 a4 5m 3+2a4 3m 3+ 1a4 6m 3+2 a4 8m 3+4a4 6 on Abd IV 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 on Abd IV 4 5 6 7 3 3 3 8 on Abd IV 4-6 5 6 6 4 6 6 9 on Abd IV 2-4 4 5 5 3 2 2 10 on Abd IV 3-4 4 1 1 1 3 3

dorso-medial Mc number on 13-19 18 18 19 11 14 14

Abd IV

Several other species in different subfamilies were collected and described from the Perth area by Herbert Womersley in the 1930s but their type localities have now been alienated and local populations may also have become locally extinct. They include Nasosminthurus sigmoides ( Womersley, 1933) from Armadale and Corynephoria cassida Womersley, 1932 from Como. Womersley (1939) considered two other species from Kings Park rare, C. dubia Womersley, 1932 and C. albidorsalis Womersley, 1932 . Corynephoria species live on native grasses and since the 1930′s the park has been invaded by exotic grasses on which these species cannot live, so these two species may also be threatened in their type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map of part of urban Perth showing the four sites where Australotomurus morbidus, sp. nov. has been collected (Google Earth).

FIGURES 2 – 4. Photographs of alcohol-preserved specimens of Australotomurus morbidus, sp. nov., pigment patterns: 2, body, lateral view; 3, body, dorsal view; 4, head and thorax, dorsal view. Bar = 1 mm for Figures 2 – 3, Bar = 250 Μ for Figure 4.

FIGURES 5 – 15. Australotomurus morbidus, sp. nov.: 5, ocelli patch; 6, tip of antennal segment IV; 7, different chaetae on 1 b antennal segment: a) tiny small smooth spine-like sensilla inner on male organ, b) central chaetae of male organ varies from 6 to 12 whorls, c) lateral chaetae of male organ, d) external chaetae, e) sensilla, f) normal macrochaeta; 8, external labial palp (E); 9, antennal III organ; 10, male secondary sexual organ on antennal segment III; 11, male antennal segments II, III and part of IV; 12, mandible; 13, labrum; 14, mentum and submentum; 15, maxillary palp.

FIGURE 16. Australotomurus morbidus, sp. nov.: dorsal chaetotaxy of head and thorax.

FIGURE 17. Australotomurus morbidus, sp. nov.: dorsal chaetotaxy of abdomen.

FIGURES 18 – 26. Australotomurus morbidus, sp. nov.: 18, distal margin of manubrium; 19, mucro and distal part of dens; 20, tenaculum; 21, female genital plate showing paired spermathecae; 22, male genital opening; 23, claw lateral view; 24, claw ventral view; 25, trochanteral organ; 26, furcal apodeme showing paired spermathecae.

FIGURES 27 – 30. Scanning electron micrographs of Heteromurus major (Moniez): 27, habitus, bar = 10 micrometers; 28, claw, bar = 30 micrometers; 29, mucro, bar = 10 micrometers 30, body scales.