Hypogastrura distincta (Axelson, 1902)

Jiang, Jigang & Chen, Jian-Xiu, 2008, A new species and a new species record of Hypogastrura (Collembola: Hypogastruridae) from China, Zootaxa 1846, pp. 47-54 : 49

Hypogastrura distincta (Axelson, 1902)

Syn.: Hypogastrura itaya Kinoshita, 1916

Material examined. Four females and six males, China: Tibet, Leiwuqi County, side of highway from Enda Town to Binda Town, 6.viii.1997, collection number 9397, coll. Ming Wu; Three females and three males, China: Tibet, Chayu County, Jigong town, 18.vii.1997, collection number 9395, coll. Ming Wu.

Diagnosis. Microsetae and macrosetae moderately differentiated. Abd. IV–VI with knobbed macrosetae. Integumentary granulation fine. Labrum with four rounded papillae and 4/5, 5, 4 setae. Maxilla as H. viatica - type. Ant. IV with simple apical bulb and dorsally with 4–5 curved and thin sensilla. Ant. I with seven setae, without p seta. Tibiotarsi I–III with 3, 3, 4 knobbed tenent hairs respectively. Unguis with an inner tooth, without lateral teeth. Unguiculus with small but distinct basal lamella. Dens with five setae. Length ratio of dens: mucro as 3.2–3.5:1. Ventral tube with 4+4 setae. Tenaculum with 3+3 teeth.

Remarks. The species Hypogastrura distincta has been found mainly in the Holarctic region so far (North America, Europe, Korea and Japan), and also in the Oriental region ( Nepal). It is reported from Tibet for the first time here. The species is easily identified by the character combination of knobbed or clavate macrosetae on Abd. IV–VI and 3, 3, 4 tenent hairs present on tibiotarsi I–III. The Tibetan specimens are very close to those from Korea ( Lee 1979) and Russia ( Babenko et al. 1994) in body dorsal chaetotaxy and moderate differentiation between macrosetae and microsetae. They slightly differ from Alaskan specimens ( Fjellberg 1985) in the lateral macrosetae on Abd. IV–VI being weakly knobbed and m2 seta on Abd. V weakly knobbed or pointed rather than distinctly knobbed as in specimens from Alaska.

Ecology. Found in leaf litter.