A new species of Seira (Collembola: Entomobryidae: Seirini) from the Northeastern Brazilian coastal region

Bruno Cavalcante Bellini,Douglas Zeppelini

doi:10.1590/s1984-46702011000300015

Abstract

Seira Lubbock, 1869 is the most speciose genus of Collembola in Brazil. Herein, we describe and illustrate a new species of Seira, Seira ritae sp. nov., collected in Joao Pessoa, state of Paraiba, Brazil, in an urban seaside area. The new species shows many similarities with S. mendoncea Bellini & Zeppelini, 2009 especially in what concerns the dorsal distribution of the macrochaetae of the head, the metathorax, and the first three abdominal segments. However, the two species can be distinguished by the chaetotaxy of the mesothorax and abdominal segment IV. The type locality of the species probably indicates some level of natural resistance to the impacts associated with human activities.

Highlights

Entomobryidae is the largest family of Collembola (HOPKIN 1997, SOTO-ADAMES et al 2008, BELLINGER et al 1996-2011)
Specimens of Seira spp. are very common in this country in practically all kinds of environments (ABRANTES et al 2010). This condition is especially true in Northeastern Brazil, where at least 15 species were reported and eight of them were described within the last five years (ZEPPELINI & BELLINI 2006, BELLINI & ZEPPELINI 2008a,b, 2009a,b, BELLINI et al 2009, 2010)
Species of Seira can be distinguished from them by the presence of a falcate mucro, eight or seven lenses on each eyepatch, and yellow or brown round scales covering the dorsum of the head, body, and the first segments of antennae, legs, and furca (CHRISTIANSEN & BELLINGER 2000, BARRA 2004a,b)

Summary

Introduction

Entomobryidae is the largest family of Collembola (HOPKIN 1997, SOTO-ADAMES et al 2008, BELLINGER et al 1996-2011). Seira Lubbock, 1869 is a predominantly tropical genus of Entomobryidae, with almost 200 described species worldwide (BARRA 2010, BELLINGER et al 1996-2011). In Brazil, Seira is the most speciose genus of Collembola, with 25 described species (ABRANTES et al 2010, BELLINI et al 2010).

Results

Conclusion