Revisiting Szeptyckitheca Betsch & Weiner (Collembola, Symphypleona, Sminthuridae): new species, updated diagnoses, and a key.

Szeptyckitheca Betsch & Weiner is a genus of Sphyrothecinae (Sminthuridae) similar to Sphyrotheca Börner, with 13 nominal species. Most descriptions of Szeptyckitheca taxa lack valuable data in face of the current taxonomy of Symphypleona. In this study the previously described species of the genus were surveyed, aiming to provide updated diagnoses for them. Three species were also transferred to Szeptyckitheca: Sphyrothecakarlarum Palacios-Vargas, Vázquez & Cuéllar, 2003, S.peteri Palacios-Vargas, Vázquez & Cuéllar, 2003, and S.koreana Betsch & Weiner, 2009, based on trochanteral and/or dental chaetotaxy. Two new Brazilian species of the genus are described and illustrated, S.andrzeji Medeiros, Bellini & Weiner, sp. nov., with a remarkable reduced ventral dental chaetotaxy not seen in other Neotropical species, and S.cyanea Oliveira, Medeiros & Bellini, sp. nov. with a distinctive large set of head vertex spines (18). Finally, an updated key to all the valid species of the genus is presented.

Taxonomic papers on Collembola in Zootaxa, 2001 to 2020.

We summarise here publications on Collembola in the journal Zootaxa over the years 2001 to 2020 and include numbers and nationalities of authors and referees. We also list numbers of new species and genera described. For a relatively small pool of taxonomists, we conclude their output has been considerable and Zootaxa has provided a useful vehicle in which to publish their research findings. Of interest, is the shift away from a Eurocentric origin of authors to a Chinese and Brazilian one. Reasons for this change are suggested.

Two new species of Hymenaphorura Bagnall, 1948 (Collembola, Onychiuridae) from Romania and an updated key to the genus.

Two new species of the genus Hymenaphorura from Romania, H. urbana sp. nov. and H. kalindera sp. nov., are described and illustrated. Hymenaphorura urbana has a postantennal organ (PAO) with 13-15 simple vesicles, abdominal terga I-III with subequal setae p2 and p3, abdominal tergum V granular area with 3+3 distinct, long macrosetae, and H. kalindera sp. nov. has PAO with 9-12 simple vesicles, one border seta, abdominal terga I-III with setae p2 slightly longer than setae p3, abdominal tergum V granular area with 4+4 distinct macrosetae. Remarks on H. subsimilis Bagnall, 1948 are given. An updated key for the world distributed species of Hymenaphorura is presented.

Ceratophysella species from mushrooms in China (Collembola, Hypogastruridae).

Four species of the genus Ceratophysella living on mushrooms are reported from China, including a new species, Ceratophysellaskarzynskii Weiner & Sun, sp. n., which is described from alpine mushrooms. The new species belongs to the Ceratophysella group of species with a dorsal chaetotaxy of type B and differs from the other species in a combination of characters. Ceratophysellaskarzynskii sp. n. is distinguished by its small body size (maximum length 1.09 mm), number of peg-like s-chaetae (30-32) in the ventral sensory file, the trilobed apical vesicle of antennal segment IV, five modified chaetae on dens, and serrated dorsal chaetae. A key to the Chinese species of the genus has been provided.

Redescription of Chribellphoruraallanae (Christiansen & Bellinger, 1980) (Collembola, Onychiuridae), with comments on the systematic position of the genus.

Chribellphoruraallanae (Christiansen & Bellinger, 1980), a poorly known Nearctic springtail, is redescribed and important morphological characters are illustrated (Figs 1-7). The genus is characterized by the following characters: postantennal organ with one vesicle divided into five lobes, antennal segment IV with apical vesicle closely flanked by two papillae, sense organ of the third antennal segment with four papilla, four guard setae, two straight sensory clubs and two sensory rods, very similar in shape and length, labial palp of 0-type, abdominal sternum IV divided ventrally into two subsegments, furcal remnant as a finely granulated area with three rows of setae posteriorly, tibiotarsi with clavate setae in distal whorl and anal spines present. The taxonomic status of this Chribellphorura is also discussed.

A new species of Uralaphorura Martynova, 1978 from northeast China, with a key to world species of the genus (Collembola, Onychiuridae).

A new species, Uralaphorura liangshuiensissp. n., has been reported from Xiao Hinggan Mountains (northeast China). The new species is unique in having the pso formulae as 32/133/33332 dorsally and 0/000/0001(0) ventrally, and the ventral psx formula as 3/000/221000. A key to all known species of the genus is given.

Riparian Collembola (Hexapoda) communities of northern Moldova, Eastern Europe.

Collembola were studied in a well-preserved riverine section of the Prut River in the Republic of Moldova. The study was focused on species diversity and habitat preferences of the particular species at two localities. Riparian habitats of the Prut River near Braniste included open river bank, forest belt and meadow, and the shore of Lake Costesti-Stânca included meadow, pasture and shrub vegetation. In total 77 collembolan species were recorded, of which Neanura moldavica and Arrhopalites prutensis were endemic to Moldova. Comparative analyses showed a specific community composition at Braniste, with Anurida ellipsoides and Mesaphorura macrochaeta being abundant on the river bank and Hemisotoma thermophila in the meadow. In contrast, the forest plantation at the same locality was similar to the shrub-land in Costesti, with the common species Mesaphorura critica, M. yosii, Deutonura albella and Isotomiella minor. Hygrophilous species preferred the habitats of the river section in Braniste, with quiet backwaters, to the artificial shoreline of the large lake. Species diversity was relatively high in the natural meadow and forest in Braniste and also in shrub-land on the lake shore. The present study documented relatively high collembolan species diversity at the shoreline and running water sections in the upper catchment area of the Prut River in Moldova that involve naturally valuable inundated habitats of Eastern Europe.

Two new species of the genus Leenurina Najt & Weiner, 1992 (Collembola, Neanuridae, Caputanurininae) from Primorskij Kraj (Russia).

Leenurina khualazasp. n. and Leenurina pomorskiisp. n., two new species from East Russia (Primorskij Kraj) are described. They are closely related to Leenurina jasii Najt & Weiner, 1992 from North Korea, from which they differ mainly in the number of tibiotarsal chaetae (19, 19, 18 in the new species versus 18, 18, 17 in Leenurina jasii), several chaetotaxic features and organization of dorsal granulation. The two new species may be separated by tertiary granulation (large areas fringed with large secondary granules in Leenurina pomorskii, small rounded or hexagonal areas with smaller secondary granules in Leenurina khualaza), coloration (light blue in Leenurina khualaza versus white in Leenurina pomorskii) and number of eyes (2+2 eyes in Leenurina khualaza versus 3+3 eyes in Leenurina pomorskii). An updated diagnosis of the genus Leenurina Najt & Weiner, 1992 and a key to species of Caputanurininae are given.