New cavernicolous meenoplid 
453 
0.6 times the length of vertex, and ca. 3 times as 
wide as vertex at base; posterior margin shallowly 
excavated. Mesonotum nearly planate, median 
carina absent, lateral carinae very faint. Tegmina 
reduced in length, 2.4 times longer than maximum 
width (= slightly proximad of clavus); in repose 
reaching anterior margin of genital segment; 8-9 
apical cells; venation distad of nodal line 
individually variable; arrangements of sensory pits 
on tegmen as in other Kermesiinae. Hind wings 
slightly reduced (anal field). Posttibia as in other 
Meenoplidae laterally devoid of spines, distally 
with six spines in a row. Postbasitarsus distally 
with five, second posttarsal segment with five 
spines in a single row. Postbasitarsus slightly 
longer than second and third posttarsal segments 
together. Pretarsal claws present, arolia well 
developed. 
Male genitalia (Figures 6-8): pygofer in lateral 
aspect (Figure 6) ventrally ca. 5 times longer than 
dorsally, in caudal aspect figure-eight-shaped. 
Urite X (Figures 6, 7) in dorsal aspect longish ovate, 
distal portion medially deeply incised. Gonostyles 
(Figures 6, 8) moderately long, slender, subapically 
and medially with stout processes creating a claw¬ 
like impression. Aedeagus (Figure 6) in basal half 
ventrally with an unpaired, darkly pigmented, 
compressed, beak-shaped process (a) directed 
ventrad, dorsally with a rounded cap-like structure 
(b), triangular in dorsal aspect, extending laterad 
to margins of genital segment. Apical half of 
aedeagus consisting of a compressed, spatulate 
process (c) which is supported on each side by an 
integrated spine-shaped sclerile (d) (terminology of 
male genitalia sensu Bourgoin and Huang 1990) 
Female genitalia strongly reduced as in other 
Meenoplidae. Ventral valvifer distally angulate, 
ventral valvula globular, without any processes 
(terminology of female genitalia sensu Woodward 
1957). 
Table 1 Synopsis of cavernicolous Meenoplidae. 
Canary Islands 
Meenoplus cancavus Remane and 
Hoch, 1988 
Meenoplus charon Hoch and Asche, 
1993 
Meenoplus claustrophilus Hoch and 
Asche, 1993 
Western Samoa 
Suva oloimoa Hoch and Asche, 1988 
Western Australia 
Phaconeura pluto Fennah, 1973 
Phaconeura proserpina Hoch, 1993 
Queensland 
Phaconeura minyamea Hoch, 1990 
Phaconeura mopamea Hoch, 1990 
Phaconeura crevicola Hoch, 1990 
Phaconeura capricornia Hoch, 1990 
New Caledonia 
Eponisia hypogaea sp. nov. 
Distribution and Ecology 
Eponisia hypogaea is known only from the Grottes 
d'Adio, New Caledonia. All specimens were 
collected "on tree roots well into the dark zone of 
the cave" (M.S. Harvey, pers. comm.). This 
observation and the well-developed 
troglomorphies (reduction of compound eyes, 
ocelli, bodily pigmentation, and, even if to a lesser 
extent, the tegmina) support the assumption that 
E. hypogaea is restricted to the deep cave zone 
(sensu Howarth 1981) and is therefore ecologically 
classified as troglobitic (obligate cavernicolous), 
although "they were able to hop or fly with 
remarkable speed and were difficult to catch" (M.S. 
Harvey, pers. comm.). 
Remarks 
Using Fennah's key (Fennah 1969), the new 
cavernicolous meenoplid species would run to the 
genus Eponisia Matsumura which is based on the 
type species E. guttula Matsumura from Taiwan. 
However, according to Bourgoin (pers. comm.), 
Eponisia sensu Fennah (1969) is polyphyletic, thus 
the cavernicolous meenoplid species cannot be 
placed into Eponisia sensu strictu, but should be 
placed in a separate genus, to be named by Dr 
Bourgoin in due course. In the configuration of the 
male genitalia, the cavernicolous meenoplid species 
resembles the epigean E. matuta Fennah from New 
Caledonia which is probably a close relative. On 
mere morphological evidence, however, it cannot 
be decided yet, whether or not E. matuta is even 
ancestral to E. hypogaea. Similar cases, i.e., the 
parapatric existence of apparently closely related 
epigean and troglobitic species on the same island, 
as observed for example in Hawaii (Howarth 1980, 
1981) have been fundamental to the development 
of a model to explain the evolution of terrestrial 
troglobites by adaptive shifts to novel habitats 
(adaptive shift model: Howarth 1980, 1986) rather 
than by adaptive events subsequent to the 
extinction of surface populations in the course of 
climatic changes (relict hypothesis: e.g. Barr 1968). 
Etymology 
The species name is derived from its 
subterranean habitat. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
I would like to express my sincere thanks to Dr 
M.S. Harvey, Western Australian Museum, Perth, 
for the opportunity to study the meenoplid 
specimens, to Dr M. Asche, Research Associate, 
Bishop Museum, Honolulu, and to Dr Th. 
Bourgoin, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 
Paris, for assistance and comments on the 
manuscript. 
