A survey of basal insects (Microcoryphia and Zygentoma) from subterranean environments of Iran, with description of three new species

By

Molero, Rafael
Tahami, Mohadeseh Sadat
Gaju-Ricart, Miquel
Sadeghi, Saber

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2018

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

806

Pages

17-46

Subjects

Archaeognatha , Cave fauna , Ctenolepisma , Haslundiella , Lepidospora , Lepismatidae , Machilidae , Nicoletiidae , taxonomy , Thysanura

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.806.27320

 

Abstract

A survey of wingless insects belonging to the orders Microcoryphia (=Archaeognatha) and Zygentoma (=Thysanura s. str.) has been performed in subterranean habitats of central Iran. As a result, several new species have been discovered. In this work, three new species are described: a new species of bristletail of the family Machilidae,Haslundiellairanicasp. n., a new silverfish of the family Lepismatidae,Ctenolepismasubterraneumsp. n., and a new Nicoletiidae, Lepidospora (Brinckina) momtazianasp. n.These new taxa are compared with related species in their respective genera and keys for their identification are provided: one for all known species ofHaslundiellaand one for all basal insects of subterranean environments of Iran which includes those previously reported. Moreover, the previously published keys of IranianCtenolepismaand the subgenus Brinckina are modified to include the new species. Three additional species of Lepismatidae are reported in this work:Neoasterolepìsma palmoniiandCtenolepismatargioniiare newly recorded from Iran and both species, together withAcrotelsacollaris, are cited for the first time in the subterranean habitats. This survey progresses the knowledge on the biodiversity of these insects in Iran.