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

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 João Pessoa, state of Paraíba, 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.

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).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).
The morphology of species of Seira is quite similar to species of other derived genera of Entomobryidae, such as Entomobrya Rondani, 1861 and Lepidocyrtus Bourlet, 1839.However, 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).
Herein, we describe a new species of Seira from the Northeastern Brazilian coastal area.The specimens were found associated to sand dunes and collected using Berlese-Tullgren funnels.The chaetotaxic system used to describe the disposition of dorsal macrochaetae follows that of CHRISTIANSEN & BELLINGER (2000), which was modified from JACQUEMART (1974).
Type material is deposited in the Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (CM/MNRJ).
Etymology.Seira ritae sp.nov.was named after Dr. Rita Mascarenhas, who develops her research in the type locality of the species.
Remarks.The closest species to S. ritae sp.nov.appears to be S. mendoncea Bellini & Zeppelini, a taxon also reported from the state of Paraíba (BELLINI & ZEPPELINI 2008b).These taxa share similar patterns of dorsal macrochaetae distribution on all cephalic regions (except posterior region 6), metathorax, and abdominal segments I, II and III (in this last one, there are extra setae on region B in S. ritae sp.nov.).Both species also have similar feet complexes, labial triangle chaetotaxy, and same number of interocular setae (even though they are in different positions in the two species).However, these last three morphological conditions are recurrent among many species of Seira (CHRISTIANSEN & BELLINGER 2000).
Seira ritae sp.nov.can be distinguished from S. mendoncea and other species of Seira by an unique combination of the dorsal chaetotaxy of mesothorax and abdominal segment IV.In these two segments, almost all regions have different numbers and positions of macrochaetae in S. ritae sp.nov.and S. mendoncea.Seira ritae sp.nov.also has 4+4 subapical setae on the manubrium, whereas S. mendoncea has 5+5.Finally, while S. ritae sp.nov.was only found next to the seashore, S. mendoncea was reported solely from the Caatinga biome (BELLINI & ZEPPELINI 2008b).
Seira ritae sp.nov.was collected over sand dunes of "Praia do Bessa", an urban shore area in João Pessoa, capital of the state of Paraíba.This area is located in the Good's biogeographic zone 27 (GOOD 1974).The specimens were collected near the upper vegetation of sand dunes, during the wet season.The climate of the type locality is 'As', according to Koeppen's system (KOTTEK et al. 2006), which means that the main climate of the area is equatorial and the precipitation levels indicate a dry summer.The survival of the species in an urban, highly impacted area possibly indicates some level of resistance to major environmental issues, such as air, ground and water pollution, reduction of original vegetation cover, introduction of exotic plants and animals and other ecological harms related to constant human presence.
Bellini & Zeppelini, 2009869 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 João Pessoa, state of Paraíba, Brazil, in an urban seaside area.The new species shows many similarities with S. mendonceaBellini & Zeppelini, 2009especially 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.KEY WORDS.Brazilian collembolan diversity; chaetotaxy patterns; Entomobryomorpha; Seirinae; systematics.