Review of the Australian Nicoletiinae (Zygentoma : Nicoletiidae)

Abstract

The Australasian species and records of Nicoletiinae are reviewed and thephylogeny discussed. The genera Trinemura Silvestri,Metrinura Mendes and HemitrinemuraMendes are redefined on the basis of the number of vesicles and stylets on theurosternites, and a new genus Subtrinemura is described.The keys of Mendes and Wygodzinsky are combined and modified to form a key tothe world genera of Nicoletiinae. Trinemura watsoni, sp.nov., T. troglophila, sp. nov.,T. calcaripalpa, sp. nov.,Metrinura humusa, sp. nov.,M. queenslandica, sp. nov.,M. pedicella, sp. nov. andSubtrinemura spelaea, sp. nov. aredescribed.M. russendenensis (Smith & Shipp), comb.nov. is redescribed. The identity of T. novaehollandiaeSilvestri, M. novaecaledoniae (Silvestri),S. excelsa (Silvestri), comb. nov.,S. anemone(Smith), comb. nov.,S. norfolkensis (Smith), comb. nov.,H. pacifica (Carpenter), comb.nov.,H. gracilis (Carpenter), comb. nov. andH. subarmata (Paclt) as well as two further undescribedspecies of Trinemura and Metrinuraare discussed and details of measurements and head setation given. A key isprovided to the species of Trinemurodes,Trinemura, Metrinura,Hemitrinemura and Subtrinemura.Measurement data for all Australasian species show that variation withinspecies is often as great as variation between species and it is concludedthat measurements can be used to separate only certain species with quiteunusual proportions. Mature male specimens with their obvious secondary sexualcharacteristics are necessary for the definitive determination of all species.