Paranura kedrovayensis sp. nov.

Figs 58, 60–64, 66–69, Tables 11–12

Etymology. The name of the species is derived from its terra typica Kedrovaya Pad, a biologically major nature reserve in the region which hosts some of the most emblematic mammals of eastern Palearctic.

Diagnosis. Body white. 2+2 eyes on head. Tubercles and reticulations not developed. Head with chaetae O, A, chaetae E sometimes absent. Head with three ocular chaetae. Thorax I with 2 chaetae De. Thorax II–III with 3 chaetae Di. Thorax II–III with 3 and 4 ordinary chaetae De respectively. Abdomen V with 2+2 chaetae Di. Abdomen V slightly longer than VI. Abdomen without clavate chaetae. Furca rudimentary without microchaetae. Male ventral organ absent. Tibiotarsi without chaetae M.

Description. Habitus typical for Paranura Axelson, 1902 genus. Buccal cone elongate. Body length (without antennae) 0.68–1.05 mm (holotype: 0.72 mm). Colour of body when alive and in alcohol white. Tubercles and reticulations not developed. Ordinary dorsal chaetae (Figs 60, 68) differentiated into short, thin, acuminate microchaetae, medium size, smooth, acuminate mesochaetae and long, nearly smooth (with small denticles visible under large magnification, Fig. 68), relatively thick, arc-like at apex macrochaetae Ml and Mc. No plurichaetosis on body.

Head. Antennae slightly shorter than head (Fig. 60). S-chaetae of ant. IV relatively long and thin, S1 and S2 slightly thinner than others (Fig. 64). Apical bulb trilobed (Figs 62, 63). Chaetotaxy of antennae as in Fig. 64 and Tab. 11. Buccal cone relatively long and rounded at apex. Maxilla needle-like, mandible simple with three teeth. Chaetotaxy of labium as in Fig. 58, labial papillae x absent. Labrum chaetotaxy 4/2,4,4 (Fig. 61). Group Vi with 6+6 chaetae (Fig. 58). Groups Vea, Vem and Vep with 4, 3 and 4 chaetae respectively. Dorsal chaetotaxy of head as in Tab. 11. and Fig. 60. Dorsal chaetotaxy of central area on head complete, with 3 chaetae Oc and chaetae A, B, C, D, E (absent on one side in one specimen), F, G, O. Line of chaetae Di2–De2 crosses line Di1–De1 on head (crosstype, Deharveng 1983). 2+2 relatively small black eyes with diameter two times as large as the diameter of chaeta Ocm socket (Fig. 60).

Thorax, abdomen, legs. Dorsal chaetotaxy as in Fig. 60 and in Tab. 12. Ventral chaetotaxy as in Tab. 12 and Fig. 67. S-chaetae long, slightly longer or equal to nearby macrochaetae (Figs 60, 69). S-chaetae formula of body: 022/11111, s-microchaeta on Dl of th. II present. Furcal remnant with 3–4 mesochaetae and without microchaetae (Fig. 67). Male without ventral modified chaetae (“male ventral organ”). Claw without internal tooth. Chaeta M absent on tibiotarsus, chaetae B4 and B5 short. Chaetotaxy of legs as in Tab. 12 and Fig. 66.

Types. Holotype male subadult and 2 paratypes (1 female, 1 juvenile) on slides, Russia: Primorye: Khasansky: Reserve Kedrovaya Pad: core area, forest with Pinus koreensis & Abies sp., litter and moss on soil, Berlese, 29.IX.2004, leg. L. Deharveng & A. Bedos, X=131.533219°, Y=43.110513°, altitude about 70 m (RU-134). Holotype deposited in MNHN, paratypes in DIBEC and MSPU.

Remarks. Among described Asiatic forms Paranura kedrovayensis sp. nov. is similar to P. mjohjangensis Deharveng & Weiner, 1984 (from North Korea) but they clearly differ in the number of eyes (in P. kedrovayensis sp. nov. 2+2, in mjohjangensis 3+3), number of labial lateral chaetae (in P. kedrovayensis sp. nov. 3, in mjohjangensis 4 Fig. 59) and number of trochanteral chaetae (in P. kedrovayensis sp. nov. 5, in mjohjangensis 6 Fig. 65). See also in remarks of P. microchaetosa sp. nov.

Biology. The new species is resident in montane coniferous forests. Bisexual species.

a) Cephalic chaetotaxy––dorsal side.

b) Chaetotaxy of antennae.

Sterna