Cassagnaudiella cf. gamae (Bretfeld, 1994)

Rabieh, Mohammad Mahdi, Shayanmehr, Masoumeh, Yoosefi Lafooraki, Elham & Noei, Javad, 2023, Three new records of Collembola (Hexapoda) from Birjand (South Khorasan, Iran), Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics 9 (3), pp. 527-533 : 529-530

Cassagnaudiella cf. gamae (Bretfeld, 1994) ( Figs 1F–1I)

Material examined. South Khorasan province, Birjand, Razag , 32° 47.42' N, 59° 15.39' E, Leaf litter, 1836 m, 06.v.2019 , n=2; Chahkand , 32°49.55'N, 59°09.37'E, Leaf litter, 1716 m, 31.v.2019 , n=3; Kuhestan Hotel , 32°49.40'N, 59°10.48'E, Leaf litter, 79 m, 13.v.2019 , n=2; Giuk waterfall, 32°47.31'N, 59°07.33'E, Soil, 1961 m, 17.v.2019 , n= 2, leg. M.M. Rabieh.

Diagnosis. Main colour of Iranian specimens brownish yellow with pale parts; head dorsally with small pale region, large abdomen with pale area on middle of dorsal side, laterally with pale spots ( Figs 1F–1G). Diagnostic characters of the species according to Bretfeld (1999) is as below: “Total length 1 mm. Ventral head-back with 2+2 oval organs. Ant IV with about 10 subsegments ( Fig. 1H). Tibiotarsus II row p:5 setae, length of longest setae of Tibiotarsus III>3x diameter of Tibiotarsus. Mucro with narrow anterior furrow ( Fig. 1I). Secondary sexual characteristics of male: Abdominal segment VI dorsally with median crest, setae m1+2 as long, abruptly curved spines, DL1+2 as slender spines of equal form, other neighboring setae forming a basket around tip, all setae curved posteriorly, large abdomen posterodorsally with slightly swollen setae”.

Distribution. Portugal. The species is reported for the first time from Iran.