New European Lepidocyrtus Bourlet, 1839 (Collembola, Entomobryidae) with the first description of feeding-related dancing behaviour in Collembola

Zootaxa. 2019 Jan 24;4550(2):221-235. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4550.2.4.

Abstract

The study of a springtail population from Krka National Park (Croatia) has allowed us to describe the new species Lepidocyrtus chorus sp. nov. and its dance-like behaviour. This study represents the first record of peculiar dancing behaviour related to search for food and feeding among Collembola. The new species is molecularly and morphologically assigned to the European Lepidocyrtus lignorum-group. Sequences of COXII and EF-1α genes, chaetotaxy and behaviour clearly help to differentiate the new species from the other species in the group.

Keywords: Collembola, Lepidocyrtinae, chaetotaxy, food preferences.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthropods*
  • Croatia
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Gastropoda*