a new genus and three new species of neanuridae (collembola) from north america

Abstract

Speleonura n. g. (Neanurinae) and the type species S. kenchristianseni n. sp., are described and illustrated from Porter's Cave, Bath County, Virginia. The new genus is characterized by the lack of eyes and the presence of well developed tubercles on the head and body, it is similar to Paleonura but the shape and disposition of the tubercles differentiate the new genus from others Neanurinae. The other two species described are Paleonura petebellingeri n. sp. (Neanurinae) from Skyline Caverns, Warren County, Virginia, similar to Paleonura anops (Christiansen & Bellinger, 1980) but they differ in the chaetotaxy on abdominal segments, and Morulina stevehopkini n. sp. (Morulininae) from litter of Mitchell County, North Carolina, which is easy to distinguish from other members of the genus because of its strong hypertrichosis.