Redescription and review of the most abundant conehead in Italy:<i>Acerentomon italicum</i>Nosek, 1969 (Protura: Acerentomidae)

Abstract

Acerentomon italicumis themost abundant species of Protura in Italy. In this paper, A. italicum is redescribed according to themost&#13;\nrecent revision of diagnostic characters (morphometry, porotaxy), examining the type material and 59 specimens from 11&#13;\ndifferent localities in our collection. For some characters, scanning electron microscope (SEM) pictures are presented. An&#13;\nupdated detailed catalogue extracted from the authors’ database is provided: A. italicum is reported from 91 Italian localities&#13;\n(mainly fromNorthern Italian regions) in a total of 520 ♂♂, 669 ♀♀, 28 pre-imagines, 69 maturi junior, 25 larvae II, four larvae I&#13;\nand eight undetermined. Few specimens were collected in Switzerland (two, about 5 km away from the Italian border), Austria&#13;\n(three), Slovenia (one) and Corsica (eight). The entire data set is analysed for information on phenology (juveniles detectable&#13;\nevery month in Liguria and Tuscany, but only during spring–summer in the remaining regions of Northern Italy) and sex ratio&#13;\n(M:F = 0.78) of this species. A. italicum was collected in localities from0 to 2000mabove sea level in the soil and litter of pure and&#13;\nmixed forest. The geological substratum, when recorded, was limestone, quartz/mica schists and conglomerates. The DNA&#13;\nbarcode is newly provided for 21 representatives from three Italian populations of A. italicum.