Family HETEROJAPYGIDAE

Heterojapyx evansi

© Copyright B. Rankin. CSIRO.

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Introduction

The subfamily Heterojapyginae was erected by Womersley (1939) and raised to family level by Pagés (1972). Four species have been described from Australia. Townsend (1970) noted close relationships between the New Zealand species Heterojapyx novaezeelandie (Verhoeff) and the Australian species.

Australian members of this family are 25–50 mm in length; cerci are reduced to a pair of strong, 1-segmented, pigmented forceps; the thorax has four pairs of spiracles and the abdomen seven pairs; and the antennae have trichobothria on more than three segments.

General References

Pagés, J. 1972. The systematic importance of Heterojapyx (Insecta: Diplura) pp. 105. in, 14th International Congress of Entomology Abstracts. Canberra : Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Entomological Society.

Townsend, J.I. 1970. Some notes on Heterojapyx novaezeelandiae (Verhoeff) (Diplura: Japygidae). New Zealand Entomologist 4(1969): 100-102

Womersley, H. 1939. Diplura. pp. 45-77 in Womersley, H. (ed.). Primitive Insects of South Australia. Silverfish, springtails and their allies. Adelaide : Frank Trigg, Government Printer.

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