| abstract | In this note the author examines a classical species described by Berlese, Carabodes minusculus, and traces its brief history throughout the years in order to explain its acutal confused taxonomic interpretation.
The author redescribes C. minusculus on the basis of topotypical specimens: he defines the diagnostic characters of this species, as for instance the morphology of notogastral hairs and the prodorsal microsculpture and evidences also many other features, as the cerotegument and the chaetotaxy of the palp and legs.
Moreover, the author examines other Italian and European specimens, some of those up to now named C. minusculus, and points out that in reality they should be classified in 5 new species kindred to berlesian taxon.
Carabodes schatzi n.sp. is the species nearest to C. minusculus because it presents the same prodorsal microsculpture. Nevertheless the tubercles of the cuticle of this region are smaller and more dense than in Berleseʼs species. The notogastral hairs are long, erect, thin and ciliate.
Known distribution: Central Alps.
Carabodes pulcher n.sp. This species has an areolated prodorsal microsculpture. The notogastral hairs (marginal hairs included) are simple, erect and almost smooth. The aggenital hairs are missing. Known distribution: Northeastern Italy, Czechoslovakia.
Carabodes manganoi n.sp. is a species that presents many important diagnostic characters, for instance the long and thin sensillus, the slender and short prodorsal and notogastral hairs, the scattered tubercles of the dorsal microsculpture. Known distribution: Camaldoli (Central Italy).
Carabodes dissimilis n.sp. This large species differs remarkably from C. minusculus owing to its microsculpture. Except on the marginal band of the notogaster, it is evanescent or else lacking. The notogastral hairs are very long, erect and apparently smooth. In this species also the aggenital hairs are missing. Known distribution: Montecristo and Corsica.
Carabodes poggii n.sp. This species also differs remarkably from C. minusculus owing in some characters, as the general outline of the body, the ridges of the prodorsal and ventral microsculpture and the very long sensillus. Known distribution: Liguria and Provence.
After the description of the new species, the author points out that all the above mentioned taxa kindred to C. minusculus seem to constitute an isolated group in the genus Carabodes, owing to the homogeneity of their characters, as the morphology of the sensillus, the narrow dorsosejugal furrow, the colour and the type of the notogastral microsculpture.
Finally, the author gives the identification key of the species of the minusculus group. |