Shedding Light on the Shadows: Hidden Diversity in the Italian Embioptera

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Zoology
• Biodiversity studies

Background:

• Traditional slide mounting methods for webspinners (Embioptera) limit comparative studies of type material.
• The three-dimensional structures of male terminalia are crucial for species-level differentiation in Embioptera.
• Webspinners are an understudied insect order, necessitating novel research approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a new dissection method for analyzing male terminalia in Embioptera.
• To overcome the limitations of traditional slide mounting techniques for comparative morphology.
• To identify and describe new Embioptera species in Italy and update existing records.

Main Methods:

• Dissection of male terminalia of Embioptera specimens.
• Comparative morphological analysis of three-dimensional structures.
• Revision of existing entomological collections and new field records.

Main Results:

• Identification and description of three new Embioptera species from Italy: Embia specolensis sp. nov. (Tuscany), Embia pandateriensis sp. nov. (Ventotene Island), and Embia brutia sp. nov. (Calabria).
• Successful comparison of three-dimensional male terminalia structures, overcoming limitations of slide mounts.
• Discovery of several new regional records for Italian Embioptera.

Conclusions:

• The new dissection method provides a more comprehensive understanding of Embioptera morphology.
• This study significantly contributes to the knowledge of Italian Embioptera fauna, highlighting three new species.
• The research establishes a foundation for future studies on Embioptera, including an updated checklist and provisional identification key.