Neotyphlini Coiffait, 1963

Neotyphlini Coiffait, 1963 View in CoL

Diagnosis. Maxillary palpi with palpomeres 2 and 3 strongly, equally dilated; ligula on anterior margin with two widely well-separated projections; mandibles lacking premolar tooth; coxal cavities with lateral excision on anterior margin which is prolonged by suture separating prosternum from proepisternum; all visible abdominal sternite lacking deep transversal sulcus.

Remarks. The most widespread tribe of the family with 20 genera and 51 valid species names which is considered to be the most primitive leptotyphlines ( Smetana 1986). The tribe is richest in taxa in the New World with 16 genera and 42 species, where Chile with 5 genera and 23 species and California ( USA) with 7 genera and 12 species are the richest known regions. One genus with two species is known from South Africa and three genera and seven species from Europe. Kladotyphlus and Megatyphlus are present in the Balkan Peninsula. Apheliotyphlus is monospecific genus known in Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) and because of the vicinity of this region to Slovenia, the presence of the genus in Slovenia can be plausible. All three European genera can be separated by the following key ( Pace 1999, translated and modified).

1 All tarsi with 2 tarsommeres; labrum on anterior margin more or less rectilinear, aedeagus with parameres.............. 2

- All tarsi with 3 tarsommeres; labrum with anterior margin with deep median excision forming long, lateral, divergent branches; aedeagus lacking parameres.............................................................. Kladotyphlus Pace View in CoL

2 Head capsule lacking sulcus in shape of V; aedeagus short, parameres strongly curved, with two distal setae, Italy (FriuliVenezia Giulia)...................................................................... Apheliotyphlus Pace View in CoL

- Head capsule with sulcus in shape of V; aedeagus very long, parameres rectilinear, with one distal seta Megatyphlus Coiffait View in CoL