A survey of basal insects (Microcoryphia and Zygentoma) from subterranean environments of Iran, with description of three new species.

A survey of wingless insects belonging to the orders Microcoryphia (=Archaeognatha) and Zygentoma (=Thysanura s. str.) has been performed in subterranean habitats of central Iran. As a result, several new species have been discovered. In this work, three new species are described: a new species of bristletail of the family Machilidae, Haslundiella iranica sp. n., a new silverfish of the family Lepismatidae, Ctenolepisma subterraneum sp. n., and a new Nicoletiidae, Lepidospora (Brinckina) momtaziana sp. n. These new taxa are compared with related species in their respective genera and keys for their identification are provided: one for all known species of Haslundiella and one for all basal insects of subterranean environments of Iran which includes those previously reported. Moreover, the previously published keys of Iranian Ctenolepisma and the subgenus Brinckina are modified to include the new species. Three additional species of Lepismatidae are reported in this work: Neoasterolepisma palmonii and Ctenolepisma targionii are newly recorded from Iran and both species, together with Acrotelsa collaris, are cited for the first time in the subterranean habitats. This survey progresses the knowledge on the biodiversity of these insects in Iran.