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The discovery of the enhancement of Raman scattering by molecules adsorbed on nanostructured metal surfaces is a landmark in the history of spectroscopic and analytical techniques. Significant experimental and theoretical effort has been directed toward understanding the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect and demonstrating its potential in various types of ultrasensitive sensing applications in a wide variety of fields. In the 45 years since its discovery, SERS has blossomed into a rich area of research and technology, but additional efforts are still needed before it can be routinely used analytically and in commercial products. In this Review, prominent authors from around the world joined together to summarize the state of the art in understanding and using SERS and to predict what can be expected in the near future in terms of research, applications, and technological development. This Review is dedicated to SERS pioneer and our coauthor, the late Prof. Richard Van Duyne, whom we lost during the preparation of this article., Funding is acknowledged from the European Research Council (ERC Advanced Grant No. 787510-4DBIOSERS to L.M.L.-M., ERC Advanced Grant No. 789104-eNANO to F.J.G.A., ERC Starting Grant No. 259432-MULTIBIOPHOT to J.K., ERC Consolidator Grant No. 772108-DarkSERS); the Department of Education of the Basque Government (Grant No. IT1164-19 to J.A.); the Spanish MINECO (CTQ2017-88648-R to R.A.-P., MAT2016-77809-R to I.P.-S. and J.P.-J.); the EPSRC (EP/P034063/1 to S.B., EP/L027151/1 to J.B., EP/L014165/1 to D.G. and K.F.); IDUN-Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF122) and Villum Fonden (Grant No. 9301) to A.B.; the National Research Foundation of Korea (Grant No. 2019R1A2C3004375 to J.B.); the German Science Foundation, DFG (SFB 1278 Polytarget (Project B4) to V.D., Grant No. SCHL 594/13-1 to S.S., Germany’s Excellence Strategy (EXC 2089/1-390776260) to S.M.); the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (BMBF) (Grant InfectoGnostics 13GW0096F to D.C.-M. and J.P.); DARPA-16-35-INTERCEPT-FP-018 to L.F.; the UK BBSRC (Grant No. BB/L014823/1 to R.G.); the Department of Science and Technology (DST Nanomission Project SR/NM/NS-23/2016 to K.G.T.); the U.S. National Science Foundation (Grant No. CHE-1707859 to A.J.H., Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology CHE-1503408 (Centers for Chemical Innovation Program) to C.L.H., Center for Chemical Innovation Chemistry at the Space-Time Limit (CaSTL) CHE-1414466 to G.C.S. and R.P.V.D., Grant No. CHE-1807269 to K.A.W.); the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation to M.K.; the Office of Naval Research (Grant No. N00014-18-1-2876 to N.A.K.); Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apa̅rangi to E.L.R. and B.A.; Singapore Ministry of Education, Tier 1 (RG11/18) to X.Y.L.; the Photoexcitonix Project in Hokkaido Univ., Japan, to K.M.; BioNano Health-Guard Research Center funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) of Korea as Global Frontier Project (Grant No. H-GUARD_2013M3A6B2078947) to J.-M.N.; NSFC of P. R. China (Grant No. 21705015 to Y.O., Grant No. 21633005 to B.R.); National Key R&D Program (2017YFA0206902) to C.X. This work was coordinated under the Maria de Maeztu Units of Excellence Program from the Spanish State Research Agency—Grant No. MDM-2017-0720.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) A Região Nordeste do Brasil, especificamente o Rio Grande do Norte, abriga remanescentes urbanos de Mata Atlântica com potencial diversidade biológica, porém ainda com um número bastante reduzido de registros de colêmbolos, particularmente, da subfamília Seirinae. Ao mesmo tempo, esses remanescentes urbanos têm uma grande influência antrópica, e o reconhecimento de sua diversidade é de suma importância para o seu manejo e manutenção. Sendo assim, este trabalho tem por objetivo realizar um estudo taxonômico das espécies de Seirinae ocorrentes em parte destes remanescentes, através da análise de indivíduos depositados em coleções que foram coletados entre os períodos de julho 2013 a julho de 2017, com o uso de aspiradores entomológicos e armadilhas de queda (pitfall traps). Foram redescritas quatro espécies do gênero Seira: S. paraibensis, S. arenicola, S. harena e S. brasiliana, utilizando novos métodos de montagem das lâminas, bem como descrição quetotáxica de estruturas não representadas anteriormente. A espécie Seira dapeste, recentemente descrita na área de estudo, também foi incluída no trabalho. S. arenicola quando comparada com S. brasiliana, S. coroatensis e S. mataraquensis apresenta divergências na quantidade de macroquetas da quetotaxia dorsal da cabeça como também na quantidade de espinhos do órgão metatrocanteral. S. paraibensis foi comparada com outras três espécies do gênero: S. harena, S. dapeste e S. diamantinae sinalizando diferenças no número de macroquetas da série “An” da quetotaxia cefálica e quantidade de espinhos no órgão metatrocanteral. S. harena comparada a S. dapeste, S. diamantinae e S. prodiga difere na quantidade de macroquetas da região cefálica, Abd I e Th III, pseudoporos da placa manubrial e espinhos do órgão metatrocanteral. S. brasiliana foi sinonimizada com S. potiguara e comparada com S. arenicola, S. jiboiensis e S. tinguira apresentando diferenças na quantidade de macroquetas do Abd. II e espinhos do colóforo posterior. Este trabalho além de mostrar a riqueza de colêmbolos em áreas de Mata Atlântica, contribui com o aumento do conhecimento da fauna de Entomobryoidea para Região Nordeste do Brasil, gerando metadados que são úteis para manutenção e manejo do Parque Estadual Dunas de Natal. The northeastern region of Brazil, specifically Rio Grande do Norte state, holds several spots of Atlantic Rainforest with potentially large biological diversity, nevertheless still with a quite limited number of registers of springtails, particularly, of the subfamily Seirinae. At the same time, urban remnants of forested areas present great anthropic influence and the recognition of this diversity is the first step for their maintenance. This study had for main objective to perform a taxonomic study of the Seirinae species in such urban remnants, through the analysis of specimens deposited at the Collembola Collection of UFRN, collected between the July 2013 to July of 2017 with entomological aspirators and pitfall traps. Four species of Seira were redescribed in detail: S. paraibensis, S. arenicola, S. harena and S. brasiliana. S. dapeste, recently described from the study area was also included in the study. S. arenicola when compared with S. brasiliana, S. coroatensis and S. mataraquensis is dissimilar especially in number of macrochaetae on dorsal head as well as in the quantity of spines of the metatrocanteral organ. S. paraibensis was compared with another three species: S. harena, S. dapeste and S. diamantine signaling differences in the number of macrochaetae on “An” series of the cephalic chaetotaxy and quantity of spines on metatrocanteral organ. S. harena compared to S. dapeste, S. diamantinae and S. prodiga differs in the quantity of the macrochaetae of cephalic region, Abd I, Th III, pseudopores in the manubrial plate and thorns on metatrocanteral organ. S. potiguara was identified as a junior synonym of S. brasiliana and it was compared with S. arenicola, S. jiboiensis e S. tinguira, and all species differ in number of the macrochaetae of Abd II and ventral tube chaetotaxy. This study contributes with the increase of knowledge of Entomobryoidea fauna from Northeastern region of Brazil, producing metadata which can be used for maintenance of Parque Estadual Dunas do Natal.

Key to Seira species from Madagascar with truncate unguiculus 1. Body pale with dark blue pigments on femur III distally (Fig. 12); Th II with series m and p with 2 (m1–2) and 0 mac, respectively (Fig. 14A); Abd IV with 7 central mac (B3 absent), and laterally with one group of about 14 mes beetween E–Fe series (Fig. 15B); manubrial plate with 4 blunt chaetae (Fig. 16H)................................ S. metafemurata sp. nov. - Body with different pigments pattern (Figs 2, 7); Th II with series m and p with 4 (m1, m2– 2i, m4) and 3 (p1–3 present) mac, respectively (Figs 4A, 9A); Abd IV with 8 central mac (B3 present), and laterally lacking mes group (Figs 5B, 10B); manubrial plate with all chaetae pointed, without modifications (Fig. 6G)................................................. 2 2. Body with violet pigments on Th II anteriorly (Fig. 2); dorsal head with A5 and M1 mac, S3 as mic (Fig. 3E); Th III devoid of central mac (Fig. 4B).............................................................. S. lepidochaetosa sp. nov. - Body with irregular dark pigments on Th III to Abd IV (Fig. 7); dorsal head with A5 and M1 mic, S3 as mac (Fig. 8B); Th III with 2 (p2 and p3) central mac (Fig. 9B)................................................ S. semicaerulea sp. nov.

Seira lepidochaetosa sp. nov. Cipola & Bellini Figs 2–6, 17, Table 1 Diagnosis. Body with violet pigments on Th II anteriorly (Fig. 2); clypeal chaetae l1–2 apically acuminate; outer labral papillae smaller than inner; labial papilla E with lateral process pointed (Figs 3 B–D); dorsal head with A5 and M1 mac, S3 as mic; postlabial chaetae G2–3 normal (Figs 3 E–F); Th III–Abd II with 11, 0, 0 and 3 central mac, respectively; Abd IV with 8 central mac and 15–16 lateral mac, without mes group (Figs 4, 5B); unguiculus truncate; collophore anteriorly with 7 proximal spine-like chaetae, posteriorly with 4 spines and lacking smooth chaetae; manubrium ventrally with 2/2 subapical chaetae; manubrial plate without blunt chaetae (Figs 6 E–G). Type material. Holotype female in slide (54926/ CAS): Madagascar, Toliara Province, Atsimo-Andrefana Region, Ambohimahavelona village, 23°26.45'S, 43°53.98'E (Fig. 17), dry forest, 45 m, 16–27.vii.2010, Malaisetrap, M. Irwin & R, Harin'Hala coll. Paratype in slide (54926/ CAS): 1 female, same data as holotype. Paratypes in slides (54922/ CAS): 3 females, same data as holotype, except 01–08.iv.2009. Paratypes in slides (059/ INPA): 2 females and 2 specimens in alcohol, same data as holotype, except 01.ix–03.x.2010. Paratypes in alcohol (54914/ CAS): 2 specimens, same data as holotype, except 10–13.vi.2010. Paratypes in alcohol (54923/ CAS): 7 specimens, same data as holotype, except 29.v–02.vi.2010. Description. Total length (head+trunk) of specimens 2.21–2.88 mm (n=4), holotype 2.88 mm. Specimens pale white with dark violet pigments on anterior head, anterior to lateral edges of Th II, one latero-distal spot on Abd IV and distal half of femur III; and light pigments on Ant II–IV, Abd III laterally, Abd V, and femur II distally; eyepatches black (Fig. 2). Scales present from Ant I to one basal third of Ant III, all head, thorax and abdomen, legs (except empodia), anterior side of collophore, both sides of the manubrium and dentes ventrally. Head. Ratio antennae: trunk=1: 1.72–1.82 (n =3), holotype 1: 1.82; antennal segments ratio as I: II: III: IV=1: 1.32–1.50: 1.16–1.45: 1.75–2.15, holotype 1: 1.32: 1.28: 1.75. Ant IV not annulated, with apical bulb apically bilobed. Ant III distally with 1 apical sensory rod elongated and 1 rounded, 3 guard sens, some blunt sens of different sizes and ciliate chaetae (Fig. 3A). Clypeal formula with 4 (l1–2), 2 (f), 3 (pf0–1) ciliate chaetae, l1–2 larger and apically acuminate, frontal chaetae gently smaller (Fig. 3B). Four labral papillae apically pointed, outer papillae smaller (Fig. 3C). Labial papilla E with lateral process (l.p.) apically pointed and exceeding the base of the papilla (Fig. 3D). Maxillary palp with smooth apical appendage (a.a.) and basal chaeta (b.c.) weakly ciliated, thicker and 1.09 longer than the apical. Eyes A and B larger, G and H smaller, with 5 interocular chaetae (q, s, p, r, t); head dorsal chaetotaxy (Fig. 3E) with 11 ‘An’ (An1a–3, An2a mic present), 4 ‘A’ (A4 mic present), 2 ‘M’ (M1, M4), 1 ‘S’ mac (S6), and 1 ‘Pa’ (Pa5) mac. Ventral chaetotaxy with about 14 ciliate chaetae, postlabial formula 4, 2 (H2 absent), 4 chaetae; basal chaeta (b.c.) largest (Fig. 3F). Species of Seira Characteristics lepidochaetosa semicaerulea metafemurata sp. nov. sp. nov. sp. nov. Clypeal l2 chaeta acuminate normal acuminate Postlabial G2 normal smaller smaller chaetae G3 normal smaller smaller Process lateral of pointed finger-like finger-like labial papilla E Head dorsal A 4 m – m chaetotaxy A5 M M m M1 M m M S 3 m M M S 5 m – – S6 M M m Pe 3 m M m Th II mac m 2i M M m m4 M M m p1 M M m p2 M M m p3 M M m Th III mac p 2 m M M p 3 m M m Abd IV mac central 8 8 7 lateral 15–16 13 15 lateral mes group – – 14 Subcoxa I 5 5 5 Subcoxa II a row 11 11 12 p row 5–7, 4psp 4, 2psp 5, 3psp Subcoxa III 11 10 11 Metatrocanteral organ 33 39 31 Collophore anterior side 7sp 7sp 5sp chaetotaxy posterior side 4sp, 3C 3sp, 1C 4sp, 1C, 1S lateral flap 2S, 16C 4S, 14C 5S, 15C Subapical chaetae of 2 4 4 Ventral manubrium Blunt chaetae on – – 4 manubrial plate Symbols used to represent the morphological characteristics: (C) ciliated chaeta; (S) smooth chaeta; (M) mac; (m) mic; (psp) pseudoporus; (–) absent. Thorax chaetotaxy (Figs 4 A–B). Th II a, m and p series with 4 (a 5i 2–5p), 4 (m1, m2– 2i, m4) and 3 (p1–3) mac, respectively; apex distally with numerous mic and scales interspersed. Th III a, m and p series with 0, 1 (m6) and 0 mac, respectively; p2ea mic absent. Ratio Th II:III =2.90–2.65: 1 (n =3), holotype 2.90: 1. Abdomen chaetotaxy (Figs 4 C–D, 5A–C). Abd I without mac, a, m and p series with 5 (a1–3, a5–6), 5 (m2–6) and 2 (p5–6) mic, respectively, m 4i absent. Abd II a, m and p series with 1 (a2), 3 (m3–3e, m5) and 0 mac, respectively, a2p and m3ep mic present. Abd III a, m and p series with 0, 3 (m3, am6, pm6) and 1 (p6) mac, respectively, a2 and p3 as accessory mic. Abd IV with 8 central mac of A–T series (A3–5, B3–6, C1) and 15–16 lateral mac of E–Fe series (E2–4p, Ee10, F1–3, Fe1–5); 7 sens (ps type I, others type II) and 8 posterior mes present. Abd V a, m and p series with 1 (a5), 4 (m2–3, m5–5e) and 5 (p1, p3–6) mac, respectively. Ratio Abd III:IV=1: 2.65–4.41 (n= 3), holotype 1: 4.41. Legs. Subcoxa I with 5 chaetae and 2 psp; subcoxa II with an anterior row of 11 chaetae, posterior row of 5–7 chaetae and 4 psp; subcoxa III with one row of 11 chaetae and 2 posterior psp (Figs 6 A–C). Trochanteral organ with about 33 spine-like chaetae (Fig. 6D). Tibiotarsus III generally subdivided on distal two thirds. Unguis with basal and median teeth with the same length, apical tooth smaller. Unguiculus with ai lamellae truncate, others acuminate, all lamellae smooth (ai, ae, pi, pe); ratio unguis:unguiculus=1: 0.55. Tibiotarsus III distally with one inner smooth chaeta 1.32 larger than unguiculus; tenent hair capitate, finely ciliate, and 0.80 smaller than unguis outer edge (as Figs 11 E–F). Collophore (Fig. 6E). Anterior side with 15 chaetae, basally 7 spine-like chaetae, 1 thin mic, 2 inner mic and 2 long ciliate chaetae apically acuminate, distally with 2 mac and 1 long ciliate chaetae apically acuminate; posterior side distally with 7 chaetae per side, 4 reduced spine and 3 ciliate chaetae; lateral flap with 2 smooth and 17 ciliate chaetae. Furcula (Figs 6 F–G). Manubrium ventrally with formula 1, 2, 2, 2/2 (subapical), 16–18 (apical) ciliate chaetae and approximately 17 elongated apical scales per side; manubrial plate with 8 ciliate chaetae of different sizes and 3 psp. Furcula lacking blunt chaetae. Etymology. Refers to the similarity with the genus Lepidocyrtus Bourlet, 1839 in the habitus and reduction of macrochaetae (Fig. 2).

Seira metafemurata sp. nov. Cipola & Bellini Figs 12–17, Table 1 Diagnosis. Body with dark blue pigments on femur III distally (Fig. 12); clypeal chaetae l1–2 apically acuminate (Fig. 13B); outer labral papillae subequal to inner; labial papilla E with lateral process finger-shaped; dorsal head with M1 and S3 mac, A5 as mic (Fig. 13C); chaetae G2–3 postlabial thin and smaller than G1 and G4 (as in Fig. 8C); Th III–Abd II with 5–6, 1, 0 and 3 central mac, respectively; Abd IV with 7 central mac and 15 lateral mac, plus one group of 14 mes (Figs 14, 15B); unguiculus truncate; collophore anteriorly with 5 proximal spine-like chaetae, posteriorly with 4 spines plus 1 smooth chaeta; manubrium ventrally with 2/4 subapical chaetae; manubrial plate with 4 blunt chaetae (Figs 16 E–H). Type material. Holotype female on slide (54128/ CAS): Madagascar, Toamasina, Réserve Nationale Intégrale Betampona, 17°54'58"S, 049°12'07"E (Fig. 17), Rainforest, 550 m, 24.iv–04.v.2008, Malaise trap, BL Fisher coll. 4 paratypes on slides (54128/ CAS): 1 male and 3 females, same data as holotype. 6 paratypes in alcohol (54153, 56/ CAS), same data as holotype, except 03–10.viii.2008, 28.ix–05.x.2008. 6 paratypes in alcohol (062/ INPA), same data as holotype, except 24–31.viii.2008. Additional material: 4 females in slides (54107/ CAS): Madagascar, Toamasina, Moramanga, Mantadia National Park, Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, 18°45'39"S, 048°22'17"E (Fig. 17), Rainforest, 1044 m, 23- 28.xi.2012, Malaise trap, BL Fisher coll. 1 specimen in alcohol (54107/ CAS): idem, except 18°45'23"S, 048°25'19"E, 1036 m, 02-09.xii.2012. Description. Total length (head+trunk) of specimens 2.10–2.43 mm (n=4), holotype 2.42 mm. Specimens pale white with dark blue pigments on anterior head and femur III distally; vestigial pigmentation on Ant I–IV distally; eyepatches black (Fig. 12). Scales present from Ant I to basal halfs of Ant III, all head, thorax and abdomen, legs (except empodia), anterior collophore, both side of the manubrium and dentes ventrally. Head. Ratio antennae:trunk=1: 2.73–4.10 (n =3), holotype 1: 2.73; antennal segments ratio as I: II: III: IV = 1: 1.22–1.46: 1.58–1.66: 1.80–2.27, holotype 1: 1.42: 1.58: 1.80. Ant IV not annulated, with apical bulb apically bilobed. Ant III distally with 2 apical sensory rods alongated, 3 guard sens, some blunt sens of different sizes and ciliate chaetae (Fig. 13A). Clypeal formula with 4 (l1–2), 2 (f), 3 (pf0–1) ciliate chaetae, l1–2 larger and apically acuminate, frontal chaetae gently smaller (Fig. 13B). Four labral papillae apically pointed and subequal. Labial papilla E with lateral process (l.p.) finger-shaped and exceeding the base of the papilla (as Fig. 8A). Maxillary palp with smooth apical appendage (a.a.) and basal chaeta (b.c.) weakly ciliated, thicker and 1.20 larger than the apical. Eyes A and B larger, G and H smaller, with 5 interocular chaetae (q, s, p, r, t); head dorsal chaetotaxy (Fig. 13C) with 10 ‘An’ (An1a–3, An2a mic present), 3 ‘A’ (A4 mic present), 2 ‘M’ (M1, M4), 1 ‘S’ mac (S3), and 1 ‘Pa’ (Pa5) mac. Ventral chaetotaxy with about 14 ciliate chaetae, postlabial formula 4, 2 (H2 absent), 4 chaetae, G2–3 thin and smaller; basal chaeta (b.c.) largest (as Fig. 8C). Thorax chaetotaxy (Figs 14 A–B). Th II a, m and p series with 3–4 (a 5i 2–5p), 4 (m1, m2) and 0 mac, respectively; apex distally with numerous mic and scales interspersed. Th III a, m and p series with 0, 1 (m6) and 1 (p2) mac, respectively; p2ea mic absent. Ratio Th II:III =2.32–1.67: 1 (n=4), holotype 1.74: 1. Abdomen chaetotaxy (Figs 14 C–D, 15A–B). Abd I without mac, a, m and p series with 5 (a1–3, a5–6), 5 (m2–6) and 2 (p5–6) mic, respectively, m 4i absent. Abd II a, m and p series with 1 (a2), 3 (m3–3e, m5) and 0 mac, respectively, m3ep mic present, a2p absent. Abd III a, m and p series with 1 (a7), 3 (m3, am6, pm6) and 3 (p6, p7– 7i) mac, respectively, a2 as accessory chaeta, p3 absent. Abd IV with 7 central mac of A–T series (A3–5, B4– 6, C1) and 15 lateral mac of E–Fe series (E2–4p, Ee10, F1–3, Fe1–5), plus one group of 14 mes; 3 sens (ps type I, others type II) and 8 posterior mes present. Abd V a, m and p series with 1 (a5), 4 (m2–3, m5–5e) and 5 (p1, p3– 6) mac, respectively. Ratio Abd III:IV=1: 3.35–4.75 (n =4), holotype 1: 4.75. Legs. Subcoxa I with 5 chaetae and 2 psp; subcoxa II with an anterior row of 12 chaetae, posterior row of 5 chaetae and 3 psp; subcoxa III with one row of 11 chaetae and 2 posterior psp (Figs 16 A–C). Trochanteral organ with about 31 spine-like chaetae (Fig. 16D). Tibiotarsus III normal, not subdivided. Unguis with basal and median teeth with the same length, apical tooth minute and sometimes absent. Unguiculus with ai lamellae truncate, others acuminate, all lamellae smooth (ai, ae, pi, pe); ratio unguis: unguiculus= 1: 0.62. Tibiotarsus III distally with one inner smooth chaeta 1.25 larger than unguiculus; tenent hair capitate, finely ciliate, and 1.28 larger than unguis outer edge (Fig. 16E). Collophore (Fig. 16F). Anterior side with 11 chaetae, basally 5 spine-like chaetae, 1 thin mic ciliate, 3 long ciliate chaetae apically acuminate and 2 distal mac; posterior side distally with 6 chaetae per side, 4 reduced spine, 1 ciliate chaetae and 1 smooth chaetae; lateral flap with 5 smooth and 15 ciliate chaetae. Furcula (Figs 16 G–H). Manubrium ventrally with formula 1, 2, 2, 2/4 (subapical), 16–18 (apical) ciliate chaetae and approximately 15 elongated apical scales per side; manubrial plate with 4 blunt ciliate chaetae apically bullet-like, 4–5 ciliate chaetae of different sizes and 3 psp. Dorsal dens lacking blunt chaetae. Etymology. Refers to restricted pigmentson femur III of the new species (Fig. 12). Remarks. The three new species described here are similar in habitus to Lepidocyrtus species, including: short antennae, Th. II with anterior hood, truncate unguiculus, and reduction of dorsal macrochaetotaxy, as head without posterior mac (Pa, Pm and Pp series), Th II–III respectively with up 11 and 2 central mac, Abd I devoid of mac, and Abd II with 3 central mac. In the other hand, these species differ from each other by very distinct color patterns (Figs 2, 7, 12), clypeal chaetae l1–2 apically acuminate (only l 1 in S. semicaerulea sp. nov.), lateral process of papilla E finger-shaped (pointed in S. lepidochaetosa sp. nov.), chaetae G2–3 postlabial thin and smaller than G1 and G4 (all similar in S. lepidochaetosa sp. nov.), and manubrial plate with blunt chaetae only in S. metafemurata sp. nov. (Fig. 16H). Among the new described species, the head chaetotaxy differ by mac A5 and M1 present and S3 absent in S. lepidochaetosa sp. nov., while in S. semicaerulea sp. nov. and S. metafemurata sp. nov. is opposite, except by M1 mac in this last species (Figs 3E, 8B, 13C). In addition, S. semicaerulea sp. nov. has 2 posterior mac of Pe series (absent in S. lepidochaetosa sp. nov. and S. metafemurata sp. nov.). In Th II chaetotaxy they differ by presence of 5–6 central mac in S. metafemurata sp. nov. (11 in S. lepidochaetosa sp. nov. and S. semicaerulea sp. nov.), while in Th III there are 0, 1 and 2 central mac respectively in S. lepidochaetosa sp. nov., S. metafemurata sp. nov. and S. semicaerulea sp. nov. (Figs 4 A–B, 9A–B, 14A–B). Finally, the Abd IV chaetotaxy in S. metafemurata sp. nov. differs by 7 central mac (B3 absent), and laterally with one group of about 14 mes beetewn E–Fe series (Fig. 15B), while in S. lepidochaetosa sp. nov. and S. semicaerulea sp. nov. there are 8 central mac (B3 present) and laterally both lack this mes group (Figs 5B, 10B). The differences of species are presented in Table 1.

Seira semicaerulea sp. nov. Cipola & Bellini Figs 7–11, 17, Table 1 Diagnosis. Body with irregular dark pigments on Th III–Abd IV (Fig. 7); clypeal chaetae l2 not acuminate; outer labral papillae subequal to inner; labial papilla E with lateral process finger-shaped (Fig. 8A); dorsal head with S3 mac, A5 and M1 as mic; postlabial chaetae G2–3 thin and smaller than G1 and G4 (Figs 8 B–C); Th III–Abd II with 11, 2, 0 and 3 central mac, respectively; Abd IV with 8 central mac and 13 lateral mac, without mes group (Figs 9, 10B); unguiculus truncate; collophore anteriorly with 7 proximal spine-like chaetae, posteriorly with 3 spines lacking smooth chaetae; manubrium ventrally with 2/4 subapical chaetae; manubrial plate without blunt chaetae (Figs 11 E–H). Type material. Holotype female in slide (54361/ CAS): Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Haute Matsiatra Region, Ambalavao municipality, Anja Community Reserve, 22°43.23'S, 46°15.47'E (Fig. 17), isleberg vegetation, 1097 m, 12–18.vi.2012, Malaise-trap, M Irwin & R Harin'Hala coll. Paratypes in slide (54361/ CAS): 2 males and 2 females, same data as holotype. Paratype in slide (061/ INPA): 1 male, same data as holotype, except 17–24.i.2013. Description. Total length (head+trunk) of specimens 1.94–2.90 mm (n=4), holotype 2.90 mm. Specimens pale white, females with navy blue speckled pigment on Th II to Abd III, in males such segments weakly pigmented or depigmented, both sexes with pigments on all Abd IV, and distal half of femur III; Ant III–IV orange or depigmented; eyepatches black (Figs 7 A–B). Scales present from Ant I to two basal thirds of Ant III, all head, thorax and abdomen, legs (except empodia), anterior collophore, both side of the manubrium and dentes ventrally. Head. Ratio antennae:trunk =1: 1.77–1.96 (n =4), holotype 1: 1.96; antennal segments ratio as I: II: III: IV =1: 1.44–1.61: 1.52–1.76: 1.93–2.51, holotype 1: 1.48: 1.57: 1.93. Ant IV not annulated, with apical bulb apically bilobed. Ant III distally with 2 apical sensory rods alongated, 3 guard sens, some blunt sens of different sizes and ciliate chaetae. Clypeal formula with 4 (l1–2), 2 (f), 3 (pf0–1) ciliate chaetae, l1–2 larger, l1 apically acuminate, frontal chaetae gently smaller. Four labral papillae apically pointed and subequal. Labial papilla E with lateral process (l.p.) finger-shaped and exceeding the base of the papilla (Fig. 8A). Maxillary palp with smooth apical appendage (a.a.) and basal chaeta (b.c.) weakly ciliated, thicker and 1.34 longer than the apical. Eyes A and B larger, G and H smaller, with 5 interocular chaetae (q, s, p, r, t); head dorsal chaetotaxy (Fig. 8B) with 10 ‘An’ (An1a–3, An2a mic present), 3 ‘A’ (A4 mic absent), 1 ‘M’ (M4), 2 ‘S’ mac (S3, S6), and 1 ‘Pa’ (Pa5) mac. Ventral chaetotaxy with about 14 ciliate chaetae, postlabial formula 4, 2 (H2 absent), 4 chaetae, G2–3 thin and smaller; basal chaeta (b.c.) largest (Fig. 8C). Thorax chaetotaxy (Figs 9 A–B). Th II a, m and p series with 4 (a 5i 2–5p), 4 (m1, m2– 2i, m4) and 3 (p1–3) mac, respectively; apex distally with numerous mic and scales interspersed. Th III a, m and p series with 0, 1 (m6) and 2 (p2–3) mac, respectively; p2ea mic present. Ratio Th II:III=1.97–1.80: 1 (n=4), holotype 1.97: 1. Abdomen chaetotaxy (Figs 9 C–D, 10A–C). Abd I without mac, a, m and p series with 5 (a1–3, a5–6), 5 (m2– 6) and 2 (p5–6) mic, respectively, m 4i absent. Abd II a, m and p series with 1 (a2), 3 (m3–3e, m5) and 0 mac, respectively, m3ep mic present, a2p absent. Abd III a, m and p series with 0–1 (a7), 3 (m3, am6, pm6) and 1–2 (p6–7) mac, respectively, p3 mic present, a2 absent. Abd IV with 8 central mac of A–T series (A3–5, B3–6, C1, as in Fig. 5B) and 13 lateral mac of E–Fe series (E2–3, E4p, Ee10, F1–3, Fe3–5); 7 sens (ps type I, others type II) and 8 posterior mes present. Abd V a, m and p series with 1 (a5), 4 (m2–3, m5–5e) and 5 (p1, p3–6) mac, respectively. Ratio Abd III:IV =1: 3.47–4.87 (n=4), holotype 1: 3.72. Legs. Subcoxa I with 5 chaetae and 2 psp; subcoxa II with an anterior row of 11 chaetae, posterior row of 4 chaetae and 2 psp; subcoxa III with one row of 11 chaetae and 2 posterior psp (Figs 11 A–C). Trochanteral organ with about 39 spine-like chaetae (Fig. 11D). Tibiotarsus III generally subdivided on distal two thirds. Unguis with basal and median teeth with the same length, apical tooth minute and sometimes absent. Unguiculus with ai lamellae truncate, others acuminate, all lamellae smooth (ai, ae, pi, pe); ratio unguis:unguiculus=1: 0.58. Tibiotarsus III distally with one inner smooth chaeta 1.29 larger than unguiculus; tenent hair capitate, finely ciliate, and 0.88 smaller than unguis outer edge (Figs 11 E–F). Collophore (Fig. 11G). Anterior side with 15 chaetae, basally 7 spine-like chaetae, 1 thin mic, 2 inner mic and 2 long ciliate chaetae apically acuminate, distally with 2 mac and 1 long ciliate chaetae apically acuminate (as in Fig. 6E); posterior side distally with 4 chaetae per side, 3 reduced spine and 1 ciliate chaeta; lateral flap with 5 smooth and 14 ciliate chaetae. Furcula (Fig. 11H). Manubrium ventrally with formula 1, 2, 2, 2/4 (subapical), 18 (apical) ciliate chaetae and approximately 18 elongated apical scales per side; manubrial plate with 8 ciliate chaetae of different sizes and 3 psp (as in Fig. 6G). Furcula lacking blunt chaetae. Etymology. Refers to the irregular blue color over the body of the new species (from Latin: semi— half and caeruleo— bluish) (Figs 7 A–B)., Published as part of Cipola, Nikolas Gioia, Morais, José Wellington De & Bellini, Bruno Cavalcante, 2018, Three new species of Seira Lubbock (Collembola, Entomobryidae, Seirinae) from Madagascar with Lepidocyrtus - like habitus, pp. 151-173 in Zootaxa 4524 (2) on pages 159-165, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4524.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2610381

The development of middle-infrared (MIR) sensors for organic pollutants monitoring in the aquatic environment is currently a challenge of great importance. The mid-infrared sensor based on evanescent wave spectroscopy is a promising analytical tool for simultaneous detection and quantification of a variety of pollutants such as hydrocarbon compounds. Chalcogenide glasses are particularly well adapted for sensing applications due to their wide domain of transparence (up to 10-16 µm depending on their composition). The aims of this study are to synthetize chalcogenide thin films for developing mid-infrared optical integrated platforms and perform their functionalization with polymers in order to increase the sensor sensitivity. Among (GeSe2)100-x(Sb2Se3)x glass compositions, two selenide glass targets were chosen for their optical and physical properties. Thanks to attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, measurements were performed in water to detect aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene and the three xylene isomers) in the concentrations range of 25 ppb to 10 ppm. Detection measurements have also been fulfilled using seawater and ground-water. To increase their sensitivity, the use of metallic nanoparticles is one of the promising solutions based on Surface Enhanced Infrared Absorption (SEIRA). Thus, hybrid structures combining gold nanoparticles/chalcogenide glass and waveguides were fabricated and characterized.; La mise au point de capteurs optiques moyen infrarouge (MIR) pour la surveillance des polluants organiques dans l'environnement aquatique est actuellement un défi de grande importance. Les capteurs MIR basés sur la spectroscopie à ondes évanescentes sont des outils d'analyse prometteurs pour la détection et la quantification simultanées d'une variété de polluants tels que les composés hydrocarbonés. Les verres de chalcogénure sont particulièrement bien adaptés aux applications de détection en raison de leur large domaine de transparence (jusqu'à 10-16 µm en fonction de leur composition). Ainsi, des films minces de chalcogénure pour le développement de plates-formes optiques intégrées ont été synthétisés. Leur fonctionnalisation par des polymères afin d'augmenter la sensibilité des capteurs a également été réalisée. Parmi les compositions de verre (GeSe2)100-x(Sb2Se3)x, deux cibles en verre séléniure ont été choisies pour leurs propriétés optiques et physiques. Grâce à la spectroscopie de réflexion totale atténuée, des mesures ont été effectuées dans l'eau pour détecter les hydrocarbures aromatiques (benzène, toluène et les trois isomères du xylène) dans des concentrations comprises entre 250 ppb et 40 ppm. Des mesures de détection ont également été effectuées à l'aide d'eau de mer et d'eau souterraine. Pour augmenter leur sensibilité, l'utilisation de nanoparticules métalliques est l'une des solutions prometteuses basées sur l'absorption infrarouge améliorée en surface (SEIRA). Ainsi, des structures hybrides combinant nanoparticules d'or déposées sur des verres de chalcogénure ont été fabriquées et caractérisées.

Nanofluidic devices have offered us fascinating analytical platforms for chemical and bioanalysis by exploiting unique properties of liquids and molecules confined in nanospaces. The increasing interests in nanofluidic analytical devices have triggered the development of new robust and sensitive detection techniques, especially label-free ones. IR absorption spectroscopy is one of the most powerful biochemical analysis methods for identification and quantitative measurement of chemical species in the label-free and non-invasive fashion. However, the low sensitivity and the difficulties in fabrication of IR-compatible nanofluidic devices are major obstacles that restrict the applications of IR spectroscopy in nanofluidics. Here, we realized the bonding of CaF2 and SiO2 at room temperature and demonstrated an IR-compatible nanofluidic device that allowed the IR spectroscopy in a wide range of mid-IR regime. We also performed the integration of metal-insulator-metal perfect absorber metamaterials into nanofluidic devices for plasmon-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy with ultrahigh sensitivity. This study also shows a proof-of-concept of the multi-band absorber by combining different types of nanostructures. The results indicate the potential of implementing metamaterials in tracking several characteristic molecular vibrational modes simultaneously, making it possible to identify molecular species in mixture or complex biological entities.

In this paper, we report on a general method to optimise the optical characteristics of 2D-arrays of plasmonic gold nanoantennas performing as band-pass filter functionalised metasurfaces to be used as high-sensitivity mid-infrared spectroscopic sensors. We demonstrate that it is possible to increase their sensitivity in the detection of chemical and biological substances when the sensors are used in the surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) technique. This technique allows revealing the presence of a substance adsorbed on the nanoantennas by measuring its optical absorption under the conditions for which the maximum value of the functionalised metasurface reflectivity occurs at the same wavelength of the substance maximum absorption peak. In particular, numerical simulations based on finite element method of the metasurface detection response demonstrate the possibility to increase the sensor sensitivity of more than four orders of magnitude with respect to that one achievable if the same amount of the substance is deposited on an unstructured planar metal surface. These results can be obtained by acting on the 2D-array periodicity, nanoantenna shape (i.e. rod and cross), size and thickness independently from the wavelength at which the substance absorption occurs. Moreover, in the case of cross-shaped nanoantennas, we report a complete numerical characterisation of the dependence of the metasurface maximum reflectivity and peak wavelength on the variation of the geometrical parameters of both the nanoantennas and the 2D-array.

This thesis reports on studies of plasmonic nanoparticles and particularly gold nanostars as signal enhancers and contrast agents for biophotonic applications including visualisation, treatment of living cells and chemical sensing. In this thesis, the optical properties of nanoparticles of different size and morphology and their silica composites were compared. Because they are the most suitable plasmonic nanostructures, gold nanostars were utilised for optical imaging modalities such as confocal microscopy and Doppler optical coherence tomography. The ability of gold nanoparticles to enhance the signal in surface-enhanced vibrational spectroscopy, including Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was additionally studied. Finally, various gold nanoparticles were applied for cell optoporation to increase the penetration ability of exogeneous substances. In summary, significant advantages of nanostars such as their low-toxicity, high scattering and contrast abilities, in addition to a broad, tunable, plasmon resonance wavelength range, as well as the capability to enhance the signal of analyte molecules in vibrational spectroscopy were demonstrated in this thesis. The results of this study on the effectiveness of nanostars have a broad scope of utility and open a wide perspective for their utilisation in nanobiophotonics and biomedicine. Tiivistelmä Tämä opinnäytetyö kertoo tutkimuksista, joissa plasmoninanopartikkeleita ja erityisesti kultananotähtiä on käytetty signaalinvahvistimina biofotoniikan sovelluksissa, kuten visualisointi, elävien solujen käsittely ja kemiallinen tunnistus. Tässä työssä verrattiin eri kokoisten ja muotoisten nanopartikkeleiden ja niiden piioksidikomposiittien optisia ominaisuuksia. Sopivimpina plasmoninanorakenteina kultananotähtiä käytettiin optisiin kuvantamismenetelmiin, kuten konfokaalimikroskopiaan ja Doppler-optiseen koherenssitomografiaan. Lisäksi kuvattiin myös kultananopartikkelien kykyä parantaa pinta-aktivoidun värähtelevän spektroskopian signaalia, mukaan lukien Raman- ja Fourier-muunnos-infrapuna-spektroskopia. Lopuksi, eri kultananopartikkeleita käytettiin soluoptoporaatioon eksogeenisten aineiden läpäisevyyden lisäämiseksi. Yhteenvetona, työssä osoitettiin nanotähtien merkittävät edut, kuten matala-myrkyllisyys, suuret sironta- ja kontrastiominaisuudet, laaja plasmoniresonanssin aallonpituusalue ja sen viritettävyys, sekä kyky parantaa analyyttimolekyylien signaalia värähtelyspektroskopiassa. Niinpä tutkimustulokset nanotähtien tehokkuudesta ovat laajasti käyttökelpoisia ja ne avaavat laajan näkökulman niiden hyödyntämiseen nanobiofotoniikassa ja biolääketieteessä.

Seira domestica (Nicolet, 1842) Degeeria domestica Nicolet, 1842: 76. Seira domestica – Lubbock 1870: 279. CITATIONS FROM ALGERIA OUTSIDE COLLO. — Denis (1924: 248, as Sira groupe domestica-subdomestica); Thibaud & Massoud (1980: 519); Ait-Mouloud et al. (2007: 151). DISTRIBUTION. — Euro-Mediterranean region (Gisin 1960). REMARK Rather frequent in our samples. Possible contamination during extraction in Constantine., Published as part of Bendjaballah, Mohamed, Zoughailech, Abdelmalek, Brahim-Bounab, Hayette, Hamra-Kroua, Salah, Bedos, Anne & Deharveng, Louis, 2018, Annotated checklist of the springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) of the Collo massif, northeastern Algeria, pp. 389-414 in Zoosystema 40 (16) on page 408, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2018v40a16, http://zenodo.org/record/4335964, {"references":["DENIS J. R. 1924. - Sur les Collemboles du museum de Paris. Bulletin de la Societe entomologique de France 93: 211 - 260.","THIBAUD J. M. & MASSOUD Z. 1980. - Etude des Collemboles de certains milieux du Maroc et considerations biogeographiques sur la faune du Maghreb. Revue suisse de Zoologie 87 (2): 513 - 548. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 85530","GISIN H. 1960. - Collembolenfauna Europas. Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Geneve, 312 p."]}

Seira sp. REMARKS Another species of Seira, with color pattern, is present, but very rare, in our samples. The condition of the material did not allow specific identification. Outside Collo, several species of Seira are cited from Algeria by Denis (1924, 1925), Jacquemart (1974), Thibaud & Massoud (1980) and Baquero et al. (2009). Order SYMPHYPLEONA Börner, 1901 Family ARRHOPALITIDAE Richards, 1968 Genus Arrhopalites Börner, 1906 Arrhopalites cf. infrasecundarius, Published as part of Bendjaballah, Mohamed, Zoughailech, Abdelmalek, Brahim-Bounab, Hayette, Hamra-Kroua, Salah, Bedos, Anne & Deharveng, Louis, 2018, Annotated checklist of the springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) of the Collo massif, northeastern Algeria, pp. 389-414 in Zoosystema 40 (16) on pages 408-409, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2018v40a16, http://zenodo.org/record/4335964, {"references":["DENIS J. R. 1924. - Sur les Collemboles du museum de Paris. Bulletin de la Societe entomologique de France 93: 211 - 260.","DENIS J. R. 1925. - Sur les Collemboles d'Afrique du Nord. Bulletin de la Societe d'Histoire naturelle d'Afrique du Nord 16: 254 - 256.","JACQUEMART S. 1974. - Resultats de la mission anthropologique belge au Niger. Collemboles nouveaux du Sahara. Bulletin de l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, Entomologie 50: 1 - 46.","THIBAUD J. M. & MASSOUD Z. 1980. - Etude des Collemboles de certains milieux du Maroc et considerations biogeographiques sur la faune du Maghreb. Revue suisse de Zoologie 87 (2): 513 - 548. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 85530","BAQUERO E., HAMRA- KROUA S. & JORDANA R. 2009. - A new species of Entomobrya from northern Algeria (Collembola: Entomobryidae). Entomological News 120: 65 - 75. https: // doi. org / 10.3157 / 021.120.0113"]}

Seira betica sp. nov. Cipola & Arbea Figs 3 A, E, 30‒34, Tables 1‒2 Diagnosis. Body with two longitudinal bands on Th II‒Abd II, and Abd III‒ IV with irregular transverse spots or restricted on head and thorax laterally when preserved in alcohol (Figs 3 A, E); head mac M 4i, S4, Pa 4 and Pp 6 absent, eyepatches with 4 interocular chaetae (q absent) (Fig. 31E); labral papillae conical, outer papillae reduced to conical projections (Fig. 31C); Th II with 5 medio-central mac (m1‒ 1i 2, m2‒ 2i) and PmA‒PmC groups with 7‒9, 3 and 6 mac respectively (Fig. 32 A); Th III ‒ Abd III with 15‒17, 6, 5 and 1‒2 (rarely a3 as mac) central mac, respectively (Figs 32 B‒E); Abd IV with 14 central mac, 16‒17 lateral mac and about 10 psp anteriorly (Fig. 33 A); unguis apical tooth present (Fig. 34E); unguiculus outer edge serrated and with proximal tooth (Fig. 34E); manubrium ventrally with 2/2 subapical and 14‒20 apical chaetae (Fig. 34G). Type material. Holotype female on slide (EHL0005/MNCN): Spain, Huelva Province, Minas de Riotinto municipality (37°39'11''N; 06°37'10''W), on wood, 445 m, 11.x.2015, A. Burgers coll. Paratypes on slides (INPA and MNCN): 3 females and 2 specimens in alcohol, same data as holotype. Other material. 2 females and 1 juvenile on slides (EAL0001/ JIAP), Spain, Almería province, Vera municipality, Playa de Vera (37°12'09''N; 01°48'42''W), back of the beach, 1 m, 27.ix.2005, pitfall trap, J.I. Arbea coll. Description. Total length (head + trunk) of adult specimens 2.79‒3.44 mm (n=4), holotype 2.89 mm. Alive specimens with Ant III ‒IV and legs brownish, Ant I‒II, head and body black (formed by scales) with two dorsal white longitudinal bands (formed by scales) that extend from Th II to Abd II, plus irregular transverse spots on Abd III and two spots on Abd IV (Fig. 3 A). Specimens in alcohol pale white with dark blue pigment on apex of Ant IV, anterior head, Th I, coxae to basal half of femora, collophore, and Abd I‒IV laterally; eyepatches black (Fig. 3E). Scales present on Ant I to basal half of Ant III, ventral and dorsal head, thorax and abdomen dorsally, legs (except empodia), anterior collophore, and manubrium and dentes ventrally (Figs 30 A ‒D, I‒J). Head. Antennae shorter than body length, antennal ratio as I: II: III: IV = 1: 1.6 0‒1.78: 1.57‒1.99: 2.38‒2.95 (n=4), holotype 1: 1.69: 1.80: 2.72 (Fig. 3 A, E). Ant IV annulated, with simple apical bulb retractile and blunt sens. Ant III apical organ with two rod-like sens, 3 guard sens, one atypical rounded bulb and several blunt sens of different sizes (Fig. 31 A). Clypeal formula with 4 (l1‒2), 4 (f), 3 (pf0‒1) ciliate chaetae, l1 acuminate, l2 largest, and 2 outer frontal smaller (Fig. 31B). Two inner labral papillae conical, outer papillae reduced to conical projections (Fig. 31C). Maxillary palp with smooth apical appendage (a. a.) and basal chaeta (b.c.) weakly ciliated, thicker and 1.08 longer than apical (Fig. 31D). Eyes A and B larger, G smaller, with 4 interocular chaetae (v, p, r, t); head dorsal chaetotaxy (Fig. 31E) with 10 ‘An’ mac (An 1, An 2‒3), 4 ‘A’ mac (A 0, A 2‒3, A 5), 3 ‘M’ mac (M1‒2, M4), 7 ‘S’ mac (S0‒3, S5‒6), 1 ‘Ps’ mac (Ps 2, rarely as mic), 4 ‘Pa’ mac (Pa 1‒3, Pa 5), 2 ‘Pm’ mac (Pm 1, Pm 3), 4 ‘Pp’ mac (Pp 1‒3, Pp 5), and 4 ‘Pe’ mac (Pe2‒4 plus Pe3p). Basomedian and basolateral labial fields with M1‒2, R (smaller), E, L1‒2. Postlabial ventral chaetotaxy with about 17 ciliate chaetae, postlabial formula 4 (G1‒4), 3 (H2‒4), 4 (J1‒4), basal chaeta (b.c.) largest (Fig. 31F). Thorax chaetotaxy (Figs 32 A ‒B). Th II, series ‘a’ with 4 mac (a5ip‒5p); series ‘m’ with 8 mac (m 1i 2‒2, m 4i ‒4p); series ‘p’ with 17‒19 mac (p 1i 2p2‒1p, p2a–2ep2, p3‒3p, p5), p 1i 2p2 and p1ip2p present or absent. Th III, series ‘a’ with 7 mac (a 1i ‒6); series ‘m’ with 1 mac (m6); series ‘p’ with 11‒13 mac (p1ip2‒1p2, p2a‒2ea, p3, p5‒6), p1ip and p1ip2 present or absent. Th ratio as II: III = 1: 0.49‒0.61 (n= 4), holotype 1: 0.49. Abdomen chaetotaxy (Figs 32 C‒E, 33 A ‒B). Abd I, series ‘a’ with 1 mac (a3); series ‘m’ with 5 mac (m 2i ‒4). Abd II, series ‘a’ with 2 mac (a2‒3); series ‘m’ with 4 mac (m3‒3e, m5). Abd III, series ‘a’ with a3 rarely as mac; series ‘m’ with 3 mac (m3, am6, pm6); series ‘p’ with 1 mac (p6). Abd IV with 14 central mac of series ‘A’ to ‘T’ (A 3a‒6, Ae 7, B1‒6, C1, T1), and 16‒17 lateral mac of series ‘E’ to ‘Fe’ (E2‒4p, Ee 7, Ee 10, F1‒3, Fe 2‒5 and one unnamed as mac or mic); 10 psp (atypical) anteriorly, at least 5 sens (as and ps type I and 3 type II), and posteriorly with 7 mes present. Abd V, series ‘a’ with 1 mac (a5); series ‘m’ with 4 mac (m2‒3, m5‒5e); series ‘p’ with 7 mac (p1, p3‒5, ap6–6e, pp6); series ‘pp’ with 2 mac (p1p, p3pe). Abd ratio as III: IV = 1: 4.40‒5.43 (n= 4), holotype 1: 4.98. Legs. Subcoxa I with 5 chaetae and 3‒4 psp; subcoxa II with an anterior row of 10 chaetae, posterior row with 7 chaetae, 2 anterior chaetae and 7 psp; subcoxa III with one row of 10 chaetae and 2 posterior psp (Figs 34 A ‒C). Trochanteral organ with about 36 spine-like chaetae (Fig. 34D). Unguis with basal and median teeth with the same length, apical tooth smaller. Unguiculus with all lamellae acuminate, pe lamella serrated and with small proximal tooth, other lamellae (ai, ae, pi) smooth; ratio unguis: unguiculus = 1: 0.49 (Fig. 34E). Tibiotarsus III distally with inner smooth chaeta 1.15 larger than unguiculus; and outer tenent hair capitate, discretely ciliate, and 0.81 smaller than unguis. Collophore (Fig. 34F). Anterior side with 17 ciliate chaetae, including 1 distal mac and 3 large acuminate long chaetae; posterior side with 8 ciliate chaetae, of which one distal thickest; lateral flap with 3 smooth chaetae (one smaller posteriorly) and 15 ciliate chaetae. Furcula (Figs 34G‒H). Manubrium ventrally with formula 1, 0, 0, 2/2 (subapical), 14‒20 (apical) ciliate chaetae and approximately 22 elongated apical scales per side; manubrium dorsally with 7 subapical ciliate chaetae, manubrial plate with 6 ciliate chaetaeand 4 psp. Etymology. The species is named after the Betica Region (approximately corresponds to modern Andalucia) where it has been found. Remarks. Seira betica sp. nov. resembles S. dagamae Dallai, 1973 and S. stachi Loksa, 1990 by color pattern of body on two longitudinal white bands on Th II‒ Abd II, Abd IV with irregular transverse spots, and most dorsal macrochaetotaxy pattern (at least of S. dagamae). However, S. betica sp. nov. differs from S. dagamae by Th II with 5 medio-central mac (4 in S. dagamae) and PmA and PmC groups with 7‒9 and 6 mac, respectively (7 and 5 in S. dagamae); Th III with 7‒9 mac inner to psp (6 in S. dagamae); and Abd IV with mac B1‒2 (absent in S. dagamae). Seira betica sp. nov. differs at this time from S. stachi more clearly by unguiculus outer edge serrated (smooth in S. stachi). The original description of S. stachi does not present the dorsal macrochaetotaxy, as well as several other characteristics, which makes difficult to compare the species (see Loksa 1990: 274). In addition, in the description of unguis 3 internal teeth are reported (proximal, median and apical), probably wrongly, since the proximal tooth is always paired in Seira (Christiansen & Bellinger 2000; Barra 2004 a, 2004b; Bellini et al. 2010; Cipola et al. 2014 a, 2014b; Godeiro & Bellini 2014, 2015), therefore this can not be used to compare the species. The presence of a subapical rounded bulb on Ant III (Fig. 31 A) and anterolateral psp in Abd IV (Fig. 33 A) of S. betica sp. nov. are exclusive features registered here for the first time in Seira, which can help distinguish this species from other related taxa. Other comparisons among species are presented in Tables 1 and 2.

Seira meyerae (Coates, 1969) comb. nov. Lepidokrugeria meyerae Coates, 1969: 87‒89, figs 1‒6, Letaba river, Kruger National Park, South Africa (orig. descr.), not examined. Remarks. Lepidokrugeria was previously synonymized with Seira by Soto-Adames et al. (2008), but this taxonomic act was not considered by Bellinger et al. (1996‒2018), who included Lepidokrugeria in Lepidocyrtinae Wahlgren. Thus, Seira meyerae comb. nov. is herein transferred to Seira since it presents typical characteristics of the genus, especially overall dorsal macrochaetaxy pattern and mucro falcate., Published as part of Cipola, Nikolas Gioia, Arbea, Javier, Baquero, Enrique, Jordana, Rafael, Morais, José Wellington De & Bellini, Bruno Cavalcante, 2018, The survey of Seira Lubbock, 1870 (Collembola, Entomobryidae, Seirinae) from Iberian Peninsula and Canary Islands, including three new species, pp. 1-66 in Zootaxa 4458 (1) on page 59, DOI: 10.11646/Zootaxa.4458.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1458171

Seira ferrarii Parona, 1888 Figs 2C‒D, 14‒17, Tables 1‒2 Seira ferrarii Parona, 1888: 9, fig. 7, Genova, Italy (orig. descr.), not examined. Yosii 1959: 20, fig. 13, Madrid, Spain (descr.). Dallai & Ferrari, 1971: 132, figs 1‒4, Italy and Bulgaria (descr.). Dallai, 19 73: 520, fig. 10, Lipari Islands, Italy (descr.). Jacquemart & Jacques, 1980: 9, figs 3‒5, Tunisie and Algéria (descr.). Barra, 2004b: 400, figs 1‒13, Socotra Island, Yemen (descr.) Diagnosis. Body with blue pigment on anterior and posterior margins of Th II to Abd III, all Abd IV, femora II‒III and manubrium (Figs 2C‒D); head mac M 4i, S4, Pa4 and Pp6 absent, eyepatches with 4 interocular chaetae (q absent) (Fig. 5F); labral papillae conical, outer papillae reduced on large pointed projections (Fig. 14C); Th II with 4 medio-central mac (m1‒ 1i, m2‒ 2i) and PmA‒PmC groups with 5‒6, 3 and 4‒5 mac respectively (Fig. 15A); Th III‒Abd III with 14, 6, 4 and 1 central mac respectively (Figs 15B‒E); Abd IV with 12 central and 13 lateral mac (Fig. 16A); unguis apical tooth present; unguiculus outer edge serrated and without proximal tooth; manubrium ventrally with 2/4 subapical and 14‒16 apical chaetae (Fig. 17F). Examined material. 5 females on slides and 2 specimens in alcohol (EAL0055-6 / INPA and JIAP): Spain, Alméria Province, Adra municipality (36°46'33''N; 03°06'43''W), in mountain, 566m, 9‒22.x.2015, light-trap, F. Rodríguez coll. 1 female on slide (EGE0041/JIAP): Gerona Province, Lloret of Mar (41°41'15''N; 02°49'04''E), in beach, 4 m, 14.iv.2015, pitfall-traps, E. Ariza coll. 1 female on slide (EGE0047/JIAP): idem, except “Tossa de Mar” (41°43'19''N; 02°56'19''E), in beach “Menuda”, 3 m. 1 female on slide (FCNyM-UNLP): Argentina, Bahía Blanca, 23.v.1963, E Bianco coll. Description based on the listed specimens. Total length (head + trunk) of specimens 1.43‒1.92 mm (n=4). Alive specimens with Ant I‒IV, head, Th II, Abd V, leg I, and tibiotarsus II‒ III brownish; Th III to Abd IV dark, with one silvery transversal band on Abd III and IV (Fig. 2C). Fixed specimens pale white with dark blue pigment on Ant I‒IV, anterior and posterior margins of Th II to Abd III, all Abd IV, femora II‒ III and manubrium; eyepatches black (Fig. 2D). Scales present on Ant I to apex of Ant II, ventral and dorsal head, thorax and abdomen dorsally, legs (except empodia), and manubrium and dentes ventrally. Collophore without scales (Fig. 17E). Head. Antennae shorter than body length, antennal ratio as I: II: III: IV = 1: 1.6 1‒2.08: 1.81‒2.08: 2.48‒2.83 (n=4) (Figs 2C‒D). Ant IV not annulated, with apical bulb apically bilobed and blunt sens (as in Fig. 26A). Ant III apical organ with two rod-like sens, 3 guard sens and 4 blunt sens of different sizes (Fig. 14A). Clypeal formula with 4 (l1‒2), 4 (f), 3 (pf0‒1) ciliate chaetae, l1 acuminate, l2 largest, and 2 frontal smaller (Fig. 14B). Two inner labral papillae conical, outer papillae reduced to large pointed projections (Fig. 14C). Maxillary palp with smooth apical appendage (a.a.) and basal chaeta (b.c.) weakly ciliate, thicker, and 1.16 longer than the apical. Eyes A, B and C slightly larger, F and G slightly smaller, with 4 interocular chaetae (v, p, r, t); head dorsal chaetotaxy as in S. domestica (Fig. 5F) but with interocular chaeta q always absent. Basomedian and basolateral labial fields with M1‒2, R, E, L1‒2, R subequal to the others. Postlabial ventral chaetotaxy with about 15 ciliate chaetae, postlabial formula 4 (G1‒4), 2 (H3‒4), 4 (J1‒4), J2 smaller, basal chaeta (b.c.) largest (Fig. 14D). Thorax chaetotaxy (Figs 15A‒B). Th II, series ‘a’ with 4 mac (a5ip‒5p); series ‘m’ with 7 mac (m 1i ‒1, m 2i ‒2, m 4i ‒4p); series ‘p’ with 13‒15 mac (p 1i 2‒1p, p2a‒2ep2, p3, p5), p 1i 2 generally as mac, p2ep2 rarely absent. Th III, series ‘a’ with 7 mac (a 1i ‒6); series ‘m’ with 1 mac (m6); series ‘p’ with 10 mac (p 1i ‒1p, p2a‒2ea, p3, p5‒6). Th ratio as II: III = 1: 0.5 5‒0.74 (n= 4). Abdomen chaetotaxy (Figs 15C‒E, 16A‒B). Abd I, series ‘a’ with 1 mac (a3); series ‘m’ with 5 mac (m 2i ‒4). Abd II, series ‘a’ with 1 mac (a2); series ‘m’ with 4 mac (m3‒3e, m5). Abd III, series ‘m’ with 3 mac (m3, am6, pm6); series ‘p’ with 1 mac (p6). Abd IV with 12 central mac of series ‘A’ to ‘T’ (A3a‒6, Ae7, B3‒6, C1, T1), and 13 lateral mac of series ‘E’ to ‘Fe’ (E2‒3, E4p, Ee10, F1‒3, Fe2‒5); at least 4 sens (ps type I and 3 type II), and posteriorly with 6 mes and 1 mic present. Abd V, series ‘a’ with 1 mac (a5); series ‘m’ with 4 mac (m2‒3, m5‒5e); series ‘p’ with 5 mac (p1, p3‒5, ap6). Abd ratio as III: IV = 1: 3.41‒4.16. Legs. Subcoxa I with 3 chaetae and 2 psp; subcoxa II with an anterior row of 8‒9 chaetae, posterior row of 3 chaetae and 3 psp; subcoxa III with one row of 8 chaetae and 2 posterior psp (Figs 17A‒C). Trochanteral organ with about 12‒15 spine-like chaetae (Fig. 17D). Unguis with median and apical teeth with the same length, basal teeth smaller. Unguiculus with all lamellae acuminate, pe lamella serrated and without proximal tooth, other lamellae (ai, ae, pi) smooth; ratio unguis: unguiculus = 1: 0.56. Tibiotarsus III distally with inner smooth chaeta 0.88 smaller than unguiculus; and outer tenent hair capitate, discretely ciliate, and 0.88 smaller than unguis. Collophore (Fig. 17E). Anterior side with 10 ciliate chaetae, including 1 distal mac and 3 apically acuminate chaetae; posterior side with 3 ciliate chaetae, of which 2 distal thickest; lateral flap with 3 smooth chaetae (one small posteriorly) and 9 ciliate chaetae. Furcula (Figs 17F‒G). Manubrium ventrally with formula 1, 2, 2, 2/4 (subapical), 14‒16 (apical) ciliate chaetae (2 smaller or normal) and al least 3 elongated apical scales per side; manubrium dorsally with 7 subapical ciliate chaetae; manubrial plate with 4‒5 ciliate chaetae and 3 psp. Remarks. In S. ferrarii the observed variations in chaetotaxy were in PmA (p 1i 2) and PmC (p2ep2) groups of Th II (Fig. 15A). The absence of mac p2ep2 probably is common in the species, since 4 mac in PmC group were observed by Jacquemart & Jacques (1980) in specimens from Tunisie and Algeria, and by Yosii (1959) in specimens from Spain. However, Jacquemart & Jacques (1980) reported one extra mac in PmA group, and Yosii (1959) only 5 mac on Abd I (m4 absent), therefore this should be investigated to know if it signs as a population variation or to another closed related species. More comparisons concerning S. ferrarii see remarks on S. dinizi and Tables 1 and 2. One specimen identified as Seira ferruginea Rapoport & Izarra, 1962 from Argentina (FCNyM-UNLP) corresponds to S. ferrarii, therefore this is the first record of the species from the New World (probably introduced)., Published as part of Cipola, Nikolas Gioia, Arbea, Javier, Baquero, Enrique, Jordana, Rafael, Morais, José Wellington De & Bellini, Bruno Cavalcante, 2018, The survey of Seira Lubbock, 1870 (Collembola, Entomobryidae, Seirinae) from Iberian Peninsula and Canary Islands, including three new species, pp. 1-66 in Zootaxa 4458 (1) on pages 23-28, DOI: 10.11646/Zootaxa.4458.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1458171, {"references":["PARONA, C. (1888) RES LIgUSTIcAE. VI. COllEMBOlE E TISANURI FINORA RIScONTRANTE IN LIgURIA. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 2 (6), 133 - 154.","YOSII, R. (1959) COllEMBOlAN FAUNA OF ThE CApE PROvINcE, WITh SpEcIAl REFERENcE TO ThE gENUS Seira. Biological Results of the Japanese Antarct Research Expedition, 6, 1 - 24.","JAcqUEMART, S. & JAcqUES, J. - M. (1980) A pROpOS D'UN COllEMBOlE ENTOMOBRYEN A lA FOIS MARIN ET DeSERTIqUE. Annales de la Societe Royale Zoologique de Belgique, 109, 9 - 18.","RApOpORT, E. H. & IZARRA, D. C. (1962) COleMBOlOS DE BAhIA BlANcA (ARgENTINA). Physis, 23, 249 - 256."]}

Seira pini Jordana & Arbea, 1989 Figs 2E‒G, 22‒25, Table 2 Seira pini Jordana & Arbea, 1989: 87 ‒91, figs 1‒2, Olaberri (Navarra), Spain (orig. descr.), holotype female on slide (MZNA), examined. Diagnosis. Body all dark violet, except head to Th III, legs and dentes, sometimes with pigmentation to the femora, or even depigmented trunk (Figs 2E‒G); head mac M 4i, S4, Pa4 and Pp6 present, eyepatches with 3 interocular chaetae (q and r absent) (Fig. 22D); labral papillae pointed, outer papillae smaller (Fig. 22C); Th II with 8‒13 medio-central mac (m1‒2 complex) and PmA‒PmC groups with 11‒14, 3 and 10‒13 mac respectively (Fig. 23 A); Th III ‒ Abd III with 16‒18, 9‒10, 5 and 1 central mac respectively (Figs 23B‒E); Abd IV with 16‒17 central and 22 lateral mac (Fig. 24 A); unguis apical tooth present (Fig. 25E); unguiculus outer edge smooth and with proximal tooth (Fig. 25E); manubrium ventrally with 0/2 subapical and 16‒18 apical chaetae (Fig. 25G). Examined type material. Paratypes: 2 males and 1 female in alcohol mounted on slides (IBPT-7/ MZNA) mounted from paratypes in alcohol: Spain, Navarra Province, Olaberri municipality, Valle de Lónguida (42°48'19.6"N; 01°23'39.1"W), forest of Pinus nigra (Pinaceae), 644 m, 21.v.1986, pitfall-traps. Other examined material. 1 male on slide (EJA0007/JIAP): Spain, Province Jaén, Linarejos municipality, Sierra de Cazorla (37°51'27''N; 03°00'00''W), 1000 m, 06.xii.2002, M. Baena coll. 1 male on slide (EJA0029/JIAP): Province Jaén, Jabalcuz municipality (37°40'25''N; 03°54'26''W), 1614 m, 16.iii.2005, A. Castro coll. 1 male and 8 females on slides and 41 in alcohol (EZA3152/INPA and MZNA): Province Zaragoza, Monegros region, Pina de Ebro municipality, Retuerta de Pina (41°29'20''N 0°25'33''W), in Ononis tridentata L. (Fabaceae), 350 m, 10.v.1991, pitfall-trap, J. Blasco coll. 1 juvenile on slide (EZA2472/JIAP): idem, except 41°23'16''N; 00°25'42''W, 380 m, 10.xi.1990. 1 male, 2 females and 1 juvenile on slides (EZA6104/JIAP): idem, except 41°25'53''N; 00°22'01''W, 400 m, 10.vii.1994. 1 female on slide (EAL0037/JIAP): Province Almería, Parque Natural Cabo de Gata-Nijar (36°40'59''N; 02°12'59''W), in rambla del Corralete, 39 m, 10.vi.2004, pitfall-trap, A. Aguirre and eq. coll. 1 male on slide (EAL0007/ JIAP): idem, except in around Torregarcía beach, 25.ii.2005. Redescription. Total length (head + trunk) of specimens 2.94‒3.60 mm (n=4), holotype 3.60 mm. Type specimens pale yellowish to white with dark violet pigment on all body, except central dorsum of head to Th III, trochantera to empodia and dentes distally; eyepatches black (Fig. 2E). Scales present on Ant I to basal half of Ant III, ventral and dorsal head, thorax and abdomen dorsally, legs (except empodia), anterior collophore, dorsal and ventral manubrium and dentes ventrally. Head. Antennae shorter than body length, antennal ratio as I: II: III: IV = 1: 1.2 5‒1.39: 1.44‒1.87: 2.75‒3.43 (n=4), holotype 1: 1.25: 1.70: 2.75 (Fig. 2E). Ant IV annulated, with simple apical bulb retractile and blunt sens. Ant III apical organ with two rod-like sens, 3 guard sens and several blunt sens of different sizes (Fig. 22 A). Clypeal formula with 4 (l1‒2), 7 (f), 3 (pf0‒1) ciliate chaetae, l1 acuminate, l2 largest, and 3 frontal smaller (Fig. 22B). Four conical labral papillae, outer papillae smaller (Fig. 22C). Maxillary palp with smooth apical appendage (a. a.) and basal chaeta (b.c.) weakly ciliated, thicker and 1.17 longer than apical. Eyes A, B and C larger, G and H smaller, with 3 interocular chaetae (v, p, t); head dorsal chaetotaxy (Fig. 22D) with 8‒10 ‘An’ mac (An 1, An 2‒3), 4 ‘A’ mac (A 0, A 2‒3, A 5), 4 ‘M’ mac (M1‒2, M 4i ‒4), 8 ‘S’ mac (S0‒6), 1 ‘Ps’ mac (Ps2), 5 ‘Pa’ mac (Pa1‒5), 2 ‘Pm’ mac (Pm1, Pm3), 5 ‘Pp’ mac (Pp 1‒3, Pp 5‒6), and 3 ‘Pe’ mac (Pe 2‒3 plus Pe 3p). Basomedian and basolateral labial fields with M1‒2, R (smaller), E, L1‒2. Postlabial ventral chaetotaxy with about 16‒17 ciliate chaetae, postlabial formula 4‒5 (G1‒4), 4 (H2‒4), 4 (J1‒4), X3? present or absent, basal chaeta absent (Fig. 22E). Thorax chaetotaxy (Figs 23 A ‒B). Th II, series ‘a’ with 4 mac (a5ip‒5p); series ‘m’ with 11‒16 mac (m1‒2 complex, m 4i ‒4p), five inner mac present or absent; series ‘p’ with 25‒31 mac (p1ip5‒p1p5p, p2a‒p2ep2, p 3i 4‒ p3p3, p5), p1ip4 and p1p6 present or absent, p1ip5 generally mac. Th III, series ‘a’ with 7 mac (a 1i ‒6); series ‘m’ with 1 mac (m6); series ‘p’ with 12‒14 mac (p1ip2‒1p, p2a3‒2ea, p3, p5‒6), p 1i 3 and p2a3 present or absent. Th ratio as II: III = 1: 0.3 2‒0.59 (n= 4), holotype 1: 0.45. Abdomen chaetotaxy (Figs 23 C‒E, 24 A ‒B). Abd I, series ‘a’ with 4‒5 mac (a1‒3), a1 generally as mic; series ‘m’ with 5 mac (m 2i ‒4), m6 mic absent. Abd II, series ‘a’ with 2 mac (a2‒3); series ‘m’ with 4 mac (m3‒3e, m5). Abd III, series ‘m’ with 3 mac (m3, am6, pm6); series ‘p’ with 1 mac (p6). Abd IV with 16‒17 central mac of series ‘A’ to ‘T’ (A 3a‒6, Ae7, B1‒6, Be2‒3, C1, C4, T1), A 3a can be displaced and Be3 present or absent; and 22 lateral mac of series ‘E’ to ‘Fe’ (E2‒4p, Ee7, Ee10, F1‒3, Fe2‒5 and four of uncertain homology); at least 3 sens (ps type I and 2 type II), and posteriorly with 7 mes present. Abd V, series ‘a’ with 1 mac (a5); series ‘m’ with 4 mac (m2‒3, m5‒5e); series ‘p’ with 6 mac (p1, p3‒5, ap6, pp6). Abd ratio as III: IV = 1: 3.50‒5.72 (n= 4), holotype 1: 4.77. Male genital plate circinate with 6+7 (one unpaired posterior) and 3+3 small inner smooth chaetae (Fig. 25I). Legs. Subcoxa I with 3 chaetae and 2 psp; subcoxa II with an anterior row of 9 chaetae, posterior row of 7 chaetae, 1 anterior chaeta and 4 psp; subcoxa III with one row of 11 chaetae, 3 anterior chaetae and 2 posterior psp (Figs 25 A ‒C). Trochanteral organ with about 44 spine-like chaetae (Fig. 25D). Unguis with median and apical teeth with the same length, basal teeth smaller. Unguiculus with all lamellae acuminate, pe lamella with small proximal tooth, other lamellae (ai, ae, pi) smooth; ratio unguis: unguiculus = 1: 0.63 (Fig. 25E). Tibiotarsus III distally with inner smooth chaeta 0.61 smaller than unguiculus; and outer tenent hair capitate, discretely ciliate, and 0.81 smaller than unguis. Collophore (Fig. 25F). Anterior side with 16 ciliate chaetae, including 3 distal mac, 1 apically acuminate and 1 basal spine-like chaeta finely ciliate; posterior side with 14 ciliate chaetae, 2 distal thickest and 5 thinnest; lateral flap with 3 smooth chaetae (one small posteriorlly) and about 33 ciliate chaetae. Furcula (Figs 25G‒H). Manubrium ventrally with formula 0, 0, 0, 0/2 (subapical), 16‒18 (apical) ciliate chaetae and approximately 19 elongated apical scales per side; manubrium dorsally with 6 subapical ciliate chaetae; manubrial plate with 9 ciliate chaetae and 3 psp. Remarks. Seira pini is most similar to S. squamoornata (Scherbakov, 1898), S. saxatilis Gisin & Gama, 1962 and S. lusitanica Gama, 1964 by dense macrochaetotaxy of head with mac M 4i, S4, Pa4 present, Th II with about 10 medio-central mac (m1‒2 complex) and PmA and PmC groups with 11‒13 and 10‒13 mac, respectively; and Th III ‒ Abd IV with at least 16, 9, 5, 1 and 16 central mac, respectively (Tab. 2). However, S. pini differs from these species by head with mac Pp6 present (absent in other species), Th II with up to 13 medio-central mac (10 in S. squamoornata and S. lusitanica, 11 in S. saxatilis) and PmA and PmC groups with up to 14 and 13 mac respectively (12 or less PmA mac in S. squamoornata and S. lusitanica, and less than PmC 11 mac in others species); Th III with 16‒18 central mac (15 in S. saxatilis, 24 in S. lusitanica), and Abd IV with up to 17 central mac (16 in S. lusitanica and S. saxatilis). Other comparisons among species are presented in Tables 1 and 2. Seira pini may have different color patterns in populations (Figs 2E‒G). Specimens of Monegros (Zaragoza) are similar to the species of the type locality, except for the pigmentation of the trochanters and femora and the dorsal rearrangement that extends until Abd III. Species from this same population may still have total dorsal depigmentation of Th II to Abd III, and partially of Abd IV, remaining in the latter case a central spot of dark pigment., Published as part of Cipola, Nikolas Gioia, Arbea, Javier, Baquero, Enrique, Jordana, Rafael, Morais, José Wellington De & Bellini, Bruno Cavalcante, 2018, The survey of Seira Lubbock, 1870 (Collembola, Entomobryidae, Seirinae) from Iberian Peninsula and Canary Islands, including three new species, pp. 1-66 in Zootaxa 4458 (1) on pages 33-39, DOI: 10.11646/Zootaxa.4458.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1458171, {"references":["JORDANA, R. & ARBEA, J. I. (1989) DEScRIpcION DE UNA NUEvA ESpEcIE DE Seira LUBBOcK, 1869 (COllEMBOlA, ENTOMOBRYIDAE) pROcEDENTE DE NAvARRA (ESpAnA). Eos, 65 (1), 87 - 91."]}

Seira dinizi Gama, 1988 Figs 2B, 10‒13, Tables 1‒2 Seira dinizi Gama, 1988 (in Gama 1988a): 77, fig. 1, Canary Islands, Spain (orig. descr.), not examined. Yoshii, 1990: 535, figs 1A‒F, Ilha de São Miguel Island, Azores Macaronesia, Portugal (descr.). Baquero et al., 2014: 1577 (compared). Cipola et al., 2014a: 494 (cit.) Diagnosis. Body bluish (Fig. 2B); head mac M 4i, S4, Pa 4 and Pp 6 absent, eyepatches with 3 interocular chaetae (q and r absent) (Fig. 10E); labral papillae conical, outer papillae reduced to square projection (Fig. 10C); Th II with 4 medio-central mac (m1‒ 1i, m2‒ 2i) and PmA‒PmC groups with 6‒7, 3 and 3‒5 mac respectively (Fig. 11A); Th III‒ Abd III with 1 1‒14, 5, 3 and 1 central mac respectively (Figs 11 B‒E); Abd IV with 12‒13 central and 17‒19 lateral mac (Fig. 12A); unguis apical tooth present; unguiculus outer edge serrated and without proximal tooth; manubrium ventrally with 2/4 subapical and 16 apical chaetae (Fig. 13F). Examined material. 3 males, 8 females and 18 juveniles on slides and 119 specimens in alcohol (EIC6001-2 / INPA and JIAP): Canary Islands, Province of Las Palmas, Isla of Montaña Clara (29°17'35''N; 13°31'59''W), Veril, near and away from the sea to island southeast, 16 m, 17.vi.2001, pitfall-traps, B. Rodríguez coll. 1 male, 4 females and 1 juvenile on slides (EIC6005-6/JIAP): idem, except volcanic pit (29°17'35''N; 13°32'05''W), 256 m, x.2001. 1 juvenile on slide (EIC4376/JIAP): El Hierro Island, Frontera municipality (27°45'14''N; 18°00'34''W), near Cave, 141 m, 06.x.2000, P. Oromí coll. Description based on the listed specimens. Total length (head + trunk) of specimens 1.88‒2.00 mm (n=3). Specimens pale white with blue pigment heavily on Ant I‒IV and diffuse on head, trunk and legs; eyepatches black (Fig. 2B). Scales present on Ant I to basal half of Ant III, ventral and dorsal head, thorax and abdomen dorsally, legs (except empodia), and manubrium and dentes ventrally. Collophore without scales (Fig. 13E). Head. Antennae shorter than body length, antennal ratio as I: II: III: IV = 1: 1.84‒1.9: 1.96‒2.01: 2.16‒2.71 (n=2). Ant IV not annulated, with simple apical bulb and blunt sens. Ant III apical organ with two rod-like sens, 3 guard sens and several blunt sens of different sizes (Fig. 10A). Clypeal formula with 4 (l1‒2), 3 (f), 3 (pf0‒1) ciliate chaetae, l1 acuminate, l2 largest, and 2 frontal smaller (Fig. 10B). Two inner labral papillae conical, outer papillae reduced to square projections (Fig. 10C). Maxillary palp with smooth apical appendage (a.a.) and basal chaeta (b.c.) weakly ciliated, thicker and 1.44 longer than apical (Fig. 10D). Eye A larger, H smaller, with 3 interocular chaetae (v, p, t); head dorsal chaetotaxy (Fig. 10E) with 6 ‘An’ mac (An 1, An 2‒3), 3‒4 ‘A’ mac (A0, A2‒3, and A5, rarely as mic), 3 ‘M’ mac (M1‒2, M4), 7 ‘S’ mac (S0‒3, S5–6), 1 ‘Ps’ mac (Ps 2), 4 ‘Pa’ mac (Pa 1‒3, Pa 5), 2 ‘Pm’ mac (Pm 1, Pm 3), 4 ‘Pp’ mac (Pp 1‒3, Pp 5), and 2 ‘Pe’ mac (Pe2‒3). Basomedian and basolateral labial fields with M1‒2, R, E, L1‒2, M1 and R smaller. Postlabial ventral chaetotaxy with about 17 ciliate chaetae, postlabial formula 4 (G1‒4), 3 (H2‒4), 4 (J1‒4), J2 and one proximal smaller; basal chaeta absent (Fig. 10F). Thorax chaetotaxy (Figs 11A‒B). Th II, series ‘a’ with 4 mac (a 5i ‒5p and one unnamed anteriorly); series ‘m’ with 7 mac (m 1i ‒1, m 2i ‒2, m 4i ‒4p); series ‘p’ with 13‒16 mac (p 1i 2p‒1p, p2a‒2ep2, p3, p5), p 1i 2p and p2e rarely absent, p2ep2 generally as mac. Th III, series ‘a’ with 4‒6 mac (a 1i ‒5), a1 generally as mac and a5 present or absent; series ‘m’ without mac; series ‘p’ with 9‒10 mac (p 1i ‒1p, p2a‒2ea, p3, p5‒6), p2e generally as mac. Th ratio as II: III = 1: 0.6 1‒0.77 (n= 3). Abdomen chaetotaxy (Figs 11C‒E, 12A‒B). Abd I, series ‘a’ without mac; series ‘m’ with 5 mac (m 2i ‒4). Abd II, series ‘a’ with 1 mac (a2); series ‘m’ with 3 mac (m3‒3e, m5). Abd III, series ‘m’ with 2 mac (m3, pm6); series ‘p’ with 2 mac (p6, p 7i). Abd IV with 12‒13 central mac of series ‘A’ to ‘T’ (A3‒6, Ae 7, B3‒6, C1, C4, T1, T7), T7 as mac or mes, and 17‒19 lateral mac of series ‘D’ to ‘Fe’ (D3p, E2‒4p, F1‒3p, Fe 2‒6), F3p and Fe 6 as mac or mes; at least 3 sens (as? and ps type I and one type II), and posteriorly with 6 mes present. Abd V, series ‘a’ with 1 mac (a5); series ‘m’ with 4 mac (m2‒3, m5‒5e); series ‘pa’ with 2 mac (p3a, p6ai); series ‘p’ with 6 mac (p0‒1, p3‒5, ap6). Abd ratio as III: IV = 1: 2.55‒3.57 (n= 3). Female genital plate with two pairs (superior and inferior) of small smooth chaetae (Fig. 13H). Legs. Subcoxa I with 3 chaetae and 2 psp; subcoxa II with an anterior row of 10 chaetae, posterior row of 3 chaetae and 3 psp; subcoxa III with one row of 9 chaetae, 1 anterior chaeta and 2 posterior psp (Figs 13A‒C). Trochanteral organ with about 15 spine-like chaetae (Fig. 13D). Unguis with median and apical teeth with the same length, basal teeth smaller. Unguiculus with all lamellae acuminate, pe lamella serrated and without proximal tooth, other lamellae (ai, ae, pi) smooth; ratio unguis: unguiculus = 1: 0.59. Tibiotarsus III distally with inner smooth chaeta 1.08 larger than unguiculus; and outer tenent hair capitate, discretely ciliate, same length as unguis. Collophore (Fig. 13E). Anterior side with 12 ciliate chaetae, including 2 distal mac, 1 apically acuminate chaeta; posterior side with 1 thicker ciliate chaeta; lateral flap with 1 smooth chaeta and 12 ciliate chaetae. Furcula (Figs 13F‒G). Manubrium ventrally with formula 1, 2, 2, 2/4 (subapical), 16 (apical) ciliate chaetae and approximately 4 elongated apical scales per side; manubrium dorsally with 5 subapical ciliate chaetae; manubrial plate with 4 ciliate chaetae and 3 psp. Remarks. In the original description of Seira dinizi the species was found in most of the Canary Islands and the characteristics reported were only the dorsal coloration and macrochaetotaxy pattern (Gama 1988a). The specimens analyzed here from Isla de Montaña Clara and El Hierro corroborate with the characteristics of the original description and for this reason justify the redescription. Gama (1988a) compared S. dinizi with S. ferrarii because of shared apparent reduction in dorsal macrochaetotaxy, but S. dinizi differs more clearly from this species by body color with diffuse bluish pigment (with stripes on trunk of S. ferrarii), Th II without mac a5ip (present in S. ferrarii), Th II with 2 lateral mac (4 in S. ferrarii) and Abd I‒II without mac a3 and m3ep (present in S. ferrarii). Particularly, S. dinizi is more similar to Seira dori Gruia, Poliakov & Broza, 2000 from Israel and S. taeniata (sensu Yoshii, 1990) from Cape Verde, Macaronesia, by head macrochaetotaxy reduced, Th II with 4 medio-central mac, Abd II‒III with 3 and 1 central mac, respectively; and Abd IV with 12 central mac (at least in S. dori). However, S. dinizi differs from these species by Th II PmA and PmC groups with 6‒7 and 3‒5 mac, respectively (5 and 6 in S. dori, 5 and 5 in S. taeniata); by the number of Th III with up to 14 central mac in S. dinizi (p 1i and p1p present), while there are 12 central mac in S. dori (p 1i and p1p absent) and only 8 in S. taeniata, respectively; and by the number of Abd I with 5 central mac in S. dinizi and 4 in S. taeniata. Other characteristics that differentiate S. dinizi from the mentioned species include the bluish body colour pattern (restricted to Abd III in S. dori); unguiculus with outer lamella serrated and without basal tooth, while this lamella is smooth in S. dori and S. taeniata and the basal tooth is present in S. dori. Other comparisons among species are presented in Tables 1 and 2., Published as part of Cipola, Nikolas Gioia, Arbea, Javier, Baquero, Enrique, Jordana, Rafael, Morais, José Wellington De & Bellini, Bruno Cavalcante, 2018, The survey of Seira Lubbock, 1870 (Collembola, Entomobryidae, Seirinae) from Iberian Peninsula and Canary Islands, including three new species, pp. 1-66 in Zootaxa 4458 (1) on pages 18-23, DOI: 10.11646/Zootaxa.4458.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1458171, {"references":["YOShII, R. (1990) MIScEllANEOUS NOTES ON ThE COllEMBOlA OF MAcARONESIA. Contributions from the Biological Laboratory Kyoto University, 27, 535 - 540."]}

Genus Seira Lubbock, 1870 Seira Lubbock, 1870: 279 Type species: Degeeria domestica Nicolet, 1842: 76, pl.8, fig. 11 (orig. descr.). Sira Tullberg, 1872: 41, synonymized by Yosii, 1959: 9 Pseudosira Schött, 1893: 10, synonymized by Yosii, 1959: 9 Mesira Scherbakov, 1898: 18, synonymized by Yosii, 1959: 9 Lepidocyrtinus Börner, 1903: 154, synonymized by Soto-Adames et al. 2008: 512 Drepanocyrtus Handschin, 1924: 17, synonymized by Mari Mutt & Bellinger, 1990: 10 Lepidoregia Delamare Deboutteville, 1948: 407, synonymized by Soto-Adames et al. 2008: 512. Ctenocyrtinus Arlé, 1959: 171, synonymized by Christiansen & Bellinger, 2000: 39. Afroseira Yosii, 1959: 10, synonymized by Soto-Adames et al. 2008: 512 Lepidokrugeria Coates, 1969: 87, synonymized by Soto-Adames et al. 2008: 512. Austroseira Yoshii & Suhardjono, 1992 (in Yoshii & Suhardjono, 1992b) 23, synonymized by Soto-Adames et al. 2008: 512 Diagnosis of genus. Antennae shorter than body length (Figs 2‒3). Scales on body heavily ciliated, oval or elongated and apically rounded (rarely truncate, pointed or irregular); mac heavily ciliated apically, strongly or lightly foot-shaped or acuminate (Figs 30 A ‒F). Eyes 8+8 (Fig. 5F). Prelabral chaetae ciliated or smooth; Labral formula with 4 (a1–2), 5 (m0–2), 5 (p0–2) smooth chaetae (Figs 4 A, 36C). Labral papillae present (Fig. 5D). Labial palp with five main papillae (A ‒E) plus one hypostomal papilla (H) with 0, 5, 0, 4, 4, 2 guard appendages, respectively; labium with five smooth proximal chaetae (p.c.) (Fig. 4B). Basolateral and basomedian labial fields with chaetae a1‒5 smooth (Fig. 5G). Th II‒Abd V with ms and sens formula 1, 0 | 1, 0, 1, 0, 0 and 1, 1 | 0, 2, 2, +, 3, respectively; Abd II‒IV bothriotrichial formula 2 (a5, m2), 3 (a5, m2, m5), 3 (T2, T4, D3); bothriotricha with accessory lance-shaped chaetae (Figs 1, 11‒12, 30G‒J). Males sometimes with robust spine-like mac on femur and tibiotarsus of leg I (Fig. 8E). Pretarsi with one minute smooth chaeta on anterior and posterior sides (Fig. 8F). Mucro falcate, without basal spine (Figs 4C, 35F). Remarks. The following characters are shared by Seira species and are not repeated in the descriptions: Ant I‒IV with ciliate chaetae (Fig. 5 A ‒B). Four prelabral ciliate chaetae, except in S. burgersi sp. nov. with inner smooth chaetae; labrum with chaeta a1 thicker, m0–1 and p0–1 larger, except m0 normal in S. dinizi and S. ferrarii (Figs 4 A, 36C). Labial papilla E with lateral process (l.p.) apically acuminate and surpassing the base of the papilla E (Fig. 4B). Sublobal plate with three smooth chaetae (Figs 5E, 10D, 31D). Unguis inner side with two paired basal teeth, one unpaired median tooth and one unpaired apical tooth (absent in S. barrai sp. nov.), outer side with two paired lateral teeth (larger in S. burgersi sp. nov., Fig. 40H) and one basomedian lamella apically acuminate (Figs 8F, 21F, 25E, 29E, 34E)., Published as part of Cipola, Nikolas Gioia, Arbea, Javier, Baquero, Enrique, Jordana, Rafael, Morais, José Wellington De & Bellini, Bruno Cavalcante, 2018, The survey of Seira Lubbock, 1870 (Collembola, Entomobryidae, Seirinae) from Iberian Peninsula and Canary Islands, including three new species, pp. 1-66 in Zootaxa 4458 (1) on pages 5-6, DOI: 10.11646/Zootaxa.4458.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1458171, {"references":["NIcOlET, H. (1842) REchERchES pOUR SERvIR l'HISTOIRE DES PODUREllES. Neuveaux Memoires de la Societe Helvetiques des Sciences Naturelles, 6, 1 - 88.","YOSII, R. (1959) COllEMBOlAN FAUNA OF ThE CApE PROvINcE, WITh SpEcIAl REFERENcE TO ThE gENUS Seira. Biological Results of the Japanese Antarct Research Expedition, 6, 1 - 24.","HANDSchIN, E. (1924) NEUE MYRMRcOplIlE UND TERMITOphIlE COllEMBOlENFORMEN AUS SUD-AMERIKA. Neue Beitrage zur systematischen Insektenkunde, 3 (3), 1 - 26.","MARI MUTT, J. A. & BEllINgER, P. F. (1990) A CATAlOg OF NEOTROpIcAl COllEMBOlA, INclUDINg NEARcTIc AREAS OF MExIcO. Flora & Fauna Handbook, 5, 1 - 237."]}

Seira mantis Zeppelini & Bellini, 2006 Figs 18‒21, Tables 1‒2 Seira mantis Zeppelini & Bellini, 2006: 28, figs 8b, 10‒16, Canary Islands, Spain (orig. descr.). Bellini & Zeppelini (2008): 725 (compared). Bellini et al. (2009): 38, fig. 1C‒D (cit.) Palacios-Vargas & Castaño-Meneses (2009): 961 (cit.). Barra (2010): 586, 592 (compared). Bellini & Zeppelini (2011): 549 (compared). Zeppelini & Lima (2012): 42‒43 (compared). Diagnosis. Head mac M 4i, S4, Pa4 and Pp6 absent, eyepatches with 4 interocular chaetae (q absent) (Fig. 18 A); inner labral papillae conical, outer papillae reduced; Th II with 4 medio-central mac (m1‒ 1i, m2‒ 2i) and PmA‒PmC groups with 6, 3 and 5 mac, respectively (Fig. 19 A); Th III ‒ Abd III with 14, 6, 4 and 1 central mac, respectively (Figs 19 B‒E); Abd IV with 12 central and 14 lateral mac (Fig. 20 A); males with one inner row of 9 spine-like mac on femur I and 15 proximal baster-shaped chaetae on tibiotarsus I (Fig. 21E); unguis apical tooth present (Fig. 21F); unguiculus outer edge smooth (Fig. 21F); manubrium ventrally with 2/4 subapical and 18 apical chaetae (Fig. 21G). Examined type material. Holotype male on slides (N°0055/ MZSP): Spain, Canary Islands, Fuerteventura, La Oliva (28°36'N; 13°55'W), 220 m, 13.v.1974. A. Machado coll. Paratypes on slides (N°0054/ MZSP): 1 male and 1 females, same data as holotype, except Barranco del Pesenescal, 7-iv-1988, A. Fjellberg coll. Paratypes on slides (N°0054/ MZSP): 2 females, same data as holotype, except 8 Km south Corralejo (28°38'N; 13°51'W), 140 m, 8-iv-1988, A. Fjellberg coll. Redescription. Total length (head + trunk) of holotype 2.16 mm. Specimens on slides, unknown body color pattern; eyepatches black. Scales present on Ant I to basal half of Ant III, ventral and dorsal head, thorax and abdomen dorsally, legs (except empodia), dorsal and ventral manubrium and dentes ventrally. Collophore chaetotaxy unclear. Head. Antennae shorter than body length, antennal ratio of holotype as I: II: III: IV = 1: 1.65: 1.54: 2.20. Ant IV annulated on apical three quarters, with apical bulb apically bilobed, but is not well visible. Ant III apical organ and clypeus unclear. Two inner labral papillae conical, outer papillae reduced. Maxillary palp with smooth apical appendage (a. a.) and basal chaeta (b.c.) weakly ciliated, thicker and 1.02 longer than the apical. Eyes A and B larger, G slightly smaller, with 4 interocular chaetae (v, p, r, t); head dorsal chaetotaxy (Fig. 18 A) with 10 ‘An’ mac (An 1, An 2‒3), 4 ‘A’ mac (A 0, A 2‒3, A 5), 3 ‘M’ mac (M1‒2, M4), 7 ‘S’ mac (S0‒3, S5–6), 1 ‘Ps’ mac (Ps 2), 4 ‘Pa’ mac (Pa 1‒3, Pa 5), 2 ‘Pm’ mac (Pm 1, Pm 3), 4 ‘Pp’ mac (Pp 1‒3, Pp 5), and 3 ‘Pe’ mac (Pe3‒4 plus Pe3p). Basomedian and basolateral labial fields with M1‒2, R (smaller), E, L1‒2. Postlabial ventral chaetotaxy with about 13 ciliate chaetae, postlabial formula 4 (G1‒4), 3 (H2‒4), 3 (J1, J3‒4), J2 absent, and one basal chaeta (b.c.) largest (Fig. 18B). Thorax chaetotaxy (Figs 19 A ‒B). Th II, series ‘a’ with 4 mac (a5ip‒5p); series ‘m’ with 7 mac (m 1i ‒1, m 2i ‒2, m 4i ‒4p); series ‘p’ with 15 mac (p 1i 2‒1p, p2a‒2ep2, p3, p5). Th III, series ‘a’ with 7 mac (a 1i ‒6); series ‘m’ with 2 mac (m6‒7); series ‘p’ with 10 mac (p 1i ‒1p, p2a‒2ea, p3, p5‒6). Th ratio of holotype as II: III = 1: 0.54. Abdomen chaetotaxy (Figs 19 C‒E, 20 A ‒B). Abd I, series ‘a’ with 1 mac (a3); series ‘m’ with 5 mac (m 2i ‒4). Abd II, series ‘a’ with 1 mac (a2); series ‘m’ with 4 mac (m3‒3e, m5). Abd III, series ‘m’ with 3 mac (m3, am6, pm6); series ‘p’ with 1 mac (p6). Abd IV with 12 central mac of series ‘A’ to ‘T’ (A 3a‒6, Ae 7, B3‒6, C1, T1), and 14 lateral mac of series ‘E’ to ‘Fe’ (E2‒4p, Ee 7, Ee 10, F1‒3, Fe 2‒6); at least 4 sens (ps type I and 1 type II), and posteriorly with 5 mes present. Abd V, series ‘a’ with 1 mac (a5); series ‘m’ with 4 mac (m2‒3, m5‒5e); series ‘pa’ with 1 mac (p6ai); series ‘p’ with 5 mac (p1, p3‒5, ap6). Abd ratio of holotype as III: IV = 1: 4.59. Legs. Subcoxa I of males with one row of 4 modificated mac finely ciliate, females with 4 regular chaetae, both with 2 psp; subcoxa II with an anterior row of 9 chaetae, posterior row of 4 chaetae, 1 anterior chaeta and 4 psp; subcoxa III with one row of 7 chaetae and 2 posterior psp (Figs 19 A ‒C). Trochanteral organ with about 30 spine-like chaetae (Fig. 19D). Unguis with median and apical teeth the same length, basal teeth smaller. Unguiculus with all lamellae acuminate and smooth, no tooth; ratio unguis: unguiculus = 1: 0.57 (Fig. 19F). Tibiotarsus III distally with inner smooth chaeta 1.38 larger than unguiculus; outer tenent hair capitate, discretely ciliate, and 0.64 smaller than unguis. Leg I of males (Fig. 19E). Femur I with one inner row of 9 spine-like mac finely ciliate and apically rounded, 1 mac finely ciliate and apically acuminate and 1 proximal normal ciliate chaeta. Tibiotarsus I armed with three inner rows with 18 proximal short or elongated baster-shaped chaetae finely ciliate, followed by 4 thicker finely ciliate chaetae. Furcula (Fig. 19G). Manubrium ventrally with formula 1, 2, 2, 2 (smaller)/4 (subapical), 18 (apical) ciliate chaetae; manubrial plate unclear. Remarks. In the original description S. mantis was not compared with most species from the Western Palearctic region with similar chaetotaxy. Seira mantis is most similar to S. uwei Barra, 2010 by head mac M 4i, S4 and Pa4 absent, basomedian labial field with chaeta R smaller, Th II with 4 medio-central mac (m1‒ 1i, m2‒ 2i) and 5 mac in PmC group, Th III ‒ Abd IV with 14, 6, 4, 1 and 12 central mac, respectively; and anterior legs of males with spine-like chaetae (see Tabs 1‒2). However, S. mantis differs from this species by Th II with 6 mac in PmA group (up to 8 in S. uwei), Abd IV with 14 lateral mac (13 in S. uwei), Ant IV annulated (normal in S. uwei), unguiculus without basal tooth (present in S. uwei), and manubrium ventrally with 18 apical chaetae (16 in S. uwei). Seira mantis differs also from this species by male legs I with 15 baster-shaped chaetae on tibiotarsus, while S. uwei has 20 spine-like chaetae. Other comparisons among species are presented in Tables 1 and 2., Published as part of Cipola, Nikolas Gioia, Arbea, Javier, Baquero, Enrique, Jordana, Rafael, Morais, José Wellington De & Bellini, Bruno Cavalcante, 2018, The survey of Seira Lubbock, 1870 (Collembola, Entomobryidae, Seirinae) from Iberian Peninsula and Canary Islands, including three new species, pp. 1-66 in Zootaxa 4458 (1) on pages 28-33, DOI: 10.11646/Zootaxa.4458.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1458171, {"references":["ZEppElINI, D. & BEllINI, B. C. (2006) TWO Seira LUBBOcK 1869 (COllEMBOlA, ARThROplEONA, ENTOMOBRYIDAE) NEW TO ScIENcE, WITh REMARKABlE SEcONDARY SExUAl chARAcTERS. Zootaxa, 1185, 21 - 35.","PAlAcIOS-VARgAS, J. G. & CASTAnO-MENESES, G. (2009) IMpORTANcE AND EvOlUTION OF SExUAl DIMORphISM IN DIFFERENT FAMIlIES OF COllEMBOlA (HExApODA). Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, 44 (8), 959 - 963.","ZEppElINI, D. & LIMA, E. C. A. (2012) A NEW SpEcIES OF Tyrannoseira (COllEMBOlA, ENTOMOBRYIDAE, SEIRINI) FROM PARAIBA, NORThEASTERN BRAZIl. Zootaxa, 3423, 36 - 44."]}

Seira domestica (Nicolet, 1842) Figs 2 A, 5‒9, Tables 1‒2 Degeeria domestica Nicolet, 1842: 76, pl.8, fig. 11 (orig. descr.), not examined. Nicolet, 1847: 370, Suisse and France (record). Seira domestica; Lubbock, 1870: 279, London, England (comb. and descr.). Lubbock, 1873: 144, pl.21, fig.1 (descr.). Denis, 1938: 137, figs. 7‒10, Venice, Italy (descr. as Lepidocyrtinus gridellii). Gisin & Gama, 1962: 789, figs 3, 4A, 5A, 6‒7, Geneva, Switzerland (descr.). Jacquemart, 1973: 6, fig. 3, Petra, Jordan (chaetotaxy compared). Christiansen & Bellinger, 2000: 62, figs. 27A, 40, United States (descr.). Diagnosis. Body with pigments on Ant II‒IV (Fig. 2 A); head mac M 4i, S4, Pa4 and Pp6 absent, eyepatches with 4‒5 interocular chaetae (q eventually absent) (Fig. 5D); labral papillae conical, outer papilla slightly smaller (Fig. 5F); Th II with 4 medio-central mac (m1‒ 1i, m2‒ 2i) and PmA‒PmC groups with 5‒7, 1‒3 and 8‒10 mac respectively (Fig. 6 A); Th III ‒ Abd III with 11‒15, 6, 5 and 1‒2 (rarely a3 as mac) central mac, respectively (Figs 6 B‒E); Abd IV with 12 central and 18 lateral mac (Fig. 7 A); males with one inner row of 5 mac finely ciliate on femur I and 6 proximal spine-like mac on tibiotarsus I (Fig. 8E); unguis apical tooth present; unguiculus outer edge serrated and with proximal tooth (Fig. 8E); manubrium ventrally with 2/4 subapical and 16 apical chaetae (Fig. 9B). Examined material. 1 male and 1 female on slide (sample 1979-369 / NHM): England, London, Hampstead Village (51°33'N, 00°10'W), indoors, 100 m approx., 11.x.1937, F.G. M.W. S. coll. 1 female on slide (sample 1979- 369/NHM): Spain, Navarra Province, Pamplona municipality, University of Navarra (42°48'13"N, 01°39'54"W), in laboratory benchtop, 435 m, 02.xi.1976, R. Jordana coll. 1 female on slide (sample 20151001 a / MZNA): University of Navarra (42°48'13"N, 01°39'54"W), in laboratory benchtop, 435 m, 30.ix.2015, E. Baquero coll. 1 male and 3 females on slide and 5 specimens in alcohol (EVA0051/INPA): Valencia Province, Devesa del Saler (39°16'08''N; 00°20'02''W), under Pistacia L. (Anacardiaceae) in beach dunes, 6 m, 10.vi.2004, S. Montagud and team coll. 1 male and 2 females on slide (ESA0023/JIAP), Cantabria Province, El Astillero municipality, (43°20'58''N, 03°51'49''W), in collector's house, 20 m, 14.iv.2014, J.I. Arbea coll. 4 females on slide (ECS0008/JIAP): Castellón Province, Fanzara Municipality, Cova de la Mola (39°59'30''N, 00°25'23''W), 229 m, 17.vii.2005, pitfall- trap, A. Sendra coll. 1 female on slide and 2 specimens in alcohol (EVA0010/INPA): Valencia Province, Titaguas municipality, La Rebollosa (39°49'30''N, 01°07'49''W), under Salvia officinalis L. (Lamiaceae), 720 m, 23.viii.1996, A.M. Monteagudo coll. 4 females and 1 juvenile on slides and 6 specimens in alcohol (CC/UFRN): Iran, Mazandaran Province, Sari city, Semeskandeh Wildlife Refuge (36°33'N, 53°09'L), 115 m, 04.xii.2015, pitfall-trap, M. Ghasemi coll. 1 specimens in alcohol (INPA), idem, except 07.vii.2016. 1 male on slide (SAM): Australia, New South Wales, Sidney (33°53'S, 151°12'L), living room of house of asthmatic, xi.1987, R. Baker coll. 1 female on slide (SAM): Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, Black Mountain Laboratory (33°53'S, 151°12'L), in green house, ii.1995, P. Hart coll. 1 male on slide (FedUni): Victoria, Melbourne, Melbourne University, contaminant laboratory, 2013‒2014, R. Slatyer coll. 1 female on slide (SAM): Rutherglen (36°03'S, 146°27'L), wheatfield plot 52 4b, soil core, 31.v.1994, BL ML coll. 1 male on slide (SAM): South Australia, 10km S Robe, Little Dip Conservation Park (37°10'S, 139°48'L), Erringtons Hole, mobile sand dune, litter, 04.ii.1978, P.J.G. coll. 1 female on slide (SAM): Peterborough, Comet Bore (32°11'S, 139°22'L), 90 mile in desert, 252 m, heath litter, 10.x.1977, P.J.G. coll. 1 female on slide (SAM): Adelaide, Mitcham (34°59'S, 138°37'L), by porch light, 1.7 m high on wall, 06.ix.1978, Southcott coll. Description based on the listed specimens. Total length (head + trunk) 2.64‒3.79 mm; Th ratio as II: III = 1: 0.55‒0.78; Abd ratio as III: IV = 1: 3.2 8‒4.51 (n= 4). Specimens pale white with orange to bluish pigment on distal half of Ant II to apex of Ant IV; eyepatches black (Fig. 2 A). Scales present on Ant I to Ant IV basally, ventral and dorsal head, thorax and abdomen dorsally, legs (except empodia), anterior collophore and manubrium and dentes ventrally. Head. Antennae shorter than body length, antennal ratio as I: II: III: IV = 1: 1.6 3‒1.86: 1.67‒1.91: 2.28‒2.86 (n=4) (Fig. 2 A). Ant IV weakly annulated, with simple apical bulb and blunt sens (Fig. 5 A). Ant III apical organ with two rod-like sens, 3 guard sens, several blunt sens of different sizes and two spine-like sens (Fig. 5B). Clypeal formula with 4 (l1‒2), 4 (f), 3 (pf0‒1) ciliate chaetae, l1 acuminate, l2 largest (Fig. 5C). Four conical labral papillae, outer papillae slightly smaller (Fig. 5D). Maxillary palp with smooth apical appendage (a. a.) and basal chaeta (b.c.) weakly ciliated, thicker and 1.14 longer than the apical (Fig. 5E). Eyes A and B larger, G smaller, with 4‒5 interocular chaetae (q, v, p, r, t), q rarely absent; head dorsal chaetotaxy (Fig. 5F) with 10 ‘An’ mac (An 1, An 2‒3), 4 ‘A’ mac (A 0, A 2‒3, A 5), 3 ‘M’ mac (M1‒2, M4), 7 ‘S’ mac (S0‒3, S5‒6), 1 ‘Ps’ mac (Ps 2), 4 ‘Pa’ mac (Pa 1‒3, Pa 5), 2 ‘Pm’ mac (Pm 1, Pm 3), 4 ‘Pp’ mac (Pp 1‒3, Pp 5), and 4 ‘Pe’ mac (Pe 2‒4 plus Pe 3p). Basomedian and basolateral labial fields with M1‒2, R, E, L1‒2, R smaller. Postlabial ventral chaetotaxy with about 16 ciliate chaetae, postlabial formula 4 (G1‒4), 3 (H2‒4), 4 (J1‒4), basal chaeta (b.c.) largest (Fig. 5G). Thorax chaetotaxy (Figs 6 A ‒B). Th II, series ‘a’ with 4 mac (a5ip‒5p); series ‘m’ with 6‒7 mac (m 1i ‒1, m 2i ‒2, m 4i ‒4p), m4p generally present; series ‘p’ with 15‒21 mac (p 1i 2p‒1p, p2a–2ep2, p 3i 3–p3p, p5), p 1i 2p, p1ip2, p2a, p2p, p2ea and p 3i 3 present or absent. Th III, series ‘a’ with 6‒7 mac (a1a‒6), a1a generally as mac; series ‘m’ with 1 mac (m6); series ‘p’ with 7‒10 mac (p 1i 2‒1p, p2a‒2ea, p3, p5‒6), p 1i 2 and p 1i generally absent, p2e rarely as mic. Abdomen chaetotaxy (Figs 6 C‒E, 7 A ‒B). Abd I, series ‘a’ with 1 mac (a3); series ‘m’ with 5 mac (m 2i ‒4). Abd II, series ‘a’ with 2 mac (a2–3); series ‘m’ with 4 mac (m3‒3e, m5). Abd III, series ‘a’ with a3 rarely as mac; series ‘m’ with 3 mac (m3, am6, pm6); series ‘p’ with 1 mac (p6). Abd IV with 12 central mac of series ‘A’ to ‘T’ (A 3a‒6, Ae 7, B3‒6, C1, T1), and 18 lateral mac of series ‘E’ to ‘Fe’ (E2‒4p, Ee 7, Ee 10, F1‒3, Fe 2‒5); at least 5 sens (ps type I and 4 type II), and posteriorly with 7 mes present. Abd V, series ‘a’ with 1 mac (a5); series ‘m’ with 4 mac (m2‒3, m5‒5e); series ‘p’ with 6 mac (p1, p3‒5, ap6‒6e). Legs. Subcoxa I with 5 chaetae and 2 psp; subcoxa II with an anterior row of 11 chaetae and 1 anterior chaeta, posterior row of 4 chaetae, 1 anterior and 1 posterior chaetae and 5 psp; subcoxa III with one row of 10 chaetae and 2 posterior psp (Figs 8 A ‒C). Trochanteral organ with about 20 spine-like chaetae (Fig. 8D). Unguis with median tooth larger, apical tooth smaller than basal teeth. Unguiculus with all lamellae acuminate, pe lamella serrated and with small proximal tooth, other lamellae (ai, ae, pi) smooth; ratio unguis: unguiculus = 1: 0.51 (Fig. 8F). Tibiotarsus III distally with inner smooth chaeta 1.13 larger than unguiculus; and outer tenent hair capitate, discretely ciliate, and 0.80 smaller than unguis. Leg I of males (Fig. 8E). Femur I with one inner row of 5 finely ciliate mac of different sizes, one robust spine- like chaeta, 6 small truncate chaetae, and one proximal chaetae ciliate and apically acuminate; outer side with 3 chaetae ciliate and apically acuminate. Tibiotarsus I armed with one inner row of 6 proximal spine-like mac finely ciliate and apically acuminate or rounded, followed by 8 thicker chaetae finely ciliate; outer side with one proximal chaeta ciliate and apically acuminate. Collophore (Fig. 9 A). Anterior side with 10 ciliate chaetae, including 1 distal mac and 1 acuminate long chaeta; posterior side with 8 ciliate chaetae, of which 1 distal thicker; lateral flap with 3 smooth chaetae (one smaller posteriorly) and 16 ciliate chaetae. TABLE I. Overall morphological comparison among Seira species with known morphology from Western Palearctic region. …… continued on the next page TABLE I. (Continueđ) Notes: (ret.) retractile; (B) basal teeth; (M) međian tooth; (A) apical tooth; (+) present; (+) absent; (?) unknown; (*) refers to chaeta size in relation to other chaetae of posterior row (M2, E, LI–2). Reference: (1) Nicolet 1842; (2)Lubbock 1870; (3) Parona 1888; (4) Reuter 1895; (5)Scherbakov 1898; (6)Carl 1899; (7)Hanđschin 1925a, (8)1925b; (9)Stach 1955; (10)Altner 1960; (11)Gisin & Gama 1962; (12) Gama 1964; (13)Ellis 1966; (14) Parisi 1969; (15)Loksa & Bogojević 1970; (16)Dallai & Ferrari 1971; (17)Dallai 1973; (18) Jacquemart 1973; (19) Jacquemart 1974; (20)Ellis 1976; (21) Rusek 1981; (22)Gers & Deharveng 1985; (23) Gama 1988a; (24) Jorđana & Arbea 1989; (25) Tosi & Parisi 1990; (26) Yoshii 1990; (27) Loksa 1990; (28)Christiansen & Bellinger 2000; (29)Gruia et al. 2000; (30)Barra 2004b; (31)Negri et al. 2005; (32)Barra 2010; (33) Zeppelini & Bellini 2006; (34) Winkler & Dányi 2017; (35)Present stuđy. Notes: (*) rare conđition; (+) present; (+) absent; (?) unknown. Only central mac were consiđeređ on Th III to Abđ II. Reference: (1)Gisin & Gama 1962; (2) Gama 1964; (3)Ellis 1966; (4)Loksa & Bogojevic 1970; (5)Dallai & Ferrari 1971; (6)Dallai 1973; (7) Jacquemart 1973; (8) Jacquemart 1974; (9)Ellis 1976; (10) Rusek 1981; (11)Gers & Deharveng 1985; (12) Gama 1988a; (13) Jorđana & Arbea 1989; (14) Tosi & Parisi 1990; (15) Yoshii 1990; (16)Christiansen & Bellinger 2000; (17)Gruia et al. 2000; (18)Barra 2004b; (19)Negri et al. 2005; (20) Zeppelini & Bellini 2006; (21)Barra 2010; (22) Winkler & Dányi 2017; (23)Present stuđy. Furcula (Figs 9B‒C). Manubrium ventrally with formula 1, 2, 2, 2/4 (subapical), 14 (apical) ciliate chaetae and approximately 9 elongated apical scales per side; manubrium dorsally with 7 subapical ciliate chaetae; manubrial plate with 6‒7 ciliate chaetae and 3 psp. Remarks. Seira domestica resembles other species from the Western Palearctic region as S. atlantica Negri, Pellecchia & Fanciulli, 2005, S. dagamae Dallai, 1973, S. deserti Jacquemart, 1974 and S. graeca Ellis, 1966 by head mac M 4i, S4, Pa4 and Pp6 absent, Th II with 4 medio-central mac (m1‒ 1i, m2‒ 2i) and Abd I‒IV with 6, 5, 1 and 12 central mac, respectively (Table 2). However, S. domestica differs from these species by Ant IV annulated (simple in S. atlantica and S. dagamae), four conical labral papillae (two inner in S. atlantica), basomedian labial field with chaeta R smaller than others (subequal than others in S. atlantica, S. deserti and S. graeca), trochanteral organ with about 20 spine-like chaetae (more in S. atlantica and S. dagamae, less in S. deserti), unguis with median teeth larger than basal (subequal in S. atlantica, S. deserti and S. graeca), and unguiculus with outer lamella serrated (smooth in S. atlantica and S. dagamae). In addition, S. domestica differs from these species in chaetotaxy of the Th II with 8‒10 mac in PmC group and Abd IV with 18 lateral mac, while in these other species such chaetotaxy is reduced (less than 6 mac in PmC group and 13 lateral mac in Abd IV). Pigments in S. domestica are restricted to the antennae, while in some species it may have a distinct pattern (S. dagamae), with pigments in legs and abdomen parts (S. atlantica), diffuse (S. graeca) or even depigmented, except for eyepatches (S. deserti). All comparisons among species are presented in Tables 1 and 2. The type locality of S. domestica was not provided by Nicolet (1842) in the original description, but in 1847 the same author reported the presence of the species in Switzerland and France, inside houses. Nicolet lived in Switzerland, locality of many species of springtails described by him (as in Nicolet 1842, 1847). Consequently, it is accepted today by deduction that the type locality of S. domestica is also Switzerland. The type material of the species is lost, since it was not found in any main Swiss collection as: Musée d'Histoire Naturelle Neuchâtel (J. Litman, personal communication); and Natural History Museum of Geneva (J. Schwendinger, personal communication). Even so we could not analyze specimens from Switzerland, our description fits past descriptions of S. domestica dorsal chaetotaxy (excluding possible mistakes and omissions), including Gisin & Gama (1962) which was based in specimens from Geneva, Switzerland. However, this typological limitation prevents at this moment to determine some variations in populations of S. domestica. Gisin & Gama (1962: 792, fig. 4 A) reported the presence of mac m 4i on head of S. domestica, as well as Jacquemart (1973: 8, fig.4), in specimens from Jordan, but this chaeta is mic in all specimens analyzed here. Other variations observed in our specimens is PmA and PmC groups of the Th II, central mac of Th III, and one specimen (from same locality) with mac a3 in Abd III (Figs 6 A ‒B, E), but these may have been omitted, since these authors did not reveal variations in their descriptions., Published as part of Cipola, Nikolas Gioia, Arbea, Javier, Baquero, Enrique, Jordana, Rafael, Morais, José Wellington De & Bellini, Bruno Cavalcante, 2018, The survey of Seira Lubbock, 1870 (Collembola, Entomobryidae, Seirinae) from Iberian Peninsula and Canary Islands, including three new species, pp. 1-66 in Zootaxa 4458 (1) on pages 6-18, DOI: 10.11646/Zootaxa.4458.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1458171, {"references":["NIcOlET, H. (1842) REchERchES pOUR SERvIR l'HISTOIRE DES PODUREllES. Neuveaux Memoires de la Societe Helvetiques des Sciences Naturelles, 6, 1 - 88.","NIcOlET, H. (1847) ESSAI SER UNE clASSIFIcATION DES INSEcTES ApTERES, DE l'ORDRE DES ThYSANURES. ANNAlES DE lA SOcIeTe ENTOMOlOgIqUE, 2 (5), 335 - 395.","JAcqUEMART, S. (1973) CONTRIBUTION a l'ecOlOgIE DES MIlIEUx ARIDES. II. a pROpOS D'UN COllEMBOlE NOUvEAU DE JORDANIE: Seira petrae Sp. NOv. Bulletin-Institut Royal des sciences naturelles. Entomologie, 49 (1), 1 - 16.","PARONA, C. (1888) RES LIgUSTIcAE. VI. COllEMBOlE E TISANURI FINORA RIScONTRANTE IN LIgURIA. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 2 (6), 133 - 154.","REUTER, O. M. (1895) SpEcIES NOvA gENERIS PODURIDARUM SIRA LUBB. Wiener Entomologische Zeitung, 14, 1 - 114.","PARISI, V. (1969) OBSERvATIONS SUR qUElqUES COllEMBOlES DES ilES TAvOlARA ET MOlARA. Rapport Commission international Mer Mediterranee, 19, 817 - 819.","JAcqUEMART, S. (1974) RESUlTATS DE lA MISSION ANThROpOlOgIqUE BElgE AU NIgER. COllEMBOlES NOUvEAUx DU SAhARA. Bulletin de l'Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, 50 (6), 1 - 46.","RUSEK, J. (1981) SOME COllEMBOlA FROM IRAq. Festnik ceskoslovenske Spolecnosti zoologicke, Praha, 45, 63 - 80.","JORDANA, R. & ARBEA, J. I. (1989) DEScRIpcION DE UNA NUEvA ESpEcIE DE Seira LUBBOcK, 1869 (COllEMBOlA, ENTOMOBRYIDAE) pROcEDENTE DE NAvARRA (ESpAnA). Eos, 65 (1), 87 - 91.","TOSI, L. & PARISI, V. (1990) Seira tongiorgii, A NEW SpEcIES OF COllEMBOlA FROM A vOlcANIc ENvIRONMENT, Bolletino di zoologia, 57 (3), 277 - 281.","YOShII, R. (1990) MIScEllANEOUS NOTES ON ThE COllEMBOlA OF MAcARONESIA. Contributions from the Biological Laboratory Kyoto University, 27, 535 - 540.","LOKSA, I. (1990) ThE COllEMBOlA FAUNA OF ThE BaTORlIgET NATURE RESERvES (NE HUNgARY). In: MAhUNKA, S. (ED.), ThE BaTORlIgET NATURE RESERvES-AFTER FORTY YEARS. Studia Naturalia, 1 (1), pp. 269 - 277.","ZEppElINI, D. & BEllINI, B. C. (2006) TWO Seira LUBBOcK 1869 (COllEMBOlA, ARThROplEONA, ENTOMOBRYIDAE) NEW TO ScIENcE, WITh REMARKABlE SEcONDARY SExUAl chARAcTERS. Zootaxa, 1185, 21 - 35.","WINKlER, D. & DaNYI, L. (2017) REDEScRIpTION OF Seira pallidipes REUTER, 1895 AND ITS SYNONYMIZATION WITh Seira pillichi STAch, 1930 (COllEMBOlA, ENTOMOBRYIDAE, SEIRINI). Zootaxa, 4312 (3), 497 - 514.","NEgRI, I., PEllEcchIA, M. & FANcIUllI, P. P. (2005) TWO NEW SpEcIES WIThIN ThE gENUS Seira LUBBOcK, 1869 FROM MOROccO (COllEMBOlA, ENTOMOBRYIDAE). Zootaxa, 840 (1), 1 - 12."]}

International audience; The development of middle-infrared (MIR) sensors for organic pollutants monitoring in the aquatic environment is currently a challenge of great importance. The mid-infrared sensor based on evanescent wave spectroscopy is a promising analytical tool for simultaneous detection and quantification of a variety of pollutants such as hydrocarbon compounds. Chalcogenide glasses are particularly well adapted for sensing applications due to their wide domain of transparency (up to 10 – 16 μm depending on their composition). The aims of this study are to synthetize chalcogenide thin films for developing mid-infrared optical integrated platforms and perform their functionalization with polymers in order to increase the sensor sensitivity. Among (GeSe 2 ) 100−x (Sb 2 Se 3 ) x glass compositions, two selenide glass targets were chosen for their optical and physical properties. Thanks to attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, measurements were performed in water to detect aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene and the three xylene isomers) in the concentrations range of 25 ppb to 10 ppm. Detection measurements have also been fulfilled using seawater and ground-water. To increase their sensitivity, the use of metallic nanoparticles is one of the promising solutions based on Surface Enhanced Infrared Absorption (SEIRA). Thus, hybrid structures combining gold nanoparticles/chalcogenide glass and waveguides were fabricated and characterized.

We study the potential of graphene plasmons for spectrometer-free sensing based on surface-enhanced infrared absorption and Raman scattering. The large electrical tunability of these excitations enables an accurate identification of infrared molecular resonances by recording broadband absorption or inelastic scattering, replacing wavelength-resolved light collection by a signal integrated over photon energy as a function of the graphene doping level. The high quality factor of graphene plasmons plays a central role in the proposed detection techniques, which we show to be capable of providing label-free identification of the molecular vibration fingerprints. We find an enhancement of the absorption and inelastic scattering cross-sections by 3-4 orders of magnitude for molecules in close proximity to doped graphene nanodisks under currently feasible conditions. Our results pave the way for the development of novel cost-effective sensors capable of identifying spectral signatures of molecules without using spectrometers and laser sources.

The plasma membrane acts as the barrier and interface between the intracellular compartment and the extracellular environment. There are a variety of physical and chemical stimuli that are transmitted over the plasma membrane by means of integrated biomolecules, e.g. membrane proteins and peptides. To elucidate such processes in more detail, the development of artificial biomimetic membrane systems has been a focus during the last decades. In this work, the multiple mechanisms of interactions between peptides and proteins with membranes have been investigated by utilizing a previously established tethered bilayer lipid membrane (tBLM) system. This tBLM was assembled on a nanostructured gold electrode and surface-enhanced infrared (SEIRA) spectroscopy was applied under control of electrical potentials to mimic the transmembrane potential. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), synthesized by a wide range of organisms, target and disrupt the negatively charged bacterial cell membrane due to their positive charge. However, the exact mode of action of AMPs still remains elusive. The development of resistances against antibiotics becomes a major issue in the clinical treatment of bacterial infections, making AMPs interesting targets of study. The human AMP LL-37 as well as its mutated fragments LL-32 and LL-20 were analysed using a tBLM comprised of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1’-rac-glycerol) (POPG). To obtain information about the secondary structure of these peptides in solution IR measurements were conducted. The analysis of the peptide backbone amide modes revealed an a-helical structure of all peptides. The same result was obtained by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the peptides in solution. Based on the surface-selection rules and the distance dependence of SEIRA, the orientation and location of the peptides within the tBLM was determined. These measurements revealed that LL-37 incorporates horizontally with its N-terminus into the hydrophobic core of the membrane, whereas LL-32 adsorbs horizontally onto the hydrophilic headgroups and LL-20 does not interact with the system. The same conclusion was drawn from MD simulations of 300 ns, in agreement with the previously described importance of the amino acid residues 17 - 29 for the peptide function, since LL-20 lacks this region. The AMP alamethicin (ALM), comprised of a N-terminal a-helix and C-terminal 3-10 -helix, interacts with bacterial membranes in response to the transmembrane potential. The conducted voltage-dependent SEIRA study, using a tBLM composed of POPC:POPG, was combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations resulting in the development of a kinetic integration model of ALM. After its adsorption on the bilayer surface the peptide incorporates via its N-terminus. This leads to a reorientation with respect to the surface normal, between 78° - 69° in the horizontally adsorbed state to 21° in the transmembrane-incorporated state. The bacterial Complex I (CpI) couples the electron transfer between nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and ubiquinone resulting in their respective oxidation and reduction. This process allows the transmembrane translocation of protons, making CpI an essential membrane protein in the energy production of bacterial cells. CpI was incorporated into a supported lipid membrane system based on a (de)protonable 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) SAM, POPC:POPA phospholipids and a quinone. 4-ATP serves not only as linker molecule to a nanostructured gold-surface but also as pH sensor, as indicated by concomitant DFT calculations. In this way, the transmembrane proton translocation was observable via the protonation state of 4-ATP depending on the net orientation of CpI molecules induced by two complementary approaches. An associated change of the amide I/amide II band intensity ratio indicates conformational modifications upon catalysis which may involve movements of transmembrane helices or other secondary structural elements as suggested in literature., Die Plasmamembran fungiert als äußere Grenzschicht und Schnittstelle zwischen dem intrazellulären Kompartiment und der extrazellulären Umgebung. Integrierte Biomoleküle, wie z.B. Proteine und Peptide, übertragen unterschiedliche physikalische und chemische Reize an der Plasmamembran. Die Entwicklung künstlicher biomimetischer Membransysteme ermöglicht die Aufklärung dieser Prozesse. In dieser Arbeit werden trägerfixierte Lipiddoppelschichtmembranen (tethered bilayer lipid membrane – tBLM) genutzt, um die Interaktionsmechanismen von Peptiden sowie Proteinen mit Membranen zu untersuchen. Es wurde eine tBLM auf einer nanostrukturierten Goldelektrode aufgebaut und die oberflächenverstärkte Infrarot-Spektroskopie (surface-enhanced irfrared absorption - SEIRA) wurde unter Kontrolle des elektrischen Potentials zur Nachbildung des Transmembranpotentials angewendet. Die rasante Entwicklung antibiotikaresistenter Bakterienstämme stellt eine wachsende Herausforderung für die Behandlung von Infektionen dar. Antimikrobielle Peptide (AMP), hergestellt durch eine Vielzahl an Organismen, wirken aufgrund ihrer positiven Ladung destruktiv auf die negativ geladene Bakterienmembran, wobei der genaue Wirkmechanismus nicht abschließend geklärt ist. Das humane AMP LL-37 und dessen synthetisch hergestellte Fragmente LL-32 und LL-20 wurden mit Hilfe einer tBLM, welche aus 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) und 1-palmitoyl-2oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1’-rac-glycerol) (POPG) besteht, analysiert. Mit Hilfe von IR-Messungen wurde die Sekundärstruktur in Lösung ermittelt. Die Analyse der Amid-Banden des Peptidrückgrats ergab für alle Peptide eine a-helikale Struktur. Molekulardynamische (MD) Simulationen der Peptide in Lösung bestätigten dieses Ergebnis. Auf Grundlage der Oberflächenauswahlregeln und Abstandsabhängigkeit von SEIRA wurde die Orientierung und Lage der Peptide innerhalb der tBLM bestimmt. LL-37 inkorporierte horizontal mit dem N-Terminus in den hydrophoben Membranteil, LL-32 adsorbierte horizontal auf der hydrophilen Membranaußenseite, während LL-20 nicht mit dem System interagierte. Dieselbe Schlussfolgerung wurde aus MD Simulationen (300ns) gezogen, welche die zuvor beschriebene Bedeutung der Aminosäurereste 17-29 für die antimikrobielle Aktivität des LL-37 bestätigen. Diese Sequenz ist im Fall von LL-20 nicht intakt. Das AMP Alamethicin (ALM), aufgebaut aus einem a-helikalen N-Terminus und einer C-terminalen 3-10 -Helix, interagiert in Abhängigkeit des Transmembranpotentials mit Bakterienmembranen. Unter Nutzung einer tBLM (POPC:POPG) wurde eine potentialabhängige SEIRA-Studie mit Dichtefunktionstheorie (DFT) Rechnungen kombiniert, um ein kinetisches Model der Integration von ALM in Membranen zu beschreiben. Das Peptid inkorporiert nach Adsorption mit Hilfe des N-Terminus in die Doppelmembran. Dies führt zu einer Reorientierung bezüglich der Oberflächennormalen von einem Winkel von 78° - 69° in der horizontal adsobierten Form hin zu 21° im inkorporierten Zustand. Als Teil der Atmungskette koppelt der bakterielle Complex I (CpI) den Elektronentransfer zwischen Nicotinamidadenindinukleotid (NADH) und Ubichinon resultierend in einer Oxidation bzw. Reduktion. Die darauf folgende Protonenübertragung über die Bakterienmembran hat eine wichtige Funktion für die Energiebereitstellung der Bakterienzelle. CpI wurde in ein Lipidmembransystem inkorporiert, das auf einer selbstassemblierten Monolage aus (de)protonierbarem 4-Aminothiophenol (4-ATP), einem POPC:POPA Lipidgemisch und Ubichinon zusammengesetzt ist. Neben seiner Funktion als Linker- Molekül, dient 4-ATP ebenso als pH Sensor, wie ergänzende DFT Rechnungen bestätigten. Somit wurde die Protonentranslokation über die Membran mittels des Protonierungsgrades von 4-ATP in zwei komplementären Ansätzen abhängig von der Proteinorientierung ermittelt. Die induzierte Änderung des Quotienten der Amid I/Amid II Bandenintensität zeigte katalytische Konformationsänderungen, die eine mögliche Bewegung von Transmembranhelices oder anderer Sekundärstrukturelemente einschließen.

Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) are emerging as possible alternative constituent materials to replace noble metals such as silver and gold for low-loss plasmonic applications in the near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) regimes. In particular, TCO-based nanostructures are extensively investigated for biospectroscopy exploiting their surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA). The latter enhances the absorption from vibrational and rotational modes of nearby biomolecules, making TCO nanostructures a promising candidate for IR sensing applications. Nevertheless, in order to produce inexpensive devices for lab-on-a-chip diagnostics, it would be favorable to achieve surface-enhanced infrared absorption with very simple microstructures not requiring nanosize control. In this work, we attempt to demonstrate a SEIRA effect with the least challenging fabrication, ?m-scale instead of nm-scale, by tailoring both device design and charge density of the indium tin oxide (ITO) film. We show that microperiodic hole arrays in a ITO film are able to produce SEIRA via grating coupling. Such a study opens the way for innovative and disrupting biosensing devices. © 2018 American Chemical Society.

Dissertation, RWTH Aachen University, 2018; Aachen 1 Online-Ressource (VII, 160 Seiten) : Illustrationen, Diagramme (2018). = Dissertation, RWTH Aachen University, 2018, Infrared spectroscopy enables a non-destructive and label-free characterization of matter. In the mid-infrared spectral range, vibrational fingerprints of molecular thin films and even monolayers can be detected. Surface enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy can further improve sensitivity by using tailored metallic structures, which couple free space radiation into regions of subwavelength size. Large local electric field enhancements occur and enable an increased absorption by molecules which are placed in these so called "hot spots". In this thesis, concepts for improving SEIRA experiments are investigated for metallic structures, which have different orientations with respect to the substrate plane: planar and vertical structures. Planar gold strip gratings are used to enhance the absorption of the symmetric and asymmetric $\mathrm{CH_2}$ stretch vibrations in a thiol monolayer. The asymmetric $\mathrm{CH_2}$ vibrational signal can be increased by up to an order of magnitude by optimizing the strip width. Grating resonances are tuned by changing the angle of incidence in microscopic Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) measurements. A spectral shift of up to $300 \, \mathrm{cm^{-1}}$ is measured for a $3.7 \,$µm period grating by changing the polar angle of incidence from $12.5^{\circ}$ to $35.8^{\circ}$. By changing the angle of incidence, the local electric field enhancement in rod antenna arrays is spectrally tuned for maximizing sensitivity for different vibrational modes of surface molecules. Optimized signal enhancements of 2500 and 3700 are obtained for the symmetric and asymmetric $\mathrm{CH_2}$ vibrational modes, respectively. These values are increased by a factor of 1.75 for the symmetric and a factor of 1.23 for the asymmetric mode compared to common, angle-averaged measurements using a Schwarzschild objective. Nanojets are special vertical antennas on a conducting ground plane. Numerical simulations of single nanojets predict high local electric field enhancement factors of around 300 at the nanojet tips. Randomly arranged nanojets are characterized with grazing incidence reflectance (GIR) and scattering measurements, which reveal a clear resonance lineshape. Numerical simulations of nanojet square arrays predict a 1.5 times higher maximum local electric field enhancement, but in GIR spectra of such arrays, additional features are superimposed on the resonance lineshape. These features are assigned to diffraction orders by scattering measurements and analytic calculations. Large resonance wavelength shifts are observed when changing the illumination direction in GIR measurements of nanojet linear arrays, i.e. nanojets arranged in a row. A maximum resonance shift of $450 \, \mathrm{cm^{-1}}$ is measured for a $2.2 \,$µm period array upon changing the azimuthal angle of incidence by $90^{\circ}$. The physical reason for these spectral shifts is found in radiative and conductive coupling effects. Both coupling effects are considered in the development of an oscillator model for vertical antenna arrays., Published by Aachen

The detection and identification of biological and chemical substances can be performed with biosensors. Biosensors are required to be simple and rapid to use, small, and sensitive in order to detect minute amounts of analyte molecules. Plasmonic devices have proven their utility as biosensing transducers. Surface plasmon-polaritons (SPP), collective oscillations of the electron cloud in metallic media coupled to an electromagnetic wave, are sensitive to the refractive index of their environment, providing thus an efficient way to probe the presence of molecules by the refractive index modification. This technique is called surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing. Moreover, SPP confine the incident electric field to sub-wavelength dimensions and enhance the field strength. Molecules located in these so-called field hotspots interact more efficiently with incident light due to a coupling mechanism mediated by the SPP, so that their infrared (IR) absorption cross section is increased. While IR spectroscopy is a standard tool for molecular identification, it does not provide sufficient sensitivity for the detection of smallest quantities. Exploiting the surface enhanced IR absorption (SEIRA) due to the plasmonic enhancement enables the detection of small amounts of analyte.While surface plasmons were mainly discovered using noble metals such as gold and silver, nowadays other material systems are also considered which display complementary or improved properties compared to the standard materials in plasmonics, especially to enlarge the spectral range where plasmonic effects can be observed and exploited. Material science enables to tailor the dielectric function of a material and consequently to control the plasmonic properties. Highly doped III-V semiconductors constitute an alternative to gold and silver for mid-IR plasmonics, due to their dielectric function which resembles the one of the noble metals, but shifted to the mid-IR spectral range. Indeed, InAsSb in the IR is even less lossy than gold in the visible. SEIRA using plasmonic resonances spectrally tuned to molecular absorption lines, or resonant SEIRA, requires nanoantenna substrates displaying their resonances in the IR. Highly doped InAsSb grown lattice matched on GaSb substrates is an interesting material system for this task. InAsSb is plasmonic for wavelengths above approximately 5 µm.In this work, we propose InAsSb:Si/GaSb nanostructures as SEIRA and SPR substrates for an application in biosensing devices. InAsSb nanoantennas on GaSb substrates have been prepared using photolithography and wet chemical etching by a citric acid: hydrogen peroxyde solution or alternatively, by interferential lithography and reactive ion etching, especially to reduce the lattice parameter. An optical characterization of the structures was performed by FTIR spectroscopy, supported by numerical finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations which were also applied to study the impact of geometrical parameters on the optical response. Notably, two types of structure designs were proposed: one-dimensional periodic gratings and two-dimensional arrays of rectangular shaped nanoantennas which provide localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) in both polarization directions contrary to the gratings and enable hence a dual band optical response. SPR sensing and SEIRA have successfully been demonstrated using both types of structures, with proof-of-concept analytes such as different polymers and the aromatic compound vanillin with absorption features at high IR wavelengths. A bulk sensitivity in the range of 10² to 10^3 nm/RIU was reached. The vibrational signals increased of factors ranging between approximately 1.2-5.7, and the SEIRA enhancement was estimated to be in the range of 10^3 to 10^4 for the rectangular nanoantenna arrays.; La détection et l'identification des substances biologiques ou chimiques peuvent être accomplies par des biocapteurs. On exige des biocapteurs d'être simple et rapide à utiliser, d'avoir une taille réduite, et d'être suffisamment sensible afin de pouvoir détecter des molécules en petite quantité. Des dispositifs plasmoniques se sont révélés adaptés pour l'usage en tant qu'élément transducteur des biocapteurs. Les plasmon-polaritons de surface (SPP) sont des oscillations collectives du nuage électronique des métaux, couplées à des ondes électromagnétiques. Leur fréquence de résonance dépend de l'indice de réfraction de leur environnement diélectrique. Ceci permet de sonder de manière efficace la présence des molécules par la modification de l'indice de réfraction engendrée par celles-ci. La technique reposant sur ce principe s'appelle la détection par résonance des plasmons de surface (SPR sensing en anglais). De plus, les SPP confinent le champ électrique incident à des volumes sub-longueurs d'onde et l'exaltent ainsi. Les molécules qui se situent dans ces zones de forte exaltation du champ électrique interagissent plus efficacement avec la lumière incidente par l'intermédiaire du SPP, tel que leur section efficace de l'absorption infrarouge (IR) augmente. La spectroscopie IR est une technique standard d'identification de molécules en quantités suffisantes. Pour améliorer la sensibilité, la spectroscopie vibrationnelle d'absorption exaltée par la surface (SEIRA pour surface enhanced infrared absorption en anglais) est particulièrement bien adaptée.Alors que la plasmonique s'est principalement développée dans le visible via les métaux nobles, les semi-conducteurs III-V fortement dopés présentent une alternative intéressante pour la plasmonique dans le moyen IR. Leur fonction diélectrique ressemble à celle des métaux nobles dans le visible, mais décalée dans le moyen IR. Leur densité de charges moindre que celle de l'or permet de réduire considérablement leurs pertes. La spectroscopie SEIRA utilise des nanoantennes plasmoniques dont les résonances se situent dans l'IR pour couvrir la gamme spectrale des modes vibrationnels moléculaires. L'InAsSb fortement dopé accordé en maille sur un substrat en GaSb présente des propriétés plasmoniques au-delà de 5 µm de longueurs d'onde.Dans ce manuscrit, nous proposons des nanostructures en InAsSb:Si/GaSb pour développer un biocapteur utilisant les techniques de SEIRA et de SPR "sensing". Les nanostructures ont été réalisées soit par photolithographie et gravure chimique humide soit par lithographie interférentielle et gravure par plasma réactif. Les caractérisations optiques ont été effectuées par spectroscopie IR à transformée de Fourier. Des calculs numériques par la méthode des différences finies dans le domaine temporel (FDTD) ont permis d'étudier l'effet des paramètres géométriques sur la réponse optique des structures. Deux types de structure ont été proposés : des réseaux unidimensionnels ainsi que des réseaux bidimensionnels de nanoantennes rectangulaires supportant des résonances de plasmon de surface localisé (LSPR) dans les deux directions de polarisation de la lumière par rapport aux axes de la structure. Ce type de structures permet ainsi une réponse optique ayant des résonances dans deux bandes spectrales différentes. Les techniques de SPR "sensing" et de SEIRA ont été démontrées pour l'ensemble des structures uni- et bidimensionnelles. Différents types d'analytes comme les polymères et le benzaldéhyde vanilline ont servi de systèmes de tests pour les structures plasmoniques. Les sensibilités se situent entre 10² et 10^3 nm/RIU. Les facteurs d'augmentation des signaux vibrationnels obtenus sont compris dans une gamme de 1,2 à 5,7 et les facteurs d'exaltation ont été évalués autour de 10^3 à 10^4 pour les réseaux bidimensionnels de nanoantennes plasmoniques.

The detection and identification of biological and chemical substances can be performed with biosensors. Biosensors are required to be simple and rapid to use, small, and sensitive in order to detect minute amounts of analyte molecules. Plasmonic devices have proven their utility as biosensing transducers. Surface plasmon-polaritons (SPP), collective oscillations of the electron cloud in metallic media coupled to an electromagnetic wave, are sensitive to the refractive index of their environment, providing thus an efficient way to probe the presence of molecules by the refractive index modification. This technique is called surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing. Moreover, SPP confine the incident electric field to sub-wavelength dimensions and enhance the field strength. Molecules located in these so-called field hotspots interact more efficiently with incident light due to a coupling mechanism mediated by the SPP, so that their infrared (IR) absorption cross section is increased. While IR spectroscopy is a standard tool for molecular identification, it does not provide sufficient sensitivity for the detection of smallest quantities. Exploiting the surface enhanced IR absorption (SEIRA) due to the plasmonic enhancement enables the detection of small amounts of analyte.While surface plasmons were mainly discovered using noble metals such as gold and silver, nowadays other material systems are also considered which display complementary or improved properties compared to the standard materials in plasmonics, especially to enlarge the spectral range where plasmonic effects can be observed and exploited. Material science enables to tailor the dielectric function of a material and consequently to control the plasmonic properties. Highly doped III-V semiconductors constitute an alternative to gold and silver for mid-IR plasmonics, due to their dielectric function which resembles the one of the noble metals, but shifted to the mid-IR spectral range. Indeed, InAsSb in the IR is even less lossy than gold in the visible. SEIRA using plasmonic resonances spectrally tuned to molecular absorption lines, or resonant SEIRA, requires nanoantenna substrates displaying their resonances in the IR. Highly doped InAsSb grown lattice matched on GaSb substrates is an interesting material system for this task. InAsSb is plasmonic for wavelengths above approximately 5 µm.In this work, we propose InAsSb:Si/GaSb nanostructures as SEIRA and SPR substrates for an application in biosensing devices. InAsSb nanoantennas on GaSb substrates have been prepared using photolithography and wet chemical etching by a citric acid: hydrogen peroxyde solution or alternatively, by interferential lithography and reactive ion etching, especially to reduce the lattice parameter. An optical characterization of the structures was performed by FTIR spectroscopy, supported by numerical finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations which were also applied to study the impact of geometrical parameters on the optical response. Notably, two types of structure designs were proposed: one-dimensional periodic gratings and two-dimensional arrays of rectangular shaped nanoantennas which provide localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) in both polarization directions contrary to the gratings and enable hence a dual band optical response. SPR sensing and SEIRA have successfully been demonstrated using both types of structures, with proof-of-concept analytes such as different polymers and the aromatic compound vanillin with absorption features at high IR wavelengths. A bulk sensitivity in the range of 10² to 10^3 nm/RIU was reached. The vibrational signals increased of factors ranging between approximately 1.2-5.7, and the SEIRA enhancement was estimated to be in the range of 10^3 to 10^4 for the rectangular nanoantenna arrays.; La détection et l'identification des substances biologiques ou chimiques peuvent être accomplies par des biocapteurs. On exige des biocapteurs d'être simple et rapide à utiliser, d'avoir une taille réduite, et d'être suffisamment sensible afin de pouvoir détecter des molécules en petite quantité. Des dispositifs plasmoniques se sont révélés adaptés pour l'usage en tant qu'élément transducteur des biocapteurs. Les plasmon-polaritons de surface (SPP) sont des oscillations collectives du nuage électronique des métaux, couplées à des ondes électromagnétiques. Leur fréquence de résonance dépend de l'indice de réfraction de leur environnement diélectrique. Ceci permet de sonder de manière efficace la présence des molécules par la modification de l'indice de réfraction engendrée par celles-ci. La technique reposant sur ce principe s'appelle la détection par résonance des plasmons de surface (SPR sensing en anglais). De plus, les SPP confinent le champ électrique incident à des volumes sub-longueurs d'onde et l'exaltent ainsi. Les molécules qui se situent dans ces zones de forte exaltation du champ électrique interagissent plus efficacement avec la lumière incidente par l'intermédiaire du SPP, tel que leur section efficace de l'absorption infrarouge (IR) augmente. La spectroscopie IR est une technique standard d'identification de molécules en quantités suffisantes. Pour améliorer la sensibilité, la spectroscopie vibrationnelle d'absorption exaltée par la surface (SEIRA pour surface enhanced infrared absorption en anglais) est particulièrement bien adaptée.Alors que la plasmonique s'est principalement développée dans le visible via les métaux nobles, les semi-conducteurs III-V fortement dopés présentent une alternative intéressante pour la plasmonique dans le moyen IR. Leur fonction diélectrique ressemble à celle des métaux nobles dans le visible, mais décalée dans le moyen IR. Leur densité de charges moindre que celle de l'or permet de réduire considérablement leurs pertes. La spectroscopie SEIRA utilise des nanoantennes plasmoniques dont les résonances se situent dans l'IR pour couvrir la gamme spectrale des modes vibrationnels moléculaires. L'InAsSb fortement dopé accordé en maille sur un substrat en GaSb présente des propriétés plasmoniques au-delà de 5 µm de longueurs d'onde.Dans ce manuscrit, nous proposons des nanostructures en InAsSb:Si/GaSb pour développer un biocapteur utilisant les techniques de SEIRA et de SPR "sensing". Les nanostructures ont été réalisées soit par photolithographie et gravure chimique humide soit par lithographie interférentielle et gravure par plasma réactif. Les caractérisations optiques ont été effectuées par spectroscopie IR à transformée de Fourier. Des calculs numériques par la méthode des différences finies dans le domaine temporel (FDTD) ont permis d'étudier l'effet des paramètres géométriques sur la réponse optique des structures. Deux types de structure ont été proposés : des réseaux unidimensionnels ainsi que des réseaux bidimensionnels de nanoantennes rectangulaires supportant des résonances de plasmon de surface localisé (LSPR) dans les deux directions de polarisation de la lumière par rapport aux axes de la structure. Ce type de structures permet ainsi une réponse optique ayant des résonances dans deux bandes spectrales différentes. Les techniques de SPR "sensing" et de SEIRA ont été démontrées pour l'ensemble des structures uni- et bidimensionnelles. Différents types d'analytes comme les polymères et le benzaldéhyde vanilline ont servi de systèmes de tests pour les structures plasmoniques. Les sensibilités se situent entre 10² et 10^3 nm/RIU. Les facteurs d'augmentation des signaux vibrationnels obtenus sont compris dans une gamme de 1,2 à 5,7 et les facteurs d'exaltation ont été évalués autour de 10^3 à 10^4 pour les réseaux bidimensionnels de nanoantennes plasmoniques.

A comprehensive understanding of physical and chemical processes at biological membranes requires the knowledge of the interfacial electric field which is a key parameter for controlling molecular structures and reaction dynamics. An appropriate approach is based on the vibrational Stark effect (VSE) that exploits the electric-field dependent perturbation of localized vibrational modes. In this work, 6-mercaptohexanenitrile (C5CN) and 7-mercaptoheptanenitrile (C6CN) were used to form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on a nanostructured Au electrode as a simple mimic for biomembranes. The C - N stretching mode was probed by surface enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy to determine the frequency and intensity as a function of the electrode potential. The intensity variations were related to potential-dependent changes of the nitrile orientation with respect to the electric field. Supported by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, and quantum chemical calculations the frequency changes were translated into profiles of the interfacial electric field, affording field strengths up to 4 × 108 V/m (C6CN) and 1.3 × 109 V/m (C5CN) between +0.4 and 0.4 V (vs Ag/AgCl). These profiles compare very well with the predictions of a simple electrostatic model developed in this work. This model is shown to be applicable to different types of electrode/SAM systems and allows for a quick estimate of interfacial electric fields. Finally, the implications for electric-field dependent processes at biomembranes are discussed. Fil: Staffa, Jana K.. Technishe Universitat Berlin; Alemania Fil: Lorenz, Lisa. Technishe Universitat Berlin; Alemania Fil: Stolarski, Michael. Technishe Universitat Berlin; Alemania Fil: Murgida, Daniel Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina Fil: Zebger, Ingo. Technishe Universitat Berlin; Alemania Fil: Utesch, Tillmann. Technishe Universitat Berlin; Alemania Fil: Kozuch, Jacek. Technishe Universitat Berlin; Alemania Fil: Hildebrandt, Peter. Technishe Universitat Berlin; Alemania

The coupling of an infrared plasmon-polariton excitation of a metal nanoparticle to a vibrational excitation of a similar energy enables strong vibrational signal enhancement. However, the commonly used planar substrates substantially weaken plasmonic resonances because of their polarizability, and, furthermore, a great part of the enhanced near-field is inside the substrate and thus not available for an analyte. In this contribution we report on a way to reduce these undesirable influences of the substrate by fabricating gold nanowires on high pedestals and thus in reduced contact with the substrate. The influence of the height of the pedestal is an important parameter for the plasmonic near-field enhancement, as we show with finite-difference time-domain simulations. Comparing the plasmonic response and the SEIRA activity of the rods prepared by standard electron beam lithography and the rods additionally treated with reactive ion etching to remove the silicon substrate at the hot-spots of the rods reveals not only the change of the plasmonic-resonance spectrum but also interesting differences of the enhanced phonon-polariton signal from the silicon dioxide layer on the silicon substrate and the about 1 order of magnitude stronger vibrational signal enhancement for an adsorbate monolayer.