Soaresia forficula, Kury, Adriano B., 2008

Kury, Adriano B., 2008, A review of Soaresia H. Soares, 1945, with the description of a new species from Serra da Mantiqueira, Brazil (Opiliones, Gonyleptidae, Pachylinae), Zootaxa 1687, pp. 51-59 : 52-55

Soaresia forficula sp. nov.

( Figs 1–11 )

Type material. ɗ holotype, 5 ɗ 5 Ψ paratypes ( MNRJ 08914): BRAZIL, Minas Gerais, Rio Preto: Fazenda do Luluca, entre Rio Preto e Santa Bárbara do Monte Verde, mata fechada 1100–1300 m (-22.0600; -43.7800) 14–20 May 2002, R. Baptista, A. Pérez, C. Rodríguez, A. Giupponi, E. Vasconcelos, A. Chagas, D. Pedroso, L. Silva & A. Mendes col.

Etymology. The species name refers to a well known genus of earwigs (order Dermaptera), whose cerci (pincers) strongly resemble the apophyses of free tergite III in this species.

Diagnosis. Free tergite III with a pair of very large geminate hooks, resembling earwig pincers, clearly separating this species from S. uncina , which instead has a triad of straight spines. Femur IV with only 1 dagger-like ventro-distal apophysis. Patella IV of male short, as in most Pachylinae , contrasting with that of S. uncina , which is unusually elongate. Tarsus II predominantly 6-jointed. Penial notch shallow and truncus apex swollen, almost tricommatine-like. Tarsal counts (range): males (n=6, 2 of which beta morph) and females (n=5) 5(3)/6–8(3)/6/6. Tarsus II (variation): 6 (n=1), 7 (n=14), 8 (n=3). Body size equal, but legs I–IV of alpha males progressively shorter than in S. uncina (95–75%, see measurements in Table 1).

Description of male holotype. Measurements: Carapace 1.05 long, 1.27 wide; abdominal scutum 1.56 long, 2.39 widest.

Ocularium narrow, elliptic, removed from prosomatic portion of dorsal scutum (carapace) anterior border and armed with an erect median short spine. Dorsal scutum much wider in the mid portion, with sides convex. Anterior border with deep cheliceral sockets. Posterior border slightly convex. Lateral border with row of marginal tubercles without conspicuous color contrast with the scutum background ( Figs 1 , 3 ). All scutal areas unarmed, only bearing each a transverse row of granules, extending across the whole area in areas III–V. Free tergites each with a transverse row of granules, tergite III bearing strong pair of partially fused spiniform apophyses, curved ventrally ( Figs 3 , 5 ). Chelicera neither swollen nor elongate, with well-marked bulla and no armature. Pedipalp slender, as long as dorsal scutum. Pedipalpal femur armed with sub-apical mesal setiferous tubercle. Femora I–II straight, III–IV sigmoid. Coxa IV armed with 1) large lanceolate prodorsal apical apophysis and 2) smaller spiniform retroventral apophysis. Trochanter IV armed with 1) large apical prolateral apophysis and 2) small basal retrolateral apophysis. Femur IV armed with 1) prolateral row of acuminate spines growing higher distally, 2) small dorso-apical spines and 3) huge ventro-apical dagger-like spiniform apophysis. Patella and tibia IV each with prolateral row of acuminate spines growing higher distally ( Fig 1 ). Color (in alcohol) of scutum and tergites Deep Reddish Orange (CC 36), with grooves lighter and appendages Strong Orange (CC 50) mottled with Brownish Orange (CC 54). Truncus penis with a clear ventro-distal notch or constriction. Ventral plate of penis pyriform, not cleft, with 3 + 3 lateral setae. Ventral process of glans (base of stylus) cylindrical, with only apex flabellate. Stylus with distal mat of scattered spines. Penial notch shallow and truncus apex swollen, almost tricommatine-like ( Figs 8–9 ).

class Leg # Tr Fe Pa Ti Mt Ta Total leg

females I 0.3 (± 0.0) 0.8 (± 0.0) 0.4 (± 0.0) 0.7 (± 0.0) 0.8 (± 0.1) 0.8 (± 0.0) 3.8 (± 0.1)

beta males I 0.2 (± 0.0) 0.7 (± 0.0) 0.4 (± 0.0) 0.6 (± 0.0) 0.7 (± 0.1) 0.7 (± 0.0) 3.2 (± 0.1)

alpha males I 0.3 (± 0.0) 0.9 (± 0.1) 0.4 (± 0.0) 0.7 (± 0.0) 0.9 (± 0.1) 0.8 (± 0.1) 4.0 (± 0.2)

females II 0.3 (± 0.0) 1.3 (± 0.1) 0.6 (± 0.0) 1.1 (± 0.1) 1.3 (± 0.0) 1.3 (± 0.1) 6.0 (± 0.2)

beta males II 0.3 (± 0.0) 1.2 (± 0.0) 0.6 (± 0.0) 1.1 (± 0.0) 1.3 (± 0.0) 1.0 (± 0.0) 5.4 (± 0.0)

alpha males II 0.4 (± 0.0) 1.5 (± 0.0) 0.5 (± 0.0) 1.1 (± 0.1) 1.5 (± 0.1) 1.4 (± 0.1) 6.4 (± 0.3)

females III 0.3 (± 0.0) 1.1 (± 0.0) 0.5 (± 0.0) 0.8 (± 0.0) 1.1 (± 0.0) 0.8 (± 0.0) 4.6 (± 0.1)

beta males III 0.3 (± 0.1) 1.1 (± 0.1) 0.4 (± 0.0) 0.7 (± 0.0) 1.1 (± 0.0) 0.8 (± 0.1) 4.5 (± 0.1)

alpha males III 0.3 (± 0.0) 1.2 (± 0.1) 0.5 (± 0.0) 0.8 (± 0.0) 1.2 (± 0.1) 0.9 (± 0.1) 4.9 (± 0.2)

females IV 0.4 (± 0.0) 1.2 (± 0.0) 0.7 (± 0.0) 1.0 (± 0.0) 1.6 (± 0.0) 0.9 (± 0.1) 5.9 (± 0.1)

beta males IV 0.4 (± 0.0) 1.2 (± 0.1) 0.6 (± 0.0) 0.9 (± 0.0) 1.5 (± 0.1) 0.9 (± 0.1) 5.5 (± 0.4)

alpha males IV 0.6 (± 0.0) 1.1 (± 0.1) 0.7 (± 0.1) 1.0 (± 0.1) 1.7 (± 0.2) 1.0 (± 0.1) 6.2 (± 0.4)

females Pp 0.3 (± 0.0) 0.6 (± 0.1) 0.4 (± 0.0) 0.5 (± 0.1) - 0.4 (± 0.0) 2.1 (± 0.1)

beta males Pp 0.3 (± 0.0) 0.6 (± 0.0) 0.4 (± 0.0) 0.5 (± 0.1) - 0.4 (± 0.0) 2.1 (± 0.2)

alpha males Pp 0.3 (± 0.0) 0.5 (± 0.1) 0.4 (± 0.0) 0.4 (± 0.1) - 0.4 (± 0.1) 2.0 (± 0.1)

scutum length max width

females 2.3 (± 0.1) 2.1 (± 0.1)

beta males 2.0 (± 0.0) 1.9 (± 0.1)

alpha males 2.4 (± 0.2) 2.2 (± 0.2)

class Leg # Tr Fe Pa Ti Mt Ta Total leg

females I 0.3 (± 0.0) 1.0 (± 0.1) 0.5 (± 0.1) 0.7 (± 0.1) 0.9 (± 0.2) 0.8 (± 0.1) 4.2 (± 0.6)

males I 0.3 (± 0.0) 1.0 (± 0.1) 0.5 (± 0.0) 0.7 (± 0.0) 1.0 (± 0.1) 0.7 (± 0.1) 4.2 (± 0.2)

females II 0.4 (± 0.0) 1.6 (± 0.1) 0.6 (± 0.0) 1.3 (± 0.1) 1.5 (± 0.2) 1.5 (± 0.1) 6.9 (± 0.3)

males II 0.4 (± 0.0) 1.7 (± 0.1) 0.6 (± 0.1) 1.4 (± 0.0) 1.7 (± 0.1) 1.5 (± 0.1) 7.3 (± 0.3)

females III 0.3 (± 0.0) 1.3 (± 0.0) 0.6 (± 0.0) 0.9 (± 0.1) 1.3 (± 0.1) 0.9 (± 0.1) 5.2 (± 0.3)

males III 0.3 (± 0.0) 1.5 (± 0.0) 0.5 (± 0.0) 1.0 (± 0.0) 1.5 (± 0.0) 0.9 (± 0.1) 5.7 (± 0.2)

females IV 0.4 (± 0.0) 1.6 (± 0.1) 0.6 (± 0.1) 1.1 (± 0.2) 1.9 (± 0.1) 1.0 (± 0.0) 6.6 (± 0.4)

males IV 0.7 (± 0.1) 1.8 (± 0.1) 1.0 (± 0.1) 1.4 (± 0.0) 2.4 (± 0.1) 1.1 (± 0.0) 8.3 (± 0.1)

females Pp 0.3 (± 0.0) 0.6 (± 0.0) 0.4 (± 0.0) 0.5 (± 0.0) - 0.4 (± 0.0) 2.4 (± 0.1)

males Pp 0.3 (± 0.0) 0.6 (± 0.1) 0.5 (± 0.0) 0.5 (± 0.1) - 0.4 (± 0.1) 2.4 (± 0.1) scutum length max width

females 2.2 (± 0.1) 2.1 (± 0.1)

males 2.3 (± 0.0) 2.3 (± 0.1)

Beta males. Overall size similar to alpha males (body ca. 15% smaller, legs 10–20% shorter, pedipalps equal, see Table 1 for measurements). All apophyses of leg IV similar in shape, but much less developed. Free tergite III with two small acuminate spiniform apophyses instead of the huge hooks present in alpha males ( Fig 7 ).

Females. Differences from male are, as usual in Pachylinae , the absence of armature where male presents greatly developed apophyses: free tergite III, coxa to patella IV. Segments of leg IV (length, width) and overall body size of similar too in females (body 5% smaller than alpha males, legs 5–7% shorter, see Table 1 for measurements).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Soaresia forficula sp. nov. Male holotype (MNRJ 8914) from Rio Preto. Habitus, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 2. Soaresia uncina male (MNRJ 5466) from Serrinha do Alambari, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Habitus, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 3 – 4. Soaresia spp., habitus, lateral view. 3, Soaresia forficula sp. nov., holotype (MNRJ 8914) from Rio Preto, between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais States, Brazil. 4, Soaresia uncina male (MNRJ 5466) from Serrinha do Alambari. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 5 – 6. Soaresia spp. Free tergites, anal operculum and left leg IV, posterior view. 5, Soaresia forficula sp. nov. Male holotype (MNRJ 8914) from Rio Preto, highlighting the dagger-shaped distal apophysis of femur IV and the “ earwig pincers ” on free tergite III. 6, Soaresia uncina male (MNRJ 5466) from Serrinha do Alambari, showing armature of free tergites and anal opercle. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 7. Soaresia forficula sp. nov. Beta male paratype (MNRJ 8914) from Rio Preto. Schematic outline of abdominal scutum, free tergites, coxa IV and trochanter IV, showing the reduced apophyses, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 8 – 11. Soaresia spp., penis, distal half. Soaresia forficula sp. nov., paratype (MNRJ 8914) from Rio Preto. 8, Dorsal view. 9, Lateral view. Soaresia uncina male (MNRJ 5466) from Serrinha do Alambari. 10, Dorsal view. 11, Lateral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.