Acicnemis exilis Morimoto & Miyakawa, 1995

Figs 1, 6E 1–6, 2, 15

Type material examined

(Japan: 21; Taiwan: 3; Total: 24). Holotype. Japan: Kagoshima Prefecture: • Amami-Oshima, Naze, 27. V. 1978, T. Tsutsumi, bears red label reading “ (HOLOTYPE) Acicnemis exilis Morimoto et. Miyakawa, 1994 ”, ELKU, ELKU 2963 .

Non-type material.

Japan: Kagoshima Prefecture: • Jinushi-daimyojin, Satomura, Nakano-jima Island, 7–9. VII. 2019, S. Imada (2, KUM), JHL_AREV_595, JHL_AREV_596 ; Okinawa Prefecture: • Hikawa, Yonaguni Island, 3. V. 2016, N. Tsuji (1, KUM), JHL_AREV_597 ; • Banna-koen, Ishigaki Island, 1. IX. 2015, J. Aoki (9, KUM), JHL_SYN_145 (dissected male), JHL_AREV_598, JHL_AREV_599, JHL_AREV_601 – JHL_AREV_605; • JHL_AREV_724 ; • Mt. Omoto-dake, 15–17. IV. 2014, S. Yamamoto (2, KUM), JHL_AREV_606, JHL_AREV_607 ; • Southeast Botanical Gardens, Okinawa Island, 10–24. II. 2016 (1 dissected male, OIST), OKENT 0109018 ; • Chatan, Ireibaru, 26.32468°N, 127.75918°E, 11–25. XI. 2015 (1, OIST), OKENT 0105900 (GenBank accession number: PV 255629) ; • Nanjo, Tamagusuku, 26.32468°N, 127.75918°E, 9–23. IX. 2015, OKENT 0056923 (GenBank accession number: PV 255628) (1, OIST) ; • Sefa-utaki, Nanjo, 15–29. VII. 2016, (1, OIST), OKENT 0065625 ; near Hiji, Okinawa Island, 16. III. 2024, J. H. Lewis (1, OIST), JHL_AREV_998 ; • Banna-dake, Ishigaki Island, 20. VII. 1973, H. Takizawa (1, HUM), JHL_ACITAI_086 ; Taiwan • Wulai (near Taipei), 27. V. 1965, K. Morimoto (1 dissected male, KUM), JHL_AREV_624 ; • Kotosho Island, 13–15. VIII. 1968, H. Makihara (2, KUM), JHL_AREV_757, JHL_AREV_758 .

Diagnosis.

Body length 2.1–3.0 mm. Covered in pale brown, white, and gray scales, with two white-scaled spots in the apical 1 / 2 of the elytra. Scutellum covered in yellow scales. Only odd elytral intervals with erect scales. Sclerolepidia small but protruding. Third tarsomeres distinctly emarginate. Pedon with lateral edges approx. parallel in dorsal view, but converging evenly into a rounded point. Internal sac without tuberculate or roughened musculature inside the aedeagus, but with a non-hooked protruding structure (unmodified in posterior 2 / 3, sclerotized in anterior 1 / 3) that reaches the tip of the temo (Fig. 6 E 1 – 2).

Distribution.

This small species occurs throughout the Ryukyu Islands (southern Kagoshima Prefecture and Okinawa Prefecture, Japan) as well as Taiwan.

Remarks.

This species appears to be closely allied with the similarly minute, long hind-legged Australian species Acicnemis meriones Pascoe, 1872, A. arachnopus Hubenthal, 1919, and the Sumatran species A. ambigua Hubenthal, 1919; however, phylogenetic analysis is required to confirm this. Preliminary observations suggest that some of the names in this group are synonyms.