Neischnocolus ballerioi, Dupérré & Tapia, 2025

Neischnocolus ballerioi sp. nov.

Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 , 2 View FIGURE 2 , map 1

Type material. Male holotype from Esmeraldas, Otokiki Reserve (00.910389°, -78.581000°) 684 m, Sept. 2019, hand collecting, E. Tapia, ECFN 11641 ( QCAZ) .

Diagnosis. Males mostly resemble N. cisnerosi and N. tsere but are distinguished from all species by their basal, straight and narrow PAC keel ( Fig. 2E View FIGURE 2 ), absent in N. tsere and short and apical in N. cisnerosi (Peñaherrera-R. et al. 2023: fig. 1a, 5a).

Etymology. The specific epithet honors Italian entomologist Alberto Ballerio, a specialist in Scarabaeidae , for his contributions to the knowledge of Ecuadorian fauna.

Description. (Male holotype): Total length: 26.12, carapace length: 12.47; carapace width: 10.89; abdomen length: 13.65. Coloration (ethanol): Carapace oval, dark reddish-brown densely covered with dark setae along radiating lines; fovea transverse ( Fig. 1A, B View FIGURE 1 ). Chelicerae reddish-brown densely covered with dark brown setae and black setae; promargin with 11 teeth, furrow with nine denticles basally. Eight eyes, anterior eye row procurved, posterior eye row recurved; AME 0.33, ALE 0.48, PLE 0.45 PME, 0.20, PME-PME 0.94. Labium with eight cuspules. Maxillae with 46 cuspules. Sternum longer than wide (5.45/3.67), labiosternal sigilla joined ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ); three pairs of oval sigilla located near coxae III, coxae II and coxae I. Abdomen oval, densely covered with light brown recumbent setae and dark brown erected setae ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ); with type Id urticating setae on dorsoposterior part. Legs reddish-brown densely covered with light brown setae; all tarsi fully scopulated, metatarsi I-II fully scopulated, metatarsi III 25% scopulate, metatarsi IV ascopulate; tarsi I, II with entire scopula, tarsi III distally divided by setae, tarsi IV entirely divided by setae; tibia I with fused subapical apophyses, both branches with short apical spines ( Fig. 2d View FIGURE 2 ). Legs measurements: total length: I 43.21 (12.14/5.22/11.47/8.37/6.01) II 39.25 (10.80/3.95/10.55/8.35/5.60) III 37.54 (10.44/3.95/9.13/9.21/4.81) IV 45.85 (12.70/3.37/10.83/13.45/5.50); leg formula 4123. Spination: tibiae II v 0-0-1, III v 0-0-1, p 0-0-1, IV v 0-0-1, p 0-0-1, r 0-0-1; metatarsi I v 0-0-1; II v 0-1-3 (apical), III v 0-1-2-3 (apical), p 0-0-1, r 0-0-1, IV v 0-1-2-2-1-3 (apical), p 0-1-1, r 0-1-1. Genitalia: palpal tibia (6.34 length, 1.93 width) with two conical processes on retrolateral surface, basal one larger ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ); cymbium divided, with two lobes, prolateral lobe larger than retrolateral one; bulb with well-developed prolateral keels, PS keel sinuous and serrated, R keel smooth, A keel transparent, PAC keel straight, and PI keel smooth ( Fig. 2E–H View FIGURE 2 ); dorsal area of embolus with few granulations ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 , arrow); tegular protuberance lacking granulation ( Fig. 2F, H View FIGURE 2 ).

Distribution. Only found at the type locality in Esmeraldas province.

Natural History. The holotype was collected at 684 m in an evergreen foothill forest (BsPn01) ( Guevara et al. 2013).