Paciwithius chimbilacus sp. nov.

Paciwithius can be distinguished from all other withiids by the absence of tergal keels, absence of eyespots, absence of a tactile seta on tarsus IV, the trichobothrium it is midway between isb and et, the presence of a patch of glandular setae on sternite VIII with an elongated shape, and the first three to six tergites are entire. The male genitalia have dorsal apodemes extending over its entire length, lateral apodemes extending over most of the ejaculatory canal atrium, ejaculatory canal curved dorsally in lateral view and lateral rods straight, extending beyond the lateral apodemes in dorsal view. This genus was mentioned as “nr. Victorwithius” in Romero-Ortiz and Sarmiento (2021).

The genus name refers to the Latin for peace, pax. Colombia has had a long history of violence and since the peace agreement in 2016, much effort has been put into making this country a peaceful land, including the Truth Commission (Comisión de la Verdad). Thanks to all the efforts for peace, we do believe that the change is inevitable. The name is masculine.

This new genus is placed within the Cacodemoniini as it has the triangular elongation made by the fusion of the dorsal and the lateral apodemes in the male genitalia that are characteristic of that tribe (Harvey 2015; Romero-Ortiz and Sarmiento 2021). The trichobothrial pattern has it and isb separated, and the only other Neotropical cacodemoniine genera with the same pattern are Tropidowithius Beier, 1955, Balanowithius Beier, 1959, and Victorwithius Feio, 1944. Paciwithius gen. nov. differs from males of Victorwithius by the patches of glandular setae on several sternites (restricted to sternite VIII in Victorwithius), and differs from Tropidowithius, Balanowithius, and Victorwithius by the lack of eyespots and the lack of a tarsal tactile seta, which are present in these three latter genera. The only other withiid genera that lack a tactile seta on tarsus IV are Nannowithius Beier, 1932 and Termitowithius Muchmore, 1990 (see Harvey 2015).

Holotype. Colombia • ♂; Meta, San Martín, Vda. San Francisco, Hacienda La María; [3°39'55.5"N, 73°39'29.7"W]; 400 m; on bat guano; ICN-APs-076.

Paratype. Colombia • 1 ♂; same data as for the holotype; ICN-APs-076.

Males of Paciwithius chimbilacus sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. valduparensis sp. nov. by a slender pedipalpal femur and patella (femur: 4.10–4.35× longer than broad in P. chimbilacus and 4.00 in P. valduparensis; patella: 3.33–3.43× longer than broad in P. chimbilacus and 2.27× in P. valduparensis), and a stouter chela (3.16–3.33× longer than broad in P. chimbilacus and 3.52× in P. valduparensis).

Adults. Color: carapace brownish, darker than the tergites. Tergites yellow-brown, heavily granulated. Legs yellowish, proximal segments darker than the distal ones. Pedipalps reddish brown, heavily granulated; chela and fingers reddish (Fig. 1A).

Figure 1. 

Habitus of the new species (males) A Paciwithius chimbilacus sp. nov. B Cystowithius florezi sp. nov. C Parawithius bromelicola sp. nov. D Oligowithius achagua sp. nov. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 2. 

Distribution of the new species and the new record of Withiidae from Colombia.

Dimensions (mm) (L/W): male: holotype: body length 1.93. Pedipalps: trochanter 0.34/0.20, femur 0.70/0.16, patella 0.63/0.18, chela (with pedicel) 0.94/0.26, chela (without pedicel) 0.88, hand (without pedicel) length 0.52, movable finger length 0.44. Chelicera 0.19, movable finger length 0.14. Carapace 0.66/0.52 (width at medial area). Leg I: femur 0.13/0.13, patella 0.27/0.11, tibia 0.29/0.08, tarsus 0.28/0.06. Leg IV: femur + patella 0.55/0.16, tibia 0.49/0.10, tarsus 0.37/0.06. Male: paratype: body length 1.78. Pedipalps: trochanter 0.36/0.19, femur 0.69/0.17, patella 0.64/0.19, chela (with pedicel) 0.92/0.27, chela (without pedicel) 0.86, hand (without pedicel) length 0.46, movable finger length 0.42.

Carapace (Fig. 3A): 1.28× longer than broad; lateral margins not posteriorly widened; without eyes or eyespots; with 55 setae, distributed: 29 anterior (two near anterior margin), 18 in the mesozone, and eight near posterior margin, all clavate; with two distinct furrows; posterior furrow slightly closer to posterior carapace margin than to median furrow (Fig. 3A).

Figure 3. 

Paciwithius chimbilacus sp. nov. (male holotype, ICN-Aps-076) A carapace B chelicera C rallum D left pedipalp E right chela F left leg I G left leg IV H right chela fingers (arrows show sense-spots) I abdomen, sternites. Abbreviations: Pedipalp movable finger: b = basal; sb = sub-basal; st = sub-terminal; t = terminal; fixed finger: eb = exterior basal; esb = exterior sub-basal; est = exterior sub-terminal; et = exterior terminal; ib = interior basal; isb = interior sub-basal; ist = interior sub-terminal; it = interior terminal. Cheliceral setae: b = basal seta; es = exterior seta; is = interior seta; ls = laminal seta. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (D); 0.1 mm (A, E–I); 0.05 mm (B); 0.0125 mm (C).

Chelicera (Fig. 3B): with five setae on hand, bs denticulate; movable finger with single subdistal seta; galea simple; rallum of four blades, the most distal blade with several serrations on leading edge, other blades smooth (Fig. 3C); two dorsal lyrifissures.

Pedipalp (Fig. 3D, E, H): trochanter, femur, patella and chelal hand granulate, fingers smooth; dorsal setae clavate; trochanter 1.72–1.88×, femur 4.10–4.35×, patella 3.33–3.43×, chela (with pedicel) 3.38–3.56×, chela (without pedicel) 3.16–3.33×, hand 1.69–1.97× longer than broad, movable finger 0.85–0.92× longer than hand. Fixed chelal finger with eight trichobothria, movable chelal finger with four trichobothria (Fig. 3E, H): eb and esb situated basally, as well as ib and ist; isb parallel to est both situated submedially, it midway between them and et; b and sb situated near one another, st closer to sb than to t, t situated submedially. Venom apparatus not visible, venom ducts not visible; nodus ramosus distal to t on movable finger, and not visible on fixed finger. Retrolateral margin of fixed finger with two sense-spots (Fig. 3H), one situated close to esb and eb, and the other distal to est. Chelal teeth squared; fixed finger with 35 teeth; movable finger with 37 teeth; accessory teeth absent.

Coxal region : coxal chaetotaxy: 20: 23: 24: 35; maxilla with 38 setae including two apical setae and one very small internal, sub-oral setae; median maxillary lyrifissure medial in position, posterior lyrifissure not visible.

Legs (Fig. 3F, G): junction between femora and patellae I and II parallel, junction in legs III and IV oblique; tarsal tactile seta of leg IV absent; arolium slightly shorter than claws; claws simple; legs with scale-like appearance, many clavate setae on leg IV. Ratios: leg I: femur 1.00×, patella 2.43×, tibia 3.60×, tarsus 4.38× deeper than broad. Leg IV: femur + patella 0.33×, tibia 5.08×, tarsus 5.75× deeper than broad.

Abdomen (Fig. 3I): tergites I–IV entire, the others with a faint medial suture, not keeled; sternites III–VII divided, sternites VIII–XI entire. Tergal chaetotaxy: 10: 10: 10: 11: 11: 12: 10: 12: 11: 8: 6: 4; mostly uniseriate but some tergites with a few setae placed anteriorly; all setae clavate. Sternal chaetotaxy: 10: (2) 13 (2): (2) 11 (2): 18: 19 + 1 gls: 20 + 24 gls: 13 + 84 gls: 9 + 4 gls+ 4 clavate: 10 + 7: 6 + 4 clavate setae: 2; sternites with many lyrifissures; sternite VI with one glandular seta, sternites VII–VIII of male with patches of glandular setae (Fig. 9A); glandular setae in extended patches (Fig. 9A); setae mostly uniseriate and acuminate but some clavate; male without paired invaginations on anterior margins of sternites.

Genitalia : see Romero-Ortiz and Sarmiento (2021) as “nr. Victorwithius 1”; male with elongated lateral apodemes although other structures not visible.

This species epithet is derived from the common name of bats in the Meta region “chimbilaco”, due to the bat guano where the specimens were found.

Holotype. Colombia • ♂; Cesar, Valledupar, Ecoparque Los Besotes, campamento base; [10°34'30.0"N, 73°16'19.8"W]; 600 m; 17 Jul. 2015; CarbioTeam leg.; manual capture; ICN-APs-597.

Males of Paciwithius valduparensis sp. nov. can be separated from P. chimbilacus sp. nov. by their stouter pedipalpal femur and patella (femur: 4.10–4.35× longer than broad in P. chimbilacus and 4.00× in P. valduparensis; patella: 3.33–3.43× longer than broad in P. chimbilacus and 2.27× in P. valduparensis), and a slender chela (3.16–3.33× longer than broad in P. chimbilacus and 3.52× in P. valduparensis).

Adults. Color: yellowish brown, darker in carapace and tergites; carapace metazone without paired pale spots; pedipalps brownish, somewhat paler than body, fingers reddish; legs yellow-brown, uniform color; all specimen heavily granulated.

Dimensions (mm): male: holotype: body length 1.84. Pedipalps: trochanter 0.28/0.18, femur 0.61/0.15, patella 0.60/0.26, chela (with pedicel) 0.94/0.26, chela (without pedicel) 0.90, hand (without pedicel) length 0.44, movable finger length 0.47. Chelicera 0.21, movable finger length 0.15. Carapace 0.66/0.52 (width at medial area). Leg I: femur 0.14/0.11, patella 0.24/0.10, tibia 0.27/0.07, tarsus 0.29/0.05. Leg IV: femur + patella 0.50/0.14, tibia 0.40/0.09, tarsus 0.35/0.05.

Carapace (Fig. 4A): 1.26× longer than broad; heavily granulated lateral margins convex, not posteriorly widened; without eyes; with 58 setae, distributed: 32 anterior (four near anterior margin), 18 in the mesozone, and eight near posterior margin, all clavate; with two distinct furrows; posterior furrow slightly closer to posterior carapace margin than to median furrow (Fig. 4A).

Figure 4. 

Paciwithius valduparensis sp. nov. (male holotype, ICN-Aps-597) A carapace B chelicera C rallum D abdomen, sternites E right chela F left leg I G left leg IV H right chelal fingers (arrows show sense-spots) I left pedipalp. Abbreviations: Pedipalp movable finger: b = basal; sb = sub-basal; st = sub-terminal; t = terminal; fixed finger: eb = exterior basal; esb = exterior sub-basal; est = exterior sub-terminal; et = exterior terminal; ib = interior basal; isb = interior sub-basal; ist = interior sub-terminal; it = interior terminal. Cheliceral setae: b = basal seta; es = exterior seta; is = interior seta; ls = laminal seta. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (I); 0.1 mm (A, D–H); 0.05 mm (B); 0.0125 mm (C).

Chelicera (Fig. 4B): with five setae on hand, sb and b denticulate, all others acuminate; movable finger with one subdistal seta; galea simple; rallum of four blades, the most distal blade with several serrations on leading edge, other blades smooth (Fig. 4C); two lyrifissures on dorsal and one on ventral side.

Pedipalp (Fig. 4E, H, I): trochanter, femur, patella and chelal hand granulate, fingers smooth; dorsal setae clavate; trochanter 1.59×, femur 4.00×, patella 2.27×, chela (with pedicel) 3.67×, chela (without pedicel) 3.52×, hand 1.72× longer than broad, movable finger 1.07× longer than hand. Fixed chelal finger with eight trichobothria, movable chelal finger with four trichobothria (Fig. 4E, H): eb and esb situated basally, as well as ib and ist; isb parallel to est both situated submedially, it midway between them and et; b and sb situated near one another, st closer to sb than to t, t situated subdistally. Venom apparatus not visible, venom ducts not visible; nodus ramosus not visible. Retrolateral margin of fixed finger with four sense-spots (Fig. 4H), three situated linearly between esb and est, and the other between est and et. Chelal teeth squared; fixed finger with 42 teeth; movable finger with 42 teeth; accessory teeth absent.

Coxal region : coxal chaetotaxy: 10: 14: 15: 19; maxilla with 32 setae including two apical setae and one very small internal, sub-oral seta; median maxillary lyrifissure medial in position, posterior lyrifissure not visible.

Legs (Fig. 4F, G): junction between femora and patellae I and II parallel, as well as legs III and IV; tarsal tactile seta of leg IV absent (Fig. 4G); arolium slightly shorter than claws; claws simple. Ratios: leg I: femur 1.29×, patella 2.31×, tibia 3.78×, tarsus 6.00× deeper than broad; Leg IV: femur + patella 3.44×, tibia 4.54×, tarsus 7.33× deeper than broad.

Abdomen (Fig. 4D): tergites I–III, X, and XI entire, the others with faint medial suture, not keeled; sternites III–VI divided, entire from VII–XI. Tergal chaetotaxy: 10: 9: 9: 9: 12: 12: 12: 11: 12: 9: 4: 2; mostly uniseriate but some tergites with a few setae placed anteriorly; all setae clavate. Sternal chaetotaxy: 10: (2) 12 (2): (1) 6 (1): 19: 16 + 6 gls: 11 + 36 gls: 9 + 97 gls: 10 + 22 gls: 9: 6: 2; sternites with many lyrifissures, X–XII with lines of peak-like waves; sternites VI–IX with patches of glandular setae (Fig. 9C); glandular setae in extended patches (Fig. 9C); setae uniseriate and mostly acuminate, but some clavate in the lateral region of sternites VIII to XII; without paired invaginations on anterior margins of sternites.

Genitalia : see Romero-Ortiz and Sarmiento (2021) as “nr. Victorwithius msp. 2”.

This species is named after the city in which it was found. The Valledupar demonym is valduparensis. This is considered the place where the vallenato music was born. The specific epithet is an adjective.

Cystowithius smithersi Harvey, 2004, by original designation.

See Harvey (2004).

The genus Cystowithius is endemic to Central and South America (Harvey 2004; García and Romero-Ortiz 2021), and currently contains five species: C. colombicus Harvey, 2004 and C. ankeri García & Romero-Ortiz, 2021 from Colombia, C. ecuadoricus (Beier, 1959) and C. smithersi Harvey, 2004 from Ecuador and Peru, and C. chamberlini Harvey, 2004 from Mexico and Guatemala. Males are easily recognised by the presence of sternal invaginations (Figs 5D, 6A).

Holotype. Colombia • ♂; Tolima, Juntas, Reserva Natural Ibanasca; [4°33'22.0"N, 75°19'17.2"W]; 1700 m; 12 Feb. 2007; C. Cortes leg.; Pinus plantation; on low vegetation, manual capture; ICN-APs-077.

Cystowithius florezi can be separated from the other Cystowithius species as follows. Cystowithius florezi sp. nov. is very similar to C. colombicus Harvey, 2004 and C. ecuadoricus Harvey, 2004, so we provide a detailed comparison for each one in Table 1. In general, C. colombicus has bigger pedipalp segments and the patches of glandular setae located in sternites VII–IX; in C. florezi the patches are just in sternite VIII. Also, the sternal pockets are in sternites VI and VII in C. colombicus and in V–VIII in C. florezi. It differs from C. chamberlini by the chelal hand being smooth rather than strongly granulated in C. florezi, and the position of the tactile setae on tarsus IV located close to midway of the tarsus, rather than distal in C. florezi; from C. ankeri by the length of the movable chelal finger which is longer in C. ankeri than in C. florezi (0.70 mm vs 0.52 mm); and from C. smithersi by the length of the chela with pedicel which is longer in C. smithersi than in C. florezi (1.35 mm vs 1.02 mm).

Color : with sclerotized portions, generally yellow-brown; carapace and pedipalps darker; carapace metazone with paired pale spots; legs darker at the edges (Fig. 1B).

Dimensions (mm): male: holotype: body length 1.94. Pedipalps: trochanter 0.36/0.18, femur 0.60/0.17, patella 0.61/0.18, chela (with pedicel) 1.02/0.28, chela (without pedicel) 0.96, hand (without pedicel) length 0.49, movable finger length 0.52. Chelicera 0.19, movable finger length 0.14. Carapace 0.67/0.51 (width at medial area); eye diameter 0.06. Leg I: femur 0.14/0.14, patella 0.29/0.14, tibia 0.20/0.10, tarsus 0.25/0.06. Leg IV: femur + patella 0.57/0.18, tibia 0.43/0.18, tarsus 0.34/0.07, TS 0.74.

Carapace (Fig. 5A): 1.31× longer than broad; lateral margins convex, not posteriorly widened; with two non-corneate eyes; with 52 setae, including four near anterior margin, seven near posterior margin, 13 in the medial zone, and 32 in the anterior region; with two distinct furrows; posterior furrow slightly closer to posterior carapace margin than to median furrow (Fig. 5A); deeply granulated.

Figure 5. 

Cystowithius florezi sp. nov. (male holotype, ICN-Aps-077) A carapace B chelicera C left leg I D abdomen, sternites E right chela F left leg IV G left pedipalp H right chelal fingers (arrows show sense-spots) I rallum. Abbreviations: Pedipalp movable finger: b = basal; sb = sub-basal; st = sub-terminal; t = terminal; fixed finger: eb = exterior basal; esb = exterior sub-basal; est = exterior sub-terminal; et = exterior terminal; ib = interior basal; isb = interior sub-basal; ist = interior sub-terminal; it = interior terminal. Cheliceral setae: b = basal seta; es = exterior seta; is = interior seta; ls = laminal seta. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (G); 0.1 mm (A, C–F, H); 0.05 mm (B); 0.0125 mm (I).

Chelicera (Fig. 5B): with five setae on hand, sb and b denticulate, all others acuminate; movable finger with one subdistal seta; galea with one sub-terminal and three terminal rami; rallum of four blades, the most distal blade with several serrations on leading edge, other blades smooth (Fig. 5I); lamina exterior present; two dorsal lyrifissures.

Pedipalp (Fig. 5E, G, H): trochanter, femur, patella and chelal hand granulate, chelal fingers smooth; setae clavate and denticulate; trochanter 2.04×, femur 3.81×, patella 3.30×, chela (with pedicel) 3.64×, chela (without pedicel) 3.42×, hand 1.74× longer than broad, movable finger 1.07× longer than hand. Fixed chelal finger with eight trichobothria, movable chelal finger with four trichobothria (Fig. 5E, H): eb and esb situated basally, as well as ib and ist; isb, it and est grouped together submedially; et near the distal end of the finger; b and sb situated near one another; st slightly closer to sb than to t; t parallel to isb. Venom apparatus not visible, venom ducts not visible in fixed finger; nodus ramosus distal to t on movable finger, not visible on fixed finger. Retrolateral margin of fixed finger with three sense-spots (Fig. 5H) situated linearly between esb and est; movable finger with small structure between t and st that contains two small nubbins. Chelal teeth rounded with an apical spot; fixed and movable finger with 32 teeth; accessory teeth absent.

Coxal region : coxal chaetotaxy: 8: 8: 8: 12, with multiple small lyrifissures; maxilla with two apical setae, one very small internal, sub-oral seta and 12 setae; median maxillary lyrifissure medial in position, posterior lyrifissure present.

Legs (Fig. 5C, F): junction between femora and patellae I and II parallel, junction in legs III and IV oblique; tarsal tactile seta of leg IV situated distally, 0.74 of tarsus length (Fig. 5F); subterminal tarsal seta acute, distal to tactile seta; arolium same level as claws. Ratios: leg I: femur 1.06×, patella 2.12×, tibia 2.13×, tarsus 4.43× deeper than broad; Leg IV: femur + patella 3.09×, tibia 2.35×, tarsus 4.78× deeper than broad.

Abdomen (Fig. 5D): all tergites divided but the first two only with a faint medial suture; all sternites entire. Tergal chaetotaxy: 8: 7: 8: 14: 15: 13: 15: 15: 15: 13: 8 (including two tactile setae): 2; mostly uniseriate but some tergites with a few setae placed anteriorly; all setae foliate, except in the last tergite; tergites densely granulated. Sternal chaetotaxy: 10: (2) 9 (2): (2) 9 (2): 12: 12: 12: 2 + 40 gls: 9: 8: 9 (including two tactile and three clavate setae): 2; only sternite VIII with a small circular patch of glandular setae (Fig. 9D); with paired invaginations on anterior margins of sternites VI–VIII (Fig. 5D).

Genitalia : see Romero-Ortiz and Sarmiento 2021 as “Cystowithius msp1”.

This species is dedicated to Professor Eduardo Florez, considered the father of Arachnology in Colombia. He has also been the curator of the Arachnological collection of the Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, where all the material used in this study is lodged.

Colombia • 3 ♂, 3 ♀; Cundinamarca, San Antonio del Tequendama, Parque Natural Chicaque; 04°36'51.3"N, 74°18'55.2"W; 2600 m; 1 Jun. 2009; F. Helbig leg.; on canopy log at 25 m height, manual capture; ICN-APs-298.

Although these specimens were collected 320 km from the type locality in Caldas Department, we refer them to the species C. ankeri. They have similar pedipalp proportions; however, their patches of glandular setae are different. The holotype of C. ankeri has two small patches in sternite VIII, and those examined here have one long patch of setae (Fig. 6A, C). We ascribe this characteristic to intraspecific variation.

Figure 6. 

Cystowithius ankeri García & Romero-Ortiz, 2021 (male, ICN-Aps-298) A abdomen sternites B rallum C patch of glandular setae on sternite VIII. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A); 0.0125 mm (B, C).

Chelifer nobilis With, 1908, by original designation.

See Harvey (2004).

Harvey (2004) delimited the genus Parawithius to include three South American species: P. nobilis (With, 1908) from Colombia, and P. pseudorufus Beier, 1932 and P. iunctus Beier, 1932 from Paraguay. We add a further species from Colombia below.

Holotype. Colombia • ♂; Cundinamarca, Cogua, Embalse del Neusa Tausa, Llano Grande; [5°11'33.9"N, 73°53'53.8"W]; 2900 m; 7 Mar. 2004; AL Leon leg.; under tree bark; ICN-APs-082.

Paratypes. Colombia • 1 ♂; Cundinamarca, same data as for the holotype. • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; Sesquilé, Camino al Cerro de Las Tres Viejas; 5°02'17.0"N, 73°47'13.0"W; 2740 m; 8 Sep. 2019; C. Romero-Ortiz, F. Garcia, J.J. Lagos, A. Carvajal, D. Mayorga-Ch leg.; on bromeliad; ICN-APs-836.

Other material. Colombia • 1 ♀; Santander, Málaga, Vda. Buenavista, km 7 vía Bucaramanga; 6°42'23.7"N, 72°44'52.6"W; 2620 m; 1 Jan. 2020; C. Romero-Ortiz, J.J. Lagos leg.; on bromeliad under “Loqueto” tree Escallonia pendula (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers.; ICN-APs-847.

Parawithius bromelicola sp. nov. can be separated from P. nobilis (With, 1908) by the stouter pedipalpal segments (i.e. patella 3.36–3.44× longer than broad compared with 3.24–3.30× longer than broad, and the chela without pedicel 3.39–3.47× longer than broad, compared to 3.58–3.85× longer than broad); the extension of the strongly clavate setae on the dorsal surface of fixed chelal finger (i.e., distal to it and est compared to proximal to it and est); from P. iunctus Beier, 1932 and P. pseudorufus Beier, 1932 by the presence of pale spots on the carapace metazone, in addition to the size of chelal fingers compared to the palpal hand (i.e. fingers shorter to the hand in P. bromelicola sp. nov., P. nobilis, and P. iunctus and longer in P. pseudorufus).

Adults. Color: yellowish brown, carapace darker than body, carapace metazone with paired pale spots; pedipalps reddish brown, uniform in color, very granulated; tergites yellow-brown; big leg segments darker at posterior margin (Fig. 1C).

Dimensions (mm): male: holotype (followed by male paratypes): body length 2.46 (2.58, 2.46). Pedipalps: trochanter 0.38/0.21 (0.37/0.23, 0.38/0.22), femur 0.83/0.19 (0.84/0.19, 0.77/0.18), patella 0.74/0.22 (0.75/0.22, 0.71/0.21), chela (with pedicel) 1.18/0.30 (1.24/0.31, 1.12/0.30), chela (without pedicel) 1.14 (1.18, 1.06), hand (without pedicel) length 0.59 (0.57, 0.53), movable finger length 0.56 (0.60, 0.53). Chelicera 0.21, movable finger length 0.17. Carapace 0.82/0.58 (0.85/0.72, 0.82/0.74); eyespot diameter 0.07. Leg I: femur 0.16/0.16, patella 0.33/0.14, tibia 0.35/0.10, tarsus 0.32/0.06. Leg IV: femur + patella 0.66/0.19, tibia 0.51/0.12, tarsus 0.37/0.07, TS 0.73.

Female: paratype (followed by female other material): body length 2.68 (2.70). Pedipalps: trochanter 0.41/0.23 (0.36/0.21), femur 0.78/0.21 (0.73/0.18), patella 0.74/0.23 (0.67/0.19), chela (with pedicel) 1.24/0.35 (1.14/0.30), chela (without pedicel) 1.16 (1.08), hand (without pedicel) length 0.59 (0.57), movable finger length 0.60 (0.49). Carapace 0.88/0.68 (0.74/0.64) (width at medial area).

Carapace (Fig. 7A): 1.42× (1.18–1.11) (♂), 1.29× (1.16) (♀) × longer than broad; lateral margins convex, not posteriorly widened; with two non-corneate eyes; with 59 (♂) setae, including four (♂) near anterior margin, seven (♂) near posterior margin, 16 in the medial zone and 36 in the anterior region; with two distinct furrows; posterior furrow slightly closer to posterior carapace margin than to median furrow (Fig. 7A).

Figure 7. 

Parawithius bromelicola sp. Nov. (male holotype, ICN-Aps-082) A carapace B chelicera C rallum D right chela E left leg I F left leg IV G left pedipalp H right chelal fingers (arrows show sense-spots) I rallum. Abbreviations: Pedipalp movable finger: b = basal; sb = sub-basal; st = sub-terminal; t = terminal; fixed finger: eb = exterior basal; esb = exterior sub-basal; est = exterior sub-terminal; et = exterior terminal; ib = interior basal; isb = interior sub-basal; ist = interior sub-terminal; it = interior terminal. Cheliceral setae: b = basal seta; es = exterior seta; is = interior seta; ls = laminal seta. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (G); 0.1 mm (A, D–F, H); 0.05 mm (B); 0.0125 mm (C, I).

Figure 8. 

Oligowithius achagua sp. nov. (male holotype, ICN-Aps-388) A carapace B chelicera C left pedipalp D abdomen, sternites E rallum F left leg I G left leg IV H right chela (arrow shows sense-spots). Abbreviations: Pedipalp movable finger: b = basal; sb = sub-basal; st = sub-terminal; t = terminal; fixed finger: eb = exterior basal; esb = exterior sub-basal; est = exterior sub-terminal; et = exterior terminal; ib = interior basal; isb = interior sub-basal; ist = interior sub-terminal; it = interior terminal. Cheliceral setae: b = basal seta; es = exterior seta; is = interior seta; ls = laminal seta. Scale bars: 8 µm (A, C, D, F–H); 2 µm (B, E). Granulation is shown in detail on each segment in a small section but is meant to cover all the structure.

Chelicera (Fig. 7B): with five setae on hand, sb and b denticulate, all others acuminate; movable finger with one subdistal seta; galea of male with three or four very small terminal rami; rallum of four blades, the most distal blade with several serrations on leading edge, other blades smooth (Fig. 7C); two dorsal lyrifissures.

Pedipalp (Fig. 7D, G, H): trochanter, femur, patella and chelal hand granulate, chelal fingers smooth; dorsal setae clavate and denticulate; trochanter 1.81× (1.59–1.74) (♂), 1.76× (1.73) (♀), femur 4.33× (4.17–4.38) (♂), 3.77× (4.14) (♀), patella 3.44× (3.36–3.42) (♂), 3.17× (3.50) (♀), chela (with pedicel) 3.99× (3.78–3.97) (♂), 3.52× (3.85) (♀), chela (without pedicel) 3.85× (3.58–3.78) (♂), 3.29× (3.65) (♀), hand 2.0× (1.78–1.82) (♂), 1.68× (1.92) (♀)longer than broad, movable finger 0.95× (1.00–1.06) (♂), 1.01× (0.86) (♀)longer than hand. Fixed chelal finger with eight trichobothria, movable chelal finger with four trichobothria (Fig. 7D, H): eb and esb situated basally, est midway between eb and the fingertip, et situated distally; ib and ist situated basally, it directly behind est and close distal to isb; b and sb situated near one another; st closer to sb than to t; t parallel to est. Venom apparatus not visible, venom ducts not visible in ♂ and ♀. Retrolateral margin of fixed finger with three sense-spots (Fig. 7H) situated distal to esb and linear in disposition. Chelal teeth very small and almost not developed or differentiated for a clear count; accessory teeth absent.

Coxal region : coxal chaetotaxy: ♂, 10: 10: 5: 7; maxilla with 23 setae including three apical setae (one tactile setae) and one very small internal, sub-oral seta; median maxillary lyrifissure medial in position, posterior lyrifissure present.

Legs (Fig. 7E, F): junction between femora and patellae I and II parallel as well as junction in legs III and IV; tarsal tactile seta of leg IV situated distally, 0.73× (♂) of tarsus length (Fig. 7F); two subterminal tarsal setae distal form TS arcuate and acute; arolium shorter than claws. Ratios: leg I: femur 1×, patella 2.28×, tibia 3.67×, tarsus 5.71× deeper than broad; leg IV: femur + patella 3.46×, tibia 4.27×, tarsus 5.11× deeper than broad.

Abdomen : all tergites divided with a medial suture, with a row of spots in the middle of each hemitergite; sternites entire. Tergal chaetotaxy: ♂, 8: 9: 9: 10: 13: 13: 16: 16: 18: 12: 10 (including two tactile setae): 2; all setae foliate. Sternal chaetotaxy: ♂, 15: (2) 11 (2): (2) 13 (2): 16: 14: 16 + 21 gls: 13 + 86 gls: 11 + 2 gls: 10 (including two tactile setae): 8 (including two tactile setae and some dentate): 2; sternites VII and VIII of ♂ with patches of glandular setae (Fig. 9B); setae uniseriate and acuminate; ♂ without paired invaginations on anterior margins of sternites.

Figure 9. 

Glandular setae patches of the new species A Paciwithius chimbilacus sp. nov. (holotype, ICN-Aps-076) B Parawithius bromelicola sp. nov. (holotype, ICN-Aps-082) C Paciwithius valduparensis sp. nov. (holotype, ICN-Aps-597) D Cystowithius florezi sp. nov. (holotype, ICN-Aps-07) E, F Oligowithius achagua sp. nov. E male paratype (ICN-Aps-388) F male holotype (ICN-Aps-388). Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A–C, E, F); 0.05 mm (D).

Genitalia : see Romero-Ortiz and Sarmiento 2021 as “Parawithius msp1”.

This species is named after bromeliad plants, due to its close association with them. Most of the specimens were collected by sifting bromeliads on white sheets.

Dolichowithius (Oligowithius) abnormis Beier, 1936, by monotypy.

The genus Oligowithius can be distinguished from other Neotropical withiid genera by the presence of a patch of glandular setae on sternites VII and VIII either in one or two small circular patches in the middle of the sternites, the distal position of the tactile setae on tarsus IV, the presence of two non-corneate eyes, and the trichobothria it and isb located far apart. Moreover, the male genitalia are characterized by a pair of lateral apodemes that are not merged with the dorsal apodemes (Fig. 11).

Beier (1936) described four new species of pseudoscorpions from the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, Curaçao and Aruba, and from Venezuela. Among them was Dolichowithius (Oligowithius) abnormis Beier, 1936 which represented the type species of the newly described subgenus Oligowithius Beier, 1936. Unfortunately, the description was very short and the justification for the subgenus was limited. The holotype and only known specimen of D. (O.) abnormis cannot be traced in Naturalis Center, Amsterdam (Dr Bram van der BIjl, in litt. 10 July 2019) or the Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna (Dr Christoph Hörweg, in litt. 9 July 2019), which renders the status of the species and subgenus difficult to assess. We have studied three specimens of an unusual, small withiid from Colombia that closely resembles D. (O.) abnormis in the morphology of the male glandular setae and in the positions of the trichobothria. We found sufficient differences between these specimens and the description of D. abnormis to consider it as a new species. We also found sufficient differences between the new species from Colombia and species of Dolichowithius to warrant the elevation of Oligowithius to full genus level. The differences between Dolichowithius and Oligowithius are as follows: patch of glandular setae on sternites VII and VIII in Oligowithius and on sternites VII–IX in Dolichowithius, trichobothria isb and it far apart in Oligowithius and close together in Dolichowithius, and the male genitalia with a pair of lateral apodemes that are not merged with the dorsal apodemes in Oligowithius, while they are merged in Dolichowithius.

With the recognition of Oligowithius as a distinct genus, D. (O.) abnormis is here transferred to the genus Oligowithius.

Holotype. Colombia • ♂; Meta, Puerto Gaitán, Carimagua; 160 m; 22 Apr. 2012; D. Martinez leg.; estuary on the eastern plains; ICN-APs-388.

Paratypes. Colombia • 1 ♂ and 1 ♀; Meta, same data as the holotype.

Oligowithius achagua sp. nov. differs from O. abnormis by its smaller size (1.7 mm vs 2.18 mm in O. achagua), more slender patella in O. achagua (3.05× longer than broad) than in O. abnormis (2.74×), and a stouter chela in O. abnormis (3.70× longer than broad) than in O. achagua (4.05× longer than broad).

Adults. Color: yellowish brown; carapace and pedipalp reddish brown; legs yellowish, paler than the abdomen, darker in the edges; carapace metazone without paired pale spots (Fig. 1D).

Dimensions (mm): male: holotype (followed by male paratype): body length 2.18 (2.10). Pedipalps: trochanter 0.33/0.16 (0.27/0.15), femur 0.58/0.15 (0.54/0.15), patella 0.54/0.18 (0.50/0.16), chela (with pedicel) 0.94/0.23 (0.88/0.22), chela (without pedicel) 0.88 (0.84), hand (without pedicel) length 0.48 (0.43), movable finger length 0.45 (0.43). Chelicera 0.19, movable finger length 0.16. Carapace 0.74/0.58 (0.68/0.56) (width at medial area); eyespots diameter 0.08. Leg I: femur 0.14/0.14, patella 0.26/0.14, tibia 0.26/0.08, tarsus 0.26/0.06. Leg IV: femur + patella 0.47/0.16, tibia 0.34/0.11, tarsus 0.33/0.06, TS 0.76.

Female: paratype: body length 2.36. Pedipalps: trochanter 0.28/0.16, femur 0.54/0.15, patella 0.52/0.18, chela (with pedicel) 0.94/0.25, chela (without pedicel) 0.88, hand (without pedicel) length 0.48, movable finger length 0.44. Carapace 0.73/0.58.

Carapace (Fig. 8A): 1.28 (1.20) (♂), 1.07 (♀) × longer than broad; posterior lateral margins slightly widened; with two non-corneate eyes; with 55 (♂) setae, including 2 (♂) near anterior margin, 11 (♂) near posterior margin, 21 in the medial zone and 23 in the anterior region; with two distinct furrows; posterior furrow slightly closer to posterior carapace margin than to median furrow (Fig. 8A).

Chelicera (Fig. 8B): with five setae on hand, sb missing, b slightly denticulate, all others acuminate; movable finger with one subdistal seta; galea of male broken in holotype, galea with multiple rami in paratype (Fig. 10A); rallum of four blades, the most distal blade with several serrations on leading edge, other blades smooth (Fig. 8E); two lyrifissures on dorsal side.

Pedipalp (Fig. 8C, H): trochanter, femur, patella and dorsal chelal hand granulate, ventral chelal hand and fingers smooth; dorsal setae clavate and denticulate; trochanter 2.05× (1.79) (♂), 1.75× (♀), femur 3.79× (3.58) (♂), 3.53× (♀), patella 3.05× (3.10) (♂), 2.95× (♀), chela (with pedicel) 4.05× (4.07) (♂), 3.79× (♀), chela (without pedicel) 3.79× (3.89) (♂), 3.55× (♀), hand 2.07× (2.0) (♂), 1.94× (♀)longer than broad, movable finger 0.93× (1.00) (♂), 0.92× (♀)longer than hand. Fixed chelal finger with eight trichobothria, movable chelal finger with four trichobothria (Fig. 8H): eb and esb situated basally, as well as ib and ist; est situated midway between it and isb in the middle of the finger, et close to fingertip; b and sb situated near one another, st located midway between sb and t, t parallel to it. Venom apparatus not visible, venom ducts not visible in ♂; nodus ramosus not visible. Retrolateral margin of fixed finger with two double sense-spots (Fig. 8H) situated midway between esb and est, movable finger with one double sense-spot close to sb. Chelal teeth rounded; fixed finger with 40 (♂) teeth; movable finger with 43 (♂) teeth; accessory teeth absent.

Coxal region : coxal chaetotaxy: ♂, 6: 7: 9: 18; maxilla with 19 setae including two apical setae and one very small internal, sub-oral seta; median maxillary lyrifissure medial-anterior in position, posterior lyrifissure present.

Legs (Fig. 8F, G): junction between femora and patellae I and II parallel, junction in legs III and IV oblique; tarsal tactile seta of leg IV situated distally, 0.76 (♂) of tarsus length (Fig. 8G); arolium slightly shorter than claws. Ratios: leg I: femur 1×, patella 1.94×, tibia 3.30×, tarsus 4.72× deeper than broad; Leg IV: femur + patella 2.85×, tibia 3.00×, tarsus 5.13× deeper than broad.

Abdomen (Fig. 8D): first four tergites entire, the others with faint medial suture. Tergal chaetotaxy: ♂, 12: 14: 13: 18: 18: 19: 19: 18: 19: 15: 6: 2, 2; all setae foliate; mostly uniseriate but some tergites with a few setae placed anteriorly. All sternites entire, except for the last three with a faint medial suture. Sternal chaetotaxy: ♂, 10: (1) 6 (1): (1) 8 (1): 14: 12: 8 + 13/13 gls: 8 + 18/16 gls: 8: 8: 6 (including two clavate setae): 2; sternites VII–VIII of ♂ with two small patch circles of glandular setae each (Figs 9F, 10B–D), paratypes with one circular patch of glandular setae each (Fig. 9E); setae uniseriate and acuminate; ♂ without paired invaginations on anterior margins of sternites.

Figure 10. 

Oligowithius achagua sp. nov. (male paratype, ICN-APs-388) A right galea B sternites VII–VII C patch of glandular setae on sternite VIII D detail of the glandular setae on sternite VIII. Scale bars: 100 µm (A, B); 10 µm (C); 5 µm (D).

Genitalia : simple structure with most of the components extremely reduced to chitinized lateral apodemes that do not merge with the dorsal apodemes. The level of sclerotization of the ejaculatory channel is weak; however, it is projected from the lateral apodemes, which allows us to classify Oligowithius as a Cacodemoniini (Fig. 11).

Figure 11. 

Light micrograph of male genitalia of Oligowithius achagua sp. nov. (holotype, ICN-Aps-388). Scale bar: 100 µm.

This species is named after the indigenous people, original inhabitants of the Meta, Vichada and the Venezuelan Llanos, the Achaguas. The name should be treated as a noun in apposition.