Libitia gandalf Medrano & Ázara & Kury 2020, sp. nov.

Libitia gandalf sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: FBDC8502-2FE9-4413-B4C5-CD74D8D68EA1

Figs 9–10, 14

Can be separated from all the other species of the genus in having the blots pattern invading carapace and occupying entirely area I of mesotergum. Scutal groove between carapace and area I without white marks forming a smile-like pattern immersed in a white ‘beard’ and one spot without filling at each side of that ‘smile’.

Noun in apposition from the fictional character Gandalf the White, one of the protagonists in J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Blot pattern of dorsal scutum resembles the white beard of the character while smiling.

Holotype

COLOMBIA • ♂; Meta Department, San Juanito, Parque Nacional Natural Chingaza; 4.471391° N, 73.675435° W; 2990 m a.s.l.; IAvH-I-69.

Paratype

COLOMBIA • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; IAvH-I-86.

Male holotype (IAvH-I-69)

MEASUREMENTS. CL = 1.7, AL = 2.6, CW = 2.6, AW = 3.7, IOD = 0.6, Fe I = 2, Ti I = 1.4, Fe II = 3.4, Ti II = 2.3, Fe III = 2.9, Ti III = 1.7, Fe IV = 3.3, Ti IV = 2.7.

DORSUM (Fig. 9 A–E). Dorsal scutum alpha-type, areas I–III, anterior and posterior margin of scutum, and lateral margins with granules. Free tergites with rows of granules and anal operculum finely granular. Posterior margin of dorsal scutum convex. Area I and posterior part of carapace with yellow solid blot, except for a fragmented area in scutal groove and one unfilled spot at each side.

VENTER. Free sternites finely granular; coxae II–IV finely and uniformly granular; coxa I with longitudinal row of tubercles and smooth area corresponding to lace area of pedipalp. Anal operculum finely granular.

LEGS (Fig. 9 F–G). Coxa IV granulated with distal prodorsal small apophysis. Coxa IV granulated. Femur IV substraight, with two longitudinal ventral rows of small tubercles along entire length. Tarsal counts: 5(3)/7(3)/5/5-6.

COLOR (Fig. 9). Body background and appendages Moderate Orange Yellow (71) mottled in Deep Yellowish Brown (75), ladder mask Pale Greenish Yellow (104). Trochanters and tarsomeres of legs Light Greenish Yellow (101).

Female

Similar to males, with coda longer. Basitarsomeres I, III and IV not enlarged. Tarsal counts: 5(3)/6– 7(3)/6/6.

No remarkable variation encountered in spots of DS in the examined specimens.