(Figs 15–18, 3D, 6D, 9D)

Diagnosis. Female and larva: leg I–III femora 2-1-1 (lacking vʺ on femur I); genua 1-1-1 (lacking l″ on genu I). Female: Gnathosoma slender, 60–67 x 46–47, cheliceral stylets 57–61; ambulacrum I with single claw. Male: opisthonotal setae minute; lacking genual setae. Larva: plate CD incised; seta h2 short, length 6–7; coxal setae slender.

Type material. All ex Coleolissus papua Darlington. Holotype female (QMS 117038). Brandy Creek, 20°21′S, 148°43′E, 20 Nov 1992 – Apr 1993, Cook & Monteith, beetle #11. Paratypes. 11 females, 8 males, 3 larvae, as follows. 5 females (QMS 117039-41, ANIC, ZMH), 3 males (QMS 117048-50), same data as holotype. 3 females (QMS 117042-44), 5 males (QMS 117051-53, ANIC, ZMH), 3 larvae (QMS 117054-56), 1. 5 km NW Cape Tribulation, 16°05′S, 145°27′E, 23 Sep–7 Oct 1982, Monteith, Thompson & Yeates, beetle #17. 2 females (QMS 117045-46), Gayundra Creek, Hinchinbrook Island, 18°22′S, 146°12′E, 12 Nov 1984, Monteith, Davies, Thompson & Gallon, beetle #9. 1 female (QMS 117047), Bluewater Range, 6 Dec 1986, Monteith & Thompson, beetle #5.

Description. FEMALE (Figs 15–16, 3D; n =12). Gnathosoma. Length 61 (60–67), width 48 (46–47). Palp with a minute dorsal femoral seta (dFe) and without dorsal tibial seta. Cheliceral stylets 59 (57–61), ch 35 (32–38), su 15 (15–18).

Idiosoma (Figs 15, 3D). Length 460 (440–530), width 295 (250–360), specimens moderately physogastric, swollen body ovate. Respiratory system present, atria conspicuous. Prodorsal plate with setae v1 30 (24–31), v2 alveolar remnant, sc1 8 (9–11), sc2 58 (60–62); v2 posteromesad sc1. Distance between setae v1–v1 47 (50–51), sc1–sc1 77 (83–88), v1–sc1 26 (28–29), v2–v2 58 (58–65), sc2–sc2 94 (110–115), sc1–sc2 47 (48–56). Plate C setae c1 8 (7–9), slightly thickened proximally, setae c2 16 (14–15), distance between setae c1–c1 37 (41–46). Plate D setae d 8 (6–8), d–d 105 (105–135), cupuli ia anteromesad to mesad d. Plate EF setae f 14 (12–13), f–f 76 (62–92), cupuli im anterolaterad f. Plate H absent. Venter: coxisterna 1 and 3 well defined, coxisterna 2 weakly defined posteriorly; apodemes 1, 2 and appr weakly-defined, apodemes 2 not reaching appr, sejugal apodeme absent, apodemes 3–4 weakly defined; coxal setae (Fig. 3D) slender, 1a 6 (5–6), 2a 6 (5–6), 3a 5 (5–6), 3b 5 (5–7). Alveoli of 1b, 2b present.

Legs (Fig. 16). Setal counts legs I–III, femur-tarsus: 3-1-6(+ φ)-8(+ ω), 0-1-4-7(+ ω), 0-1-4-7. Leg I. Femur, d minute (minute), l′ 10 (10–13), stiff and blunt, v″ 12 (9–12); genu, l′ minute (minute), l″ absent; tibia, d 36 (35–36), l′ 1 (1), l″ 3 (3–5), v′ 2 (minute–2), v″ 9 (9–14), k 4 (4–5), φ 8 (7–8); tarsus, tc′ 12 (12–13), tc″ 12 (12–14), pl′ 10 (10–12), pl″ 17 (14–16), pv′ 2 (1–2), pv″ 2 (2), ω 7 (6–7), s 4 (4), u′′ minute (minute), p′ absent. Leg II. Genu, l′ 3 (2–4); tibia, d 25 (26–35), l′ 5 (4–6), v′ 15 (17–18), v″ 21 (22–30); tarsus II, tc′ 6 (5–6), tc ″ 2 (minute–2), pl ″ 21 (20–27), pvʹ minute (minute), pv″ 2 (2–3), ω 4 (4–5), u′ 4 (4–5), u′′ minute (minute). Leg III. Genu, l′ 3 (2–3); tibia, d 23 (18–20), l′ 4 (3–4), v′ 17 (15–18), v″ 22 (20–26); tarsus, tc′ 2 (2), tc ″ 2 (2), pl ″ 23 (19–23), u′ 5 (5–6), pvʹ minute (minute), pv″ 3 (3–4), u′′ minute (minute).

Modified setae: femur I seta lʹ thickened, stiff; tarsus I setae (pv) thin, blunt, peg-like; tarsus I seta s and tarsi II–III seta u′ thickened, large, spine-like, tips not bifid; tarsi II–III seta tcʺ small, spine-like.

MALE (Figs 17, 6D; n = 8). Gnathosoma. Length 33–36, width 24–31. Cheliceral stylets 20–21, ch 4–6, su 8–12.

Idiosoma (Figs 17, 6D). Length 170–190, width 115–135. Prodorsal plate with setae v1 minute, v2 alveolar remnant, sc1 minute, sc2 51–63; v2 posteromesad sc1. Distance between setae v1–v1 21–23, sc1–sc1 51–53, v1–sc1 22–27, v2–v2 31–36, sc2–sc2 63–71, sc1–sc2 35–36. Plate CD setae c1, c2, d minute, distance between setae c1–c1 40–47, c1–c2 35–37, d–d 38–43; cupuli ia anteriad setae d. Plate EF with setae f minute, distance f–f 21–25; cupuli im anteriad setae f. Genital capsule length 26–34, width 28–40, setae h minute. Venter: apodemes 1, 2 and appr well defined, apodemes 2 reaching appr, sejugal apodeme absent, apodemes 3–4 well defined. Coxal setae (Fig. 6D) 1a 2–3, 2a 2–3, 3a minute, 3b 3–4.

Legs (Fig. 17). Setal counts legs I–III, femur-tarsus: 2-0-6(+ φ)-8(+ ω), 0-0-4-7(+ ω), 0-0-4-7. Compared to female: Femur I seta v″ absent, seta l′ lacking on all genua. Leg I. Femur, d minute, l′ 2–3; tibia, d 20–25, l′ 1, l″ 1, v ′ 2, v ″ 12–14, k 2–3, φ 6–7 baculiform; tarsus, tc′ 11–12, tc″ 13–14, pl′ 8–10, pl″ 10–12, pv ′ 2–3, pv″ 2–3, ω 5–6 clavate, s 4–5, u ′′ minute. Leg II. Tibia, d 12–15, l′ 1–2, v′ 12–16, v″ 14–18; tarsus, tc′ 5–6, tc ″ 4–5, pl ″ 16–20, pv′ 1, pv″ 4–5, ω 4–5 clavate, u ′ 4–5. Leg III. Tibia, d 1, l′ 1, v′ 13–18, v″ 13–18; tarsus, tc′ 2–3, tc ″ 5–6, pl ″ 13–19, pv′ 1, pv″ 2–3, u′ 5–6.

Modified setae: same as female except—femur I seta lʹ short, not thickened; tibiae I–III seta lʹ small, slightly spined, tibia III seta d minute, weakly spine-like; tarsi II–III setae tcʺ larger.

LARVAL FEMALE (Figs 18, 9D; n = 3). Gnathosoma. Length 49–51, width 36–41. Cheliceral stylets 45–48, ch 27–28, ventral setae su 19–21.

Idiosoma (Figs 18A, 9D) Length 190–195, width 140–155. Prodorsal plate with setae v1 25–31, v2 alveolar remnant, sc1 18–20, sc2 70–71; v2 posteromesad sc1. Distance between setae v1–v1 37–38, sc1–sc1 77–78, v1–sc1 31–32, v2–v2 42–45, sc2–sc2 61–68, sc1–sc2 35–38. Plates C and D fused medially, incised laterally. Plate CD setae c1 13–14, setae c2 16–18, distance between setae c1–c1 25–26, setae d 10–12, d–d 37–40, cupuli ia anteromesad d. Plate EF rounded, setae f 10, f–f 42, cupuli im nearly anteriad f. Plate H rounded, 23–25 wide, 19–22 long, bearing setae h1 50–60, h2 6–7. Venter: coxisterna 1–3 well defined; apodemes similar to female except apodeme 2 barely reaching appr; coxal setae (Fig. 9D) slender, 1a 6–7, 2a 6–7, 3a 5–7, 3b 7. Alveoli of 1b, 2b indiscernible or absent.

Legs (Fig. 18B–D). Setal counts legs I–III, femur-tarsus: 3-1-6(+ φ)-8(+ ω), 0-1-4-6(+ ω), 0-1-4-6. Leg I. Femur, d minute, l′ 2, v″ 12–15; genu, l′ 2–3; tibia, d 29–31, l′ 10–12, l″ 10–11, v′ 6–8, v″ 14, k 3, φ 8–9 baculiform; tarsus, tc′ 7–8, tc″ 11–12, pl′ 11–12, pl″ 16–20, pv′ 2, pv″ 4, ω 6–7 clavate, s 5, u′′ minute, p′ absent. Leg II. Genu, l′ 4–5; tibia, d 17–18, l′ 10–11, v′ 15–20, v″ 17–21; tarsus, tc′ 8–10, tc ″ 5–6, pl ″ 13–16, pv″ 13, ω 4–5 clavate, u′ 6, u′′ minute. Leg III. Genu, l′ 4–5; tibia, d 21–23, l′ 10–11, v′ 14–15, v″ 17–18; tarsus, tc′ 9–10, tc ″ 5–6, pl ″ 19–22, u′ 7, pv″ 12–13, u′′ minute.

Legs I–III with two claws.

Modified setae: femur I seta lʹ small, slender; tarsus I setae (pv) slender; tarsus I seta s and tarsi II–III seta u′ thickened, large, spine-like, not bifid; tarsi II–III seta tcʺ large, spine-like.

Differential diagnosis. The leytei species group comprises one species from the Philippines, E. leytei, one from Ukraine, E. dastychi, and four other species from Australia: E. biuncatus, E. janus, E. orpheus and E. pulcher (Table 4). The single claw on leg I, which is typical for adult female Eutarsopolipus, distinguishes E. vepreculus sp. nov. from E. biuncatus and E. janus which have bifurcate claws. The female’s long cheliceral stylets (57–61) and larvae with an incised plate CD, slender coxal setae, and small but distinctly developed h2 separate it from E. orpheus (cheliceral stylets 23–28; larval plate CD entire, coxal setae spear-like, h2 minute). The slender gnathosoma (60–67 long, 46–47 wide in females) and short setae h 2 in larvae (6–7) distinguish it from E. dastychi (gnathosoma about as long as wide, setae h2 minute) and E. leytei (gnathosoma about as long as wide; very long h2). Finally, simple spine-like seta u′ on tarsi II–III make it readily separable from E. pulcher (trifurcate).

Etymology. The specific name vepreculus (L., tiny thorn) alludes to the much-reduced thorn-like seta tc″ on tarsi II–III.