Xerophytacolus claviverpus sp.n.

(Figs 8–11, 77–97)

Diagnosis. Aedeagal shaft biramous with subbasal spine; shaft and spine about right-angled to basal part of shaft (Figs 85, 86). Pygofer lobe with median process curved dorsoposteriad (Figs 83, 84). Plate at apex dorsolaterally with finely striated concave region (Figs 81, 83). Sternite 7 of female with W-shaped posterior margin (Fig. 88).

Etymology. Latin, clavus nail, spike, verpus, penis, for the ventral subbasal spines on the aedeagal paired shaft.

Male. Measurements. (n=13) Length: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 2.39–2.51 mm; apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 1.91–2.18 mm; vertex 0.47–0.51 mm; next to eye 0.31–0.34 mm; pronotum 0.39–0.42 mm; scutellum 0.43–0.50 mm. Width: head 0.86–0.90 mm; pronotum 0.80–0.85 mm; scutellum 0.56–0.62 mm. Ocellus: diameter 2.65–3.07 µm; ocellocular distance 1.24–1.46 µm.

Male. Genitalia. Pygofer lobe with median process, arising marginally, process straight, directed dorsoposteriad (Figs 83, 84). Paired aedeagal shafts tubular, parallel throughout, apical ½ right angled to base, apex bifurcate, gonopore at base of bifurcation; subbasally with ventral, acute spine (Figs 85, 86). Connective with stem and arms of similar length, stem narrow, arms swollen (Fig. 87). Style with apophysis acute (Fig. 82). Plate in ventral view (Fig. 81) with apex truncated, angulate; 7–8 macrosetae; in lateral view with apical half emarginate with finely striated transverse ridges (Fig. 83). Pygofer dorsally with anal tube incised half-way (Fig. 78). Posterior abdominal apodeme, viewed dorsally, with expanded median lobes (Fig. 80), anterior abdominal apodeme narrow (Fig. 79), in anterior view similar to that of Xc. tubuverpus (Figs 103, 104).

Female. Measurements. (n=10) Length: apex of vertex to apex of tegmina 2.59–2.80 mm; apex of vertex to apex of abdomen 2.27–2.63 mm; vertex 0.54–0.58 mm; next to eye 0.33–0.36 mm; pronotum 0.42–0.44 mm; scutellum 0.44–0.50 mm. Width: head 0.91–0.95 mm; pronotum 0.87–0.91 mm; scutellum 0.57–0.63 mm. Ocellus: diameter 2.64–3.11 µm; ocellocular distance 1.40 µm.

Female. Genitalia. Sternite 7 with W-shaped posterior margin (Fig. 88). Valvula 3 with about 10 marginal setae (Fig. 89). Valvula 2 parallel-sided, slightly narrower than serrate apex (Fig. 97); serration regular, fine (Figs 95, 96 serration at apex, 94, serration basally). Valvula 1 (Fig. 90) lanceolate; microsculpture imbricate dorsally and ventrally (Figs 91, 93 at apex, Fig. 92 medially).

Material examined. Holotype male. South Africa, Gauteng. Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, 25°39ʹS, 28°57ʹE, 1336 m, 14.xii.2005, M. Stiller, on Xerophyta retinervis (SANC). Paratypes. 113, 11Ƥ, 11 nymphs. Gauteng. 53, 3Ƥ, 10 nymphs, ibid. holotype; 1Ƥ, Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, 25°42ʹS, 28°55ʹE, 1402 m, 14.xii.2005; Mpumalanga. 3Ƥ, Loskopdam near Middelburg, 25°30ʹS, 29°15ʹE, 1032 m, 30.iv.1993; all collected by M. Stiller; 13, Two Rivers Platinum Mine, Dwarsrivier Farm portion 372KT, 24°55ʹS, 30°05ʹE, 1255 m, 23.iii.2008, P. Hawkes, J. Fisher, sweeping grass, forbs and shrubs; 23, 1Ƥ, east of Middelburg, 25°46ʹ10.12ʺS, 29°32ʹ44.12ʺE, 1526 m, 8.iv.2011, DVac; 1Ƥ, 1 nymph, Sterkfontein farm portion 52JT, Everest Mine near Lydenburg, 25°9ʹ19.2ʺS, 30°6ʹ50.6ʺE, 1280 m, 9.ii.2012, M. Stiller, sweeping tall X. retinervis on rock outcrop; Limpopo: 23, 3Ƥ, The Downs, Orrie Baragwanath Pass, 24°11ʹ38.08ʺS, 30°14ʹ53.03ʺE, 1414 m, 25.iv.2009, collected on Xerophyta sp. on dolomite outcrop. All collected from Xerophyta retinervis, unless stated otherwise (BMNH, INHS, SANC).

Remarks. This species and Xc. tubuverpus are almost identical in shape and colouration, but have distinct male and female genitalia. The shape of the vertex in dorsal view in Xc. claviverpus is more obtuse and shorter (vertex length, male 0.47– 0.35 mm, female 0.53–0.61 mm) and that of Xc. tubuverpus is more acute, and longer (vertex length, male 0.52–0.60 mm, female 0.60–0.71 mm). The dorsal apophysis of the style in Xc. claviverpus is acute, and in Xc. tubuverpus it is blunt. The aedeagus differs distinctly between these two species. In Xc. claviverpus the paired shafts are parallel, has a subbasal spine and the apex is incised. In Xc. tubuverpus the paired shafts are divergent, tubular and without any spine. The sternite 7 of the female in Xc. claviverpus has the posterior margin W-shaped, and in Xc. tubuverpus it is widely emarginate.