Neischnocolus ballerioi sp. nov.

Figs 1, 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), 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). 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); 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); 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). 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); 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); dorsal area of embolus with few granulations (Fig. 2F, arrow); tegular protuberance lacking granulation (Fig. 2F, H).

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).