Orthopelma

Key to East Asian species of Orthopelma (female only) Keys to Nearctic and West Palearctic Orthopelma species have been published by Barron (1977) and Kasparyan (2011), respectively. Four species are currently recognized in the Eastern Palearctic region. Orthopelma chinensis sp. nov. shares morphological and molecular similarities with O. brevicorne, including 13–15 or 13 antennal flagellomeres in females, antennal length shorter than combined head + thorax length, confluent propodeal basal area and areola and mid-length ovipositor. The following key differentiates O. chinensis from O. brevicorne and other Eastern Asia species. 1. 19 antennomeres. Ovipositor long, ovipositor sheath being 2.3–2.8×length 2 nd tergite. Japan ................ O. japonicum - ≤17antennomeres. Ovipositor short, ovipositor sheath ≤1.5× as long as 2 nd tergite length............................. 2 2. Areola separated from basal area by a distinct carina in propodeum. Japan .................................. O. simile - Basal area and areola confluent in propodeum............................................................... 3 3. Clypeus distinctly separated from rest of the head by an obvious transverse carina; clypeus subtrapezoidal. 13–15 flagellomeres. Malar space 0.3–0.5×basal width of mandible. Ovipositor sheath ≈0.85×length of hind tibia. Tergites 2–3 usually brownish red. Northern China and Korea .................................................................... O. brevicorne - Clypeus fused with face and not separated by a transverse carina; clypeus subrectangular with acute lateral angles and with distinct, regularly arcuate notch at the center of lower margin (Fig. 2). 13 flagellomeres (Fig. 3), Malar space 0.8×basal width of mandible. Ovipositor sheath ≈0.7× hind tibia length. Tergites 2–3 brownish black. Southern China .......... O. chinensis