Peliococcus schmuttereri Caballero and Kaydan 2024, sp. n.

Peliococcus schmuttereri Caballero and Kaydan sp. n. (Figures 1 and 2) Spinococcus kozari Schmutterer, 2002, p. 240 –241 nomen nudum Type material Holotype. Adult ♀, ‘ Germany, North Bavaria, surroundings of Machtilshausen / area partly with viticulture/ ex: base of shoots and roots of Geranium sanguineum L.,/ (Geraniaceae)/ coll: Schmutterer /repository SDEI code SDEI_COCC_1’, single specimen on the slide. Paratypes 7 adult ♀♀, same collection data as holotype, five specimens mounted singly on slides plus one slide with two specimens; 2 adult ♀♀, same collection data as holotype, repository ZSM code SNB_ ZSM _ COCC _1. Labels of all slides in the backside to preserve the original labels. Etymology The species is named after Heinrich Schmutterer (1926–2022), a German ecologist who collected and described this species as Spinococcus kozari nom. n. The species name is a noun in apposition. Adult female description (based on holotype and 9 paratypes) Body elongated oval, 2.8 ± 0.4 (2.2–3.4) [2.2] mm long and 1.6 ± 0.2 (1.1–1.9) [1.1] mm wide (Figures 1 and 2A). Eyes on margin, each 63.3 ± 9.1 (47–83) [54–57] µm in diameter. Antennae each 493.3 ± 30.1 (450–539) [450–452] µm in total length (Figure 1A), each with nine segments with lengths and chaetotaxy as follows: segment I 61.4 ± 5.8 (49–70) [49– 54] µm long, with four flagellate setae; segment II 85.5 ± 10.3 (62–102) [66–75] µm long with seven flagellate setae; segment III 72.7 ± 7.1 (57–91) [65–67] µm long, with four flagellate setae; segment IV 45.2 ± 8.4 (31–69) [38–43] µm long, with three flagellate setae; segment V 43.5 ± 4.8 (32–53) [32–39] µm long, with four flagellate setae; segment VI 37.9 ± 3.9 (30–44) [33–37] µm long, with four flagellate setae; segment VII 38.3 ± 3.6 (32– 45) [40] µm long, with four flagellate setae and one fleshy seta of 27.5 ± 3.1 (23–32) [26– 27] µm long; segment VIII 37.8 ± 3 (33–43) [37–43] µm long, with five flagellate setae and one fleshy seta of 34.8 ± 3.8 (25–39) [33–34] µm long; and segment IX 71.4 ± 7.7 (54–78) [71–73] µm long, with 13 flagellate setae, and three or four fleshy setae, each 41.2 ± 6.6 (28–52) [31–47] µm long. Tentorium 207.8 ± 10.9 (192–229) [201] µm long and 161.3 ± 15.9 (135–184) [135] µm wide. Labium with three segments, medial + apical segments 128.3 ± 11.6 (104–142) [120] µm long (Figure 1B); basal segment membranous, with six flagellate setae [six], medial segment with two flagellate seta [two], apical segment with 16–20 [20] flagellate setae. Anterior spiracles each 79 ± 6.6 (69–89) [73–75] µm long, with atrium 46.9 ± 5.7 (38–59) [38–43] µm in diameter, posterior spiracles each 79.4 ± 10.1 (58–102) [69–80] µm long, with atrium 58.9 ± 3.6 (52–67) [52–54] µm in diameter. Circulus present on posterior side of abdominal segment III, oval, 68.3 ± 10.1 (54–86) [65] µm in transversal diameter (Figure 2B). Fore legs each 896.5 ± 54.7 (833–966) [833–838] µm long in total; coxa with eight flagellate setae; trochanter-femur 290.7 ± 18.5 (272–329) [272–273] µm long, trochanter with about five flagellate setae and four placoid sensilla (two on each surface), femur with about 22 flagellate setae; tibiae each 245.2 ± 14.5 (210–259) [221–222] µm long, with about 24 flagellate setae and two spine-like setae on inner apical margin; tarsi each 105.3 ± 3.1 (101–112) [101–102] µm long, with about 11 flagellate setae and two flagellate digitules, each 32.9 ± 4 (24–39) [32–35] µm long; claws each 29.2 ± 2.6 (25–32) [25–27] µm long, with two equal knobbed digitules each 28.9 ± 4.8 (19–39) [26–29] µm long. Mid legs each 941.1 ± 55.8 (857–1025) [857–872] µm long; coxa with 13 flagellate setae; trochanter-femur 304.2 ± 20.3 (277–340) [277–283] µm long, trochanter with seven flagellate setae and four placoid sensilla (two on each surface), femur with 15–17 flagellate setae; tibiae each 258 ± 18.5 (229–281) [229–232] µm long, with about 24 flagellate setae and two spine-like setae on inner apical margin; tarsi each 108.7 ± 2.3 (105–112) [106–110] µm long, with about 12 flagellate setae and two flagellate digitules each 34.2 ± 6.3 (25–40) [no visible] µm long; claws each 31.6 ± 2.1 (25– 32) [28–32] µm long, with two knobbed digitules 31.4 ± 5.9 (21–40) [29] µm long. Hind legs each 1009.9 ± 62.3 (928–1102) [928–937] µm long (Figure 1C); coxa with 12 or 13 flagellate setae; trochanter-femur 318.7 ± 22.6 (292–358) [292–295] µm long, trochanter with seven flagellate setae (one of them at least three-times longer than rest of setae) and four placoid sensilla (two on each surface), femur with 20 flagellate setae; tibiae each 297.1 ± 21 (263–319) [263–269] µm, with 24 flagellate setae and two spine-like setae in inner apical margin; tarsi each 112.6 ± 4.6 (104–117) [112–115] µm long, with 10–11 flagellate setae and two flagellate digitules each 35.3 ± 4.8 (31–42) [31–33] µm long; claws each 31.7 ± 2.3 (28–34) [28–29] µm long, with two knobbed digitules each 31 ± 10.3 (16– 45) [23–29] µm long; hind leg ratios for trochanter-femur/tibia-tarsus 0.8 (0.8) [0.8], and tibia/tarsus 2.6 ± 0.2 (2.3–2.8) [2.3]. Ostioles conspicuous, lips membranous, each with 6– 15 trilocular pores in double rows and two to four short conical setae (Figure 2C). Anal ring transverse diameter of anal opening 45.6 ± 5 (37–52) [47] µm (Figures 1D and 2D, an), diameter of internal ring 69.2 ± 10.9 (53–91) [64] µm with two rows of cells on sclerotised area, and six flagellate setae, each 141.8 ± 19.1 (97–179) [134–149] µm long (Figure 2D, sr); diameter of external ring of 92.3 ± 9.9 (81–115) [90] µm, with three or four rows of irregular-shaped cells with spicules in a unsclerotised area (Figure 2D, mr). Anal lobe with 2–3 conical setae, one conspicuously large, about 207.8 ± 20.8 (175–230) [183–220] µm long, the shortest setae 79.2 ± 14.1 (57–95) [70–76] with no associated trilocular pores. Dorsum Cerarii of two types: (i) those with two conical setae, each 20–39 µm long, on a conical dermal protrusion, with two trilocular pores attached to bases, distributed on margin as follows: three pairs anterior to anterior ostiole, four pairs between anterior ostiole and metathorax and one pair on each abdominal segment (Figures 1E and 2E, marginal); also present medially, with one or two cerarii on metathorax and one on each abdominal segment, apart from segment VIII (Figure 2E, dorsal); (ii) those with a single conic setae 19–31 µm long, on a conical dermal protrusion, with a single trilocular pore attached to base (Figures 1F and 2F), numbering more than 30, distributed (i) in a distinct longitudinal row mediallly between margin of head and mesothorax at level of anterior spiracles, and (ii) in transverse segmental rows across each segment. Oral collar tubular ducts all of one size, each 12–19 µm long and 3–5 µm wide, with a sclerotised area surrounding opening and with an inner filament (Figures 1G and 2G), always in a cluster with at least two multilocular disc pores (for numbers and distribution see Table 1). Multilocular disc pores (Figure 1H) all of one size, 7–8 µm in diameter, clustered with oral collar tubular ducts as described above, distributed in transverse rows (details given in Table 1). Body setae conical, without trilocular pores attached to bases, of two sizes: (i) small setae, each 2–7 µm long, scattered throughout; and (ii) shorter than cerarian setae of type I, each 8– 19 µm long, less abundant than small setae and restricted to head and thorax. Trilocular pores, each 5–6 µm in diameter, scattered throughout (Figure 1I). Discoidal pores, each about 2 µm in diameter, scattered throughout. Spicules present on central area of abdominal segments VI, VIII and VIII+IX. Venter Oral collar tubular ducts of two types present: (i) those not associated with multilocular disc pores,of two sizes, (a) narrow ducts, each 9–20 µm long and 2–3 µm wide (Figure 1J, sd) distributed in transverse bands across each of abdominal segments IV to VIII+IX and in marginal clusters on abdominal segments V to VIII+IX; and (b) broad ducts, each 10–20 µm long and 4–6 µm wide, distributed in marginal and submarginal clusters between abdominal segments VI and VIII+IX (Figures 1K and 2H, ld); and (ii) ducts associated with multilocular disc pores (Figure 1L), size similar to those on dorsum, distributed on transverse bands, with one band posterior to fore coxae, anterior to mesocoxae, lateral to metacoxae, and medially in abdominal segments I to III and in clusters in submarginal to marginal areas of abdominal segments; frequency given in Table 1. Multilocular disc pores of one size present, each 7–8 µm wide, arranged in (i) clusters, each with oral collar tubular ducts as described above (Figures 1M and 2H, mp), and (ii) not in clusters and without oral collar tubular ducts, present in transverse rows on posterior margin of abdominal segments, in rows three or four pores wide in segments VI to VIII+IX, and in rows two pores wide in segments IV and V; frequency given in Table 1. Quinquelocular pores (Figure 1N) each 3– 6 µm wide, present medially between tentorium and abdominal segment III; absent in abdominal segment IV and in more posterior segments; frequency shown in Table 1. Trilocular pores slightly smaller than those in dorsum (Figures 1O and 2H, tp), each 3– 5 µm in diameter, scattered throughout except medially from posterior to tentorium to anterior margin of abdominal segment III. Body setae of two types: (i) conical, of two sizes, larger setae, each 7–19 µm and smaller setae, each 2–7 µm long (Figure 2H, sc), restricted to submarginal and marginal areas, and (ii) flagellate setae, each 7–164 µm long, the largest setae (> 100 µm long) concentrated in central area and along margin particularly on interantennal area and abdominal segment III and posteriors; other shorter setae scattered throughout (Figure 2H, fs). Discoidal pores, each 2 µm in diameter, scattered throughout. Diagnosis Peliococcus schmuttereri sp. n. can be distinguished from all other species of Peliococcus by ha