Two new species of the genus Latouchia Pocock, 1901 from southeast China (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Halonoproctidae)

Abstract Background The genus Latouchia Pocock, 1901 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Halonoproctidae: Ummidiinae) includes 21 species and 1 subspecies occurring in southeast Eurasia. Just like other trapdoor spiders, the specimens of Latouchia are rare in collections, unless from targeted collecting. New information Two new species of mygalomorph spiders, Latouchiarufa sp. n. from Guangdong, China and L.yejiei sp. n. from Hainan, China, are described and illustrated from both sexes. Diagnostic characters of the two species are provided.


Materials and methods
Specimens examined for this study were collected by excavation or by using pitfall traps. All specimens were preserved in 75%-100% ethanol and female genitalia were cleared with trypsase. Measurements were taken using a Leica M205A stereomicroscope in millimetres. The measurements of legs are shown as: total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus and tarsus). Photographs were taken using the Leica M205A stereomicroscope, equipped with a DFC 550 CCD camera. The holotypes and paratypes are deposited in the insect collection of Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang, China (MYNU).

Diagnosis
The male of this new species is similar to Latouchia formosensis Kayashima, 1943 in general appearance, but it is distinguishable from the latter by the medially-curved embolus and the absence of a spine band on retrolateral side of palpal tibia ( Fig. 2A-C) (vs. in L. formosensis, the embolus is relatively straight and median part is not curved; a band of short spines is present on retrolateral side of palpal tibia). The new species also resembles Latouchia formosensis smithi Tso, Haupt & Zhu, 2003 in the shape of terminal embolus (Fig. 2D) (both with a ridge proventrally) and in the arrangement of hooked spines on prolateral tibia II in males, but it can be distinguished from the latter by the following characters: in the lateral aspect of male palp, the width of the basal embolus is 2-3 times as wide as the tip (vs. in L. formosensis smithi, the basal embolus in the same aspect is 4-5 times as wide as the tip); in female, the spermathecae have an outer lateral protrusion.

Etymology
The specific name is Latin, means red, referring to the coloration of females. This adjective is in nominative case and feminine.

Diagnosis
The female of Latouchia yejiei sp. n. resembles L. bachmaensis Ono, 2010, but it can be distinguished by the spermathecae being not bulbous; the stalks being broad, almost 1.5 times as wide as the spermathecae (vs. spermathecae slightly bulbous and stalks almost equal to spermathecae in L. bachmaensis). The male of the new species can be distinguished from other known male congeners by a triangular apophysis present on embolus proventrally (Fig. 6D) (It is not a triangular apophysis in Latouchia formosensis smithi Tso, Haupt & Zhu, 2003, only a ridge proventrally).

Etymology
The specific name is given in honour of Mr. Ye-Jie Lin, who gave great help to this study. This noun is in genitive case and masculine singular.

Field observations
Habitat, living female and burrow as shown in Fig. 8.