Benoitia Lehtinen, 1967

Benoitia Lehtinen 1967: 347; Levy 1996: 92.

Type species: Agelena bornemiszai Caporiacco, 1947 by original designation.

Diagnosis: Benoitia differs from other genera of Agelenini by bifurcated patellar apophysis of the male palp ( v. not bifurcated or absent), epigynal fovea divided by septum in two parts ( v. septum absent or divides fovea only posteriorly).

Remarks: Males of this genus have a bifurcated patellar apophysis ( v. non bifurcated in other Agelenini), and females have the epigynal fovea divided ( v. undivided). Sub-Saharan species are lacking a modified base of the conductor which is present in the Palaearctic Benoitia and all other Agelenini.

Included species: Nine valid species occurring in the southern Palaearctic and Ethiopian Realm.