Agyneta decorata ( Chamberlin & Ivie 1944 )

Dupérré, Nadine, 2013, Taxonomic revision of the spider genera Agyneta and Tennesseellum (Araneae, Linyphiidae) of North America north of Mexico with a study of the embolic division within Micronetinae sensu Saaristo & Tanasevitch 1996, Zootaxa 3674 (1), pp. 1-189 : 169-171

Agyneta decorata ( Chamberlin & Ivie 1944)

Figs 562–569 , map 38

Meioneta decorata Chamberlin & Ivie 1944: 84 , f. 155–156. (Description Ƥ). Agyneta decorata Buckle et al. 2001: 100 . (Transferred from Meioneta ).

Type material: Meioneta decorata Chamberlin & Ivie 1944 , 3 HOLOTYPE from Georgia: Savannah, W 80º51’: N 32º0’, May 4, 1943, beach, Wilton Ivie collector ( AMNH). EXAMINED. Ƥ ALLOTYPE from Georgia: Savannah, W 80º51’: N 32º0’, May 4, 1943, beach, Wilton Ivie collector ( AMNH). EXAMINED, misidentification= Anibontes mimus .

Diagnosis: Males and females can be differentiated by their abdominal pattern ( Figs 566, 567 ). Furthermore, males are diagnosed from all Agyneta by the absence of an apical pocket of the paracymbium ( Fig. 562 ). Females are diagnosed from all species by their extremely short median part of scape and extremely long stretcher ( Figs 568, 569 ).

Description: Male: Total length 1.45; carapace length 0.67, width 0.51.

CEPHALOTHORAX: Carapace light yellow, shiny, finely reticulate; radiating lines, margin suffused with gray; trident mark present. Sternum yellow, lightly suffused with gray. Clypeus height 1. Chelicerae yellow with transverse dark band, not excavated; seta-tipped tubercles absent; promargin five teeth, retromargin three denticles. Cheliceral stridulatory organ ~18 striae, well spaced throughout. ABDOMEN: Patterned, off-white with two broken, transverse dark gray bands ( Fig. 566 ). LEGS: Yellow; leg I total length: 3.57; leg III total length: 1.79; Tm I: 0.34, Tm IV: absent. GENITALIA: Palpal retrolateral tibial apophysis rounded, smooth; dorsal tibial apophysis absent; two retrolateral trichobothria and one dorsal ( Fig. 562 ). Cymbium pointed; glabrous depression absent ( Fig. 562 ); dorsal cymbial tubercle rounded, rugose; ventral tubercle absent; prolateral notch shallow ( Fig. 563 ). Paracymbium apical pocket absent, anterior pocket long, reaching posterior pocket ( Fig. 562 ). Embolus tip rounded, broad; Fickert’s gland absent; ventral lamella reduced or absent; thumb long, extending beyond the embolus proper ( Fig. 564 ). Embolus proper set apically, not associated with the embolus tip, ventral and dorsal part about equal ( Fig. 564 ). Anterior terminal apophysis narrow, with no protrusions; posterior terminal apophysis absent; lamella characteristica highly complex ( Fig. 565 ).

Female: Total length 1.47; carapace length 0.64, width 0.56.

CEPHALOTHORAX: Coloration as in male. Chelicerae yellow with dark transverse band; promargin four teeth, retromargin five denticles. Cheliceral stridulatory organ ~17 striae, well spaced throughout. ABDOMEN: Patterned, off-white with two broken, wide transverse dark gray bands ( Fig. 567 ). LEGS: Coloration as in male; palpal segments dark, claw absent; leg I missing; leg III total length: 1.92; Tm IV: absent. GENITALIA: Epigynum with wide proximal part of scape; lateral lobes elongated; stretcher very long; pit deep ( Fig. 568 ). Median part of scape short and narrow; genital pores situated at base of lateral lobes pockets ( Fig. 569 ). Internal genitalia with elongated ventral receptacula and a triangular dorsal one ( Figs 568, 569 ).

MAP. 38. Localities of Agyneta decorata ( Chamberlin & Ivie 1944) .

Other material examined: USA: Florida: 4.8km S Florida City, 01.iv.1957, 131Ƥ, W.Gertsch, R. Forster ( AMNH).

Distribution: Southeastern USA.

Notes: The allotype vial containing one female was studied and proved to be a female Anibontes mimus , based on the sternum reticulation and epigynum. The male and three females paratypes mentionned by Chamberlin & Ivie 1944, p.85 were not found, so it is impossible to determined if any of these are A. decorata or Anibontes mimus . Fortunately, a pair of A. decorata was found in Florida, Florida City and I illustrate here the female for the first time. Unfortunately the epigynum was dissected and expanded consequently it could not be drawn in its usual conformation.

A. decorata is the only species presented here, where the male palp lacks an apical pocket of the paracymbium, therefore this species may actually belong to another genus composed of species found in southern USA and the Caribbean. At least one species from Cuba shares the same characteristic but until more specimens are found and a full revision of Agyneta from the Caribbean and South America is done I believe it best to leave A. decorata in Agyneta for now.

Figures

FIGURES 562 – 569. Agyneta decorata (Chamberlin & Ivie 1944). 562 – 566, Male. 567 – 569, Female. 562. Palp, retrolateral view. 563. Palp, prolateral view. 564. Embolus, prolateral view. 565. Radical division, retrolateral view. 566. 567. Abdomen, dorsal view. 568. Internal genitalia, ventral view. 569. Internal genitalia, dorsal view.