Agroeca maghrebensis, Bosmans, Robert, 1999

Bosmans, Robert, 1999, The genera Agroeca, Agraecina, Apostenus and Scotina in the Maghreb countries (Araneae: Liocranidae), Bulletin Di L' Institut Royal Des Sciences Naturelles De Belgique Entomologie 69, pp. 25-34 : 27-29

Agroeca maghrebensis n. sp.

( Figs 5-8 )

Agroeca annulipes: Simon 1932: 972 (descr. male, non female).

Type material. Holotype male from Algeria, Wilaya of Bouira, Ighrem, 490m in pitfalls among Tamarisk along Oued Sahel , 17.XI.1986, R. Bosmans leg.; deposited in IRSNB .

Diagnosis: Males of this species are easily distinguished by the dorsal angularity on the male palpal tibia, females by the epigyne with median depression with parallel margins and x-shaped pattern of copulation ducts.

Remarks: The male Figured by Simon (1932) as the male of Agroeca annulipes, Sim on 1878 apparently belongs to the species described here.

Description:

Measurements: Male: Total length 4.0; carapace 2.06 long, 1.68 wide. Female: Total length 4.6-6.4; carapace 2.32-2.84 long, 1.72-2.40 wide.

Colour and spination as in Agroeca annulipes . ( Figs. 5-6 ): Tibial apophysis straight, with distinct dorsal angularity; median apophysis hooked, distal part strongly pointed; wide basal part of embolus visible in anteromedian part of bulb, gradually narrowing, curved in antero-dorsal direction.

Epigyne ( Fig. 7 ): Longer than wide; with large median depression, posteriorly truncate, anterior half with narrow median septum; depression often filled with concretions (“copulation plugs”); x-shaped pattern of touching copulation ducts visible in transparency.

Vulva ( Fig. 8 ): Copulation ducts semi-circular, touching in middle; spermathecae not wider than copulation ducts.

Material examined and citations:

Algeria - Aïn Temouchent: between El Malah and El Ghella, along Rio Salado , 80m, 1 female in Atriplex litter, 24.IV.1984, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB) .

- Batna: Massif de l’Aures, Monts de Belezma, Col Telmet , 1820m, 2 males in pitfalls in Cedrus forest, 26.II.1988, R. B osm ans leg. ( CRB) .

- Blida: Atlas Blideen, Meftah , 480m, 4 females in pitfalls in Quercus suber forest, 11.XII.1986, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB) .

- Bordj Bou Arreridj: Sidi Embarek , 900m, 1 female, stones in cultivated land, 27.II.1990, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB) .

- Bouira: E. Bechloul, Oued Zaiane , 400m, 1 female in tamarisk litter, 28.IV.1988, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB) ; Col de Dirah, 900m, 2 females, pitfalls in rough grassland along Oued Djenane , 1.V.1988, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB) .

- Jijel: Ziama Mansouria , 15m, 7 females in flooded orchard, 24.XI.1989, R. B osm ans leg. (2 females in MNHNP , 2 females in IRSNB , 3 females in CRB) .

- Laghouat: Laghouat, Oud M’zi , 750m, 1 female in Phragmites litter, 21.V.1990, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB) .

M.3’sila: 5 km E. Mansourah , 800m, 1 female, stones in dry Pinus halepensis forest, 16.X.1987, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB) .

- Oran: N. Misserghin, 200m, 1 female in flooded orchard, 25.IV. 1984, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB) .

- Setif :: D jebel Babor, 1850m, 1 female in mixed forest, 20.VI 1986 ; N. Magra, Rasfa , 1 female in herbs along an oued. 15.lV. 1990, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB) .

Skikda: B ouchata, 400m, 1 fem ale, stones in grassland, 12.III.1990, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB) .

- Souk Ahras: 2 km S. Souk Ahras , 660m, 1 female, stones in P- halepensis forest, 10.II.1988, R. Bosmans leu. ( CRB). -

Tlemcen: S. Tlemcen, forêt de Tal Terny , 1300m, 1 female, pitfalls in Quercus ilex forest, 24.V.1990, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB) .

Morocco - Messia - Melilla, 1 female, sub Mesiotelus sp. ( MNHNP 19.700 ) .

Tunisia - Nabeul: Djebel El Haouaria , 1 female in maquis, 13.IV.1993, K. De Smet leg. ( CRB) .

Distribution: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Not as coastal as A. annulipes .

Ecology: Adult in winter. Males were collected from November to February, females from November to May.

Figures

Figs. 1 - 4 — Agroeca annulipes Simon. - I. Male palp, lateral view; - 2. Idem, ventral view; - 3. Epigyne, ventral view; - 4. Vulva, ventral view. Figs. 5 - 8 — Agroeca maghrebensis n. sp. - 5. Male palp, lateral view; - 6. Idem, ventral view; - 7. Epigyne, ventral view; - 8. Vulva, ventral view.