Scotolathys simplex (Simon, 1870)

Zonstein, Sergei, Marusik, Yuri & Omelko, Mikhail, 2015, A survey of spider taxa new to Israel (Arachnida: Araneae), Zoology in the Middle East 61 (4), pp. 372-385 : 373

Scotolathys simplex (Simon, 1870)

Scotolathys simplex: Marusik et al., 2009: 32, f. 1‒3, 7‒10, 18‒20, 25‒28, 33‒37, 39‒42, 48‒50, 58‒64 (♂♀); Marusik et al., 2011: 166, f. 20‒21 (♀)

Lathys simplex: Bosmans et al., 2009: 32, f. 41‒45 (♂♀)

Material. ISRAEL: Judean Hills, Adullam, 15.xi.2003 (U. Columbus & T. Levanony) ‒ 1♂ ( TAU) ; Bet Guvrin, 350 m, 6.xii.2011 (SZ) – 1♀ ( TAU) ; same locality, 20.iii.2013 – 2♀ ( TAU) ; 7 km NE Beit Guvrin , 7.i.2011 ( YM) ‒ 8♂ 4♀ ( ZMMU) ; Pura , 28.i.2011 ( SZ) – 1♂ ( TAU) ; Bet Shemesh , 6.i.2011 ( YM & SZ) – 2♂ 8♀ 1 juv. ( TAU) ; 1 km S Zafririm , 31°39’N, 34°57’E, 13.xi.2014 ( SZ) – 1♂ 1♀ ( TAU) .

Comments. This species differs from other Dictynidae found in Israel by having only 6 eyes. The species was originally described by females and until recently males were not known. Females were redescribed and previously unknown males were described by Marusik et al. (2009, 2011) and Bosmans et al. (2009). Scotolathys simplex was earlier known from Spain and Algeria to Crimea and Turkey. It was collected in Israel, the south-easternmost locality of the range, for the first time.