Micaria Westring, 1851

Booysen, Ruan & Haddad, Charles R., 2021, Revision and molecular phylogeny of the spider genus Micaria Westring, 1851 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in the Afrotropical Region, Zootaxa 4940 (1), pp. 1-82 : 11-18

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4940.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5F073867-F6EA-4222-A190-77F68076BE9C
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4680994
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03AC3314-9C38-FFD7-7CBD-F9AEFD07F9E5
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Micaria Westring, 1851
status

Treatment

Genus Micaria Westring, 1851 View in CoL View at ENA

Micaria Westring, 1851: 47 View in CoL ; Westring 1861: 330; Wunderlich 1980: 238; Platnick & Shadab 1988: 6.

Type species. Aranea fulgens Walckenaer, 1802 by original designation.

Diagnosis. The genus Micaria can be distinguished from other Gnaphosidae genera by the following characteristics: their anterior lateral spinnerets (ALS) are shorter than in other gnaphosids; they have iridescent colouration due to the unique structure of the squamose setae; the piriform gland spigots are small and are basically invisible when retracted ( Murphy 2007; Azevedo et al. 2018). They usually have an ant–like appearance, i.e. thin legs, and sometimes constricted abdomen, most visible in males. The carapace and abdomen are decorated with squamose setae, sometimes sicate setae, and legs with feathery setae, aculeate setae and lanceolate setae. Their tarsi are pseu-do–segmented, with two or four rows of scopulate setae ventrally.

Description. Small to medium sized spiders approximately 1.85—5 mm in length; carapace colour ranges from light gold to very dark brown or black ( Figs 9–36 View FIGURES 9–17 View FIGURES 18–26 View FIGURES 27–36 ), decorated with squamose setae responsible for their iridescence; dark striae radiate from middle of carapace towards coxae, sometimes with two white bands on posterior third of carapace that originate close to centre, extending towards posterolateral margins; carapace smooth, decorated with squamose setae ( Figs 37, 38 View FIGURES 37–42 ), longer than broad, broadest between coxae Iand II ( Fig. 39 View FIGURES 37–42 ); cephalic area slightly raised, forming “V”–shaped outline towards centre of carapace; posterior margin of carapace variable, either being straight, rounded or indented; fovea absent; 1–3 erect setae present between eye rows; AER usually recurved ( Fig. 40 View FIGURES 37–42 ), sometimes straight (anterior view); ALE slightly larger than AME; AME closer to ALE than to each other, interdistances between AME variable relative to AME diameter; PER usually procurved in larger species ( Fig. 41 View FIGURES 37–42 ), slightly recurved in smaller species ( Fig. 42 View FIGURES 37–42 ); PME closer to PLE than to each other; MOQPW always wider than MOQAW, MOQL less ( Fig. 41 View FIGURES 37–42 ) or greater ( Fig. 42 View FIGURES 37–42 ) than MOQPW. Chelicerae smooth in texture ( Fig. 43 View FIGURES 43–48 ), decorated with short to long plumose setae ( Figs 44, 45 View FIGURES 43–48 ); paturon with two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth ( Fig. 46 View FIGURES 43–48 ); endites obliquely slanted towards base of chelicerae ( Fig. 47 View FIGURES 43–48 ); serrula present ( Fig. 48 View FIGURES 43–48 ), slightly constricted medially; maxillar hair tufts distinct; labium subtriangular, rounded distally, decorated with few setae. Sternum shield-like, longer than broad, decorated with long, straight, aculeate setae ( Fig. 49 View FIGURES 49–54 ) and/or squamose setae ( Figs 50, 51, 52 View FIGURES 49–54 ); anterior margin straight; widest between coxa Iand II. Leg formula 4123, rarely 4312 or 1423; tarsal organ present on distal dorsal margin of tarsi ( Fig. 53 View FIGURES 49–54 ); slit sensilla present on distal ventral surface of metatarsus and retrolaterally on tarsi ( Fig. 54 View FIGURES 49–54 ); lyriform organs present ( Figs 55–64 View FIGURES 55–60 View FIGURES 61–64 ) on retrolateral margin of patella (position variable); femur of leg Ilaterally flattened, slightly larger than others; preening comb absent; legs decorated with lanceolate ( Figs 65–78 View FIGURES 65–71 View FIGURES 72–78 ), or feathery setae ( Figs 79–85 View FIGURES 79–85 ), chemosensory setae ( Fig. 86 View FIGURES 86–91 ), trichobothria ( Fig. 87 View FIGURES 86–91 ) and aculeate setae ( Fig. 88 View FIGURES 86–91 ). Scopulate setae present on tibia, metatarsus and tarsus ( Figs 89, 90 View FIGURES 86–91 ). Claw tuft setae present on tarsi ( Fig. 91 View FIGURES 86–91 ), claw teeth variable. Abdomen oval, usually dark brown to black; sometimes with median constriction ( Fig. 92 View FIGURES 92–95 ), more prominent in males; in such cases, anterior half of abdomen may be lighter in colour than posterior half; abdominal patterns variable; decorated with squamose setae ( Fig. 93 View FIGURES 92–95 ), scattered aculeate setae, occasionally sicate ( Fig. 94 View FIGURES 92–95 ) and elongate squamose setae on anterior half ( Fig. 95 View FIGURES 92–95 ); venter usually slightly lighter than dorsum, decorated with squamose setae. ALS similar in size to PLS, larger than PMS, with at least one major ampullate gland and one tartipore; males with no piriform gland spigots ( Fig. 96 View FIGURES 96–101 ) and females with one piriform gland spigot ( Fig. 97 View FIGURES 96–101 ); ALS with piriform gland spigots similar in size to major ampullate gland spigots, widened shaft, may be invisible when retracted; PMS short, with one major ampullate gland spigot and at least three minor ampullate glands spigots ( Figs 98, 99 View FIGURES 96–101 ); PLS with two cylindrical glands spigots basally, and two major ampullate glands spigots ( Figs 100, 101 View FIGURES 96–101 ). Epigyne weakly sclerotised; anteriorhood variable, being either continuous ( Fig. 102 View FIGURES 102–108 ) or divided in two ( Fig. 103 View FIGURES 102–108 ); posterior pockets present, their positions variable; copulatory ducts variable, short or elongate, extending medially between spermathecae, originating from the copulatory openings and ending at base of spermathecae; fertilisation ducts short, originating at mesal margin of spermathecae, curved. Male palp with oval tegulum; single median apophysis present, usually hook–shaped ( Figs 104, 105 View FIGURES 102–108 ); tegular apophysis absent; embolus generally originating prolaterally or medially behind apex of tegulum, curving distally and retrolaterally alongside distal tegular margin; embolus tip short, straight or curved, as long as or slightly longer than median apophysis. Single RTA usually present ( Figs 106, 107 View FIGURES 102–108 ), exceptions with none or with two apophyses. Two stout spines present on apex of cymbium of several species ( Fig. 108 View FIGURES 102–108 ).