Heser nilicola (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1874)

Senglet, Antoine, 2012, Civizelotes new genus, and other new or little known Zelotinae (Araneae, Gnaphosidae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 119 (4), pp. 501-528 : 521-525

Heser nilicola -group

DEFINITION: In these species the apical part of the tegulum is grooved to support the embolus; in the type species the embolus rests on the prolateral part of the median apophysis. Apical grooved sector sometimes partly sclerotized. Long embolus curled left (conter-clockwise) on the left palp. Palpal tibia and retrolateral apophysis short. Embolar base variably reduced. No intercalary sclerite present; the base of the embolar base (Figs 69, 77, 79) can be mistaken for a intercalary. Median apophysis large, except in H. hispanus . The glandular ducts (blind paramedian ducts) are replaced by scattered glands (Figs 75, 83, 89).

SPECIES INCLUDED: Heser nilicola (O. P.- Cambridge, 1874), H. schmitzi ( Kulczynski, 1899) , H. incisupalpis Levy, 1998 , H. bernardi Marinaro, 1967 , H. bonneti Marinaro, 1967 and H. hispanus sp. n.

KEY TO SPECIES OF THE HESER NILICOLA -GROUP Ƌ............................................................ 1 ♀ ............................................................ 3

1a Median apophysis small (Figs 85-86).................. H. hispanus sp. n.

1b Median apophysis large (Figs 70, 77)............................... 2

2a Embolar base reduced; embolus arising from basal prolateral tegular sector (Figs 76, 79).................................... H. schmitzi

2b Embolar base with a projection; embolus arising from dorsal tegular sector (Figs 71-72)..................................... H. nilicola

3a Epigynal plate elongated or triangular (Figs 81-82, 87)................. 4

3b Epigynal plate rounded (Figs 73-74)....................... H. nilicola

4a Epigynal plate triangular, widened almost to the anterior anchoring pockets width (Fig. 87)............................. H. hispanus sp. n.

4b Epigynal plate with more or less parallel sides (Figs 81-82)...... H. schmitzi

Heser nilicola (O. P.- Cambridge, 1874) Figs 69-75 Prosthesima nilicola O. P.- Cambridge, 1874: 380, pl. 5, fig. 8 (description of Ƌ)

For previous synomymy see Platnick (2012).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: GREECE, Peloponnesus, Laconia, south-west of Mavrovouni, litter on sand, 36°43'N 22°32'E; 3 Ƌ, 2 ♀ (last moults of ♀ 09.06. and 02.07.2011); 26.05.2011 . – Cyclades, Paros, Parikia ; 3 Ƌ, 2 ♀; 25.06.1968 . – Parikia, 37°05'N 25°09'E; 1 Ƌ, 1 ♀ (last moults of Ƌ 29.06, of ♀ 05.06.1998); 01.06.1998. – Naxos, Kato Potamia, 37°06'N 25°26'E; 1 ♀; 10.06.1998. – Crete, Chania, Sougia, 35°15'N 23°48'E; 1 Ƌ (last moult 22.03.2000); 09.10.1999 . – FRANCE, Corsica, Sud Corse, Testa pass / Bonifacio , 69 m; 1 Ƌ; 27.05.1971 . – Acorane bridge /Sartène; 1 Ƌ; 28.05.1971. – Same; 1 ♀; 19.06.1999. – Portigliolo /Propriano, below vegetation & stones; 2 ♀; 17.06.1999. – ITALIA, Sardinia, Sassari, Palau ( Liscia river ); 1 ♀; 08.09.1968 . – Castelsardo; 1 ♀; 26.05.1999. – Stagno di Calich / Alghero; 1 Ƌ, 1 ♀ (last moults of Ƌ 05.06, of ♀ 01.06.1999); 29.05.1999 . – Nuoro, Cala Ginepro / Orosei, below Juncus ; 1 ♀; 10.06.1999 . – Oristano, Iz Arénas / Narbolia, dry leaf litter on sand; 1 Ƌ, 1 ♀; 31.05.1999. – Stagno San Giusta, Eucalyptus bark; 1 Ƌ, 1 ♀; 01.06.1999. – Cagliari, Quartu (laguna); 1 ♀; 03.06.1999.

DESCRIPTION: See Platnick & Shadab (1983: 274, figs 316, 327-328).

REMARKS: The cleared Ƌ palp shows a relatively well developed embolar base with a projection (Figs 69-72). The base of the embolar base may be mistaken for an intercalary sclerite. ♀: The epigynal plate is rounded. The distance between epigynal plate and anterior anchoring pockets is highly variable. Greek form (Fig. 73): Platnick & Shadab (1983: figs 265-266, showing a faulty connection of the median vulval duct); Chatzaki et al. (2003: fig. 85); FitzPatrick (2007: Fig. 95). Occidental form (Fig. 74, FIGS 69-75

Hesernilicola (O. P.-Cambridge). (69) Leftmalepalp, prolateralview. (70) Id., ventralview. (71) Id., retrolateralview. (72) Id., cleared, dorsalview. (73) Epigynum, fromGreece. (74) Id., from Sardinia. (75) Vulva, dorsal view (Sardinia). Bold lines indicate epigynal folds. Scale 0.2 mm.

Sardinia): Cornick etal. (2004: fig. 3a); Melic (1995: figs 1-2, showingafaulty connection of the median vulval ducts): Sardinia, Corsica, south of France and north Spain.

Heser schmitzi ( Kulczynski, 1899) Figs 76-83 Prosthesima schmitzii Kulczynski, 1899: 359 , pl. 6, fig. 32 (description of ♀).

Zelotes schmitzi . – Platnick & Murphy, 1998: 118, figs 1-4 (♀, description of Ƌ).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: SPAIN, Levant / Murcia, Alicante, Elche , palm grove, 38°17'N 00°42'W ; 1 Ƌ; 15.05.2002. – Elda , 38°30'N 00°47'W ; 1 Ƌ; 19.06.1971. – Murcia, Archena , 38°07'N 01°17'W ; 1 Ƌ; 17.05.2002. – Andalusia, Almeria, Adra ( LaAlbufera ), cultivateddryed pond, 36°46'N 02°58'W ; 10 Ƌ, 3 ♀ (last moults of 2 Ƌ 27.05 and 15.06, of 2 ♀ 30. 05 and 12.06.2002); 25.05.2002. – Malaga, TorredeMar , 36°44'N 04°07'W ; 1 ♀; 27.07.1969.

DESCRIPTION: Prosoma and legs brown, with lighter tarsi. Opisthosoma black, with adpressed hairs and black bristles. Leg spination: Femora IV r001; tibiae III r111, IV p110; metatarsi I v000, IV v220/222. Tarsi I, II scopulate.

FIGS 76-83

Heserschmitzi (Kulczynski). (76-80) Leftmalepalp. (76) Prolateralview. (77) Ventralview. (78) Retrolateralview. (79) Cleared, prolateral-ventralview. (80) Id., dorsalview. (81-82) Two epigyna, same population. (83) Vulva, dorsal view. Bold lines indicate epigynal folds. Scale 0.2 mm.

Ƌ: Total length 3.05. Prosoma: 1.36 long, 1.03 wide, 0.54 wide at level of posterior eyes. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.07, PME 0.06, PLE 0.06; AME-AME 0.03, AME-ALE 0.01, PME-PME 0.02, PME-PLE 0.02, ALE-PLE 0.03. MOQ length 0.10, front width 0.16, back width 0.18. Clypeus: 0.06 from AME, 0.04 from ALE. Pedipalp (Figs 76-80): Patella dorsally longer than tibia. In cleared bulbus (Figs 79-80) a short embolar radix and a vestigial embolar base visible. Median apophysis large. Scutum occupying 40% of opisthosoma length.

♀: Total length 4.70. Prosoma: 1.53 long, 1.14 wide, 0.60 wide at level of posterior eyes. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.07, PME 0.06, PLE 0.06; AME-AME 0.03, AME-ALE 0.01, PME-PME 0.04, PME-PLE 0.03, ALE-PLE. MOQ length 0.14, front width 0.27, back width 0.31. Clypeus: 0.04 from AME, 0.03 from ALE. Epigynum (Figs 81-82), epigynal plate variable, with sides parallel to feebly diverging. Vulva (Fig. 83) with scattered glands on the sides.