Cybaeus lockeae Bennett, 2022

Bennett, Robb, Copley, Claudia & Copley, Darren, 2022, The Californian clade of Cybaeus (Araneae: Cybaeidae) in the Nearctic: the septatus species group and three unplaced species, Zootaxa 5100 (2), pp. 189-223 : 195-196

Cybaeus lockeae Bennett spec. nov.

Figs 16–21 , 50

Type material. U.S.A.: California: Holotype female. Alameda County, Niles, off Niles Canyon on Palomares Road , 2.i.1964, V. D. Roth ( CAS) . Paratypes: U.S.A.: California: Alameda. 1♀, Castro Valley , 18.i.1939, W.M. Pearce ( AMNH) ; 1♀, Castro Valley , 16.ii.1941, W.M. Pearce ( AMNH) ; 2♀, Castro Valley , 9.iii.1941, W.M. Pearce ( AMNH) ; 1♀, Castro Valley , 18.iii.1941, W.M. Pearce ( AMNH) ; 2♀, Castro Valley , 21.xii.1941, W.M. Pearce ( AMNH) ; 1♀, Cull Canyon Rd. , 1.4 km N of Castro Valley, 21.i.1984, D. Ubick ( CAS) ; 8♀, Niles, off Niles Canyon on Palomares Road , 2.i.1964, V. D. Roth ( CAS) ; 8♀, Niles, canyon off Niles Canyon , 1.i.1964, V. D. Roth ( CAS) ; 2♀, Sinbad Creek , W of Pleasanton, 27.iii.1992, D. Ubick ( CAS) .

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym honouring Vanessa Locke Curry, once a technician in the University of Guelph Potato Research Lab who brought fried potatoes in times of need.

Diagnosis. The male of C. lockeae spec. nov. is unknown. Separating the females of C. lockeae spec. nov. and C. chauliodous is discussed in the diagnosis of the latter. The females of C. lockeae spec. nov., C. septatus , C. somesbar , and C. viator spec. nov. have atrial openings which are obscured by the vulval ducts in dorsal view; from those three species, the female of C. lockeae spec. nov. is distinguished by its very short spermathecal stalks which result in the spermathecal heads being postero-medially located in the vulva, just anterior of and in close proximity to the Bennett’s glands ( Figs 20–21 ). Females of C. viator spec. nov. also have short spermathecal stalks but the spermathecal heads are located near the anterior margin of the vulva ( Figs 38–39 ). In females of C. septatus and C. somesbar the spermathecal stalks are relatively long and the spermathecal heads are located some distance from the Bennett’s glands ( Figs 29, 32 , 42 ).

Description. As in diagnosis. Other descriptive characters are presented here. Ventral tibia I macrosetae variable: 2–1p–2–1p–0(or 1p, or 2).

Female (n=27). Atrial openings ( Figs 16–19 ) variously developed, crook-shaped or simple slits, usually conspicuous. Vulval ducts ( Figs 18–21 ) reduced; copulatory ducts longer than spermathecal stalks; stalks usually not contiguous ( Figs 20–21 ); fertilization ducts with narrow lumina. (See following notes.)

Measurements (n=22). CL 1.75–2.9 (2.5+0.3), CW 1.25–2.10 (1.70+0.24), SL 0.88–1.40 (1.20+0.15), SW 0.83–1.35 (1.15+0.14). Holotype CL 2.7, CW 1.78, SL 1.31, SW 1.22.

Notes: One female from Castro Valley ( Fig. 17 ) is considerably smaller than all the other specimens (see measurements statistics) and has a very large atrium and the two halves of the vulva closely appressed. Perhaps this specimen is a member of another new species. Until the male of C. lockeae spec. nov. is discovered and new females (and males) from the Castro Valley area are collected, we tentatively consider this female to be a member of C. lockeae spec. nov.

Distribution and natural history. Known only from a small area of Alameda County, California ( Fig. 50 ). Almost all collections of C. lockeae spec. nov. have been made in the winter. Perhaps this is why no males have yet been found.

Figures

FIGURE 50. Distributions of Cybaeus lockeae spec. nov. and C. viator spec. nov. AZ—Arizona, CA—California, ID—Idaho, OR—Oregon, NV—Nevada, UT—Utah, WA—Washington. California county names capitalized.

FIGURES 16–21. Cybaeus lockeae spec. nov., females from Castro Valley, California, copulatory organ. 16 Epigynum, ventral. 17–21 Vulva (17–19 ventral, 20–21 dorsal). AT—Atrial opening, BG—Bennett’s gland, HS—head of spermatheca.

FIGURES 37–42. Cybaeus spp., females, copulatory organ (37–39 C. viator spec. nov. from Fouts Springs, California; 40–42 holotype of C. somesbar). 37, 40 Epigynum, ventral. 38–39, 41–42 Vulva (38, 41 ventral, 39, 42 dorsal). AT—Atrial openings, HS—head of spermatheca.

FIGURES 27–32. Cybaeus septatus, females from California (27 from Mt. Shasta, 28–29 holotype, 30–32 from McCloud), copulatory organ. 27 Epigynum, ventral. 28–29, 32 Vulva (28, 32 ventral, 29 dorsal). 30 Subadult vulva, dorsal. 31 Portion of teneral vulva (Bennett’s gland and base of spermatheca), dorsal. AT—Atrial opening, BG—Bennett’s gland, BS—base of spermatheca, HS—head of spermatheca, W—epigynal “wrinkle”.