Habronattus luminosus Maddison

Maddison, Wayne P., 2017, New species of Habronattus and Pellenes jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae, Harmochirina), ZooKeys 646, pp. 45-72 : 50-52

Habronattus luminosus Maddison sp. n. Figs 38-49

Holotype.

Male in UBC-SEM, with data: U.S.A.: Arizona: Santa Cruz Co., Mt. Hopkins Road, Amateur Astronomy Vista, 31.6775°N 110.9288°W, 7 May 2014, N. Morehouse & D. Zurek.

Paratypes

(1♂ 2♀♀). U.S.A.: Arizona: Santa Cruz Co., Mt. Hopkins Rd, Amateur Astronomy Vista, 31.6759 - 31.6762°N 110.9289 - 110.9293°W, 1430 m elev., 7 August 2013, W. Maddison & H. Proctor, WPM#13-056 (2♀♀ specimens ASZ13-7108 and AZS13-7081 in UBC-SEM). Arizona: Cochise Co., Sunglow, west side Chiricahua Mts., 12 July 1977, B. & V. Roth (1♂ in AMNH).

Etymology.

Latin, "full of light", in reference to the pale coloring of the body, especially in the yellow-white juveniles, as well as to the name of the locality of the first known specimen, Sunglow, Arizona.

Diagnosis.

A large-bodied species, covered extensively with pale scales in both males and females. The male is distinctive for the red face with a blue central patch (Figs 43, 46), though in alcohol the blue patch appears as metallic green. The tibial apophysis of the palp has a distinct bump projecting retrolaterally, proximal from the tip (Figs 38, 39). The epigynum is distinctive, with the central pocket for the RTA very small, on a mound in front of which the openings are adpressed (Fig. 40).

Description.

Male (focal specimen: holotype, Figs 41-43). Carapace length 3.1; abdomen length 3.2. Palp (Figs 38-39): bulb moderately rotated, with embolus arising at about 290°. RTA with a notable bump dorsally near the tip. Legs: unornamented, as in the female. Carapace: At the back of the carapace is a small stridulatory file, as is seen in various Habronattus species (Maddison and Stratton 1988). The file is similar in form to that of the Habronattus agilis species group, but much narrower. Colour in alcohol: Chelicerae brown with fine glistening hairs. Palp femur light brown with some white scales; tibia with white scales; cymbium brown with a few pale setae. Legs without distinct markings, light to medium brown, with pale scales. Clypeus brown, with a central patch just over the chelicerae of metallic green setae - this contrasts with the appearance in life of a rust-coloured clypeus with a central blue patch (Figs 43, 46). Carapace dark brown with patches of cream-coloured scales in the ocular area, below the PLE, and on the thorax (Figs 41-42, 44). Abdomen dark brown above with a longitudinal band of cream scales medially, wider at front. Sides also covered in cream scales. Venter medium gray-brown.

Female (focal specimen: paratype, specimen AZS13-7108, Figs 47-48). This is the most intact female, as specimen AZS13-7081 (= genetic voucher GLR218) was mostly consumed for RNA extraction. However, an acrocerid fly from ASZ13-7108 emerged about 7 weeks after capture, and thus the abdomen is collapsed. While acrocerid parasitism can affect development, the epigynum of the parasitized specimen (Fig. 40) is apparently natural, as it matches closely to that of AZS13-7081. Carapace length 3.1. Epigynum (Fig. 40) with very small central pocket (the guide for the RTA) embedded within a sclerotized mound. Openings just in front of this mound, almost hidden by it. Colour: Markings indistinct; appendages and body pale yellowish to medium brown, darkest in the ocular area, covered with cream-coloured scales. Abdomen with hint of markings of male (Fig. 48). Clypeus (Fig. 47) covered in cream scales.

Additional material examined.

1♂, 8 juveniles, all from southeastern Arizona. U.S.A.: Arizona: Santa Cruz Co., Mt. Hopkins Rd, Amateur Astronomy Vista, 31.6759 - 31.6762°N 110.9289 - 110.9293°W, 1430 m elev., 7 August 2013, W.Maddison & H. Proctor, WPM#13-056 (2 juveniles in UBC-SEM). U.S.A.: Arizona: Santa Cruz Co.: Mt. Hopkins Road, 31.6705°N 110.9137°W, 1640 m elev., 6 August 2013, W.Maddison & H. Proctor, WPM#13-054 (3 juveniles in UBC-SEM). Arizona: Pima Co.: Madera Canyon, near Proctor Road, 31.7417°N 110.8847°W, 9 August 2013, W. Maddison, WPM#13-062 (3 juveniles in UBC-SEM). Arizona: Santa Cruz Co., Mt. Hopkins Road, 31.6697°N 110.9147°W, 19 June 2012, M. Girard (1♂ in UBC-SEM, DNA voucher d436 and Figs 44-46).

Natural history.

After this species was first found by Barbara and Vince Roth in the Chiricahua Mountains in 1977, it went uncollected for many years, despite my many attempts to find it in southern Arizona when I resided there for 13 years. It was then rediscovered in 2012 by Madeline Girard in the high desert scrub/grassland just below the oak woodlands in the Santa Rita Mountains. Subsequent collecting has revealed an unusual habitat: it is found hidden in tall clumps of grass in the desert scrub near the lower edge of the oak woodlands (Figs 102-103). It can be found by lifting up the overhanging grass of the clump, or pushing apart the clump to reveal specimens hidden near its core. Although we did not find many adults in August, small yellowish juveniles with prominent black spots (Fig. 49) were reasonably common. A few were raised for several moults, and by their change in markings, they do appear to be Habronattus luminosus , supported also by the fact that they cannot be assigned to any other known Habronattus in the relatively well-known fauna of southern Arizona. Given the known localities and grassy habitat, its range might be expected to extend into the Chihuahan Desert grasslands.