Myrmekiaphila millerae, BOND & PLATNICK, 2007

BOND, JASON E. & PLATNICK, NORMAN I., 2007, A Taxonomic Review of the Trapdoor Spider Genus Myrmekiaphila (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Cyrtaucheniidae), American Museum Novitates 3596 (1), pp. 1-32 : 24-26

Myrmekiaphila millerae , new species

Figures 11 , 21 , 31 , 85–91

TYPES: Male holotype, three male paratypes, and female paratype from T22 N, R3 E, Sec. 31NW, Grenada Co., Mississippi (July 10–16, 1991, and Mar. 3–Apr. 13, 1992; G. Baker, P. Miller, G. Snodgrass), deposited in AMNH .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a patronym in honor of Dr. Patricia Miller.

DIAGNOSIS: Males can be recognized by the presence of a short, stubby ledge on the palpal tibia, a tibia without a noticeable retrolateral excavation in ventral view, and a long embolus and much shorter auxiliary prong, with its tip thick and bent toward the embolus (figs. 11, 31). As with other species in the fluviatilis group, females are difficult to diagnosis due to the paucity of morphological differences, but the spermathecal bulbs appear to have more elongate stalks and smaller bases than those of the other species (fig. 92), and have the posterior pair of sternal sigilla nearly contiguous.

MALE (HOLOTYPE): Specimen preparation and condition. Specimen collected live in pitfall trap, preserved in ca. 70% ethanol. Coloration appears to be faded. Pedipalp, leg I left side, removed and stored in vial with specimen. General coloration. Carapace, chelicerae, and legs dark reddish brown (2.5YR 3/6). Abdomen uniform dark brown (5YR 4/3) dorsally, ventrum and spinnerets pale yellow, wide dusky stripes on dorsum. Cephalothorax. Carapace 5.62 long, 4.50 wide, glabrous, stout black bristles along fringe; surface smooth, pars cephalica elevated. Fringe, posterior margin with black bristles. Foveal groove deep, slightly procurved. Eye group slightly raised, not on tubercle. AER slightly procurved, PER slightly recurved, PME, AME subequal in diameter. Sternum moderately setose, STRl 3.00, STRw 2.80. Posterior sternal sigilla very large, positioned centrally, not contiguous, anterior sigilla pairs small, oval, marginal. Chelicerae with distinct anterior tooth row (11 teeth), posterior margin with patch of small denticles. Palpal endites with patch of regularly shaped cuspules on proximal, inner margin, labium with four cuspules, LBw 1.00, LBl 0.65. Rastellum consisting of two very stout spines on small mound. Abdomen. Setose, heavier black setae intermingled with fine black setae. Legs. Leg I: 4.81, 2.16, 3.44, 2.76, 2.36; leg IV: 4.75, 2.44, 4.00, 3.88, 2.68. Light tarsal scopulae on legs I, II. Tarsus I with single, slightly staggered row of nine trichobothria. Leg I spination pattern illustrated in Figures 21 , 86–88 ; TSp 8, TSr 16, TSrd 1. Pedipalp. Articles stout, lacking distinct spines (figs. 11, 89–91). PTw 1.30, PTl 2.37, Bl 0.92. Ledge on distal-retrolateral surface of palpal tibia prominent, positioned distally (figs. 89, 90). Palpal bulb (fig. 31) distally bifurcate, embolus relatively slender, auxiliary prong thick, much shorter in length than embolus, with distinct bend toward embolus.

Variation (3). Cl 5.62–5.93, Cw 4.50–4.87; STRl 3.00–3.24, STRw 2.80–3.00; LBw 1.00, LBl 0.62–0.5; leg I: 4.81–5.18, 2.16–2.36, 3.44– 3.80, 2.60–2.80, 2.36–2.40; leg IV: 4.69–4.87, 2.20–2.44, 3.60–4.00, 3.84–4.00, 2.40–2.68; PTw 1.27–1.37, PTl 2.37–3.00, Bl 0.92–1.15; TSp 7–8, TSr 13–16.

FEMALE (PARATYPE): Specimen preparation and condition. Female collected live in pitfall trap, preserved in same manner as holotype. Genital plate removed and stored in microvial with specimen. Color. Carapace, legs, chelicerae, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4). Abdomen uniform reddish brown dorsally (5YR 4/3), ventrum and spinnerets pale yellow; recently collected specimens have wide dusky stripes on dorsum. Cephalothorax. Carapace 5.62 long, 4.56 wide, glabrous; generally smooth surface, pars cephalica moderately elevated. Fringe lacks setae. Foveal groove deep, moderately procurved. Eye group slightly elevated on low medial mound. AER slightly procurved, PER slightly recurved, PME, AME subequal in diameter. Sternum moderately setose, STRl 3.20, STRw 3.12. Three pairs of sternal sigilla, anterior pairs small, oval, marginal, posterior pair much larger, oval, more mesially positioned, nearly contiguous (separated by thin line of setae). Chelicerae, anterior tooth row armed with 11 teeth, posterior margin with denticle patch. Palpal endites with cuspules (ca. 37) concentrated at inner (promargin) posterior heel; labium with one cuspule, LBw 1.22, LBl 0.76. Rastellum consisting of five very stout spines positioned on mound; fringe of short spines along distal promargin extending upward from rastellum. Abdomen. Moderately setose. Legs. Leg I: 3.56, 1.80, 2.40, 1.68, 1.20; leg IV: 3.60, 2.00, 3.12, 2.60, 1.60. Tarsus I with single staggered row of eight trichobothria. Legs I–IV with moderately light scopulae on tarsi, light scopulae on distal third of metatarsus I. PT3s.20, TB3s–dense patch of thin spines. Distinct preening comb on retrolateral distal surface (at tarsus–metatarsus joint) of metatarsi III, IV. Spermathecae. With relatively elongate stalk, terminating in lightly sclerotized bulb, base relatively small, heavily sclerotized (fig. 92).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: UNITED STATES: MISSISSIPPI: Calhoun Co.: 13 mi NW Bruce [34.1476 –89.2557, MYR190], May 8, 1985 (P. Lago, AMNH), 13. Choctaw Co.: Tombigbee National Forest , Choctaw Recreation Area , Chata Trail , 33.27277 –89.14778, elev. 192 m [MY2039], June 16, 2003 (B. Hendrixson, P. Marek, ECU-AMNH), 1♀ . Grenada Co.: T22 N R3 E, 31NW, Section 13 [33.7295 –90.0281, MYR185], Mar. 31–Apr. 13, 1992 (G. Snodgrass, AMNH), 43; T21 N, R2 E, Section 12, 13N & R3 E, Section 7S, 18N [33.6988 –90.0373, MYR186, 187], Mar. 12, 1992 (G. Snodgrass, AMNH), 63; T22 N, R3 E, Section 31 [33.7295 –90.0281, MYR192, 193], July 10–16, 1991, Mar. 31, 1992 (G. Baker, P. Miller, G. Snodgrass, AMNH), 1♀ , 13. Lafayette Co.: 8 mi SE Oxford , 34.6 –89.4833: [MYR172–181, 251, 294], Apr. 5– May 18, 1993 (G. Stratton, AMNH), 33; [MYR296], July 8, 1992 (K. Kallies, AMNH), 1♀ . Oktibbeha Co.: Craig Springs [33.3151 –88.9228, MYR247, 249, 252–254], Nov. 10– Dec. 5, 1980, Nov. 24, 1982 (G. Snodgrass, AMNH), 93. Panola Co. : 14 mi ESE Batesville [34.1807 –89.7772, MYR182–184], Mar. 12, 1992 (M. Caterino, AMNH), 43. Pontotoc Co. : 1 mi SE Ecru [34.34384 –89.01433, MYR189], May 8, 1980 (W. Cross, AMNH), 13. Yalobusha Co: 3 mi SE Water Valley [34.141 –89.5876, MYR191], May 8, 1985 (P. Lago, AMNH), 23 .

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from northern Mississippi (fig. 85).

Figures

Figs. 2–13. 2, 3. Live M. neilyoungi from Santa Rosa Co., Florida. 2. Male specimen. 3. Female specimen. 4–13. Color images of male pedipalps, ventral view (top of frame) and retrolateral view (bottom); 6, 12, 13 show ventral view only. 4. M. foliata, Knox Co. Tennessee (rl5retrolateral ledge). 5. M. comstocki, Travis Co., Texas. 6. M. coreyi, Thomas Co., Georgia. 7. M. fluviatilis, Marshall Co., Alabama (ap5accessory prong, e5embolus). 8. M. jenkinsi, Van Buren Co., Tennessee. 9. M. torreya, Liberty Co., Florida. 10. M. neilyoungi, Tuscaloosa Co., Alabama. 11. M. millerae, Grenada Co., Mississippi. 12. M. howelli, Newton Co., Mississippi (le5ledge). 13. M. minuta, Alachua Co., Florida.

Figs. 14–23. Color images of male leg I mating claspers, prolateral (top of frame) and retrolateral views (bottom). 14. M. foliata, Knox Co., Tennessee (ms5metatarsal swelling). 15. M. comstocki, Travis Co., Texas. 16. M. coreyi, Thomas Co., Georgia. 17. M. fluviatilis, Marshall Co., Alabama. 18. M. jenkinsi, Van Buren Co., Tennessee. 19. M. torreya, Liberty Co., Florida. 20. M. neilyoungi, Tuscaloosa Co., Alabama. 21. M. millerae, Grenada Co., Mississippi. 22. M. howelli, Newton Co., Mississippi. 23. M. minuta, Alachua Co., Florida.

Figs. 24–32. Scanning electron micrographs of male palpal bulbs. 24. M. foliata, Knox Co., Tennessee (et5embolus tooth). 25. M. comstocki, Travis Co., Texas. 26. M. coreyi, Jefferson Co., Florida. 27. M. fluviatilis, Marshall Co., Alabama (e5embolus, ap5accessory prong). 28. M. jenkinsi, Van Buren Co., Tennessee. 29. M. torreya, Liberty Co., Florida. 30. M. neilyoungi, Jefferson Co., Alabama. 31. M. millerae, Grenada Co., Mississippi. 32. M. minuta, Alachua Co., Florida.

Fig. 85. Records of M. minuta, new species, M. neilyoungi, new species, M. millerae, new species, and M. howelli, new species.

Figs. 86–92. Myrmekiaphila millerae, new species, from Grenada Co., Mississippi. 86–88. Male left leg I: retrolateral, prolateral, and ventral (metarsus) views. 89–91. Male left pedipalp: retrolateral, ventral, and prolateral views. 92. Spermathecae.