Myrmekiaphila coreyi, 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 : 13-14

Myrmekiaphila coreyi , new species

Figures 6 , 16 , 26 , 40 , 49–55

TYPES: Male holotype and female paratype from St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge – Panacea Unit , 1 mi SW Panacea [30.0241 –84.404], Wakulla Co., Florida (Feb– Mar. 1978), deposited in AMNH .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a patronym in honor of Dr. David Corey.

DIAGNOSIS: Males can be distinguished by the presence of a very slender unbranched embolus with prominent serrations (figs. 6, 26) and a retrolateral ledge on the palpal tibia (figs. 52–54). Females have a subtriangular spermathecal base with a spermathecal bulb originating from the center of the base, constricted medially, and lacking a distinct stalk (fig. 55).

MALE (HOLOTYPE): Specimen preparation and condition. Specimen collected in live pitfall trap, preserved in ca. 70% ethanol. Coloration faded. Pedipalp, leg I left side removed and stored in vial with specimen. General coloration. Carapace, chelicerae, and legs yellowish red (5YR 4/6). Abdomen uniform dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) dorsally, ventrum and spinnerets pale yellow. Cephalothorax. Carapace 4.56 long, 3.84 wide, glabrous, stout black bristles along fringe; surface smooth, pars cephalica elevated. Fringe, posterior margin with black bristles. Foveal groove deep, moderately procurved. Eyes on low mound. AER slightly procurved, PER slightly recurved. PME, AME subequal in diameter. Sternum moderately setose, STRl 2.32, STRw 2.20. Posterior sternal sigilla large, positioned centrally, not contiguous, anterior sigilla pairs small, oval, marginal. Chelicerae with distinct anterior tooth row (11 teeth), posterior margin with single row of small denticles. Palpal endites with patch of small cuspules on proximal, inner margin, labium lacks cuspules, LBw 0.75, LBl 0.47. Rastellum consists of four or five very stout spines on prominent mound. Abdomen. Setose, heavy black setae intermingled with fine black setae. Leg I: 4.24, 2.04, 3.24, 2.40, 2.00; leg IV: 4.40, 1.80, 3.80, 3.76, 2.40. Light tarsal scopulae on legs I, II. Tarsus I with single, slightly staggered row of 7 trichobothria. Leg I spination pattern illustrated in Figures 16 , 49–51 ; TSp 6, TSr 5, TSrd 1. Pedipalp. Articles stout, lacking distinct spines (figs. 52–54). PTw 0.92, PTl 1.87, Bl 0.80. Ledge on distal-retrolateral surface of palpal tibia (figs. 52, 53). Embolus slender, tapering sharply toward tip, with serrations (figs. 6, 26).

Variation (3). Cl 4.00–4.56, Cw 3.40–3.84; STRl 2.32–2.36, STRw 2.20–2.36; LBw 0.75, LBl 0.375–0.47; leg I: 3.60–4.24, 1.56–2.04, 2.68–3.24, 2.08–2.40, 1.96–2.00; leg IV: 3.60– 4.40, 1.60–1.80, 3.20–3.80, 3.28–3.76, 2.20– 2.40; PTw 0.85–1.00, PTl 1.62–1.87, Bl 0.75– 0.80; TSp 4–6, TSr 5–6.

FEMALE (PARATYPE): Specimen preparation and condition. Female collected from live pitfall trap, prepared in same manner as male holotype. Genital plate removed and stored in microvial with specimen. Color. Carapace, legs, chelicerae, dark reddish brown (2.5YR 2.5/4). Abdomen uniform dark reddish brown dorsally (5YR 2.5/2), ventrum and spinnerets pale yellow; recently collected specimens have wide dusky stripes on dorsum of abdomen. Cephalothorax. Carapace 4.80 long, 3.68 wide, glabrous; generally smooth surface, pars cephalica moderately elevated. Fringe lacks setae. Foveal groove deep, slightly procurved. Eye group slightly elevated on low mound. AER slightly procurved, PER slightly recurved, PME, AME subequal in diameter. Sternum moderately setose, STRl 2.60, STRw 2.52. Three pairs of sternal sigilla, anterior pairs small, oval, marginal, posterior pair much larger, oval, mesially positioned. Chelicerae anterior tooth row armed with nine teeth, posterior margin with denticle patch. Palpal endites with cuspules [ca. 30] concentrated at inner (promargin) posterior heel; labium with four cuspules, LBw 0.87, LBl 0.50. Rastellum consisting of two very stout spines positioned on mound; fringe of short spines along distal promargin extending upward from rastellum. Abdomen. Moderately setose. Legs. Leg I: 3.16, 1.72, 2.00, 1.44, 1.00; leg IV: 3.16, 1.64, 2.40, 2.20, 1.32. Tarsus I with single staggered row of seven trichobothria. Legs I–III with moderately light scopulae on tarsi only. PT3s 15, TB3s 0. Distinct preening comb on retrolateral distal surface (at tarsus–metatarsus joint) of metatarsi III, IV. Spermathecae. Two simple spermathecal bulbs, lacking elongate neck, arranged on subtriangular spermathecal base (fig. 55).

Variation (3). Cl 4.56–6.00, Cw 3.68–4.40; STRl 2.56–3.40, STRw 2.40–3.08; LBw 0.85– 0.97, LBl 0.50–0.57; leg I: 3.16–3.72, 1.72–3.00, 2.00–2.56, 1.44–2.56, 1.00–1.40; leg IV: 3.16– 3.40, 1.64–2.20, 2.40–3.00, 2.20–2.40, 1.32–1.40.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: UNITED STATES: FLORIDA: Citrus Co.: no specific locality [28.8747 –82.4581, MYR201], Feb. 26, 1937 (H. Wallace, AMNH) , 3♀, 1 juv. Jefferson Co.: no specific locality [30.516 –83.888, MYR007, 008, 015, 165–168], Jan.–Mar 1969 ( AMNH) , 93; Big Bend Horticultural Lab [MYR305], Mar. 10, 1969 ( AMNH) , 13. Santa Rosa Co.: Santa Rosa Island [30.3824 –86.8564, MYR170], Apr. 5, 1934 (H. Wallace, AMNH) , 1 juv. Wakulla Co.: St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge–Panacea Unit, 1 mile SW Panacea [30.0241 –84.404, MYR022, 156– 162, 228, 293], Feb.–Mar. 1978 ( AMNH) , 583, 2♀. Washington Co. : 1–2 mi N FL-20 on FL- 79, near cemetery, 30.46376 –85.85.86335 [MY2557–2562], Feb. 27, 2004 (B. Hendrixson, D. Beamer, ECU-AMNH) , 6♀. GEORGIA: Thomas Co.: Boston, Bar M Ranch [30.7919 –83.7900, MYR169], Apr. 1969 (W. Sedgwick, MCZ) , 13, juv. Thomas Co.: near Thomasville [30.8366 –83.9788, MYR202], 1968 ( AMNH) , 13.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from Florida and far southern Georgia (fig. 40).

THE FLUVIATILIS GROUP

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. 40. Records of M. foliata (Hentz) and M. coreyi n. sp.

Figs. 49–55. Myrmekiaphila coreyi, new species, from Thomas Co., Georgia (male) and Citrus Co., Florida (female). 49–51. Male left leg I: retrolateral, prolateral, and ventral (metarsus) views. 52–54. Male left pedipalp: retrolateral, ventral, and prolateral views. 55. Spermathecae.