Simaoa yaojia Miller, Griswold & Yin, sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 4FF0908B-7461-4B1F-B3CD-7A5627972B36

Figs 20F, 30D, 31 C-D, 32-34, 97

Material Examined. Holotype: CHINA: Yunnan: Lushui Co., Yaojiaping, at Pianma Road km 44.7, 25.97479°N, 98.71027°E, 2516 m, 19-20 May 2005, disturbed forest, dusting webs in understory, C. Griswold, CGY111 (CASENT 9029309, HNU), 1 ♁.

Paratypes: [same data as holotype] (CASENT 9022351, CAS), 2 ♁, 13 ♀, 2 juvs; [same data as holotype] (CASENT 9022362, CAS), 1 ♁, 6 ♀, 1 juv; [same data as holotype] (CASENT 9022363, HNU), 2 ♁, 19 ♀, 3 juvs; [same data as holotype] (CASENT 9029349, PV 0841-0864, CAS), 1 ♁, 1 ♀ .

Etymology. The epithet is an abbreviated form of the collection locality and takes the form of a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from S. kavanaugh by the palpal tibia, which has a dorsal tooth-like apophysis (Fig. 34C) and is relatively long (Fig. 33B; tooth-like apophysis absent, tibia relatively short in S. kavanaugh, Fig. 36B), and by the embolus, which makes a half turn in S. yaojia (Fig. 33B), more than a full turn in S. kavanaugh (Fig. 36A). Male carapace more strongly raised in S. kavanaugh (compare Figs 32A and 35A). Female distinguished from other Simaoa species except S. kavanaugh by the presence of two transverse lobes of the epigynum, a raised anterior lobe and a low posterior lobe along epigastric furrow (Figs 30D, 37F); distinguished from S. kavanaugh by the relatively narrower anterior lobe of epigynum fitting in the space between the spermathecae (Fig. 31C-D; overlapping spermathecae in S. kavanaugh; Fig. 31E-F) and the angle of the copulatory ducts, longitudinal in S. yaojia (Fig. 31D), oblique in S. kavanaugh (Fig. 31F).

Description. Carapace brown, lighter in thoracic region, male with head region moderately raised, sulci below ALE. Sternum pale with indistinct dark markings. Legs yellow, darker on distal part of tibia. Femoral spots on legs I and II, indistinct in male. Abdomen brown with numerous tan spots, with two large and up to six small dorsal white spots, and two longitudinal white lines laterally running to posterior tubercle, region between white stripes tan with dark brown chevrons (Fig. 32).

Male palp: Tibia with small dorsal tooth-like apophysis (Fig. 34C). Embolus makes half turn (Figs 33B, 34B).

Vulva: Epigynum with two parallel transverse lobes, anterior one raised and longer, posterior one lower, set along epigastric furrow (Fig. 30D). Anterior transverse lobe as wide as space between spermathecae (Fig. 31D). Spermathecae round with copulatory duct spiraling posteriorly through thick sclerotized capsule. Fertilization ducts run through center of copulatory duct spiral, curve mesally near tips.

Male (CASENT 9022351): Total length 0.71, carapace 0.35 long, 0.34 wide, clypeus 0.14, sternum 0.24 long, 0.24 wide, coxa IV separated by 1.91 times their width. Macrosetae: Leg I: patella d1, tibia d1, p4, metatarsus p1; Leg II: patella d1, tibia d1, v3; Leg III: patella d1, tibia d1; Leg IV: patella d1, tibia d1. Metatarsal macrosetae kinked near center (Fig. 34E). Metatarsal trichobothria: TmI: 0.27; TmII: 0.33; TmIII: 0.42. Leg measurements: see Appendix A. Epiandrous gland spigots in two widely spaced clusters of two spigots each.

Female (CASENT 9022351): Total length 1.03, carapace 0.35 long, 0.34 wide, clypeus 0.07, sternum 0.27 long, 0.24 wide, coxa IV separated by 1.69 times their width. Macrosetae: Leg I: patella d1, tibia d1; Leg II: patella d1, tibia d1; Leg III: patella d1, tibia d1; Leg IV: patella d1, tibia d1. Metatarsal trichobothria: TmI: 0.33; TmII: 0.34; TmIII: 0.36. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Natural History. This species builds a three-dimensional spherical web typical of the Mysmenidae (Fig. 20F).