Linothele macrothelifera Strand, 1908

(Figs 11; 17 F-H)

Linothele macrothelifera Strand, 1908: 771 .

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. Colombia • ♀; “ Popayan de Cauca ” [ Popayán]; 1700 m a.s.l.; S. Lehmann leg.; SMF Nr. 2680-86 examined.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Colombia • 1 undet.; Valle del Cauca, near Queremal; 1600 m a.s.l.; VIII.1977; W. G. Eberhard leg.; MCZ-76021 • 1 ♀; Valle del Cauca, near Cali; 1300 m a.s.l.; IX.1972; W. G. Eberhard leg.; MCZ-76023 .

TYPE LOCALITY. — Popayán, Colombia.

DISTRIBUTION. — Valle del Cauca, Colombia.

DIAGNOSIS. — Females of Linothele macrothelifera differ from those of most other species of Linothele by the presence of preening-combs (Fig. 11A, B). Females may further be distinguished from those of L. spinosa n. sp. by their shorter spermathecae stalks lacking an elongated vesicle (Fig. 11C, D) and their distribution.

DESCRIPTION

Male

Unknown.

Female

Colouration in alcohol: Prosoma, chelicerae, legs and pedipalps pale, yellow; opisthosoma with distinct patterns, mid-dorsally consisting of quadrate spots anteriorly, which become more rectangular posteriorly, or can be interconnected, forming longitudinal lines, laterally with several spots, ventrally with longitudinal lines and spots (Fig. 17 F- H); maculae absent. Clypeus: narrow. Leg formula: 4123. Scopula divided. Preening-combs present, see Figure 11A, B. Leg tarsi pseudo-segmented. Spinnerets: apical segments of the PLS rigid. Spermathecae: consisting of two stalks with broad bases, bearing several vesicles at 1:2–1:3A and a short globular apex, see Figure 11C, D.

Variability

CL = 5.3-5.4. CT = 9-10. MC = 24-33.

NATURAL HISTORY

According to Eberhard & Hazzi (2013), L. macrothelifera build sheet webs on the surface of forest leaf litter.