Microdipoena sp.

HORMIGA, GUSTAVO, ALVAREZ-PADILLA, FERNANDO & BENJAMIN, SURESH P., 2007, First Records of Extant Hispaniolan Spiders of the Families Mysmenidae, Symphytognathidae, and Ochyroceratidae (Araneae), Including a New Species of Ochyrocera, American Museum Novitates 3577, pp. 1-24 : 13-15

Microdipoena sp.

This species was collected in two localities: a sinkhole in the Cueva del Puente (Parque Nacional del Este–Guaraguao) and in a cloud forest in the Duarte Province. Cueva del Puente, in the eastern region of the island, close to sea level (ca. 50 m of elevation), is located in a coastal area covered with dry forest. The sinkhole area of the cave has shrubby vegetation and higher humidity than does the corresponding epigean area. The spiders built typical ‘‘egg-shaped’’ webs ( fig. 15C, D ) in crevices among rocks on the ground. In the cloud forest we found Microdipoena sp. webs in the leaf litter.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Dominican Republic: La Altagracia Province, Guaraguao, Parque Nacional del Este, Cueva del Puente , N18 ° 20 9 25.4 0: W 68 ° 48 9 55.8 0, 5 m, 2.IV.2005, G. Hormiga, F. Alvarez-Padilla, and S.P .

Benjamin (1 male, 1 female). Duarte Province, San Francisco de Macorís , Reserva Científica Loma Quita Espuela,¸ F. Alvarez-Padilla and S.P. Benjamin, photos 7646–7652 FAP (20.IV.2005, 1 female) (deposited in MCZ) .

FAMILY SYMPHYTOGNATHIDAE

Figures

Fig. 15. Webs of Dominican Republic symphytognathids and mysmenids. A, B, Web of Patu sp. (Symphytognathidae), cloud forest in Barahona Province, Paraíso, (Reserva Natural Cachote). C, D, Web of Microdipoena sp. (Mysmenidae), cloud forest in Duarte Province, San Francisco de Macorís (Reserva Científica Loma Quita Espuela). Photos by Gustavo Hormiga (A, B) and Fernando Alvarez-Padilla (C, D).