Myrmekiaphila comstocki Bishop and Crosby

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 : 11-13

Myrmekiaphila comstocki Bishop and Crosby

Figures 5 , 15 , 25 , 41–48

Myrmekiaphila comstocki Bishop and Crosby, 1926 : 168,169 (male holotype from Austin , Travis Co., Texas, in AMNH, examined).

Myrmekiophila fluviatilis (misidentification): Petrunkevitch, 1929: 516.

DIAGNOSIS: Males can be distinguished by the unbranched palpal bulb with the embolus lacking a prominent distal tooth (fig. 25), the robust palpal tibia (figs. 5, 44–46, not as slender as that of M. foliata ), and by having metatarsal dilation of leg I less prominent than in other species (figs. 15, 41–43). Female M. comstocki and M. foliata specimens are difficult to distinguish on the basis of subtle spermathecal differences (fig. 47); however, the distributions of these two species do not overlap (fig. 1).

DESCRIPTIONS: Male described by Bishop and Crosby (1926); female described by Gertsch (1935).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: UNITED STATES: ARKANSAS: Bradley Co.: no specific locality [33.47 –92.16, MYR076], Nov. 9, 1963 ( AMNH), 13. Dallas Co.: 4 mi S Dalark [34.0680 –93.06417, MYR077, 078], June 10, 1973 (J. Rowland, AMNH) , 2♀. Montgomery Co.: 1 mi S State Road 8 on FS road [34.4502 –93.8887, MYR289], June 28, 1972 (F. Coyle, AMNH) , 1♀. Pike Co.: Glenwood [34.3268 –93.5507, MYR018], Jan. 8, 1954 (N. Causey, MCZ) , 13. Polk Co.: Sugar Creek , FS Road 38, ca 2.5 mi S intersection with FS Road 25 [34.4322 –94.107, MYR041–46], June 18, 1972 (F. Coyle, AMNH) , 4♀, 1 eggsac; Ouachita National Forest, Caney Creek WMA on CR 81 near Sugar Creek , 34.42985 –94.13922, elev. 313 m [MY3387–3389], July 9, 2005 (B. Hendrixson, ECU-AMNH) , 3♀. Washington Co.: Fayetteville [36.0626 –94.1574, MYR016], Nov. 1, 1962 (W. Whitcomb, AMNH) , 13; Cove Creek [35.7655 –94.3829, MYR037], Apr. 27, 1962 (M. Hite, AMNH) , 1♀, [MYR023], Oct. 20, 1962 (O., M. Hite, AMNH) , 23; Cove Creek Valley, 15 mi S Prairie Grove, Boston Mountains [MYR039], Sept.–Oct. 1955 (M. Hite, AMNH) , 13, 1 juv., [MYR027], Mar. 1, 1957 (M Hite, MCZ) , 13. LOUISIANA: Caddo Par. : no specific locality [32.6335 –93.9002, MYR057], Nov. 21, 1936 ( R. Bellamy, AMNH) , 1♀; Shreveport [32.55813 –93.7756, MYR056], Oct. 13, 1936 ( R. Bellamy. AMNH) , 1♀. Grant Par.: Kisatchie National Forest [31.7668 –92.5668, MYR012], June 1941 (Jones, A. Archer, AMNH) , 13. Rapides Par.: Pineville [31.3224 –92.4343, MYR055], Dec. 31, 1976 (J. Weaver, AMNH) , 1♀. OKLAHOMA: Comanche Co.: Wichita Mountains [34.6829 –98.6331, MYR292], Mar. 25, 1978 (F. Bryce, AMNH) , 103. La Flore Co.: on Route 270 5.5 mi E intersection with Route 259 [34.7048 –94.5143, MYR048], June 27, 1972 (F. Coyle, AMNH) , 1♀; Pipe Spring on Route 259, 1.5 mi S intersection with Route 1 [34.691 –94.6453, MYR047], June 27, 1972 (F. Coyle, AMNH) , 1♀. Latimer Co.: Red Oak [34.9509 –95.0802, MYR031], Oct. 1, 1975 (K. Stephan, AMNH) , 63; Red Oak [34.7048 –94.5143, MYR049], Oct. 8, 1976 ( V. Roth, AMNH), 13. McCurtain Co.: 5 mi SW Eagletown [33.9771 –94.639, MYR050], Aug. 7, 1946 (B. Branson, AMNH) , 1♀. TEXAS: Cherokee Co.: Alto [31.5782 –95.16583, MYR005], May 15, 1979, (F. Moody, AMNH) , 1♀. Kimble Co.: (mislabeled as Gillespie Co.) Junction [30.4886 –98.9503, MYR035], Apr. 14, 1979.( T. Hall, AMNH), 13. Nacogdoches Co. : Nacogdoches [31.6035 –94.6555, MYR010], Oct. 14, 1968 (H. McDonald, AMNH) , 13. Travis Co.: Austin [30.2669 –97.7429, MYR009], May 21, 1913 (C. Hartman, AMNH) , 1♀, 1 juv.; Brackenridge Field Laboratory [30.2833 –97.7787, MYR011, 014, 020, 025, 032–034, 290, 291], Jan.–Apr 1979 (B. Vogel, AMNH) , 883, 2♀, 1 juv. Wichita Co.: no specific locality [34.0 –98.7, MYR006], Mar. 1, 1973 (Hicks, AMNH) , 13, [34.0 –98.7, MYR017], Mar. 1, 1973 ( T. Salmon, AMNH), 13 .

DISTRIBUTION: Widely distributed throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Okalahoma, and eastern/central Texas (fig. 48).

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.

Figs. 41–47. Myrmekiaphila comstocki Bishop and Crosby from Travis Co., Texas. 41–43. Male left leg I: retrolateral, prolateral, and ventral (metarsus) views. 44–46. Male left pedipalp: retrolateral, ventral, and prolateral views. 47. Spermathecae.

Fig. 48. Records of M. comstocki Bishop and Crosby.