Myrmekiaphila foliata Atkinson, 1886

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 : 9-10

Myrmekiaphila foliata Atkinson

Figures 4 , 14 , 24 , 33–40

Myrmekiaphila foliata Atkinson, 1886: 132 (three female syntypes from Chapel Hill , Orange Co., North Carolina, in CUC and USNM, examined).

Myrmeciophila atkinsoni Simon, 1891: 316 (female holotype from Occoquan Falls, Prince William Co., Virginia, in USNM, examined). NEW SYNONYMY.

Myrmekiaphila fluviatilis (misidentification): Bishop and Crosby, 1926: 166, figs. 1–6.

DIAGNOSIS: Males can be recognized by the enlarged, retrolaterally directed, subdistal tooth on the embolus (fig. 24) and the relatively large distal dilation on metatarsus I, usually bearing more than two ventral spines (figs. 33–35), females by the triangular spermathecal bases and by the spermathecal bulbs originating from the median side of the spermathecal bases (fig. 39).

DESCRIPTIONS: Male described (as M. fluviatilis ) by Bishop and Crosby (1926); female described by Atkinson (1886) and (as M. atkinsoni ) by Simon (1891).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: UNITED STATES: ALABAMA: no locality data [MYR084], ( R. Jenkins, W. Howell, AMNH), 13. Blount Co.: no specific locality [33.9668 –86.5833, MYR301], Mar. 14, 1998 ( AMNH), 1♀. Choctaw Co.: Silas [31.7654 –88.329, MYR013], Feb. 19, 1912 (H. Smith, CUC) , 13. Jefferson Co.: Linda Drive, Bluff Park [33.3935 –86.85306, MYR004], Dec. 25, 1996 (W. Howell, AMNH) , 23; Tyler Road [33.4152 –86.8261, MYR225], Nov. 26, 1996 ( R. Jenkins, W. Howell, AMNH), 13. Lee Co.: Opelika [32.6454 –85.3783, MYR133], Jan. 10, 1985 (D. Folkerts, CDF) , 13; 2 mi S Auburn along Wire Road [32.5776 –85.5246, MYR135], Feb. 24, 1974 ( R. Skinner, CAU), 13; Auburn [32.6099 –85.4808, MYR124], ( AMNH), 2♀, 1 juv., [MYR127], (N. Banks, C. Baker, MCZ), 1♀, [MYR132], Apr. 10, 1941 ( AMNH), 3♀, [MYR137], Mar. 3, 1968 (W. Ivey, CAU) , 13, [MYR139], May 10, 1975 (B. Muse, CAU), 1♀, [MYR288], June 1, 1986 (G. Mullen, CAU), 1♀. Macon Co.: Tuskegee National Forest, Wire Road , S Interstate 85 [32.4577 –85.6576, MYR138], Dec. 12, 1975 (Weatherley, Brooks, CAU), 1♀. Madison Co. : Monte Sano State Park , 34.74599 –86.50653 [MY2025], June 11, 2003 (B. Hendrixson, P. Marek, ECU-AMNH), 1♀. Montgomery Co. : McGus Station [MYR140], Oct. 24, 1915 (H. Smith, CUC) , 13. Shelby Co.: Lake Purdy Dam [33.4598 –86.6694, MYR088], Feb. 3, 1997 ( R. Jenkins, W. Howell, AMNH), 1♀; Indian Springs [33.359 –86.7566, MYR024], Nov. 14, 1997 ( T. Honea, AMNH). Tuscaloosa Co. : University [MYR086], Nov. 29, 1910 (H. Smith, AMNH) , 13. GEORGIA: Hall Co.: Thompson Mill [34.3665 –83.8588, MYR141], (M. Allen, MCZ), 1♀. Putnam Co. : no specific locality [33.3335 –83.3499, MYR040], Apr. 23, 1974 (W. Merrill, FSCA) 13; Eatonton [33.3268 –83.3885, MYR131], Apr. 18, 1974 (W. Merrill, FSCA) , 13. KENTUCKY: Wolfe Co.: Koomer Ridge [37.7904 –83.633, MYR129], Apr. 28, 1968 (J. Tripp, F. Moore, FSCA), 1♀. Whitley Co. : 0.1 mi from junction of US-25W on KY-90, in very disturbed ravine, 36.85428 –84.23483, elev . 385 m [MY2182], Aug. 10, 2003 (B. Hendrixson, ECU-AMNH), 1 juv. NORTH CAROLINA: Orange Co.: Chapel Hill [35.9071 –79.0483, MYR119], Mar. 13, 1886 (G. Atkinson, CUC), 1♀, [MYR120], Apr. 1, 1886 (G. Atkinson, USNM), 1♀, [MYR121], Dec. 31, 1929 (J. Beakley, AMNH) , 13, [MYR122], (G. Atkinson, AMNH), 1♀, [MYR126], Nov. 1, 1983 ( AMNH) , 33. TENNESSE: Campbell Co.: 2.6 mi NW Route 116 on Beech Grove Road , 36.23878 –84.19148, elev . 300 m [MY2180], Aug. 10, 2003 (B. Hendrixson, ECU-AMNH), 1♀. Knox Co.: Knoxville [35.9606 –83.9207, MYR038], Nov. 4, 1985 ( T. Stevens, AMNH), 13, [MYR118], Mar. 4, 1920 (W. Cartwright, CUC), 1♀; Powell, Riechert Property, ca 0.11 km NNW intersection of Cruze Drive and Bell Campground Road [36.03098 –84.06139, MYR019, 021, 026, 028–030, 036, 059–075, 125], elev . 348 m, Apr.–Nov 1985 (S. Riechert, AMNH) , 443. Lawrence Co.: David Crockett State Park , 35.26252 –87.36217, elev . 278 m [MY2801], May 2, 2004 (B. Hendrixson, ECU-AMNH), 1♀. Marion Co.: Stanley [35.1226 –85.4039, MYR087], ( AMNH) , 13. Sevier Co.: Elkmont [35.6537 –83.5805, MYR130], May 14, 1967 (F. Moore, FSCA), 2♀. Van Buren Co. : Fall Creek Falls State Park , along Cane Creek Cascade Trail , 35.66182 –85.34962, elev . 500 m [MY2175], Aug. 9, 2003 (B. Hendrixson, ECU-AMNH), 1 juv. VIRGINIA: Franklin Co.: Smith Mountain Lake [37.0371 –79.7238, MYR134], Oct. 7, 1994 (G. Atkinson, AMNH) , 133. Giles Co.: Cascades Recreation Area , small creek near main trailhead, 37.35383 –80.59988, elev . 670 m [MY2235], Aug. 15, 2004 (B. Hendrixson, ECU-AMNH), 1 juv. Prince William Co.: Occoquan Falls [38.68363 –77.26056, MYR117], (G. Marx, USNM), 1♀. WEST VIRGINIA: Mercer Co. : Athens , Old Pumphouse [37.4223 –81.01638, MYR128], May 17, 1966 (O. Pendleton, B. Armes, AMNH), 1♀; 2 mi S Athens [37.3931 –81.016185, MYR194], Sept. 18, 1965 (W. Shear, AMNH) , 13.

DISTRIBUTION: Southeastern United States, from northern Virginia south to central Alabama and northern Georgia (fig. 40).

SYNONYMY: Banks (1900: 530) placed M. foliata as a junior synonym of M. fluviatilis (Hentz) ; based on the material examined by us, that synonymy appears to be erroneous. Simon (1891) did not examine the genitalic characters of M. foliata or M. atkinsoni , separating the taxa only by labial cuspule, leg spination, and tarsal claw dentition; these are differences that can vary between the left and right sides of a single specimen.

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. 33–39. Myrmekiaphila foliata (Hentz) from Mercer Co., West Virginia. 33–35. Male left leg I: retrolateral, prolateral, and ventral (metarsus) views. 36–38. Male left pedipalp: retrolateral, ventral, and prolateral views. 39. Spermathecae.

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