Meriola longitarsis Simon

Figs 43–45, 96

Trachelas longitarsis Simon, 1904: 104, fig. 5 (male holotype from Punta Arenas, Magallanes, Región de Magallanes, Chile, in MNHN 12913, labeled as “Chili”, examined; Fig. 45b, c, g–i).

Meriola longitarsis Platnick & Ewing, 1995: 18, figs 34–38.

Diagnosis. Males (Figs 44 a–f, 45) are easily distinguished by a combination of an elongated cymbium constricted at the middle, a long, filiform embolus, and the distally pointed tegulum. Females (Fig. 43, 44g) are recognized by the rectangular median field located posterior to the copulatory ducts and spermathecae, and the large, rounded secondary spermathecae (Platnick & Ewing 1995: figs 37, 38).

Description. See Platnick & Ewing (1995) for male and female descriptions.

Variability. The males show continuous variability in palpal morphology, with a long embolus and curved cymbium (Fig. 45 h–i) to a shorter embolus and straighter cymbium (Fig. 45 e–f and Platnick & Ewing 1995: figs 34–36).

Natural history and habitat. The specimens were collected by fogging in forests of Laurelia sp., Myrceugenia sp., Nothofagus dombeyi, N. oblicua, N. alpina, Castanopsis hystrix, Podocarpus saligna, Austrocedrus chilensis and Araucaria araucana, between 900–1200 m altitude. A few specimens were found in low coastal forest, hygrophilic forests and forests of Peumus boldus .

Distribution. Known from a Chile, in Choapa, Quillota, Curicó, Concepción, Malleco and Valdivia provinces in Chile, and adjacent localities in Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut provinces in Argentina; the holotype however is from Punta Arenas, far to the south (Fig. 96).

New records. ARGENTINA: Río Negro: Bariloche: Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, Puerto Blest, sendero a laguna Los Cántaros, S 41.013754°, W 71.822738°, elev. 820–890 m, 28.XII.2010, humid forest, M. Ramírez, V. Werenkraut & S. Aisen, 1 male, sample MGM-00213 (MACN-Ar 30887). Arroyo Casa de Piedra, S 41.118743°, W 71.461673°, I.1982, M. Ramírez, 1 male, 1 imm. (MACN-Ar 30974). Lago Los Moscos, S 41.356833°, W 71.632500°, elev. 900 m, I.2003, pitfall traps, Y. Sasal, 1 male (MACN-Ar 33075). CHILE: Región IV de Coquimbo: Provincia de Choapa: Ñagué, 10 km N Los Vilos, Ruta 5 km 236, S 31.82137°, W 71.50231°, elev. 90 m, 19.II.2005, low coastal forest, M. Ramírez & F. Labarque, 1 male, temporary preparations MGM-00471, MGM-00472 (MACN-Ar 30880). Región V de Valparaíso: Provincia de Quillota: Parque Nacional La Campana, sector granizo, 5,2 km por aire ENE de Olmué (MJR-loc-65), S 32.98124°, W 71.13016°, elev. 456 m, 4.XI.2011, hydrophilic forest in cliff, hand collection, M. Ramírez, A. Ojanguren Affilastro & J. Pizarro, 1 male, sample CJG- 03102, temporary preparation CJG-01332, MGM-00475 (MACN-Ar 30345). Región VII del Maule: Provincia de Curicó: Los Niches, Fundo de Juan Enrique Barriga-Tuñón, Cerro Huecahuecan (MJR-loc-72), S 35.06735°, W 71.120852°, elev. 303 m, 7.II.2012, forest of Peumus boldus, M. Ramírez, M. Izquierdo, P. Michalik, C. Wirknler & K. Huckstorf, 1 male (MACN-Ar 29180), 1 female, sample MAI-04068, temporary preparations MAI-00999, (MACN-Ar 29167), 1 male, sample MAI-04064, temporary preparation MAI-00995 (MACN-Ar 29169), 1 female, temporary preparation MGM-00476 (MACN-Ar 29288). Camino El Relvo, 15 km E Potrero Grande, S 35.190907°, W 70.9228267°, 25.III.2003, Laurelia sp. and Myrceugenia sp., fogging, J. Barriga, 5 females, 5 males (MACN-Ar 30866). Same locality, elev. 1000 m, 13.V.2004, Nothofagus oblicua and N. dombeyi, fogging, J. Barriga, 2 females (MACN-Ar 30878). Same locality, 19.XII.2004, Nothofagus alpina, N. obliqua, fogging, J. Barriga, 2 males, 1 imm. (MACN-Ar 33039). El Relvo, 20 km E Potrero Grande, S 35.185833°, W 70.937472°, 16.I.2004, Nothofagus dombeyi, Laurelia sp., Castanopsis hystrix and Podocarpus saligna, fogging, J. Barriga, 9 males (MACN-Ar 33040). Same locality, S 35.189167°, W 70.958333°, elev. 1100 m, 30.XII.2003, Nothofagus dombeyi, fogging, J. Barriga, 2 females, 2 males (MACN-Ar 33038). Same locality, S 35.190907°, W 70.8130279°, 30.XII.2003, Nothofagus dombeyi, fogging, J. Barriga, 1 male (MACN-Ar 30868). Same locality, 16.I.2004, Nothofagus dombeyi, Laurelia sp., Castanopsis hystrix and Podocarpus saligna, fogging, J. Barriga, 8 females, 2 males (MACN-Ar 30869). Same locality, elev. 1100 m, 8.V.2004, Nothofagus dombeyi, fogging, J. Barriga, 2 females (MACN-Ar 30870), 1 female (MACN-Ar 30877). Potrero Grande, 15 km E, Puente los Morongos, S 35.190907°, W 71.087525°, 30.III.2004, Nothofagus alpina, N. dombeyi and Laurelia sp., fogging, J. Barriga, 4 females, 9 males (MACN-Ar 30873). Fundo El Coihue, 20 km E Potrero Grande, S 35.190907°, W 70.8679273°, elev. 1035 m, 25.V.2004, Podocarpus saligna, fogging, J. Barriga, 6 females, 1 male (MACN-Ar 33037), 5 females (MACN-Ar 30876). Same locality, elev. 937 m, 25.V.2004, Austrocedrus chilensis, fogging, J. Barriga, 7 females (MACN-Ar 30865). Same data, elev. 937 m, Nothofagus dombeyi and Austrocedrus chilensis, fogging, J. Barriga, 8 females, 2 males (MACN-Ar 30872). 5 km E Potrero Grande, Puente Los Morongos, S 35.216139°, W 70.216139°, 22.XII.2003, Nothofagus dombeyi, fogging, J. Barriga, 2 females, 6 males (MACN-Ar 30867). Región VIII del Biobío: Provincia de Concepción: Cerro Caracol, S 36.841083°, W 73.041285°, elev. 240 m, 15.II.2005, M. Ramírez & F. Labarque, 1 male (MACN-Ar 10953). Provincia de Arauco: Pichinahuel, sendero monitoreo Arauco, 32 km E Cañete (por aire), S 37.80692°, W 73.03732° (GPS, +- 200m), elev. 1200 m (GPS), 11.I.2020, forest N. dombeyi and Araucaria, M.J. Ramírez, E. Soto, J. Wilson, D. Poy (MJR-loc-350), 1 male, sample MJR-2391-1 (MACN-Ar 40964). Región IX de La Araucanía: Provincia de Malleco: Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta, S 37.784643°, W 72.953286°, elev. 1200 m, 12.II.2005, Araucaria araucana, fogging, J. Barriga, 1 female, 5 males, 2 imms. (MACN-Ar 30864), 1 female (MACN-Ar 30874), 2 females, 3 males (MACN-Ar 30875). Same locality, 22.XI.2004, Araucaria araucana, Nothofagus dombeyi, fogging, J. Barriga, 1 male (MACN-Ar 30871). Monumento Natural Contulmo, S 38.034412°, W 73.196368°, 19–21.XII.1998, M. Ramírez, L. Compagnucci, C. Grismado & L. Lopardo, 2 males (MACN-Ar 16378), 1 female (MACN-Ar 16381), 1 female (MNHS). Región XIV de Los Ríos: Provincia de Valdivia: Valdivia, S 39.817379°, W 73.242533°, 1983, E. Krahmer, 1 female (MNHS 816).