Barronopsis texana ( Gertsch 1934 )

Stocks, Ian Christopher, 2009, Systematics and natural history of Barronopsis (Araneae: Agelenidae), with description of a new species, Zootaxa 2270, pp. 1-38 : 17-22

Barronopsis texana ( Gertsch 1934)

Figs. 2, 5, 16, 18–23, 48, 55–59, 69

Agelena texana Gertsch 1934: 24 . Bonnet 1955: 202.

Agelenopsis (Barronopsis) texana Chamberlin & Ivie 1941: 601 , 623 Plate VII, figs. 46–47 (male). Chamberlin & Ivie 1944: 128. Roewer 1954: 43. Roth 1954: 5, fig. 4 (male).

Barronopsis texana Roth & Brown 1986: 5 . Platnick 1997: 618. Platnick 2009.

Types. Male holotype from Edinburgh, Texas (S. Mulaik), AMNH, examined.

Diagnosis. Males may be identified as members of the B. texana group by the embolic tight coils with free margins and loose coils with more than 2 turns (~720˚) ( Figs. 20–21, 23). Males separated from other B. texana group males by the morphology of the embolic tip (Fig. 48). Terminal section of embolus arranged as follows: at ~720˚ from origin of loose coils, lower and upper lamellae of coil twist and redirect embolus toward apex of bulb causing 1) distal embolus to fold over as lower lamella projects apically, 2) upper and lower lamellae to run together, and 3) support membrane-like sheet between lamellae to end abruptly. Apically, embolus supported entirely by lower lamellae and intervening membranes and tapering to smooth sickle-shape. Sperm duct visible through membranes as it communicates with tip opening.

Females of B. texana group are diagnosed by tooth-like atrial guides ( Figs. 57–58 ). Barronopsis texana females separable from B. floridensis females by epigynal height (0.19–0.26; Table 4), but are apparently not morphologically distinct from females of B. jeffersi .

Variation. Some B. texana males display a small subdistal “bump” immediately proximal to the tapered curve on the embolus tip. In B. jeffers i, this region is developed into an elongated tine which forms a fork with the major tine containing the sperm duct. The “bump” in B. texana males never approaches this condition. Description. Tab. 2–5. Male: n=38. TW 2.01–3.65 (2.67±0.37), CW 1.10–1.98 (1.44±0.21), DSL 2.85– 4.94 (3.78±0.52), ITL 2.36–3.80 (2.94±0.33). Male holotype: TW 3.38, CW1.82, DSL 4.79, ITL 3.76. Female: n=139. TW 1.63–3.65 (2.52±0.40), CW 0.95–2.09 (1.43± 0.24), DSL 2.39–5.21 (3.65±0.59), ITL 1.48–3.15 (2.22±0.35).

Coloration variable, generally dusky gray or tan background with light black mottling, occasionally with reddish or burgundy coloration on opisthosoma. Carapace coloration variable, from prominent longitudinal black stripe on carapace flanks to series of three or four black wedges or no pattern at all. Spermathecae frequently asymmetrical ( Figs. 57, 59 ), with one positioned ventral to cd and visible through the ventral integument, other positioned dorsal to cd.

Natural history. Populations of B. texana are found on above-ground substrates and use natural and human-made cavities and crevices for retreats. In warmer, lower elevation parts of this species’ range, such as piedmont South Carolina, central Georgia, and west into Texas, natural cavities may simply be on the exposed tips of branches where detritus has accumulated on the web. For example, retreats are commonly found in curled dead leaves. Populations in more temperate climates or higher elevations are much less frequently found in such exposed settings and occur primarily in human-made structures or deep cavities in trees or bark.

At higher elevations with pine ( Pinus ) or hemlock trees ( Tsuga ), B. texana retreats are found in deeply grooved tree-bark, frequently near the origin of a branch. In such habitats, several individuals may build interconnected webs using the same bark crevices at each branch-trunk junction up to a height of 8m (pers. obs). Deciduous trees host B. texana webs much less frequently and are invariably dead and retreats are associated with knot holes and/or loose bark. One knothole or area of loose bark may support several, often interconnected, webs.

Synanthropic B. texana populations exist in the relatively high elevation region of western North Carolina and the lower elevation area of Knoxville, Tennessee. Individuals in these areas exploit cavities and protected areas that occur on human-made structures, such as the spaces behind vinyl siding, inside storm windows, or under window ledges or porch overhangs; they are also common inside older homes.

Material examined. ALABAMA: 3 Islands. Shoals, Coosa River (Smith), 10 November 1911: 1 female ( AMNH); Cave Spring Cave (Jones & Archer), 2 December 1939: 1 female ( AMNH). Baldwin County, Lagoon, Hammock woods (Archer), 29 October 1949: 1 female ( AMNH). Dallas County, 8 km SE Selma at rest stop, in bark of pine, (Roth), 1 March 1970: 1 female ( CAS). Lee County, Auburn: 1 male ( AMNH). Loundes County, Fort Deposit (Reynolds), January 1941: 1 female ( AMNH). FLORIDA: Levy County, Manatee Springs State Park, (Julius), 26 September 1996: 1 male (FAC). GEORGIA: Appling County, Baxley, sweeping in tall grass (Swofford), 21 October 1977: 1 female (FAC). Bulloch County, Statesboro 9.7 km S (Hutcheson & Vincent), 11 October 1984: 1 male ( USNM). Statesboro (Johnson), 14 October 1984; 1 female ( USNM). Clarke County, University of Georgia, Athens campus, environmental sciences building, on foliage, fences (Stocks), 3 October 1998: 2 males, 9 females. Cook County, Reed-Bingham State Park, in picnic area near campground under tables, on fences (Stocks), 30 October 1998: 3 males, 5 females. Reed-Bingham State Park, in picnic area near campground under tables, on fences (Sink), 29 October 1998: 1 male (FAC).

Dougherty County, (Wallace), 28 November 1953: 2 males, 1 female (FS). Fulton County, Atlanta (Crosby), 1903: 2 females ( AMNH). Atlanta (Fattig), 10 March 1946: 1 female ( AMNH). Lowndes County, 9.7 km S Valdosta (Gertsch), 20 April 1938: 1 female ( AMNH). Rabun County, Talulah Gorge State Park, in woods on deciduous/evergreen trees (Stocks), 3 October 1998: 2 males, 6 females. LOUISIANA: E/W Baton Rouge County, Spanish moss (Jones), 28 December 1942: 1 female ( MCZ). Grant Parish, Kisatchie National Forest (Jones & Archer), June 1941: 3 females ( AMNH). Lincoln Parish, 6.4 km E Rustin, rest stop on Intertsate 20 (Roth), 2 March 1970: 1 female ( CAS). MISSISSIPPI: George County, Lucedale (Dietrich), 1 January 1930: 2 females ( AMNH). Lamar County, Hattiesburg, Camp Shelby (Archer), 1945–1946: 1 female ( AMNH). November–December 1945: 1 female ( AMNH). Hattiesburg (Bell, Jr.), 2 January 1942: 1 female ( AMNH).

Scott County, Roosevelt State Park, in hollow stump, 0.6 m off ground. Oak-Hardwood-dense (Roth), 2 March 1970: 1 female (CAS). NORTH CAROLINA: Cherokee County, Murphy, Tri County Community College campus, old building (Lunsford), 24 October 1994: 1 female (FAC). Durham County, Duke Forest (Chickering), summer, 1938: 1 male (MCZ). Gaston County, Belmont, 206 Catawba Cove Drive, old boat dock and forest (McGarrity), 15 October 1997; 4 females (FAC). Jackson County, Dillsboro, on exterior walls of buildings, trees (Stocks), 2 September 1998; 4 males, 1 female; 6 September 1998, 1 males; 10 September 1998, 4 males, 10 females; 24 September 1998, 1male, 5 females; 10 September 1998, 18 females. Sylva, 329 Allen Henson Circle, on Buxus ornamental (Stocks), 19 October 1997, 1 male, 1 female in copula; 23 October 1998, 1 female. Orange County, Chapel Hill (Beakley), September 1930: 1 female (AMNH). Swain County, Deep Creek trailheads and parking area, GSMNP (Stocks), 24 September 1998, 1 male, 2 females. Wake County, Raleigh (Burgess): 2 males (AMNH). SOUTH CAROLINA: Colleton County, Colleton State Park (Stocks), 25 September 1998: 1 female. Oconee County, Oconee State Park, lake shore woods (Neff, Coyle & Davis); 7 October 1988: 2 females (FAC). Pickens County, Wildcat Creek Picnic area, near Lake Issaqueena, west facing hardwood, elev. 220 m (Silva); 24 October 1992: 1 female (FAC). TENNESSEE: Blount County, Tabcat Creek trail, GSMNP (Stocks), 14 May 1997, 1female; 19 October 1998, 2 males, 3 females. Knox County, Knoxville 930 Woodlawn (Hyder), 6 April 1975, 1 female (AMNH). University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus, on ornamental bushes near buildings or on exterior walls (Stocks), 6 September 1998, 1 male; 25 September 1998, 2 females. Knoxville, Maplehurst residential area, on buildings, ornamental shrubs (Stocks), 25 October 1997, 1 female; 21 June 1998, 1 female; 6 September 1998, 2 males, 3 females; 17 October 1998, 2 males, 5 females. TEXAS: Anderson County, under bark (Chandler), 13 March 1993: 1 female (NH). Brazoria County, Thurmond Lake, 13 km W of Rosharn, under log (Pamley), 26 December 1997: 1 male, 1 female (NH). Cameron County, 24 km SW Harlingen (Mulaik), 18 November 1934; 2 females (AMNH). Brownsville, on palms (Mulaik), 30 November 1934: 1 female (AMNH). Dallas County, WR Lake (Jones), 20 December 1934: 1 male (MCZ). Denton County, oak woods, under bark, 15 March 1941: 1 male (MCZ). Oak woods, under bark, 15 March 1941: 1 female (CAS). Fannin County, from ground (Butler), 17 April 1993: 1 female (NH). From ground (Barron), 17 April 1993: 1 female (NH). Harris County, Clear lake, near Seabrook, oak forest (Brady), 5 December 1958: 1 male (MCZ). Hidalgo County, Edinburgh (Mulaik): 1 female (AMNH). Travis County, Zilker park (DLF), 26 October 1947: 1 male, 1 female (AMNH). Austin: 1 female; (AMNH). Austin, Zilker Park (Flury), 16 March 1946: 1 female (CAS).

Figures

FIGURES 55 – 59. Barronopsis texana, female copulatory organs. 55, cranial view. Gaston County, North Carolina; 56, oblique ventral view. Gaston County, North Carolina; 57, ventral view. Oconee County, South Carolina; 58, ventral view. Oconee County, South Carolina; 59, dorsal view. Lamar County, Mississippi. Scale bar = 0.2 mm. AH—atrium height, ag—atrial guide, at—atrium, cd—copulatory duct, fd—fertilization duct, hs— spermatheca head, pr 1 — porous region 1, sb 1 — spermatheca blind duct 1, sbd 2 — spermatheca blind duct 2.