Pocadicnemis pumila (Blackwall 1841)

Paquin, Pierre & Dupérré, Nadine, 2006, The spiders of Québec: update, additions and corrections, Zootaxa 1133, pp. 1-37 : 15-16

Pocadicnemis pumila (Blackwall 1841)

( Fig. 29 )

Material examined.— Canada: Québec: Rouyn­Noranda: Labyrinthe Lake [48°14’N, 79°29’W] 16.–23.vi.1996, Canopy funnel White cedar/Balsam fir forest, 3ɗ, P. Paquin & N. Dupérré ( CPAD); Rouyn­Noranda: Labyrinthe Lake [48°14’N, 79°29’W] 16.– 23.vi.1996, Malaise/flight interception trap (pan) in White cedar/Balsam fir forest, 1ɗ, P. Paquin & N. Dupérré ( CPAD); Abitibi­Ouest: Duparquet Lake [48°30’N, 79°13’W] 16.– 23.vi.1996, Malaise/flight interception trap (pan) in White cedar/Balsam fir forest, 1ɗ, P. Paquin & N. Dupérré ( CPAD); Mont­Albert, La Haute­Gaspésie, Parc de la Gaspésie, Lac Pelletier [48°55’N, 66°02’W] 10.–23.vi.1994, pitfall in Picea mariana bog, 1ɗ, F. Landry ( CPAD); Baie­James (Jamésie): 122 km NNE LaSarre [49°48’N, 78°54’W] 15.– 22.vi.1997, flight interception trap in mature Black spruce forest, 1ɗ, P. Paquin & N. Dupérré ( CPAD); Baie­James (Jamésie): 122 km NNE LaSarre [49°48’N, 78°51’W] 06.– 15.vi.1997, flight interception trap in old growth Black spruce forest, 1ɗ, P. Paquin & N.

Dupérré ( CPAD); Baie­James (Jamésie): 122 km NNE LaSarre [49°48’N, 78°51’W] 15.– 22.vi.1997, flight interception trap in old growth Black spruce forest, 1ɗ, P. Paquin & N. Dupérré ( CPAD); Baie­James (Jamésie): 122 km NNE LaSarre [49°48’N, 78°51’W] 22.– 29.vi.1997, flight interception trap in old growth Black spruce forest, 1ɗ, P. Paquin & N. Dupérré ( CPAD).

Diagnosis.— Pocadicnemis pumila is distinguished from P. a m e r i c a n a by the straight median apophysis (MA) of the male palpus ( Fig. 29 ).

Distribution.— Widespread in North America.

Remark.— Pocadicnemis pumila is very similar to P. americana (see Paquin & Dupérré 2003, figs 1206–1208), and these two species are commonly found in the same habitat. Millidge (1976), who described P. americana , gave characters to distinguish males and females of the two species, but examination of several specimens and comparison with his illustrations led us to the conclusion that females are impossible to separate. Therefore, the present records are from males only. We rely on the shape of the median apophysis to distinguish the two species (straight in P. pumila and curved in P. americana see Fig. 30 , and Millidge 1976: figs 24 and 40) but we are not convinced that these represent disctinct species. A few specimens examined (omitted here) could have been placed in P. pumila based on examination of the right palp and in P. americana with the left palp. However, the two species are actually valid and we report the present records on that premise.

Figures

FIGURES 25 – 32. 25 – 28. Eridantes utibilis. 25, palpus of male, ventral view; 26, cephalothorax of male, lateral view; 27, palpal tibia of male, dorsal view; 28, epigynum, ventral view. 29 – 30. Pocadicnemis spp. 29, Pocadicnemis pumila, palpus of male, median apophysis, apical view; 30, Pocadicnemis americana, palpus of male, median apophysis, apical view. 31 – 32. Sciastes extremus. 31, palpus of male, ventral view; 32, palpal tibia of male, dorsal view.