Poachelas striatus Haddad & Lyle, 2008

Haddad, Charles R., 2010, A new species of Poachelas from Maputaland, South Africa (Araneae: Corinnidae), with considerable range extension for Poachelas striatus, African Invertebrates 51 (2), pp. 313-313 : 317

Poachelas striatus Haddad & Lyle, 2008

Poachelas striatus: Haddad & Lyle 2008: 67 , figs 72, 73, 76–95.

See Haddad & Lyle (2008) for description of both sexes.

Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: 1♂ 3 km N of Paterson , 33°24.878'S: 25°57.531'E, base of grass tussocks, roadside, 23.iv.2010, C. Haddad (TMSA 23759). Free State : 1♂ Boshoff district, Farm Boesmansrus , 28°32.543'S: 25°09.929'E, base of grass tussocks, 11.iii.2010, C. Haddad (TMSA 23767) ; 3♂ 1 imm. Brandfort district, Amanzi Private Game Res. , 28°36.080'S: 26°25.950'E, base of grass tussocks, 3.iv.2010, C. Haddad (MRAC 230336) ; 1♂ 15 imm. Clocolan district, Mpetsane Conservation Estate , 28°48.561'S: 27°39.255'E, base of grass tussocks, 17.iii.2010, C. Haddad (NCA 2010/395) ; 1♂ 12 imm. Kimberley district, Benfontein Nat. Res. , 28°50.452'S: 24°49.473'E, base of grass tussocks, 13.iii.2010, C. Haddad (TMSA 23769) ; 1♀ Ladybrand district , De Luc farm, 29°17.524'S: 27°24.267'E, base of grass tussocks, 5 xii.2008, C. Haddad (NCA 2008/4283) ; 4♂ 9♀ Platberg Nat. Res. , grassland plain, 28°17.303'S: 29°10.419'E, base of grass tussocks, 27.v.2010, C. Haddad (TMSA 23802) ; 1♀ same locality, Bottom of Donkey Pass , 28°16.836'S: 29°11.992'E, base of grass tussocks, 27.v.2010, C. Haddad (TMSA 23803) ; 4♀ Tussen-die-Riviere Nat. Res. , 30°28'S: 26°07'E, active searching, grassland, 14 x.2008, L. Lotz & C. Haddad (NMBA 12663) ; 1♂ 2♀ 1 imm. 2 km W of Deallesville , 28°39.946'S: 25°43.992'E, base of grass tussocks, 11.iii.2010, C. Haddad (TMSA 23768). Mpumulanga : 1♂ Delmas , pitfall traps, unsprayed maize, 25.v.2005, P. Marais (NCA 2008/2777). Northern Cape : 2♂ 1♀ 2 imm. 2 km S of Colesburg , 30°44.917'S: 25°05.139'E, base of grass tussocks, roadside, 23.iv.2010, C. Haddad (TMSA 23766) .

Distribution: This species was described from three localities in the central Free State Province within a range of approximately 100 km ( Haddad & Lyle 2008), all falling within the Grassland Biome of South Africa ( Fig. 8 ). Here the first records are provided of the species’ occurrence in the Savannah (Benfontein), Thicket (Paterson) and Nama Karoo Biomes (Colesburg and Tussen­die­Riviere Nature Reserve). Given this newly found ecological flexibility and a strong association of the species with grasses, it is likely that P. striatus has a much broader distribution in South Africa and may occur wherever suitable grasses and grass densities are found. Only once additional focused sampling for this species has been done, can the environmental parameters restricting its distribution be determined. The new records reported here extend the range to the eastern, southern and western parts of the Free State, eastern Northern Cape, southern Eastern Cape and Mpumulanga provinces, thereby expanding the range of the species to approximately 900 km ( Fig. 8 ).

The records from Platberg Nature Reserve are also significant, providing the first case of sympatry in the genus. At this locality P. striatus and P. montanus appear to be altitudinally separated. P. striatus occurs in the grassland plains at the base of Platberg (altitude ca 1750 m), consistent with its habitat at other localities. This represents the highest altitude at which P. striatus has been collected thus far. In contrast, P. montanus occurs on the top of Platberg in montane grassland at an altitude of about 2300 m.

Habitat and biology: The species is typically found at the base of grass tussocks of various genera ( Themeda , Eragrostis , Cymbopogon , Panicum etc.) in open grassland plains with a compact soil substrate (sandy, loamy or clay). Here the first record is presented from an agroecosystem (maize at Delmas). Further details on the biology are provided in Haddad and Lyle (2008).

Figures

Fig.8.Distribution of Poachelas refugus sp.n.(diamond) and published (opencircles) and new (solid circles) records of P. striatus Haddad & Lyle, 2008 in South Africa. Shaded area indicates previously known distribution of P. striatus and broken line its new distribution.