Epiceraticelus mandyae, Draney & Milne & Ulyshen & Madriz, 2019

Draney, Michael L., Milne, Marc A., Ulyshen, Michael & Madriz, Gabrielle, 2019, Revision of the spider genus Epiceraticelus (Araneae, Linyphiidae) with a description of a new species, Zootaxa 4646 (1), pp. 189-200 : 193-195

Epiceraticelus mandyae new species

( Figs. 1 , 4–6 )

Types. Male holotype from U.S.A., South Carolina, Aiken Co., Savannah River Site , set-aside 2 (30°18’30”N, 81°43’30”W), medium-aged longleaf pines, pitfalls, 6–19 February 1996, Coll. M. Draney ( FMNH) . Female paratype: same data as holotype ( FMNH).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the name of the late arachnologist, Amanda “Mandy” Howe (4 September 1983 – 20 August 2016), in honor of her contributions to the North American arachnology community.

Diagnosis. Males are easily distinguished from E. fluvialis by the presence of a clypeal projection between the anterior median eyes and PME ( Figs. 4A , 5 , 6F ). Male retrolateral tibial apophysis is distinctively larger than in E. fluvialis ( Figs. 4C , 6C ). Females have thick copulatory ducts similar to E. fluvialis , but the ducts are expanded to a greater extent into a Vase-like shape ( Figs. 4E , 6D ). Spermathecae anterior and oval, longer than wide ( Figs. 4D , 6E ).

Description. Male (Holotype): Carapace projection dorsal to PME and ventral to AME ( Figs. 4A , 5 , 6F ), approximately twenty-five ventrally-directed macrosetae on the distal third of the structure, many pores (visible with SEM) along sides of the projection ( Fig. 5B ). A pair of setae between PME and anterior median eyes on each side. Otherwise, carapace resembles female, including the location of the three setae. Coloration of carapace, abdomen, and legs all resemble female. Palp: retrolateral tibial apophysis concave, curved along both lateral edges, serrated and curved to a point on retrolateral edge, pointed ( Figs. 4C , 6C ); thick, elongated, Sinuous embolus with membrane that circles around distal portion of cymbium ( Figs. 4B , 6 A–B); distally-directed, slightly curved distal suprategular apophysis; large papillate tegular sac pointed distally; tailpiece straight, oriented with long axis of cymbium ( Figs. 4B , 6 A–B).

Female (Paratype): Carapace orange, highest behind eyes. Eyes ringed with black. Three setae along carapace midline, first just behind PME and third just posterior of center. Abdomen gray, concolorous. Legs same color as carapace. Epigynum with wide median posterior plate and dual median copulatory grooves that cut anteriorly towards dual copulatory openings ( Figs. 4E , 6D ). Spermathecae anterior and oval, fertilization ducts large, flat, laterally directed, and partially overlapping spermathecae ( Figs. 4D , 6E ).

Measurements (n = 21): Total length, 1.1–1.4 (mean = 1.2); carapace length, 0.54–0.63 (mean = 0.59); carapace width, 0.43–0.49 (mean = 0.45); femur I length, 0.38–0.49 (mean = 0.44).

Carapace projection (Total length = 0.14–0.15, mean = 0.143, n = 7).

Distribution. Eastern United States from Virginia to South Carolina and along the Gulf Coast to Louisiana; most specimens have been found at lower elevations on the southeastern Atlantic and Gulf coastal plain ( Fig.1 ).

Natural History. Adults are usually collected from January–May. Specimens are usually taken from within the leaf litter in mature pine and oak forests.

Material Examined. U.S.A.: Georgia: Coffee County, Broxton Rocks (N 31°44’30”, W 82°51’45”), granite outcrops, pitfall (“F-B-2”), coll. M. McAloon, D.V. Hagan, J.D. Spooner ( MLD), 6 November 1998, 1♂ ; pitfall (“F- B-3”), 11 December 1998, 5♂ 3♀ ; pitfall (“F-B-1”), 2♀ ; Snow’s Rock , in woods, pitfall, coll. J. D. Spooner ( MLD), 19 February 1999, 1♂ ; Columbia County, Heggie’s Rock Nature Preserve (N 33°32’31”, W 82°15’19”), granite outcrops, pitfall traps, coll. J.D. Spooner ( MLD), 31 Jan. 1996, 2♂ ; woods near granite outcrops, pitfall traps, coll. J. D. Spooner ( FMNH), 21 February 1996, 3♂ ; DeKalb County, Stone Mountain (N 33°48’, W 84°08’), forest leaf litter, coll. and date not known ( MLD), 1♂ . Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish, West Slidell (N 30°17’, W 89°50’), pine stump and buttress, pine remnant, coll. W.R. Suter ( FMNH), 19 Nov. 1982, 9♂ 20♀ . South Carolina: Aiken County: Jackson , 100 Cowden St. (N 33°19’15”, W 81°47’15”), deciduous woods, pitfalls, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 8–12 March 1995, 1♀ ; 28 February–16 March 1995, 10♂ ; Savannah River Site, Set-aside #2 (N 33°18’30”, W 81°43’30”), medium-aged longleaf pine stand, sifted litter samples, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 13 January 1995, 1♂ ; pitfalls, coll. M. Draney ( MLD) 15–29 May 1995, 1♀ ; 29 May–12 June 1995, 3 ♀ ; 28 December 1995 – 8 January 1996, 1♀ ; 8–22 January 1996, 9♂ 1♀ ; litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 28 January 1996, 2♂ 1♀ ; pitfalls, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 22 January–6 February 1996, 39♂ ; 6–19 February 1996, 49♂ 1♀ ; 19 February–4 March 1996, 14♂ ; 4–18 March 1996, 5♂ ; 18 March–1 April 1996, 5♂ ; litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 15 April 1996, 1♀ ; pitfalls, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 1–16 April 1996, 1♂ ; Set-aside #29 (N 33°22’, W 81°31’), xeric scrub oak/pines, sifting pine litter, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 25 October 1994, 1♀ ; litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 28 March 1995, 1♀ ; pitfalls, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 8–22 January 1996, 1♂ ; 22 January–6 February 1996, 1♂ ; Set-aside #3 (N 33°16’30”, W 81°44’30”), sandhills, xeric pine/oak, 17 January 1995, litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 2♂ 8♀ ; Set-aside #4 (N 33°24’, W 81°36’), large loblolly pines, pitfalls, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 1–15 May 1995, 1♀ ; 15–29 May 1995, 1 ♀ ; 29 May–12 June 1995, 1♀ ; 26 June–10 July 1995, 1♀ ; 28 December–8 January 1996, 1♀ ; 8–22 January 1996, 2♂ ; litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 28 January 1996, 1♀ ; 22 January–6 February 1996, 7♂ ; 6–19 February 1996, 7♂ ; Set-aside #6 (N 33°14’, W 81°44’30”), riparian hardwoods, litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 20 November 1995, 2♂ 1♀ ; litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 28 January 1996, 2♀ ; pitfalls, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 24 January–7 February 1996, 2♂ ; 7–21 February 1996, 2♂ ; Timber compartment 15, plot 16 (N 33°18’43”, W 81°42’19”), loblolly pine forest, pitfalls, coll. M. Ulyshen ( MLD), 12 January 2004, 8♂ ; Timber compartment 15, plot 13 (N 33°18’48”, W 81°42’36”), loblolly pine forest, 12 January 2004, 4♂ 2♀ ; Timber compartment 15, plot 14 (N 33°18’52”, W 81°42’36”), loblolly pine forest, coll. M. Ulyshen ( MLD), 12 January 2004, 2♂ ; Young Pines Site : Junction of SRS Rd. 2 and M-line RR (N 33°18’30”, W 81°43’30”), ca. 5 year-old longleaf pine stand, litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 27–28 January 1996, 1♂ ; pitfalls, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 21 February 1996, 1♂ ; Allendale County: Savannah River Site , Set-aside #18 (N 33°08’, W 81°26’30”), Boiling springs natural area, riparian old growth, litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 26 April 1995, 1♀ ; pitfalls, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 17–31 May 1995, 1♀ ; 13–29 December 1995, 1♂ ; 10–24 January 1996, 2♂; litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 28 January 1996, 1♀ ; pitfalls, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 24 January–7 February 1996, 5♂ 1♀ ; litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 16 February 1996, 1♂ ; pitfalls, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 7–21 February 1996, 2♂ ; Barnwell County: Savannah River Site, Set-aside #29 (N 33°22’, W 81°31’), xeric scrub oak/pines, litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 28 January 1996, 1♂ ; pitfalls, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 6–19 February 1996, 1♀ ; Timber compartment 30 (N 33°20’, W 81°31’30”), loblolly pine forest and oak hickory uplands, leaf litter, extracted, coll. M. Draney, D. Sanzone ( MLD), 4 November 1994, 2♀ ; litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 13 January 1995, 2♂ 3♀ ; leaf litter, extracted, coll. M. Draney, D. Sanzone ( MLD), 20 February 1995, 2♀ ; pitfalls, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 11–28 December 1995, 2♂ ; 28 December 1995 – 8 January 1996, 1♂ ; 8–22 January 1996, 6 ♂; 22 January–6 February 1996, 12♂ 1♀; 6–19 February 1996, 2 ♂; 4–18 March 1996, 2 ♂ 1♀; litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 12 December 1996, 1♂ 3♀ ; litter sifting, coll. M. Ulyshen ( MLD), 17 January 2003, 8♂ ; pitfalls, coll. M. Ulyshen ( MLD), 12 January 2004, 22♂ ; Timber compartment 54 (N 33°19’, W 81°30’), loblolly pine forest, pitfalls, coll. M. Ulyshen ( MLD), 12 January 2004, 8♂ ; Timber compartment 55 (N 33°19’, W 81°30’), loblolly pine forest, pitfalls, coll. M. Ulyshen ( MLD), 12 January 2004, 15♂ ; Carolina Bay #80 “Buttress Bay” (N 33°17’, W 81°29’15”), deciduous leaf litter near shore, litter sifting, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 28 October 1994, 1♂ 1♀ ; McCormick County, Hamilton Branch State Park (N 33°45’, W 82°13’), litter, coll. M. Draney ( MLD), 13 November 1993, 2 ♀ . Virginia: Isle of Wight County, Blackwater Ecological Preserve, pitfalls, coll. M. Milne ( MAM), 19 January 2006, 6♂ ; 25 January 2009, 1♂ .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Collection localities of Epiceraticelus fluvialis (filled circles) and Epiceraticelus mandyae n. sp. (filled stars).

FIGURE 4. SEM micrographs of Epiceraticelus mandyae n. sp.: A, Male habitus. B, Ventral view of male left palp. C, Retrolateral view of tibial apophysis of male left palp. D, Dorsal view of epigynum, cleared. E, Ventral view of epigynum. Abbreviations: E, embolus; EA, embolic apophysis; EM, embolic membrane; PC, paracymbium; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; T, tegulum; TP, tailpiece; S, spermathecae; CD, copulatory duct; CO, copulatory opening; MP, median plate. Scale bars, A, 0.5 mm; B, 0.1 mm; C, D, E, 0.05 mm.

FIGURE 5. SEM micrographs of Epiceraticelus mandyae n. sp.: A, Lateral view of male carapace. B, Lateral view of male carapace projection—arrows indicate pores. Scale bars, A, 0.2 mm; B, 0.02 mm.

FIGURE 6. Free hand llustrations of Epiceraticelus mandyae n. sp. (proportions are approximate). A, Male left palp, ventral view. B. Male left palp,, retrolateral view. C, Retrolateral view of tibial apophysis of left palp of male. D, Ventral view of epigynum. E,Dorsal schematic of epigynum. F, Lateral view of male carapace.Abbreviations: C, cymbium; CD, copulatory duct; CO, copulatory opening; DSA, distal suprategular apophysis; E, embolus; EA, embolic apophysis; EM, embolic membrane; FD, fertilization duct; MP, median plate; PC, paracymbium; PT, protegulum; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, spermathecae; SPT, suprategulum; ST, subtegulum; T, tegulum; TP, tailpiece.