Phrurolithus flavipes

Marusik, Yuri M., Zonstein, Sergei L. & Omelko, Mikhail M., 2015, Redescription of Phrurolithus flavipes (Araneae: Phrurolithidae), with the first description of the male, Zootaxa 4020 (1), pp. 197-200 : 197-200

Phrurolithus flavipes O.P.- Cambridge, 1872

Figs 1–11

Phrurolithus flavipes O.P.- Cambridge, 1872: 252, pl. 16, fig. 35 (♀).

Types: 2 syntype ♀ from Hasbeiya and Mount Lebanon (both in Lebanon) in two vials: 1♀(OUMNH, B.328, t.186) and 1♀ (OUMNH, B.328, t.42) with the same geographical labels " Palestine " from the Hope Entomological Collections, Oxford University Museum of Natural History examined by D.V. Logunov and compared with specimens from Israel.

Material examined. ISRAEL: 3♀ ( TAU), Upper Galilee, N-slope of Mt. Meron, 33°01'N, 35°24'E, 900 m, 25.IV.2013 (S. Zonstein); 1♂ ( TAU), same area, Ziv’on, 33°1'38.71"N, 35°24'47.17"E, 5–12.IV.2007 (T. Levanony); same area, 1♀ ( TAU), 33°1'N, 35°25'E, 750 m, 17.IV.2012 (S. Zonstein); 1♂ ( TAU), Carmel Ridge, Bat Shlomo, 32°35.5'N, 34°59.7'E, 17.I.2013 (S. Zonstein); 6♂ ( TAU), Judean Hills, Adullam Nat. Park, 15.IV.2003 (U. Columbus, T. Levanony).

Diagnosis. Males of this species can be easily distinguished from other West Palaearctic species by the shape of the retrolateral tibial apophysis, tapering in the basal half only. Other species have the same structure either gradually tapering ( P. minimus C.L. Koch, 1839 , P. c or s i c u s (Simon, 1878), P. szilyi Herman, 1879 , P. luppovae Spassky, 1941 ), or sharply pointed ( P. nigrinus (Simon, 1878)) , or broad ( P. festivus (C.L. Koch, 1835) , P. pullatus Kulczyński, 1987 ). The female of P. flavipes differs from West Palaearctic congeners by having nearly round receptacles (elongated to some extent in other species) and a round epigynal opening rebordered posteriorly.

Description. Male. Total length 2.33. Carapace 1.05 long, 0.73 wide. General colouration dark brown. Carapace almost uniformly coloured, with darker margins and radial stripes ( Figs 1–2 ). Abdomen with 5 light spots covered with whitish hairs, median spot less distinct than lateral spots. Legs yellowish or light brown with exception of femora. Femora I and II dark brown, femora III–IV with dark lateral stripes. Spination: tibia I with 5 pairs, metatarsus I with 3 pairs of ventral spines ( Fig. 3 ), tibia II with 3 pairs of ventral spines, metatarsus with 4 proventral and 2 retroventral spines.

Leg measurements Palp as in Figs 5–7 , dark brown. Femur shorter than cymbium, with ventral lobe (Vl) as in other congeners. Retrolateral tibial apophysis tapering in basal half only, terminal part with subparallel margins, rounded at tip with short bill-like (Bl) extension directed dorsally; ventral side of tibia with elongate membranous part (Mp) that appears to correspond to the lobe of the femur.

Variation: total length 2.10–2.35. Carapace 0.93–1.00 long, 0.70–0.75 wide. Colouration varies from light brown to dark brown ( Figs 1–2 ). Abdominal spots can be indistinct ( Fig. 2 ).

Female. Total length 2.85. Carapace 1.03 long, 0.78 wide. Colouration and pattern as in male but darker ( Fig. 4 ). Abdomen can have additional light caudal spot ( Fig. 4 ). Spination: tibia I with 6 pairs of ventral spines, metatarsus I with 4 proventral and 3 retroventral spines; tibia II with 4 pairs of ventral spines, metatarsus with 4 proventral and 3 retroventral spines.

Leg measurements

Epigyne as in Figs 8–10 ; epigynal plate almost round, atrium almost round, slightly wider than long, posterior margin rebordered (Rb). Receptacles egg-shaped, approximately 1.2 times longer than wide.

Variation: total length 2.80–2.95, carapace 0.95–1.03 long, 0.75–0.78 wide.

Comment. Ten of 11 studied specimens were collected in April.

Distribution. So far, the species is known from northern Israel (new country record) and southern and northern Lebanon (O. P.- Cambridge, 1872) ( Fig. 11).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 10. Habitus and copulatory organs of Phrurolithus flavipes. 1 – 2 male, dorsal; 3 male prosoma, lateral, showing spination of leg I; 4 female, dorsal; 5 – 7 male palp, ventral, retro- and prolateral; 8 intact epigyne, ventral; 9 – 10 macerated epigyne, ventral and dorsal. Scale bars: 1, 2, 4 = 0.5 mm, 3, 5 – 10 = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: Bl bill-shaped process, Mp membranous part of tibia, Rb rebordered epigyne, Vl ventral lobe of femur.