Psilochorus bantus Chamberlin and Ivie, 1942

Slowik, Jozef, 2009, A review of the cellar spider genus Psilochorus Simon 1893 in America north of Mexico (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 2144, pp. 1-53 : 10-11

Psilochorus bantus Chamberlin and Ivie, 1942

Figs. 28–36, 188

Types. ɗ holotype, Ψ allotype, from 10 miles west of Santa Barbara (34.46 N, 119.83 W), Santa Barbara County, California, USA; coll: H Rasmussen & W Ivie, 12-Jul-1934. AMNH. Not examined. ɗ and Ψ paratypes; USA, California, Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz Island, R. V. Chamberlin, 13-Apr-no year, AMNH, Examined.

Specimens examined. 6 ɗ, 15 Ψ; USA, California, Calaveras County, 1 ɗ, Hanging Gardens Cave, R E Graham, 17-Aug-1962, AMNH; Contra Costa County, 1 ɗ,. 25 mi of Alameda Co line, off Hoffman Blvd nr Albany, at Santa Fe Fill, P R Craig, D L Dailey, 23-Feb-1963, CAS; Los Angeles County, 1 Ψ, Torrance, 22- May-2002, NHMLA; 1 Ψ, Palos Verde, 25-May-2002, NHMLA; 1 Ψ, Natural History Museum, 17-Sep-2002, NHMLA; 1 Ψ, Los Angeles, 23-May-2002, NHMLA; 1 Ψ, Los Angeles, 22-Jul-2002, NHMLA; Monterey County, 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Carmel, Gertsch, 13-Sep-1953, AMNH; Santa Barbara County, 1 Ψ, Ocean Facing Slopes of Casmalia Hills, Point Sal state beach, W Maddison 85-0 23, coastal scrub, MCZ 67961, 07-Jun-1985, MCZ; 4 Ψ, 275 Newlove Dr, Santa Maria, P R Craig, D L Baily, 20-Apr-1962, CAS; Ventura County, 1 ɗ, Pt Mugu, US navy, 26-Sep-1981, NHMLA; 1 Ψ, Pt Mugu, US navy, 23–21-Jul-1981, NHMLA; 1 Ψ, Pt Mugu, US navy, 31-Aug–6-Sep-1981, NHMLA; 1 Ψ, Pt Mugu, US navy, 31-Jul–24-Aug-1981, NHMLA; 2 ɗ, Pt Mugu, US navy, 31-Jul–24-Aug-1981, NHMLA; 1 Ψ, Pt Mugu, US navy, 31-Jul–24-Aug-1981, NHMLA.

Diagnosis. Specimens may be distinguished by: male spur is located at or below the middle of the chelicerae and protruding away from the chelicerae in lateral view (Fig. 29), procursus has a concavity on the ventral side of the tip (Figs. 31, 32), MEP has 4 protuberances, 2 on each side, widely separated with one protuberance on each side projecting anteriorly (Fig. 34).

Male: (N=4) Total length: 1.83 ± 0.15; carapace length: 0.75 ± 0.01; carapace width: 0.78 ± 0.09; leg 1: 11.29 ± 2.14 (3.41 ± 0.60 + 0.27 ± 0.03 + 3.21 ± 0.71 + 3.53 ± 0.96 + 0.87 ± 0.02); tibia 2: 2.09± 0.09; tibia 3: 2.07 ± 0.55; tibia 4: 2.14 ± 0.10. 19–20 leg I tarsal segments; femur1/carapace length: 4.52 ± 0.23; RT at 15.8–22.9%; DT at 6.3–15.0%. Color typical for the genus. Cheliceral spur located at or past mid-length of the chelicera, projecting out from the cheliceral surface (Fig. 29). Procursus distal area falcate shaped, concave on the ventral side, end rounded (Figs. 31, 32). Bulb apophysis originating from the center of the bulb, tip pointed, retrolateral tab present, extending beyond bulb apophysis, weakly pointed (Fig. 30).

Female: (N=3) Total length: 2.28 ± 0.21; carapace length: 0.81 ± 0.12; carapace width: 0.86± 0.12; leg 1: 9.00 ± 1.71 (2.82 ± 0.35 + 0.31 ± 0.07 + 3.16 ± 0.33 + 3.03 ± 0.12 + 0.88± 0.03); tibia 2: 2.16 ± 0.21; tibia 3: 1.80± 0.19; tibia 4: 2.07 ± 0.16. 19–20 leg I tarsal segments; femur1/carapace length: 3.64 ± 0.50; RT at 17.0–17.9%; DT at 10.0–14.6%. Color typical for the genus. AEP rounded (Fig. 33), MEP with four protuberances, one pair located on each lateral side of the apex of the MEP (Fig. 34), one of each pair directed anteriorly (Fig. 36). PEP smooth, rounded (Fig. 35).

Remarks. Males of this spider share the spur being located about the middle or on the distal half of the chelicerae with P. apicalis and P. simoni . They can be further separated by the spur protruding away from the chelicerae and being more straight. The procursus of P. bantus differs in having a concavity on the ventral side. The epigynum is distinctive.

Distribution. Southern California.