Theridion zekharya, Levy, Gershom, 2007

Levy, Gershom, 2007, Calommata (Atypidae) and new spider species (Araneae) from Israel, Zootaxa 1551, pp. 1-30 : 25-26

Theridion zekharya n. sp.

Figs. 65, 66

Holotype. adult male from Giv`at Zekharya (685481/507771), Israel, leg. Yael Mandelik, March 22, 2002 ( HUJ 15271), pitfall trap; female unknown.

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition referring to the type locality.

Description. Male. Brown carapace encircled by fine black margins. Legs with alternating yellow and dark sections. Opisthosoma grey, mottled dorsally with light patches; venter brown in front and two white spots in front of spinnerets.

Measurements (holotype): total length 1.85; carapace length 0.77, width 0.70, index 1.1; clypeal index 3.3; leg lengts: I 5.2, II 3.55, III 2.3, IV 3.45; patella-tibia index 2.34.

Palpus. Large black radix (R) tapers to pointed tip on mesal side (Fig. 65); long filiform embolus branches off apically and encircles bulb up to fold of conductor (C); conductor bears delicate hook-like outgrowth (Figs. 65, 66); small oval structure protrudes centrally from basal embolic division (Figs. 65, 66).

Diagnosis. The male palpus of Theridion zekharya n. sp. resembles closely that of T. refugum Drensky and a little less to that of T. negebense Levy & Amitai ( Levy 1998, figs. 381-383). But the shape of the radix, the hooked conductor, the apically branching embolus and, the oval protrusion on the basal embolic division, are all diagnostic characters that distinguish T. zekharya n. sp. distinctly from refugum and negebense and from all other Theridion species.

Distribution. Israel: known only from the type locality at the Judean Hills.

FIGURES 65–69. 65, 66. Theridion zekharya n. sp. ɗ, holotype, left palpus. 65. Mesal view; R = radix. 66.Ventral view; C = conductor. 67–69. Singa ammophila n. sp. Ψ, holotype. 67. Opisthosoma, dorsal view. 68. Epigynum , ventral view. 69. Epigynum , slightly raised, posterior view.