Poecilipta gloverae, Raven, 2015

Raven, Robert J., 2015, & lt; strong & gt; A revision of ant-mimicking spiders of the family Corinnidae (Araneae) in the Western Pacific & lt; / strong & gt;, Zootaxa 3958 (1), pp. 1-258 : 183-184

Poecilipta gloverae sp. nov.

( Figs 3d , 99b , 102a–f . Map 59)

Material. Queensland: holotype ♂, Beerwah Forestry Reserve , 26°51'S, 152°57'E, open eucalypt forest, M. Glover, QM S19528 . Paratypes: Queensland : same data as for holotype: 1♂, QM S19489 ; 1♂, (A3), 18 Jul 1990, QM S39297 ; 1♂, 19 Sep 1990, QM S19509 ; 1♂, Mt Coolum (2/20), 26°34'S, 153°05'E, open forest, pitfall, Jan 1984, B. R . Jahnke , QM S29486 ; 1♂, Rochedale State Forest , Brisbane, 27°37'S, 153°08'E, 31 Jan 1980, V . Davies , R . Raven , QM S29524 ; 1♂, Mt Nebo , 27°22'S, 152°47'E, wet sclerophyll, pitfall, 19 Nov 1978, A. Rozefelds, QM S29564 ; 1♂, Laidley Ck , 27°31'S, 152°25'E, 31 Mar 1981, M.D. Grant, QM S29488 ; 1♀ (allotype), Taroom distinct, Boggomoss (site #10), 25°31’S, 153°03’E, baited flight intercept trap, 13 Nov 1996 – Jan 1997, G. Monteith, D. Cook, QM S52275 ; 1♀. Tanah Merah , 27°40'S, 152°10'E, 27 Oct 2000, B. McDonald, QM S 45588 .

Diagnosis. Males differs from those P. wallacei sp. nov. and P. janthina in the presence of an expanded flare preapically on embolus ( Fig. 102b ); females differ from those of P. kgari sp. nov. in that the spermathecae are relatively longer with a larger head ( Fig. 102f ).

Etymology. The species epithet honours Maureen Glover whose tireless collecting in the Beerwah region produced so many new species.

Description Holotype male QM S19528

Carapace 2.36 long, 1.44 wide. Abdomen 2.32 long, 1.16 wide. Total length 4.8.

Colour: carapace dark red brown with uniform cover of fine white hairs directed centrally; abdomen dark red brown with small pallid flecks throughout. Tuft of white hair posteriorly on abdomen and two pairs of lateral bands medially. No sheen or iridescence on carapace or abdomen. Legs with femora brown, rest yellowish. Carapace: finely rugose. Chelicerae: P2, R2; with indistinct lobe retrobasally. Sternum: lightly pustulose with steep margins but flat centrally with cover of short, fine hairs. Intercoxal extensions between II/III. Legs: large dark feathery hairs on all femora. Spines: I: fe pv1 long d2; ti v2.2; me v2.2. II: fe d2; ti v1.2; me v2.2. III: fe p2d3r2; pa d1 distal ti p2r2v1.2.2; me p2r2v2.2.2. IV: fe p2d2; pa d1 distal ti p2r1v2 distal; me p3r3v2.2.2. Palp: fe p1d2; pa p1d2 (weak) ti p1d2. Palp: bulb rotated; cymbium twisted to retrolateral side apically. Paracymbial spine a small rounded black conoid; embolic region with flare at base tapering to twisting wide embolus with flared subapical fold. Abdomen: dorsal scute for length of abdomen. Pedicel from above meets distinct anterior collar of genital scute; ventral scute extends sinuously back to include tracheal spiracle; anterior edge of genital scute thick, rounded.

Allotype female QM S52275

Carapace 2.78 long, 1.41 wide. Abdomen 3.38 long, 2.09 wide. Total length, 6.2.

Colour: carapace and coxae dark brown, without sheen or iridescence. Legs I and II distodorsally with dark brown stripe for basal two-thirds of femora, distally pallid; rest pallid save for dorsal stripe on tibiae and brown metatarsi; patellae I and II ventrally brown; femur III brown with short pallid distal bands laterally and dorsally; patella and tibia III pallid with dorsal and lateral brown stripes; tarsi all pallid; leg IV brown. Carapace: lightly rugose also to margin; posteriorly almost glabrous; fine simple hairs anteriorly; fovea short, open with distinct prefoveal saddle; long posterior slope with distal flat zone; carapace rises gently anteriorly to fovea and slopes gradually to subvertical clypeus. Chilum two divided elongate triangles Eyes: AME lower edges above those of ALE. Chelicerae: with thick anterior bristle; ca. eight thick fang setae. Sternum: gradually domed with long posterior point and rebordered edges; with scattered pustules. Legs: coxae I and II ventrally smooth; white feathery hairs on femora; slight femoral constriction on III and IV. Lanceolate hairs very few (less than 10) on tibiae I and II, more on metatarsi I and II. Spines: pedal patellae aspinose. I: fe p1; ti v2.2.2; me v.2.2. II: fe d2; ti v1.1.2; me v2.2. III: fe d2; ti p2v1.2.2; me p2r1v2.2.3. IV: p1d1; ti p2r2v1.1.2; me p2r2v2.2.3. Palp: fe p1d2v6; pa p1d1; ti p2d1; ta p2. Claws: palpal claw very small, edentate. Scutes: dorsal small, for anterior third; narrow anterior saddle with white feathery hairs; distal posterior bulge. Genital encircles pedicel; ventrally with short, flared pedicel collar. Tracheal, trilobate with medial lobe directed forward. Epigyne: strongly sclerotised genital scute with no lateral weak zone; externally, a pair of short diagonal transverse bars laterally; spermathecae widely M-shaped with duct between the two folds almost transverse.

Distribution and Habitat. Known only from open dry and wet sclerophyll forest in south-eastern Queensland.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Castianeirinae, comparative lateral carapace: a, Poecilipta janthina Simon, 1896, male, QM S22719; b, Copa kabana sp. nov., male, QM S31639. c–e, Poecilipta, c, P. wallacei sp. nov., holotype male, QM S32637; d, P. gloverae sp. nov., paratype male, QM S29488; e, P. lugubris sp. nov., holotype male, AM KS11430; f, Leptopicia bimaculata (Simon, 1896), male, MNHP.

FIGURE 99. Poecilipta species, habitus, females: a, P. wallacei sp. nov.; b, P. gloverae sp. nov., QM S45588; c, P. janthina Simon, 1896. Photos, a, c: Trevor Jinks; b, Jeff Wright, QM.

FIGURE 102. Poecilipta gloverae sp. nov.: a–c, scanning electron micrographs, male palpal bulb, ventral view (a); b, embolus tip, ventral view; c, tibia showing concavity, ventral view; d, paracymbial spine, ventral view. Allotype female, QM S52275: epigyne, e–f, external (e), and internal (f).