Myrmekiaphila minuta, BOND & PLATNICK, 2007

BOND, JASON E. & PLATNICK, NORMAN I., 2007, A Taxonomic Review of the Trapdoor Spider Genus Myrmekiaphila (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Cyrtaucheniidae), American Museum Novitates 3596 (1), pp. 1-32 : 27-29

Myrmekiaphila minuta , new species

Figures 13 , 23 , 32 , 85 , 99–105

TYPES: Male holotype and six male paratypes from Oldacre Woods [29.6516 –82.3248], Gainesville , Alachua Co., Florida (P. Choate; May 6, 1982), deposited in AMNH . Female paratype from Gainesville [29.6516 –82.3248], Alachua Co., Florida (June 14, 1983; C., G. Edwards), deposited in FSCA .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name refers to the diagnostically small size of this species.

DIAGNOSIS: Males are easily recognized by the absence of the expanded ledge on the palpal tibia (fig. 102) and the embolus with one distal tooth, lacking subdistal serrations (figs. 13, 32). Males and females are easily distinguished from all other species on the basis of their small size (CL,5.0 mm) and an outer carapace border that is pigmented (black/deep purple coloration).

MALE (HOLOTYPE): Specimen preparation and condition. Specimen collected live in pitfall trap, preserved in ca. 70% ethanol. Coloration faded. Pedipalp, leg I left side removed and stored in vial with specimen. General coloration. Carapace, chelicerae, and legs yellowish red (5YR 4/6), outer border of carapace pigmented black/deep purple. Abdomen uniform dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) dorsally, ventrum and spinnerets pale yellow, lacks faint stripes observed in other specimens. Cephalothorax. Carapace 4.44 long, 3.44 wide, glabrous, stout black bristles along fringe; surface smooth, pars cephalica elevated. Fringe, posterior margin with black bristles. Foveal groove deep, procurved. Eye group slightly raised, not on tubercle. AER slightly procurved, PER slightly recurved, PME, AME subequal in diameter. Sternum moderately setose, STRl 2.42, STRw 2.17. Posterior sternal sigilla large, positioned toward margin, anterior sigilla pairs small, oval, marginal. Chelicerae with distinct anterior tooth row (seven teeth), posterior margin with patch of small denticles. Palpal endites with patch of small thin cuspules on proximal, inner margin, labium lacking cuspules, LBw 0.73, LBl 0.39. Rastellum consisting of three very stout spines on small mound. Abdomen. Setose, heavier black setae intermingled with fine black setae. Legs. Leg I: 3.28, 1.68, 2.32, 1.80, 1.68; leg IV: 3.28, 1.64, 2.88, 2.76, 1.68. Light tarsal scopulae on legs I–IV. Tarsus I with single, staggered row of eight trichobothria. Leg I spination pattern illustrated in Figures 23 , 99– 101 ; TSp 21, TSr 4, TSrd 1. Pedipalp. Articles slender, lacking distinct spines (figs. 102–104). PTw 0.70, PTl 1.90, Bl 0.82. Ledge on distalretrolateral surface of palpal tibia absent. Palpal bulb (figs. 13, 32) not branched distally, embolus slender, lacking serrations.

Variation (3). Cl 2.82–4.44, Cw 2.25–3.44; STRl 1.78–2.17, STRw 1.50–2.42; LBw 0.49– 0.73, LBl 0.24–0.39; leg I: 2.52–3.28, 1.22– 1.68, 1.80–2.32, 1.37–1.80, 1.25–1.68; leg IV: 2.37–3.28, 1.25–1.64, 2.27–2.88, 1.97–2.76, 1.20–1.68; PTw 0.39–0.70, PTl 1.53–1.90, Bl 0.61–0.82; TSp 1–4, TSr 9–21.

FEMALE (PARATYPE): Specimen preparation and condition. Female collected live, wandering, preserved in ca. 70% ethanol. Genital plate removed and stored in microvial with specimens. Color. Carapace, legs, chelicerae, dark reddish brown (2.5YR 2.5/4), outer border of carapace pigmented black/deep purple. Abdomen uniform brown dorsally (7.5YR 4/2), ventrum and spinnerets pale yellow; specimens have wide dusky medial stripe on dorsum of abdomen. Cephalothorax. Carapace 4.40 long, 3.12 wide, glabrous; generally smooth surface, pars cephalica moderately elevated. Fringe lacks setae. Foveal groove deep, procurved. Eye group slightly elevated on low mound. AER slightly procurved, PER slightly recurved, PME, AME subequal in diameter. Sternum moderately setose, STRl 2.47, STRw 2.12. Posterior sternal sigilla large, positioned toward margins, anterior sigilla pairs small, oval, marginal. Chelicerae anterior tooth row armed with six teeth, posterior margin with denticle patch. Palpal endites with numerous cuspules (ca. 24) concentrated at inner (promargin) posterior heel; labium with two cuspules, LBw 0.83, LBl 0.44. Rastellum consisting of three very stout spines positioned on mound; fringe of short spines along distal promargin extending upward from rastellum. Abdomen. Moderately setose. Legs. Leg I: 2.82, 1.52, 1.80, 1.37, 1.00; leg IV: 2.50, 1.75, 2.37, 1.82, 1.00. Tarsus I with single staggered row of seven trichobothria. Legs I–IV with moderately light scopulae on tarsi, light scopulae on distal third of metatarsus I. PT3s.20, TB3s–dense patch of thin spines. Distinct preening comb on retrolateral distal surface (at tarsus–metatarsus joint) of metatarsi III, IV. Spermathecae: Two simple spermathecal bulbs, in transverse row, consisting of moderately sclerotized stalk and enlarged apical bulb; base relatively large (fig. 105).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: UNITED STATES: FLORIDA: Alachua Co.: no specific locality [29.7086 –82.3332, MYR171], Nov. 18, 1936 (H. Wallace, AMNH), 1 juv., [MYR298], Aug. 4, 1938 ( AMNH), 1 juv.; Gainesville [29.6516 –82.3248, MYR147], June 14, 1983 (C., G., Edwards, FSCA) , 13; Gainesville, Oldacre Woods [MYR149], May 6, 1982 (P. Choate, AMNH) , 63. Columbia Co.: High Springs, O’leno State Park , off Highway 441 [29.8544 –82.6121, 052], Jan. 22, Aug. 5, 1988 (D. Corey, AMNH) , 23. Gadsden Co.: no specific locality [30.5633 –84.6027, MYR146], July 28, 1934 (J. Kilby, AMNH), 1 juv. Leon Co.: no specific locality [30.4946 –84.2082, MYR300], July 30, 1950 ( AMNH), 1♀, 1 juv. Polk Co. : Lake Wales , Bok Tower Gardens , Route 17A [27.9359 –81.5777, MYR150], Aug. 20, 1987 (D. Corey, AMNH) , 23.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from central Florida and the eastern panhandle (fig. 85).

UNPLACED SPECIES

Figures

Figs. 2–13. 2, 3. Live M. neilyoungi from Santa Rosa Co., Florida. 2. Male specimen. 3. Female specimen. 4–13. Color images of male pedipalps, ventral view (top of frame) and retrolateral view (bottom); 6, 12, 13 show ventral view only. 4. M. foliata, Knox Co. Tennessee (rl5retrolateral ledge). 5. M. comstocki, Travis Co., Texas. 6. M. coreyi, Thomas Co., Georgia. 7. M. fluviatilis, Marshall Co., Alabama (ap5accessory prong, e5embolus). 8. M. jenkinsi, Van Buren Co., Tennessee. 9. M. torreya, Liberty Co., Florida. 10. M. neilyoungi, Tuscaloosa Co., Alabama. 11. M. millerae, Grenada Co., Mississippi. 12. M. howelli, Newton Co., Mississippi (le5ledge). 13. M. minuta, Alachua Co., Florida.

Figs. 14–23. Color images of male leg I mating claspers, prolateral (top of frame) and retrolateral views (bottom). 14. M. foliata, Knox Co., Tennessee (ms5metatarsal swelling). 15. M. comstocki, Travis Co., Texas. 16. M. coreyi, Thomas Co., Georgia. 17. M. fluviatilis, Marshall Co., Alabama. 18. M. jenkinsi, Van Buren Co., Tennessee. 19. M. torreya, Liberty Co., Florida. 20. M. neilyoungi, Tuscaloosa Co., Alabama. 21. M. millerae, Grenada Co., Mississippi. 22. M. howelli, Newton Co., Mississippi. 23. M. minuta, Alachua Co., Florida.

Figs. 24–32. Scanning electron micrographs of male palpal bulbs. 24. M. foliata, Knox Co., Tennessee (et5embolus tooth). 25. M. comstocki, Travis Co., Texas. 26. M. coreyi, Jefferson Co., Florida. 27. M. fluviatilis, Marshall Co., Alabama (e5embolus, ap5accessory prong). 28. M. jenkinsi, Van Buren Co., Tennessee. 29. M. torreya, Liberty Co., Florida. 30. M. neilyoungi, Jefferson Co., Alabama. 31. M. millerae, Grenada Co., Mississippi. 32. M. minuta, Alachua Co., Florida.

Fig. 85. Records of M. minuta, new species, M. neilyoungi, new species, M. millerae, new species, and M. howelli, new species.

Figs. 99–106. 99–105. Myrmekiaphila minuta, new species, from Alachua Co., Florida. 99–101. Male left leg I: retrolateral, prolateral, and ventral (metarsus) views. 102–104. Male left pedipalp: retrolateral, ventral, and prolateral views. 105. Spermathecae. 106. Myrmekiaphila flavipes (Petrunkevitch) from Lawrence Co., Indiana, spermathecae.