Luthela Xu & Li, 2022: 134.

Wei, Mian, Wang, Shuqiao & Lin, Yucheng, 2023, Systematic notes on three new Luthela (Mesothelae, Heptathelidae) spiders from China, with their descriptions, ZooKeys 1159, pp. 151-168 : 151

Luthela Xu & Li, 2022: 134.

Type species.

Luthela yiyuan Xu, Yu, Liu & Li, 2022 by original designation, from Yiyuan Co., Shandong Province, China.

Diagnosis.

Males of Luthela differ from those of other heptathelid genera except Songthela , by the smooth conductor with one or two long spines (see ASC and BSC in Figs 3C , 4B , 5B , 6B ), and they can be distinguished from the males of Songthela in having regular larger teeth on the contrategular margin (see CT in Figs 3B , 3C , 4B , 5D , 6B , 6C ). Females of Luthela can be recognized from those of other genera by the middle pair of the receptacular clusters being situated at the anterior margin of the bursa copulatrix and the lateral ones at the dorsolateral position of the bursa copulatrix (Fig. 3H , 5F , 5H , 6H ).

Composition.

Luthela asuka Wei & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀, Sichuan), Luthela badong Xu et al., 2022 (♂♀, Hubei), L. beijing Wei & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀, Beijing), L. dengfeng Xu et al., 2022 (♂♀, Henan), L. handan Xu et al., 2022 (♂♀, Henan), Luthela kagami Wei & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀, Sichuan), L. luotianensis (Yin et al., 2002) (♀, Hubei), L. schensiensis (Schenkel, 1953) (♂♀, Shaanxi), L. taian Xu et al., 2022 (♂♀, Shandong), L. yiyuan Xu et al., 2022 (♂♀, Shandong), and L. yuncheng Xu et al., 2022 (♂♀, Shanxi).

Distribution.

Northern China, from the Yangtze River to the Yellow river basin.

Figures

Figure 3. New species of Luthela A, B, G L. asuka sp. nov. from Longquanyi District, Chengdu C, D, H, I L. beijing sp. nov. from Zizhuyuan Park, Beijing E, F L. kagami sp. nov. from Guihua Township, Pengzhou City A, C, E male habitus, dorsal view B, D, F female habitus, dorsal view G female haibitus, ventral view H living female, dorsal view I burrow, vertical section, with red arrow pointing to the spider. Photographs by Chao Wu (H, I). Scale bars: 5.00 mm.

Figure 4. Luthela asuka sp. nov. A male left palp bulb, prolateral view B male left palp bulb, ventral view C male left palp bulb, retrolateral view D left cymbium, ventral view E left palpal bulb, apical view F right palpal bulb, apical view G vulva, ventral view H vulva, dorsal view. Green arrows indicate small teeth on conductor. Scale bars: 0.50 mm.

Figure 5. Luthela beijing sp. nov., male holotype A left palp, prolateral view B left palp, ventral view C left palp, retrolateral view D right palpal bulb, ventral view E right palpal bulb, dorsal view F right palpal bulb, apical view. Green arrows in B, C, and F indicate small teeth on conductor. Scale bars: 0.50 mm.

Figure 6. Luthela beijing sp. nov. A-D left palpal bulb E-H female genitalia A, F, H dorsal view B, E, G ventral view C retrolateral view D apical view. Scale bars: 0.50 mm.