Fluda dauca, Perger & Rubio, 2023

Perger, Robert & Rubio, Gonzalo D., 2023, Two new species of the ant-like spider genus Fluda Peckham & Peckham, 1892 from Bolivia with first reports of potential ant models for the genus and a novel ant-resembling behavior (Araneae: Salticidae, Simonellini), Zootaxa 5256 (1), pp. 63-76 : 66-70

Fluda dauca sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DBE97B4F-7CB4-4D01-9F5E-69F37BEAD33C

Figs 3A , 4 , 5

Type material. Holotype: ♁, Bolivia: Cochabamba Department, Villa Tunari , 16.9844°S, 65.4094°W, 335 m a.s.l., beating tray sampling, 6 Dec. 2017, R. Perger leg., IBSI-Ar1758 . Paratypes: 1♁ 2♀, Bolivia: Cochabamba Department, Villa Tunari ; 16.9844°S, 65.4094°W, 335 m a.s.l., beating tray sampling, 6 Dec. 2017, R. Perger leg. , IBSI-Ar1027; 2♁, same data as for preceding, IBSI-Ar0764; 5♁, Santa Cruz Department, Buena Vista, Cafetal , 17.4658°S, 63.6969°W, 342 m a.s.l., beating tray sampling, 21 Jan. 2016; R. Perger leg. , IBSI-Ar 0729; 2♁ 2♀, same data as for preceding ( CBF) .

Remarks. Among the previously described species of Fluda , three ( F. goianiae Soares & Camargo, 1948 , F. narcissa Peckham & Peckham, 1892 , and F. rufipes (Taczanowski, 1878)) have a long epigyne with anterior pocket, and relatively short CDs with few loops (female group “A”; see Galiano 1971). Among the males of Fluda spp. , two ( F. princeps Banks, 1929 and F. rufipes ) have a short, robust embolus without complete circular revolution around the bulb (male group “A”; Galiano 1971). The embolus of F. goianiae was not described or illustrated in the original description by Soares & Camargo (1948). The male paratypes appear to be lost and the male was not examined and assigned to any species group in the revision by Galiano (1971).

Diagnosis. Based on the available information, F. rufipes and F. dauca sp. nov. are the only species with males and females found in group “A”, respectively. Fluda dauca sp. nov. can be separated from F. rufipes by having the thoracic part distinctly convex in lateral view (vs. straight), the posterior part of the dorsal scutum considerably higher than the anterior (vs. about same height) and orbicular (vs. ovate) ( Figs 4B, 4D ), the male RTA ( Fig. 5B ) pointed (vs. blunt tip) and shorter (length 40% of tarsus length; vs. 50%), and the COs further apart and round ( Fig. 5C ) (vs. together and kidney-shaped). Galiano (1971) refrained from dissecting the epigyne of the holotype of F. rufipes because of the fragile condition.

The female of F. dauca sp. nov. is separated from that of F. goianiae by the loops of the CDs orientated transversally (vs. longitudinally) and the course of the left CD running counterclockwise in ventral view (vs. clockwise).

Etymology. The specific epithet is inferred from Daucus , the Latin genus name where the cultivated carrot belongs to, and refers to the orange color of some individuals.

Description of male holotype ( Figs 3A , 4A–B , 5A–B ). Body length 3.30; carapace length 1.55; width 0.95; carapace index 61.29; cephalic width 0.95; cephalic width index 100; sternum length 0.67; width 0.4; sternum index 59.70; abdomen length 1.77; maximum width AAP 0.57; maximum width PAP 0.87; abdominal index (with posterior part) 49.15; pedicel length 0.06; width 0.25; dorsal sclerite length 1.78; epigastric sclerite length 0.47; width 0.57; ventral sclerite length 0.8; width 0.57; inframamillary sclerite length 0.05; width 0.27; AER 0.95; AMEAME 0.037; AME-ALE 0.05; PER 0.9; PME-PME 0.72; PME-PE 0.19.

Integument (color, microsculpture and setae). Orange with large black patch around PE and similar patch surrounding ALE and PME, transverse light bands (darker due to storage in ethanol) in constrictions of carapace and abdomen, microsculpture consisting of regular, small granules; carapace weakly shiny, small granules dense, thoracic area laterally and posteriorly with fine wrinkles; AAP with small granules more separated, PAP finely reticulate, shinier than AAP, with granules widely separated.

Margins of rectangle formed by ALE and PE and abdomen furnished with yellowish, separate, simple setae (most setae broken off due to storage in ethanol).

Macrosetae tibia I v2-2-2-1-1 (r1-1-1-1-1), metatarsus I v2-2-2; tibia II v2-2-2, metatarsus II v2-2-2. Ventral and dorsal margin of femora I with row of developed black setae; ventral and dorsal margin of femora I with row of moderately developed black setae.

Carapace. Slightly convex anteriorly, dorsally constricted between cephalic and thoracic part, rectangle formed by ALE and PER straight in lateral view, slightly inclined forwards, thoracic part convex posterior of constriction in lateral view, followed by concavity, lateral carapace borders continuous in dorsal view, in anterior half subparallel, evenly tapering posterior of constriction.

Eyes. AER recurved, AME touching each other, ALE at anterior edges of cephalic area, touching lateral margin of AME, rectangle formed by ALE and PER about 1.3 times wider than long.

Chelicerae. Small and vertical; one promarginal tooth and five retromarginal teeth (smaller).

Abdomen. Elongated, longer than carapace, roughly oblanceolate, dorsally covered by scutum over entire length, AAP and PAP separated by deep constriction anterior of abdomen middle, both parts connected by narrow bridge; AAP oblong, narrower than carapace, posterior margin convex; PAP obovate, as wide as carapace, in lateral view orbicular and higher and more bulging than AAP.

Legs. Formula 4312, margins femora II-IV and tibia I-III subparallel, margins femora I conspicuously convex, broadest in middle, margins tibia IV slightly convex, broadest in middle.

Palp ( Figs 5A–B ). RTA long, spine-shaped, length 40% of tarsus length, directed towards outer tarsus margin in retrolateral view; bulb simple, oval, with stiff, robust, prolaterally emerging embolus without complete circular revolution around the bulb, tips of RTA and embolus sclerotized; tegulum ventrally projected.

Description of female paratype (IBSI-Ar1027) ( Figs 4E–F ). Body length 3.54, carapace length 1.64, width 0.95, carapace index 57.93; cephalic width 0.95, cephalic width index 100; sternum length 0.70, width 0.40, sternum index 57.14; abdomen length 1.90, maximum width AAP 0.67, maximum width PAP 0.99, abdominal index (with posterior part) 52.10; pedicel length 0.11, width 0.30; dorsal sclerite length 1.90, epigastric sclerite length 0.41, width 0.68, ventral sclerite absent, inframamillary sclerite absent; AER 0.96, AME-AME 0.037, AME-ALE 0.05, PER 0.97, PME-PME 0.85, PME-PE 0.17.

Integument (color, microsculpture and setae) as in male except femora I with setae at ventral margin sparser and macrosetae tibia I v2-2-2-2. Carapace shape as in male. Femora I less broadened and dorsal margin less strongly carinated than in male. Abdomen broader than in male.

Epigyne ( Figs 5C–E ). Relatively long (notable separation between anterior pocket or margin and epigastric furrow, greater than the separation between the COs), with round lateral openings and relatively short CDs with few loops; carina with a concavity posteriorly directed.

Variation. Sexual dimorphism in femora I shape and abdomen width, male femora I more convex and abdomen narrower, particularly AAP. Depth of abdominal constriction varied in both sexes according to the nutritional status (in females likely also to the reproductive status). Adults of both sexes with two color forms, dark brown blackish (1m /1f) and orange (8m /1f); in dark brown forms area between AAP and PAP black, in orange forms whitish (cf. Figs 4A, 4C, 4E ). Male macrosetae tibia I in male variable: holotype v (p1-1-1) and one male paratype v (p1-1-1-1) (remaining as holotype). Ontogenetic shifts remain to be investigated as no juveniles were collected.

Geographical and ecological distribution. Fluda dauca sp. nov. is known from the type locality in Villa Tunari (Cochabamba Dept.) and Buena Vista (Santa Cruz Dept.), which are both situated in Southwest Amazon rainforest ( Fig. 2 ). According to Navarro & Ferreira (2007), the ecosystem of Villa Tunari is considered Sub-Andean Chapare forest and of Buena Vista, Sub-Andean Southwest Amazon rainforest ( Fig. 2 ). Southwest Amazon forest is part of the Amazonian-Guayan Superregion ( Rivas-Martínez et al. 2011). Fluda dauca sp. nov. was collected in primary forest and early successional forests in small tree-fall gaps, close to the edge of primary forest. Fluda dauca sp. nov. was observed in the same microhabitats as Synemosyna myrmeciaformis (Taczanowski, 1871) and Erica eugenia ( Peckham & Peckham, 1892) . On isolated trees in adjacent, more disturbed forest and secondary forest, Sympolymnia shinahota Perger & Rubio, 2020 was collected.

Behavior. Erratic locomotory behavior with frequent stops and waiving of first pair of legs. When disturbed, the males exhibited an agonistic display by moving their face towards the thread, with the first pair of legs widely extended in an angle of about 45° ( Figs 8I, 8K, 8L ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Bolivia (A), study area and ecoregion distribution (B) of Bolivian species of Fluda, according to the regionalization by Navarro & Ferreira (2007); map produced with QGIS (version 2.14.3, http://www.qgis.org/en/site). 1. Villa Teresa, La Paz Dept.; 2. Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept.; 3. Cafetal, Buena Vista, Santa Cruz Dept.; C. Habitat of F. thuruampara sp. nov. in Bolivian Yungas forest, Villa Teresa; D. Habitat of F. dauca sp. nov. in Southwest Amazon forest, Villa Tunari.

FIGURE 3. Habitus of Fluda spp.A. Fluda dauca sp. nov., male holotype (IBSI-Ar1758), dorsal; Fluda thuruampara sp. nov.: B. Holotype male (IBSI-Ar0958), dorsal; C. Idem, lateral.

FIGURE 4. Habitus of Fluda dauca sp. nov. A. Holotype male (IBSI-Ar1758), dorsal; B. Idem, lateral; C. Female paratype, dark form (IBSI-Ar1027), dorsal; D. Idem, lateral; E. Female paratype, orange form (IBSI-Ar1027), dorsal; F. Idem, lateral.

FIGURE 5. Genitalia of Fluda dauca sp. nov. Palp of holotype (IBSI-Ar1758): A. Ventral view; B. Retrolateral view. Epigyne of paratype (IBSI-Ar1027): C. Ventral view; D. Dorsal view, cleared; E. Ventral view, cleared.

FIGURE 8. Living habitus of Fluda spp. and potential ant models. Fluda thuruampara sp. nov.: A–C. Males; D. Female; E. Camponotus sanctaefidei Dalla Torre, 1892, minor worker, Villa Teresa, La Paz Dept.; F. Camponotus latangulus Roger, 1863, minor worker, Buena Vista, Santa Cruz Dept.; G. Odontomachus sp., Villa Teresa, La Paz Dept.; H. Crematogaster pusillus Klug, 1824, minor worker, Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept.; F. dauca sp. nov.: I–K. Males; L. Female, dark form.