Nesticus bondi, Hedin & Milne, 2023

Hedin, Marshal & Milne, Marc A., 2023, New species in old mountains: integrative taxonomy reveals ten new species and extensive short-range endemism in Nesticus spiders (Araneae, Nesticidae) from the southern Appalachian Mountains, ZooKeys 1145, pp. 1-130 : 1

Nesticus bondi sp. nov.

Fig. 43A-J

Material examined.

Type material: Holotype: USA - North Carolina, Cherokee Co. • holotype ♂; along Tipton Creek , 1.2 mi. S NC/TN state line; 35.2503°N, - 84.0724°W; 26 Aug. 2002; M. Hedin, M. Lowder, P. Paquin leg.; MCH 02_158; SDSU_TAC000665 ; Paratypes. - North Carolina, Cherokee Co. • 6♀; along Tipton Creek , 1.2 mi. S NC/TN state line; 35.2503°N, - 84.0724°W; 26 Aug. 2002; M. Hedin, M. Lowder, P. Paquin leg.; MCH 02_158; Non type material : - North Carolina, Cherokee Co. • 5 imm; along Tipton Creek, 1.2 mi. S NC/TN state line; 35.2503°N, - 84.0724°W; 26 Aug. 2002; M. Hedin, M. Lowder, P. Paquin leg.; MCH 02_158; • ♂, 5♀, 2 imm; Davis Creek Road, along Davis Creek , Snowbird Mountains , N of Grandview; 35.2151°N, - 84.0368°W; 16 Aug. 2007; M. Hedin, M. McCormack, S. Derkarabetian leg.; MCH 07_110; • ♂, 2♀, 1 imm; Dinkin Cove Road, N of Hanging Dog Mountain; 35.1809°N, - 83.9988°W; 16 Aug. 2007; M. Hedin, M. McCormack, S. Derkarabetian leg.; MCH 07_109; • ♂, 5♀; Hanging Dog Creek , below Hanging Gap; 35.2112°N, - 83.9739°W; 17 Aug. 2004; M. Hedin, R. Keith, J. Starrett, S. Thomas leg.; MCH 04_055; • ♀; Hanging Dog Creek , E Boiling Springs; 35.2094°N, - 83.9945°W; 17 Aug. 2004; M. Hedin, R. Keith, J. Starrett, S. Thomas leg.; MCH 04_056; USA - North Carolina, Graham Co. • ♂, 2 imm; along Snowbird Creek, near Wilson Cabin ; 35.2733°N, - 83.9051°W; 27 Aug. 2002; M. Hedin, M. Lowder, P. Paquin leg.; MCH 02_161 ; - Tennessee, Polk Co. • 1 imm (identification based on UCE and mitochondrial evidence); Hwy 68, vic Apalachia , just S Hiwassee River ; 35.1676°N, - 84.3159°W; 17 Aug. 2007; M. Hedin, M. McCormack, S. Derkarabetian leg.; MCH 07_111 .

Diagnosis.

Males are easily distinguished from other members of the species group by the unique shape of the median apophysis, the shape of the tegular apophysis and tegular keel, the shape of the dorsal paracymbial process, and possession of a thorn-shaped distomedial paracymbial process (Fig. 43A-D ). Epigynal morphology, particularly the shape of the posterior extension of the median septum, is distinctive for the entire Appalachian clade (Fig. 43E-J ).

Description of ♂ holotype

(SDSU_TAC000665). Carapace dusky cream to orange, faint gray pigmentation behind ocular area leading to midline and around edges. Legs pale yellow / cream. Abdomen with paired dark gray blotches on a light gray background. All eyes approximately equal in size, except for AMEs, ~ 1/4 width of ALEs. Eyes with rings of dark pigment. CL 1.3, CW 1.17, abdomen length 1.35, total body length 2.65. Leg I total length 9.8 (2.72, 0.53, 2.87, 2.58, 1.1), leg formula 1423, leg I / CW ratio 8.4. Paracymbium possesses a well-sclerotized thorn-shaped distomedial process. Paracymbial dorsal process a large transparent lobe that lacks a basal process, approximately contiguous with the distal paracymbial process, itself conspicuously weakly sclerotized, narrow, pointed, and weakly serrate along dorsal edge. Ventral paracymbial process triangular. Median apophysis somewhat triangular with a sclerotized point directed prolaterally. Tegulum with posterior keel; tegular process short, beak-like, narrows distally, and directed anteriorly. Distal tip of conductor bent and directed prolaterally.

♂ Variation.

Males from different geographic locations show very minor variation in the width (at base) of the dorsal paracymbial process and depth of indentation between dorsal and distal processes (Fig. 43A-D ).

Description of ♀ paratype

(SDSU_TAC000666). Carapace dusky cream to orange, gray pigmentation behind ocular area leading to midline and around edges. Legs pale yellow / cream. Abdomen with paired dark gray / black blotches on a light gray background. All eyes approximately equal in size, except for AMEs, ~ 1/4 width of ALEs. Eyes with rings of dark pigment. CL 1.4, CW 1.24, abdomen length 1.75, total body length 3.15. Leg I total length 8.32 (2.38, 0.54, 2.39, 2.01, 1), leg formula 1423, leg I / CW ratio 6.7. Epigynum with well-defined orifices lateral to a posterior extension of the median septum, itself widening posteriorly with a flattened posterior edge. Spermathecae elongated and directed anterolaterally. Posterolateral edges of epigynum folded over dorsally to form dorsal posterior flaps. Viewed dorsally, large, internal lobes extend anterolaterally with sclerotized rims.

♀ Variation.

Females from different geographic locations show very minor variation in the shape of the anterior internal sclerotized epigynal lobes (Fig. 43E-J ).

Distribution and natural history.

Most populations are from the southwestern flanks of the Snowbird Mountains of western North Carolina (Fig. 42 ). A single immature specimen is known from further west at Apalachia (placement based on UCE and mitochondrial evidence), suggesting that additional populations likely reside in the intervening montane habitats (Fig. 42 ).

At the type locality of Tipton Creek, Nesticus bondi (♂, 6♀) was found in syntopy with N. sheari (4♀); field notes read " Nesticus in boulderfield above road, north-facing, concentrated in small drainage". Because we did not identify specimens directly in the field, it remains unclear if these different species were found side-by-side or were perhaps somehow segregated by microhabitat at this location. At Davis Creek (MCH 07_110), Nesticus were found "under rocks at streamside - many from webs under a large rock shelter cave".

Etymology.

Named after Dr. Jason Bond, Professor and Schlinger Chair of Insect Systematics at the University of California Davis. Jason was born in the southern Appalachians, schooled in the mountains of western North Carolina, and perhaps sometimes paddled in the Snowbird Mountains. Jason has been a longtime close friend and arachnological colleague of MH and is for him forever a source of scientific (and life) inspiration.

Remarks.

The immature specimens from Tipton Creek are here attributed to Nesticus bondi , but some (or all) could be N. sheari .

Figures

Figure 42. Distribution of the Nesticus barrowsi group. Type localities designated with yellow circles. State boundaries and major cities shown for geographic context. Dashed lines circumscribe known species distributions.

Figure 43. Nesticus bondi sp. nov. ♂ palp and ♀ epigynal variation. North Carolina, Cherokee Co., along Tipton Creek, MCH 02 _ 158 (SDSU _ TAC 000665), ♂ palp, dorsal (A), ventral (B). North Carolina, Graham Co., along Snowbird Creek, MCH 02 _ 161, ♂ palp, dorsal (C), ventral (D). Scale bar: 0.5 mm. North Carolina, Cherokee Co., along Tipton Creek, MCH 02 _ 158 (SDSU _ TAC 000666), epigynum, ventral (E), dorsal (F). North Carolina, Cherokee Co., Dinkin Cove Road, MCH 07 _ 109, epigynum, ventral (G), dorsal (H). North Carolina, Cherokee Co., Davis Creek Road, MCH 07 _ 110, epigynum, ventral (I), dorsal (J). Scale bar: 0.5 mm.