Agyneta spicula new species

Figs 316–325, map 20

Type material: Male holotype and female paratype from Texas, Comfort, July 8, 1936, W.98.55:N29.58, L.I. Davis (AMNH). EXAMINED.

Etymology: The specific name is a noun in apposition referring to the spine-like retrolateral tibial apophysis.

Diagnosis: Males and females are diagnosed by their abdominal pattern (Figs 320, 321).

Males are distinguished from all Agyneta by the presence of a unique spine-like retrolateral tibial apophysis (Fig. 316). Females are distinguished from all species by the presence of large depressions on the surface of the epigynum (Fig. 322 arrow), from A. crista and A. tuberculata by the narrow proximal part of scape (Fig. 322), very wide in A. crista and A. tuberculata (Figs. 365, 373).

Description: Male: Total length 1.87; carapace length 0.85, width 0.69.

CEPHALOTHORAX: Carapace orange-brown, shiny, finely reticulate; suffused with gray along radiating lines, pars cephalica and margin. Sternum suffused with gray. Clypeus height 3. Chelicerae apical half yellow, basal half suffused with dark gray; not excavated; seta-tipped tubercles absent; promargin six denticles, retromargin three tiny denticles. Cheliceral stridulatory organ ~26 striae, widely spaced, slowly getting closer basally. ABDOMEN: Dark gray with off-white chevrons with or without hour glass apical mark (Fig. 320). LEGS: Light yellow-orange; leg I total length: 3.71; leg III total length: 2.55; Tm I: 0.25, Tm IV: absent. GENITALIA: Palpal retrolateral tibial apophysis long, pointed and smooth; dorsal tibial apophysis curved with one pointed spur; two retrolateral trichobothria and one dorsal (Fig. 316). Cymbium triangular; glabrous depression present (Fig 316); dorsal and ventral cymbial tubercles rugose; prolateral notch shallow (Fig. 317). Paracymbium apical pocket medium, anterior pocket long, posterior pocket absent (Fig. 316). Embolus tip narrow, pointed with long prong; basally with row of small spines; numerous spines ventrally; Fickert’s gland absent; ventral lamella reduced or absent; thumb reaching the embolus proper (Fig. 318). Embolus proper set apically on a vertical ridge, of equal part (Fig. 318). Anterior terminal apophysis narrow with short protrusions; posterior terminal apophysis small, with pointed tip; lamella characteristica large with numerous spines apically (Fig. 319).

Female: Total length 2.39; carapace length 0.93, width 0.69.

CEPHALOTHORAX: Coloration as in male. Chelicerae posterior half yellow, anterior half suffused with dark gray; promargin five denticles; retromargin three tiny denticles. Cheliceral stridulatory organ easily visible ~10 striae, well spaced. ABDOMEN: Dark gray with off-white chevrons with or without hour glass apical mark (Fig. 321). LEGS: Same coloration as male; palpal tarsal claw absent, palpal segment suffused with dark gray; leg I total length: 3.90; leg III total length: 2.71; Tm I: 0.27, Tm IV: absent. GENITALIA: Epigynum with circular depression (Fig. 322 arrow), narrow proximal part of scape, enlarging into an oval plate; epigynal slits narrow and curved; pit hook depression indistiguishable (Fig. 322); lateral lobes extremely elongated with basal constriction; stretcher long; pit small (Figs 323, 325). Median part of scape narrow, wrinkled; genital pores situated at base of lateral lobes pockets (Fig. 324). Internal genitalia with oval, ventral receptacula with triangular base (Figs 323, 324).

Other material examined: USA: Arkansas: no specific locality, 09–15. vi.1966, 13, 16–23. vi.1966, 13, M.X. (CAS). Iowa: no specific locality, 1935, 1Ƥ, F. Andre (AMNH). Kansas: Redfield, 29.ix.1967, 131Ƥ, W. Ivie (AMNH). Missouri: Fillmore, 232Ƥ (AMNH); Odessa, 132Ƥ (AMNH); Rolla, 16.iii.1952, 131Ƥ, vi.1952, 3 Ƥ, H.E.F. (CAS). Nebraska: Lincoln, 1941, 232Ƥ, M. Harbaugh (AMNH). New Mexico: Albuquerque, 1Ƥ, C. Hoff (AMNH); Peña Blanca, 1Ƥ, C. Hoff (AMNH). Oklahoma: near Stillwater, vi–ix.1966, sorghum field, Ƥ, C. Bailey (CAS); Red Oak, x.1975 – i.1976, woodland litter, 23, K. Stephan (AMNH). Texas: Austin, 1Ƥ (AMNH); Comfort, 08.vii.1936, 939Ƥ, L. Davis (AMNH); Walkup Cave, 14.i.1967, 1Ƥ, R. Mitchell (AMNH); Donna’s, 03.v.1936, 1Ƥ, L. Davis (AMNH).

Distribution: Southwest USA, north to Iowa, east to Arkansas.