Stenaelurillus termitophagus ( Wesołowska & Cumming, 1999 ), Logunov & Azarkina, 2018

Logunov, Dmitri V. & Azarkina, Galina N., 2018, Redefinition and partial revision of the genus Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886 (Arachnida, Araneae, Salticidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 430, pp. 1-126 : 105-108

Stenaelurillus termitophagus ( Wesołowska & Cumming, 1999) comb. nov.

Figs 4–5, 7, 11 , 18–19 , 472–487 , 514

Microheros termitophagus Wesolowska & Cumming, 1999: 204 , figs 1–21 (D♂ ♀); ♂ holotype in NCA, not examined.

Diagnosis

This species differs from all other species of Stenaelurillus known to us in having the longest, whipshaped embolus and the presence of the largest, well-developed cymbial pocket in the males ( Figs 472– 474 ), as well as the elevated flaps of the epigyne and the long insemination ducts running 360 degrees in the females ( Figs 476–478 ).

Material examined

BOTSWANA: 1 ♂, 1 male palp, Okavango [Delta], Maxwee, Mopane Woodland, 19º29′ S, 23º45′ E, pitfall traps, 30 Jun. 1976, A. Russell-Smith leg. ( BMNH); 1 ♀, island in Moanachira River, 19º10′ S, 23º42′ E, short grass in Senegalia nigrescens (Oliver, 1871) woodland, 17 Jul. 1977, A. Russell-Smith leg. ( BMNH); 1 ♂, Selkirk Mine, nr Francistown, 21°20′ S, 27°42′ E, pitfall traps, 28 Mar.–5 Apr. 2008, D.H. Jacobs leg. ( NCA 2009/3746).

NAMIBIA: 1 ♂, Kavango, Buffalo Camp, 18°19′ S, 21°42′ E, sieving of shore vegetation, 28 Feb. 1992, M. Uhlig leg. ( ISEA 001.7157).

SOUTH AFRICA: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Gauteng Prov., Rietondale Research Station, 25°43′ S, 28°13′ E, pitfall traps, 16 Jul. 1998, J. Nkwana leg. ( NCA 2008/5065, NCA 2008/5068, NCA 2007/2791); 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, same prov., Doompoort, Buffelsdrift Conservancy, Farm Buffelsdrift (nr Die Ark), 25°36′ S, 28°19′ E, pan traps, closed woodland, 25 Jan. 2006, P. Koko leg. ( NCA 2010/4945); 1 ♀, same prov., Pretoria /Tshwane, ca 25°39′ S, 28°21′ E, in building, by hand, 2 Jun. 1986, M. Filmer leg. ( NCA 86/94); 1 ♂, 10 ♀♀, Limpopo Prov., Polokwane, Polokwane GR, 23°58′ S, 29°28′ E, active search, woodland, 18 Apr.–16 Jun. 2005, T.T. Khoza and M.A. Modib leg. ( NCA 2008/2384, NCA 2008/2375); 1 ♀, same locality, open savanna, active search, 11 Apr.–22 Jul. 2005, T.T. Khoza and M.A. Modib leg. ( NCA 2008/2312); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same prov., Settlers, Farm Tweekansen, 25°29′ S, 28°34′ E, pitfall traps, grass, 7 May 2002, M. van Jaarsveld leg. ( NCA 2010/5314, NCA 2008/2370); 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, same prov., Vivo, Soutpansberg, ca 23°00′30.0″ S, 29°46′08.0″ E, 11 Apr. 2015, P. Webb leg. ( NCA 2016/383); 1 ♂, same prov., Mooketsi Farm, 23°46′ S, 29°58′ E, Eucalyptus and Acacia shrubs, 1538 m a.s.l., pitfall traps, 23 Apr. 2014, I.V. Mutavhatsindi and S.H. Foord leg. (UniVen); 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, KwaZulu-Natal Province, Pietermaritzburg, nr Oribi Airfield, ca 29°38′ S, 30°23′ E, thornbush, 14 Apr. 1976, F. Wanless and A. Russell-Smith leg. ( MMUE G7583.6).

Description

Male ( Botswana, Mopane Woodland)

Measurements: carapace 3.15 long, 2.45 wide and 1.80 high at PLE. Ocular area: 1.33 long, 1.80 wide anteriorly and 1.73 wide posteriorly. Diameter of AME 0.45. Clypeal height 0.13, chelicera length 0.78. Abdomen 3.25 long, 2.35 wide. Length of leg segments: I 1.65 + 0.90 + 1.00 + 0.80 + 0.60 (4.95); II 1.70 + 0.90 + 0.95 + 0.85 + 0.60 (5.00); III 2.45 + 1.25 + 1.55 + 2.00 + 0.75 (8.00); IV 2.25 + 1.05 + 1.50 + 2.10 + 0.85 (7.75). Leg formula III,IV,II,I. Leg spination: I: Fm d 0-1-1-4; Pt pr 0-1-0; Tb pr 1-1, v 0-1-2ap; Mt pr and 1ap, v 2-2ap. II: Fm d 0-1-2-4; Pr pr 0-1-0; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-1-2ap; Mt pr and rt 1-1ap, v 2-2ap. III: Fm d 0-1-2-4; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb d 1-0, pr and rt 1-1-1, v 2ap; Mt d 1-1-0, pr and rt 1-0-2ap, v 0-2-2ap. IV: Fm d 0-1-2-4; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb d 1-0-0, pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt d 1-0-0, pr and rt 1-1-2ap, v 1-1-2ap. Coloration (in alcohol; Figs 484–487 ). Carapace light brownish yellow (almost orange), densely covered with brown hair-like scales, with two longitudinal white stripes and two wide white marginal bands of white hair-like scales. Clypeus light brownish yellow, with a transverse stripe of dense white hairs. Sternum light yellow, covered with white hairs. Endites and labium light yellow. Chelicerae brownish yellow, anteriorly covered with brown hair-like scales and with two vertical stripes of white hair-like scales. Abdomen: dorsum dark brown (cover of brown hairlike scales), with a longitudinal white stripe and two lateral white stripes of hair-like scales; sides densely covered with white hair-like scales; venter light yellow, with short longitudinal brown stripes of hairs on its rear half. Book-lung covers light yellow. Spinnerets: anterior and median pairs light yellow, with brownish apices; posterior pair dark brown. Legs: Fm, Mt and Tr yellow, with brownish (semi)rings; Pt and Tb darker, brown, with dark brown (semi)rings. Palps yellow. Palpal structure as in Figs 472–475 : VTA bulge-shaped; RTA wide, with a spine-shaped tip; the cymbium with a developed cymbial lateral process (CLP); the functional tegulum swollen, with well-developed proximal (PP) and distal, fingershaped (DP) projections; the embolus whip-shaped, partly hidden in the open, apical cymbial pocket.

Female ( Botswana, island in Moanachira River)

Measurements: carapace 3.60 long, 2.70 wide and 1.90 high at PLE. Ocular area: 1.18 long, 1.78 wide anteriorly and 1.83 wide posteriorly. Diameter of AME 0.48. Clypeal height 0.25, chelicera length 0.55. Abdomen 4.05 long, 3.10 wide. Length of leg segments: I 1.65 + 0.80 + 0.85 + 0.70 + 0.50 (4.50); II 1.75 + 0.75 + 0.90 + 0.80 + 0.65 (4.85); III 2.70 + 1.30 + 1.70 + 2.20 + 0.70 (8.60); IV 2.60 + 1.15 + 1.70 + 2.25 + 0.80 (8.50). Leg formula III,IV,II,I. Leg spination: II: Fm d 0-1-1-5; Pt pr 0-1-0; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-1-2ap; Mt pr and 1ap, v 1-2ap. II: Fm d 0-1-2-4; Pr pr 0-1-0; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-1-2ap; Mt pr 1-1ap, rt 1ap, v 1-2ap. III: Fm d 0-1-2-5; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb d 1-0, pr and rt 1-1-2, v 1-0-2ap; Mt d 1-1-0, pr and rt 1-0-2ap, v 0-0-2-2ap. IV: Fm d 0-1-1-5; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb d 1-0-0, pr and rt 1-1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt d 1-0-0, pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1-2ap. Coloration (in alcohol; Figs 480–483 ), as in the male but lighter and differs as follows: palps light yellow; chelicerae brownish yellow, without vertical white stripes; venter without longitudinal brown stripes; posterior spinnerets yellow; Fm of all legs light yellow with brownish tips, the remaining segments brownish yellow. Epigyne and spermathecae as in Figs 476–479 : epigynal plate with two S-shaped, elevated flaps, under which the copulatory openings are hidden; insemination ducts relatively long, running 360 degrees; primary spermathecae medium-sized, pearshaped.

Distribution

Southern Africa ( Fig. 514 ).

Figures

Figs 1–13. Trichobothrial bases (1–3, 5–8), tarsal organs (4, 9), left chelicerae (10–12) and right endite (13) of Stenaelurillus Simon, 1885. 1–2. S. nigricaudus Simon, 1886, ♀. 1. Tb 1. 2. Tr 1. 3. S. hirsutus Lessert, 1927, ♀, Tr 2. 4–7. S. termitophagus (Wesołowska & Cumming, 1999) comb. nov., ♀. 4. Tr 1. 5. Mt 1. 6. Tr 2. 7. Tr 1. 8–9. S. guttatus (Wesołowska & Cumming, 2002) comb. nov., ♀. 8. Tr 1. 9. Tr 1. 10. S. nigricaudus Simon, 1886, ♀. 11. S. termitophagus comb. nov., ♀. 12. S. darwini Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000, ♀. 13. S. albopunctatus Caporiacco, 1949, ♂, right endite. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: 1–9 = 5 µm; 10–12 = 0.25 mm; 13 = 0.1 mm.

Figs 14–29. Tarsal claws of legs 1 in females of Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886, scanning electron micrographs. 14–15. S. nigricaudus Simon, 1886. 14. Retrolateral. 15. Prolateral. 16–17. S. guttatus (Wesołowska & Cumming, 2002) comb. nov. 16. Retrolateral. 17. Prolateral. 18–19. S. termitophagus (Wesołowska & Cumming, 1999) comb. nov. 18. Retrolateral. 19. Prolateral. 20–21. S. fuscatus Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000. 20. Retrolateral. 21. Prolateral. 22–23. S. guttiger (Simon, 1901). 22. Retrolateral. 23. Prolateral. 24–25. Aelurillus v-insignitus (Clerck, 1757). 24. Retrolateral. 25. Prolateral. 26–27. Phlegra fasciata (Hahn, 1826). 26. Retrolateral. 27. Prolateral. 28–29. Langona bristowei Berland & Millot, 1941. 28. Retrolateral. 29. Prolateral. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figs 472–479. Stenaelurillus termitophagus (Wesołowska & Cumming, 1999) comb. nov., ♂ from Botswana, (Mopane Woodland) and ♀ from Botswana (island in Moanachira River). 472–474. Male palp. 472. Ventral view. 473. Ventro-retrolateral view. 474. Retrolateral view. 475. Embolic division, apical view. 476. Epigyne, ventral view. 477. Spermathecae, dorsal view. 478. Spermathecae, ventral view. 479. Diagrammatic course of the insemination ducts. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figs 480–487. Stenaelurillus termitophagus (Wesołowska & Cumming, 1999) comb. nov. from South Africa (Doompoort, NCA 2010/4945), general appearance. 480–483. ♀. 484–487. ♂. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 514. Collecting localities of seven African species of Stenaelurillus Simon, 1885.