Hermacha sericea Purcell, 1902: 375.
MATERIAL EXAMINED: HOLOTYPE: South Africa: Northern Cape Province: Van Rhyns Dorp Div. and the western part of the Calvinia Div., August, 1897, M. Mally, 13 (SAM-ENWX003666). PARATYPES: South Africa: Northern Cape Province: Williston, 44 km WNW, Loskop, 3.9 km WNW; near BioGaps site 3110_2030 (31°13′27.14″S 20°28′36.52″E), April, 2017, I. Engelbrecht, S. Mitchell, C. Sole, T. Majelantle, 1♀ (NCA 2017 /1868); Same data, 1♀ (NCA 2017 /1869).
REMARKS: Copulatory bulbs of the male holotype (SAM-ENW-X003666) are broken (fig. 15D, E); copulatory bulb measurements are taken from the male SAM-ENW-C008684 (figs. 4M, N, 15I, J).
DIAGNOSIS: Males of H. sericea can be distinguished by the long copulatory bulb (Rlw ~2.5, figs. 15D, E, I, J). Differs from H. nigrispinosa, H. montana, and H. tuckeri by having a small apical flange on the embolus (figs. 4N, 15I) (long flange in H. nigrispinosa [fig. 12D], without flanges in H. montana [fig. 9D, E], and with two flanges in H. tuckeri [fig. 18E]). Females can be distinguished by the spermathecae (fig. 16E), which differ from H. evanescens and H. lanata in the smaller apical receptacle.
DESCRIPTION: MALE HOLOTYPE (SAM-ENW-X003666, figs. 2H, 4M–P, 14A–F, 15A–J): Total length: 10.93. Carapace (fig. 14A): length 5.22, width 3.91, with lateral dark marginal bristles, and dorsal pubescence. Cephalic region: length 3.15; clypeus almost absent, with 5 bristles on the edge, some bristles in front and back of the OQ. Fovea: width 0.33, short, procurved. Ocular measurements: AME 0.13, ALE 0.31, PME 0.19, PLE 0.21, OQ length 0.54, 0.91 width; AME-ALE 0.08, PME-PLE 0.00, AME-PME 0.06, ALE-PLE 0.10, AME-AME 0.17, PME-PME 0.40. Chelicerae (fig. 14D): length 2.83, width 1.60, with dark retrodorsal bristles, rastellum formed by many strong setae; intercheliceral tumescence small, pallid with setae. Cheliceral furrow with an irregular line of 8 (5-1-2) promarginal teeth and 3 mesobasal denticles. Labium: length 0.27, width 0.77. Palpal endites: length 1.75, width 0.85, with 22 cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face straight, soft area long, with long uniformly distributed hairs. Sternum (fig. 14B): length 2.56, maximum width 2.14. Abdomen (fig. 14C): length 5.45, covered with small hair and bristles. PMS: length 0.57; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 1.04:0.79:0.82; total length 2.65. Lengths of legs and palp: I: 4.24, 2.48, 3.27, 2.92, 2.02, 14.93. II: 4.05, 2.15, 2.80, 2.95, 2.15, 14.10. III: 3.60, 1.82, 2.26, 3.56, 2.18, 13.42. IV: 4.55, 2.11, 3.54, 4.48, 2.37, 17.05. Palp: 2.50, 1.35, 1.89, —, 1.06, 6.80. Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 1 PA, 1-1-1 D, 1 RA; patella, 1-1 P; tibia, 1-1 P, 3-4-2 V, and a strong apical spine (ventral posterior, figs. 4P, 14E, F); metatarsus, 1 P (1:2 B), 2-0-1 V, slightly curved (1:3 B, fig. 2H); tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1-1 P, 1-1-1 D, 1-1-1 R; patella, 1-1 P; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-2-1-2 V; metatarsus, 1 P, 2-0-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-1-1 P, 1-1 D (1:2 B), 1-1-1 R; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1 D, 1-1-1 R, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1 D-P (1:2 A), 1-1-1 D-R, 2-2-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D, 1-1-1 R; patella, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1 R, 2-2-1-2 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1 D-R, 2-1-2-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp (figs. 4O; 15A–C, F–H): femur, 1 P A; patella, 0; tibia, 2-2 P, 1-1 R, 1-2 V; tarsus, 6 A (fig. 4O, 15C, H), with numerous small rigid bristles. Copulatory bulb: Embolus of both copulatory bulbs of the type specimen are broken (figs. 4M, N, 15D, E, I, J). The measurements taken are from the male SAM-ENW-C008684, length 2.35, width 0.94, Rlw 2.5; (fig. 15I, J). Scopulae: Metatarsi: I–II, dense (3:4 A); III–IV, sparse apical (prolateral, IV escarce setae). Tarsi: I–II, dense, uniformly distributed throughout the segment; III–IV, sparse, uniformly distributed (III divided by a narrow band of setae; IV, divided very wide band of setae with a line of setae on both sides of the band of setae). Trichobothria: Tibiae: I 10-10; II 11-10; III 11-10; IV 12-11. Metatarsi: I 1(5)1(3)1(2)1(1)1(6); II 1(4)1(3)1(2)1(1)1(5); III 1(5)2(4)1(2)1(6); IV 1(4)1(2)1(2)1(1)1(5). Tarsi: I 25; II 23; III 25; IV 26. Color in alcohol: Overall reddish yellow, legs like carapace (tarsi pallid ventrally), chelicerae darker. Abdomen yellowish with pallid mottling; spinnerets pallid yellowish.
FEMALE (NCA 2017/1868, fig. 16A–E): Total length: 13.42. Carapace (fig. 16A): length 5.02, width 3.81. Cephalic region: length 3.23, clypeus small with 6 marginal bristles; 9 bristles in front of the OQ and 5 posterior (between PME-PME). Fovea: width 0.51, procurved. Ocular measurements: AME 0.13, ALE 0.34, PME 0.23, PLE 0.30, OQ length 0.61, width 0.99; AME-ALE 0.08, PME-PLE 0.03, AME-PME 0.11, ALE-PLE 0.09, AME-AME 0.18, PME-PME 0.43. Chelicerae (fig. 16D): length 3.49, width 2.18; with retrodorsal dark bristles, rastellum numerous strong bristles. Cheliceral furrow with an irregular line of 8 (4-4) promarginal teeth and 4 mesobasal denticles. Labium: length 0.39, width 0.97. Palpal endites: length 1.87, width 0.97, with 36 cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face slightly curved, soft area large, with long uniformly distributed hairs. Sternum (fig. 16B): length 2.55, maximum width 2.15. Abdomen (fig. 16C): length 6.06, with small hair and bristles covering. PMS: length 0.70; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 1.10:0.85:0.81; total length 2.76. Lengths of legs and palp: I: 3.70, 2.37, 2.34, 2.14, 1.69, 12.24. II: 3.38, 2.17, 2.10, 2.06, 1.68, 11.39. III: 2.98, 1.74, 1.63, 2.50, 1.87, 10.72. IV: 3.82, 2.10, 2.87, 3.54, 1.78, 14.11. Palp: 2.62, 1.48, 1.53, —, 1.66, 7.29. Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 1 PA, 1-1-1-1-1 d; patella, 0; tibia, 1 P, 1-2 V; metatarsus, 2-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1 PA, 1-1-1-1-1 d; patella, 0; tibia, 1-1 P, 2-2 V; metatarsus, 1 P, 2-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1 ra, 1-1-1-1 d; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1 D, 1-1 R, 2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1 D-R, 2-2-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1-1 d with PA patch of small rigid setae; patella, 0, with D-P patch of small rigid setae; tibia, 1-1 R, 2-2 V; metatarsus, 1-1 P (1:2 A), 1 D-P (A), 1-1-1 D-R, 2-1-1-1-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp: femur, 1 P A; patella, 0; tibia, 2 P, 4 V; tarsus, 2 VB. Spermathecae: narrow base and a sligthly rounded apical receptacle (fig. 16E). Scopulae: Metatarsi: I–II, dense, uniformly distributed; III, sparse, asymetric (1:2 A, only P); IV, sparse A (only P). Tarsi: I–II, dense, uniformly distributed; III–IV, sparse, uniformly distributed (III divided by a narrow band and IV by a wide band of setae, and presence of a line of setae on both sides of the central band). Trichobothria: Tibiae: palp 9-9; I 11-11; II 10-10; III 12-11; IV 13-12. Metatarsi: I (4)1(0)2(1)1(1)1(2)1; II (5)1(2)1(0)1(2)1(3)1; III (4)1(0)1(1)1(0)1(2)1; IV (5)1(0)1(1)1(0)1(1)1(2)1. Tarsi: palp 21; I 27; II 25; III 26; IV 28. Color in alcohol: Overall yellowish brown, legs like carapace. Abdomen brown, with large dark anterior spot and posterior dark bands (fig. 16C); ventral surface light; spinnerets like ventral surface.
ECOLOGY: The specimens collected on the farm Loskop near Williston were found in the Western Upper Karoo vegetation type of the Nama Karoo Biome. The soil was relatively compact, typical yellow clayey loam derived from shale, with a loose covering of fine grey gravel. One of the specimens was located in a closed burrow while soil scraping for trapdoor spiders. The top of the burrow was located in a small depression in the soil surface, and when opened the burrow walls contained a very thick, papery silk lining. The second specimen was found with an open burrow with a distinctive round entrance, as in H. evanescens.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED: South Africa: Northern Cape Province: Tankwa National Park, Renoster River (32°14.70′S 20°05.82′E, 490 m), July 10–August 17, 2014, S. van Noort, 13 (SAM-ENWC008801); same data, 13 (SAM-ENW-C008684).
DISTRIBUTION: The type locality is imprecise and spans the northern part of the Western Cape Province and the adjacent part of the Northern Cape. The other localities are in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. It appears that this species occurs in the western parts of the Karoo, and possibly the adjacent parts of Namaqualand.