Agroeca maghrebensis n. sp.

(Figs 5-8)

Agroeca annulipes: Simon 1932: 972 (descr. male, non female).

Type material. Holotype male from Algeria, Wilaya of Bouira, Ighrem, 490m in pitfalls among Tamarisk along Oued Sahel, 17.XI.1986, R. Bosmans leg.; deposited in IRSNB.

Diagnosis: Males of this species are easily distinguished by the dorsal angularity on the male palpal tibia, females by the epigyne with median depression with parallel margins and x-shaped pattern of copulation ducts.

Remarks: The male Figured by Simon (1932) as the male of Agroeca annulipes, Sim on 1878 apparently belongs to the species described here.

Description:

Measurements: Male: Total length 4.0; carapace 2.06 long, 1.68 wide. Female: Total length 4.6-6.4; carapace 2.32-2.84 long, 1.72-2.40 wide.

Colour and spination as in Agroeca annulipes. (Figs. 5-6): Tibial apophysis straight, with distinct dorsal angularity; median apophysis hooked, distal part strongly pointed; wide basal part of embolus visible in anteromedian part of bulb, gradually narrowing, curved in antero-dorsal direction.

Epigyne (Fig. 7): Longer than wide; with large median depression, posteriorly truncate, anterior half with narrow median septum; depression often filled with concretions (“copulation plugs”); x-shaped pattern of touching copulation ducts visible in transparency.

Vulva (Fig. 8): Copulation ducts semi-circular, touching in middle; spermathecae not wider than copulation ducts.

Material examined and citations:

Algeria - Aïn Temouchent: between El Malah and El Ghella, along Rio Salado, 80m, 1 female in Atriplex litter, 24.IV.1984, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

- Batna: Massif de l’Aures, Monts de Belezma, Col Telmet, 1820m, 2 males in pitfalls in Cedrus forest, 26.II.1988, R. B osm ans leg. (CRB).

- Blida: Atlas Blideen, Meftah, 480m, 4 females in pitfalls in Quercus suber forest, 11.XII.1986, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

- Bordj Bou Arreridj: Sidi Embarek, 900m, 1 female, stones in cultivated land, 27.II.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

- Bouira: E. Bechloul, Oued Zaiane, 400m, 1 female in tamarisk litter, 28.IV.1988, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB); Col de Dirah, 900m, 2 females, pitfalls in rough grassland along Oued Djenane, 1.V.1988, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

- Jijel: Ziama Mansouria, 15m, 7 females in flooded orchard, 24.XI.1989, R. B osm ans leg. (2 females in MNHNP, 2 females in IRSNB, 3 females in CRB).

- Laghouat: Laghouat, Oud M’zi, 750m, 1 female in Phragmites litter, 21.V.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

M.3’sila: 5 km E. Mansourah, 800m, 1 female, stones in dry Pinus halepensis forest, 16.X.1987, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

- Oran: N. Misserghin, 200m, 1 female in flooded orchard, 25.IV. 1984, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

- Setif:: D jebel Babor, 1850m, 1 female in mixed forest, 20.VI 1986; N. Magra, Rasfa, 1 female in herbs along an oued. 15.lV. 1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

Skikda: B ouchata, 400m, 1 fem ale, stones in grassland, 12.III.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

- Souk Ahras: 2 km S. Souk Ahras, 660m, 1 female, stones in P- halepensis forest, 10.II.1988, R. Bosmans leu. (CRB).-

Tlemcen: S. Tlemcen, forêt de Tal Terny, 1300m, 1 female, pitfalls in Quercus ilex forest, 24.V.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

Morocco - Messia - Melilla, 1 female, sub Mesiotelus sp. (MNHNP 19.700).

Tunisia - Nabeul: Djebel El Haouaria, 1 female in maquis, 13.IV.1993, K. De Smet leg. (CRB).

Distribution: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Not as coastal as A. annulipes.

Ecology: Adult in winter. Males were collected from November to February, females from November to May.

Agroeca inopina O.P.- Cambridge, 1886

(Figs 9-12)

Agroeca inopina O.P.- Cambridge 1886: 71 (descr. male, female); Simon 1932: 972; Grimm 1986: 29.

Diagnosis: Besides the copulatory organs, this species is easily distinguished from both other Agroeca species occurring in the Maghreb by its yellowish brown cephalothorax and the uniform legs with no annulations.

Description:

Measurements: Male: Total length 5.0-5.4; carapace 2.34-2.44 long, 1.82-1.92 wide. Female: Total length 5.3- 7.6; carapace 2.56-2.64 long, 2.02-2.16 wide.

Colour: Carapace yellowish brown with narrow black margin and anastomosing, radiating dark brown striae; legs yellowish brown, not annulated; abdomen with central reddish brown band, laterally darker.

Palp (Figs. 9-10): Tibial apophysis relatively short; median apophysis large, terminally with elongated hook.

Epigyne (Fig. 11): As long as wide, with large anteromedian depression with triangular antero-median septum; depression often filled with secretions (“ copulation plugs”).

Vulva (Fig. 12): Copulation ducts c-shaped, widely touching in middle; spermathecae not wider than copulation ducts.

Material examined: - Blida: Djebel Mouzaia, 1200m, 1 male 1 female stones in grassland around lake, 27.I.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB); idem, 1250m, 1 male in pitfalls in Quercus suber forest, 27.I.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

- Tizi Ouzou: Aït Ouabane, 1850m, 2 males, stones in montane grassland, 15.XI.1985, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB); forêt d’Akfadou, 1200m, 1 female in Quercus faginea litter, 18.V.1988 and 910m, 1 female in Quercus faginea litter, 24.III.1988, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB); Tala Guilef, 1600m, 1 male in pitfalls in dense Cedrus forest, 16.III.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB); Yakouren, 800m, 1 female in pitfalls in Quercus faginea forest, 22.IV. 1982, 1 female, 4.XII.1986 and 1 female, 25.1.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

- Tiemcen: S.E. Tiemcen, forêt d’Hafir, 1350m, 1 female in Quercus ilex litter, 23.V.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

Distribution: Portugal, Spain, France, S. England, Austria, S.W. Finland, and cited here for the first time from Africa from Algeria, where it appears to be a species of

Agroeca inopina O.P.- Cambridge, 1886

(Figs 9-12)

Agroeca inopina O.P.- Cambridge 1886: 71 (descr. male, female); Simon 1932: 972; Grimm 1986: 29.

Diagnosis: Besides the copulatory organs, this species is easily distinguished from both other Agroeca species occurring in the Maghreb by its yellowish brown cephalothorax and the uniform legs with no annulations.

Description:

Measurements: Male: Total length 5.0-5.4; carapace 2.34-2.44 long, 1.82-1.92 wide. Female: Total length 5.3- 7.6; carapace 2.56-2.64 long, 2.02-2.16 wide.

Colour: Carapace yellowish brown with narrow black margin and anastomosing, radiating dark brown striae; legs yellowish brown, not annulated; abdomen with central reddish brown band, laterally darker.

Palp (Figs. 9-10): Tibial apophysis relatively short; median apophysis large, terminally with elongated hook.

Epigyne (Fig. 11): As long as wide, with large anteromedian depression with triangular antero-median septum; depression often filled with secretions (“ copulation plugs”).

Vulva (Fig. 12): Copulation ducts c-shaped, widely touching in middle; spermathecae not wider than copulation ducts.

Material examined: - Blida: Djebel Mouzaia, 1200m, 1 male 1 female stones in grassland around lake, 27.I.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB); idem, 1250m, 1 male in pitfalls in Quercus suber forest, 27.I.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

- Tizi Ouzou: Aït Ouabane, 1850m, 2 males, stones in montane grassland, 15.XI.1985, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB); forêt d’Akfadou, 1200m, 1 female in Quercus faginea litter, 18.V.1988 and 910m, 1 female in Quercus faginea litter, 24.III.1988, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB); Tala Guilef, 1600m, 1 male in pitfalls in dense Cedrus forest, 16.III.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB); Yakouren, 800m, 1 female in pitfalls in Quercus faginea forest, 22.IV. 1982, 1 female, 4.XII.1986 and 1 female, 25.1.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

- Tiemcen: S.E. Tiemcen, forêt d’Hafir, 1350m, 1 female in Quercus ilex litter, 23.V.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

Distribution: Portugal, Spain, France, S. England, Austria, S.W. Finland, and cited here for the first time from Africa from Algeria, where it appears to be a species of