Linothele sericata (Karsch, 1879)

(Figs 1; 19 C-E)

Trechona sericata Karsch, 1879: 545.

Diplura bitaeniata Mello-Leitão, 1941a: 114. — Bücherl et al. 1971: 121, fig. 8. n. syn.

Diplura nigerrima Mello-Leitão, 1941a: 115. — Bücherl et al. 1971: 121. n. syn.

Linothele megatheloides Paz & Raven, 1990: 79, figs 1-12. n. syn.

Linothele sericata – Pedroso et al. 2008: 366.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Trechona sericata: Holotype. Colombia • ♀; Bogotá; Lindig leg.; ZMB Arach-2082 examined by photographs.

Diplura bitaeniata: Holotype. Colombia • ♀; Bogotá; Irmão Nicéforo Maria leg.; lost.

Diplura nigerrima: Holotype. Colombia • ♀; Bogotá; Irmão Nicéforo Maria leg.; lost.

Linothele megatheloides: Holotype. Colombia • ♂; Choco, Tutunendo; 27.VII.1983; N. Paz leg.; AMNH.

Paratype. Colombia • 1 ♀; same data as for holotype.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Colombia • 1 ♂, 2 ♀, and 3 undet.; Quibdó-Medellin, between km 178-134; 85m a.s.l.; 20.II.1983; N. Paz S. leg.; AMNH _ IZC 00327625 • 1 ♀ *; Sasaima, Cundinamarca; 2005; A. Stirm and D. Weinmann leg.; NHRS-KASI 000000035 • 1 ♂ F1 and 1 undet. F1; same data as for preceding; NHRS-KASI 000000034 • 2 undet. F2 (first instar); same data as preceding; NHRS-JUST 000000675 • 2 ♂ F2; same data as preceding; SMNK • 1 ♀ F2; same data as preceding; SMNK • 1 undet.; Antioquia, Rio Clara; 900m a.s.l.; 27.VII.1983; F. Coyle leg.; tropical evergreen forest; AMNH _ IZC 00327615 • 4 undet.; same data as for preceding; AMNH _ IZC 00327621.

TYPE LOCALITY. — Bogotá, Colombia.

DISTRIBUTION. — Tutunendo to Bogota, Colombia.

DIAGNOSIS. — Females of Linothele sericata can be distinguished from those of other species in the genus by the combined presence of flexible apical articles of the PLS, presence of maxillary cuspules and absence of vesicles on the spermathecae stalks. Males differ from those of all other species in the genus by the presence of a keel on the embolus. Also see Paz & Raven (1990).

DESCRIPTION (FOLLOWING Paz & Raven 1990)

Male

CL = 10.83. CT = 13. MC = 28-30. Coloration: “Carapace red brown, striae marked by black reticulations along edges; caput brown with donut-shaped darkened ring medially; chelicerae, and legs red brown. Dorsum of abdomen brown with two lighter colored longitudinal bands, venter brown.” Clypeus: narrow.Sternum, labium and maxillae: Paz & Raven (1990: fig. 12). Leg formula 4123. Preening-combs absent. Leg tarsi pseudo-segmented. Spinnerets: apical segments of the PLS flexible, see Paz & Raven (1990: fig. 7). Palpal organ: “bulb pyriform with small subtegulum; embolus broad with scooped tip.”, see Paz & Raven (1990: fig. 8). Megaspine and MP: see Paz & Raven (1990: fig. 6).

Variability

CL = 9.6-10.8. CT = 11-13. MC = 28-59. [(PL*100)/BD = 327]. [(IML*100)/MAD = 581].

Female

CL = 13.7. CT = 12. MC = ~60. Colouration: “Carapace orange brown with brown mottling on caput and interstrial ridges; chelicerae and legs red brown. Dorsum of abdomen brown with medial pallid area, venter brown.” Sternum, labium and maxillae: see Paz & Raven (1990: fig. 10). Clypeus: narrow. Leg formula: 4123. Scopula divided. Preening-combs absent. Leg tarsi pseudo-segmented. Spinnerets: apical segments of the PLS flexible, see Paz & Raven (1990: fig. 9). Spermathecae: consisting of two stalks, “each with long lobe apically enlarged with a shallow apical invagination.”, see Paz & Raven (1990: fig. 11).

Variability

CL = 12.3-16.0. CT = 12-14. MC = 45-88.

REMARKS

The holotype of Trechona sericata is a dried and pinned specimen, which seems to be in fragile condition. For this reason, photographic examination by the curators is clearly to be preferred and the ZMB team was so kind to send us images of the holotype, allowing for a proper diagnosis. As stated by Pedroso et al. (2008), we confirm the specimen described as Trechona sericata by Karsch (1879) is a misidentified Linothele. Karsch was not able to observe a prolateral lyra on the maxillae, since the specimen was already dried when he examined it (Karsch 1879: 544). The type specimen shows maxillary cuspules, two rows of teeth on paired tarsal claws, divided scopula, and flexible apical segment of the PLS; a combination of features that can only be found in Linothele.

The type material of Linothele megatheloides has not been studied and identification is based on the very detailed description by Paz & Raven (1990), alongside examination of the additional material (AMNH_IZC 00327625) mentioned in the first description. L. megatheloides n. syn. is recognized a junior synonym of L. sericata on account of the presence of maxillary cuspules, flexible apical segment of the PLS (at least twice the length of the medial segment), the homogeneous colouration described by Karsch (1879), as well as the type locality close to the one of L. sericata. For information on other synonymies established here refer to remarks at L. longicauda.

As observed in lab-reared specimens, younger living females, immature males of L. sericata and even early instars bear distinct patterns on dorsal (see Paz & Raven 1990: fig. 9) and ventral opisthosoma. In older females, patterns can become indistinct and the opisthosoma of the spider appears almost black. Early instar specimens of Linothele sericata (CL = 2.3- 2.7) bear fewer cheliceral teeth (CT = 7-9), fewer maxillary cuspules (MC = 15-17) and only few scopuliform setae on anterior leg tarsi.

NATURAL HISTORY

According to Paz (1988), L. sericata build large sheet webs ending in a tubular retreat at the base of tree trunks, in which several different symbionts and cleptoparasites may be found. The reproduction strategies of the species have been well documented by Paz (1993).