Nesticus brimleyi Gertsch, 1984

Hedin, Marshal & Milne, Marc A., 2023, New species in old mountains: integrative taxonomy reveals ten new species and extensive short-range endemism in Nesticus spiders (Araneae, Nesticidae) from the southern Appalachian Mountains, ZooKeys 1145, pp. 1-130 : 1

Nesticus brimleyi Gertsch, 1984

Figs 33A-C , 34A-H

Nesticus brimleyi Gertsch, 1984: 30, figs 126-128, 138-140; Coyle and McGarity 1992: figs 5, 6; Holler et al. 2020: 230.

Material examined.

Type material: Holotype: USA - North Carolina, Rutherford Co. • ♂ holotype; Rumbling Bald Cave, Lake Lure , Rumbling Bald Mountain ; 2 Jul. 1977; P. Hertl leg; AMNH; New collections from near type locality. - Rutherford Co. • 2♂, 6♀; SE side of Rumbling Bald Mountain , N of Lake Lure; 35.4487°N, - 82.2167°W; 18 Aug. 1992; M. Hedin leg. Non type material: - Henderson Co. • ♀; Hwy 74 along Hickory Creek , E of Bearwallow; 35.4591°N, - 82.3035°W; 20 Aug. 2007; M. Hedin, M. McCormack, S. Derkarabetian leg.; MCH 07_134; - McDowell Co. • ♀; headwaters of Crooked Creek , Mt. Hebron Road , N of Cross Mountain; 35.5726°N, - 82.2532°W; 20 Aug. 2007; M. Hedin, M. McCormack, S. Derkarabetian leg.; MCH 07_135; • ♀; near Curtis Creek campground, FR 482, N of Old Fort; 35.6889°N, - 82.1976°W; 20 Aug. 2007; M. Hedin, M. McCormack, S. Derkarabetian leg.; MCH 07_136; • 2♀; Newberry Creek above Horse branch, N of Old Fort; 35.6825°N, - 82.217°W; 20 Aug. 2001; M. Hedin, M. Lowder, R. McClanahan leg.; MCH 01_141; • ♂, 11♀; Newberry Creek , N of Old Fort; 35.6789°N, - 82.214°W; 22 Aug. 2004; M. Hedin, R. Keith J. Starrett, S. Thomas leg.; MCH 04_075; - Rutherford Co. • ♂, ♀; Chimney Rock Park, Moonshiner's Cave ; 5 May. 1999; M. Hedin, B. Dellinger leg.; MCH 99_014; • ♀; S side Round Top Mountain , just N of Chimney Rock; 35.4439°N, - 82.2451°W; 5 May. 1999; M. Hedin, B. Dellinger leg.; MCH 99_015.

Diagnosis.

Male paracymbium with three medial processes that lie between the ventral and dorsal processes, including ventromedial, distomedial, and dorsomedial processes (Fig. 2D .; see also Coyle and McGarity 1992: figs 4, 5). We have not seen populations of other species that simultaneously include all three processes. Also, a distally-thin tegular apophysis projects beneath the median apophysis (Fig. 33A-C ). The epigynum is very similar to that of Nesticus templetoni (compare Fig. 34A-H to Fig. 36A-J ).

Variation.

In the northern Newberry Creek population the male distomedial process is reduced (but present as low spikes), and the base of the dorsal paracymbial processes is wider then narrows to a forked tip (Fig. 33A-C ). Epigynal variation is limited, even across northern vs. southern disjunct populations (Fig. 34A-H ). Described by Gertsch as a " pale cavernicole ", but many populations are from boulderfield void spaces, and most specimens are not pale.

Distribution and natural history.

Previously known only from fissure caves, including those summarized by Holler et al. (2020) from Polk and Rutherford counties. Included here are many new records from near surface populations, including new northern records from Henderson and McDowell Counties (Fig. 30 ). For example, at Newberry Creek (MCH 04_075), spiders were "common in a ... well shaded hemlock/ rhododendron" boulderfield. The northwards distributional extension, and demonstration of an overall larger geographic and microhabitat distribution, has important conservation implications for this species.

Remarks.

Nesticus brimleyi is strongly supported by nuclear phylogenomics as sister to N. templetoni but is geographically separated from this species by highlands occupied by other members of the species group ( N. gertschi , N. crosbyi , and N. canei ; Fig. 30 ). The mitochondrial gene tree includes two strongly supported geographic subclades (Fig. 6 ), corresponding to southern (Broad River drainage) versus northern N. brimleyi populations (Fig. 30 ).

Figures

Figure 2. Graphical overview of terminology used to describe genitalic morphology. Tennessee, Overton Co., Obe Lee Cave, Nesticus stygius, ♂ MCH specimen # 1882 palp ventral (A), dorsal (B) C North Carolina, Haywood Co., near Steestachee Bald overlook, N. silvanus, MCH specimen # 1145, ♂ palp dorsal D North Carolina, Rutherford Co., Moonshiner's Cave, N. brimleyi, MCH 99 _ 014, ♂ paracymbium medial E North Carolina, Clay Co., Big Tuni Creek, MCH 02 _ 171, epigynum ventral F North Carolina, Henderson Co., W of Bat Cave, MCH 07 _ 134, epigynum ventral G North Carolina, Buncombe Co., SW of Cane River Gap, MCH 01 _ 167, epigynum dorsal.

Figure 6. COI IQT gene tree. Distant outgroups trimmed. Specimen numbers correspond to those in Suppl. material 3 (with detailed location provided in Suppl. material 1). Sequences from UCE capture denoted with " NODE ". Populations with a " Nesticus cooperi - like " male paracymbium denoted by small circles. Not all tip bootstrap values shown (see Suppl. material 4 for. tre file with all bootstrap values).

Figure 30. Distribution of Nesticus nasicus group species. Type localities designated with yellow circles. Primary cities shown for geographic context. Dashed lines circumscribe known species distributions; possible distribution of Nesticus secretus is tentative, see text for details.

Figure 33. Nesticus brimleyi ♂ palps A North Carolina, Rutherford Co., SE side of Rumbling Bald Mountain, MCH specimen # 1247, ventral. North Carolina, Henderson Co., Newberry Creek, MCH 04 _ 075, palp, ventral (B), dorsal (C). Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 34. Nesticus brimleyi epigynal variation. North Carolina, Rutherford Co., SE side of Rumbling Bald Mountain, MCH specimen # 1254, ventral (A), dorsal (B). North Carolina, Henderson Co., W of Bat Cave, MCH 07 _ 134, ventral (C), dorsal (D). North Carolina, McDowell Co., headwaters of Crooked Creek, MCH 07 _ 135, ventral (E), dorsal (F). North Carolina, Henderson Co., Newberry Creek, MCH 04 _ 075, ventral (G), dorsal (H). Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 36. Nesticus templetoni sp. nov. epigynal variation. North Carolina, Unicoi Co., Rich Mountain, Clark Creek, MCH 04 _ 036 (SDSU _ TAC 000670), ventral (A), dorsal (B). North Carolina, Madison Co., East Prong Hickory Fork Creek, MCH 01 _ 144, ventral (C), dorsal (D). Tennessee, Greene Co., Bald Mountains, MCH 04 _ 037, ventral (E), dorsal (F). Tennessee, Unicoi Co., along Mill Creek, MCH 07 _ 147, ventral (G), dorsal (H). North Carolina, Yancey Co., E of Spivey Gap, MCH 01 _ 146, ventral (I), dorsal (J). Scale bar: 0.5 mm.