Cybaeus blasbes Chamberlin & Ivie, 1932

Bennett, Robb, Copley, Claudia & Copley, Darren, 2021, Cybaeus (Araneae: Cybaeidae): the aspenicolens species group of the Californian clade, Zootaxa 4926 (2), pp. 224-244 : 231-233

Cybaeus blasbes Chamberlin & Ivie

Figs 5–7 , 12 , 18–19 , 23–24 , 41

Cybaeus blasbes Chamberlin & Ivie 1932: 22 , fig. 55. Roewer 1954: 89. Bonnet 1956: 1301. Roth 1956: 178. Roth & Brown 1986: 3. World Spider Catalog 2020

Type material. Holotype female. U.S.A.: California: Madera County, North Fork (original label “Northfolk”), no date, R. V. Chamberlin ( AMNH), examined.

Other material examined. U.S.A.: California: Fresno, 7³ 13♀, Shaver Lake , 12.9.1959, W.J. Gertsch & V . D. Roth ( AMNH); 1³, same locality, matured 14.9.1959, W.J. Gertsch & V . D. Roth ( AMNH); 1³, same locality, matured 20.9.1959, W.J. Gertsch & V . D. Roth ( CAS); 1♀, Stump Springs Road @ trail to Aspen Meadow (near Huntington Lake ), 26.8.1971, H.B. Leech ( CAS); Madera, 4³ 8♀, 2 mi. S of Fish Camp, 12.9.1959, W.J. Gertsch & V . D. Roth ( AMNH); 3³, same locality, matured 14.9.1959 W.J. Gertsch & V . D. Roth ( AMNH); 4♀, 5 mi. S of Fish Camp, 23.9.1961, W.J. Gertsch & W. Ivie ( CAS); 2³ 2♀ ( AMNH); 1♀, North Fork , R. V . Chamberlin ( AMNH); 1³, same locality, matured 24.9.1958, V . D. Roth ( CAS); 1♀, 5 mi. N of North Fork , 7.9.1958, V . D. Roth ( CAS); 1♀, same locality, matured 10.9.1958, V . D. Roth ( CAS); Mariposa, 1³ 1♀, Fish Camp , 5.9.1959, V . D. Roth ( AMNH); 9³ 3♀, 1mi. S of Fish Camp , 23.9.1961, W. Ivie & W.J. Gertsch ( AMNH) .

Diagnosis. Cybaeus blasbes is grouped with C. aspenicolens and C. coylei spec. nov. in the informal aspenicolens subgroup. Distinguishing the aspenicolens and fraxineus subgroups is discussed in the aspenicolens species group diagnosis. The male of C. blasbes is diagnosed by the large, broad, blunt patellar apophysis ( Figs 5 , 12 ) with short, stout dorsal peg setae and a slightly concave retrolateral margin distal to the retrolateral peg setae group as well as the prominent, C-shaped proximal arm of the tegular apophysis with a relatively long and conspicuously twisted uncinate tip ( Figs 6–7 ). The female can usually be diagnosed by the well-developed atrial depression and the exposed, sclerotized atrial openings ( Fig. 18 ) and the vulval ducts usually separated along the midline ( Figs 19 , 23–24 ). Some females may be indistinguishable morphologically from females of C. aspenicolens . Diagnostic differences distinguishing other species of the aspenicolens subgroup from specimens of C. blasbes are discussed under C. aspenicolens .

Description. Ventral tibia I macrosetae usually 2–1p–2–1p–2.

Male: (n=31). Patellar apophysis ( Figs 5 , 12 ) large, bluntly pointed, constricted near tip with about 15 to 20 large, dentiform peg setae retrolaterally and 12 to 15 small, stout peg setae dorsally. Proximal arm of tegular apophysis ( Figs 6–7 ) large, broad, and slightly deflected dorsally; tip retrolaterally directed, uncinate, relatively elongate, and conspicuously twisted.

Measurements (n=22). CL 2.8–3.6 (3.1±0.3), CW 2.08–2.8 (2.35±0.21), SL 1.33–1.63 (1.47±0.09), SW 1.30– 1.55 (1.42±0.07).

Female: (n=35). Epigynum ( Fig. 18 ) lightly sclerotized in region of atrial openings; atrial openings exposed. Vulval ducts ( Figs 19 , 23–24 ) usually separated along vulval midline except at anterior margin of vulva.

Measurements (n=21). CL 2.8–3.8 (3.3±0.3), CW 1.95–2.7 (2.32±0.21), SL 1.30–1.70 (1.52±0.11), SW 1.28– 1.60 (1.45±0.10). Holotype CL 3.2, CW 2.30, SL 1.49, SW 1.47.

Distribution and natural history. Western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California in Madera, Mariposa, and Fresno Counties ( Fig. 41 ). Males have been collected in September.

Figures

FIGURE 41. Distributions of Cybaeus aspenicolens (yellow diamonds), C. blasbes (blue circles), C. coylei spec. nov. (green triangle). AZ—Arizona, CA—California, ID—Idaho, OR—Oregon, NV—Nevada, UT—Utah.

FIGURES 5–7. Cybaeus blasbes, males, left palpus (5 from near Fish Camp, California. 6–7 from Shaver Lake, California). 5 patella and tibia, dorsal; 6 genital bulb, ventral; 7 genital bulb, retrolateral. PA—proximal arm of tegular apophysis.

FIGURES 11–13. Cybaeus spp., males, left palpus, patellar apophysis, dorsal. 11 C. aspenicolens from Aspen Valley, Yosemite National Park, California; 12 C. blasbes from near Fish Camp, California; 13 C. coylei spec. nov., holotype.

FIGURES 14–19. Cybaeus spp., females, copulatory organ (14–15 C. coylei spec. nov. from Pinecrest, California. 16–17 C. aspenicolens from Aspen Valley, California. 18–19 C. blasbes from North Fork, California). 14, 16, 18 epigynum, ventral; 15, 17, 19 vulva, dorsal. AO—atrial opening, BG—Bennett’s gland, BS—base of spermatheca, CD—copulatory duct, HS—head of spermatheca, SS—stalk of spermatheca.

FIGURES 20–24. Cybaeus spp., females, copulatory organ, vulva (20–22 C. aspenicolens from Aspen Valley, California. 23 C. blasbes from Shaver Lake, California. 24 C. blasbes from North Fork, California). 20–21, 23–24 ventral; 22 dorsal.