Epiceraticelus fluvialis Crosby & Bishop 1931

Draney, Michael L., Milne, Marc A., Ulyshen, Michael & Madriz, Gabrielle, 2019, Revision of the spider genus Epiceraticelus (Araneae, Linyphiidae) with a description of a new species, Zootaxa 4646 (1), pp. 189-200 : 192

Epiceraticelus fluvialis Crosby & Bishop 1931

( Figs. 1–3 )

Epiceraticelus fluvialis Crosby & Bishop 1931: 380–381 , figs. 76–79 (Description of male and female)

Scylaceus amylus Chamberlin 1949 (misidentification): 544, fig. 107

Epiceraticelus fluvialis Ivie 1967: 127 .

Types. Epiceraticelus fluvialis Crosby & Bishop, 1931: 380 (male holotype and female allotype from Riverhead, NY, USA. Paratype material, 5 males and 11 females, from the same 11 April 1923 collection and labeled “Type” were examined for the redescriptions ( AMNH)). This material is not called “ Paratype ” material in Crosby & Bishop (1931), but it is listed in the paper, the collection label includes the word “Type”, and the specimen is treated as type material by AMNH.

Type data remark. Originally deposited in collection of Cornell University, but never transferred to the American Museum of Natural History when the Cornell University collection was moved there. Presumed lost ( Draney 1998; James K. Liebherr pers. comm.; Louis Sorkin pers. comm.).

Diagnosis. Males are easily distinguished from E. mandyae n. sp. by the lack of a clypeal projection ( Fig. 3D versus 5A, 6F). Retrolateral tibial apophysis smaller than in E. mandyae n. sp. ( Fig. 2A , 3C versus 4C, 6C). Females may be recognized by the epigynum possessing a relatively narrow (compared to the wider plate in E. mandyae n. sp.), rectangular, posteriorly-located median plate and dual anteriorly-located copulatory openings that are more anterior than in E. mandyae n. sp. ( Figs. 2D , 3E versus 4E, 6D). Spermathecae anterior, wider than long with copulatory and fertilization ducts tracing a longer path, and copulatory ducts not flared into vase-like shapes as in E. mandyae n. sp. ( Figs. 2C , 3F versus 4D, 6E).

Description. Male: Carapace resembling female, including the location of the three setae ( Fig. 3D ). Coloration of carapace, abdomen, and legs all resemble female. Palp: Tibial apophysis serrated, curved on retrolateral edge; this produces an appearance of two appressed pieces in ventral view (see Crosby & Bishop 1931, fig. 77); pointed ( Figs. 2A , 3C ); SEM reveals the “serrations” are a result of small, overlapping scales ( Fig. 2A ). Embolus elongated, sinuous; distally-directed, twisted distal suprategular apophysis; large papillate tegular sac curled prolaterally at distal edge; tailpiece straight, oriented with long axis of cymbium ( Figs. 2B , 3 A–B).

Female: Carapace dusky orange and slightly raised around eye region. Eyes each ringed with black. Three setae present along midline of carapace with first setae just behind PME and third setae just posterior of center. Abdomen gray, concolorous. Legs matching color of carapace. Spination typical for the genus. Epigynum with median posterior plate and dual median copulatory grooves that cut anteriorly towards dual copulatory openings ( Figs. 2D , 3E ). Internally, spherical spermathecae anterior with copulatory ducts externally directed and curving around fertilization ducts ( Figs. 2C , 3F ).

Measurements. (n = 7): Total length, 1.1–1.3 (mean = 1.2); carapace length, 0.51–0.61 (mean = 0.56); carapace width, 0.38–0.44 (mean = 0.42); femur I length, 0.37–0.4 (mean = 0.39).

Distribution. Eastern United States from Texas to New York ( Fig. 1 ). Except for the northernmost specimens, most specimens occur upland of the US southeastern coastal plain.

Natural History. Adults are usually collected from October–April from within the leaf litter in mature temperate forests.

Material Examined. U.S.A.: District of Columbia.: Washington, (N 38°53’, W 77°01’), coll. N. Banks ( MCZ 86338), collection date not known, 1 ♀ . Indiana: Brown County, Yellowwood State Forest (N 39°07’03.6”, W 86°21’47.1”), deciduous forest, leaf litter, extracted, coll. M. Milne ( MAM), 7 February 2015, 1♂ ; (N 39°08’16.6”, W 86°17’09.5”) , pitfall, coll. M. Milne ( MAM), 29 March 2015, 1♂ 1♀; (N 39°07’03.6”, W 86°21’47.1”) , leaf litter, extracted, coll. M. Milne ( MAM), 5 April 2015, 1♀; (N 39°08’35.3”, W 86°17’18.7”) , pitfall, coll. M. Milne ( MAM), 6 February 2016, 1♂; (N 39°07’17.5”, W 86°22’15.1”) , leaf litter, extracted, coll. M. Milne ( MAM), 8 October 2016, 1♀; (N 39°07’12.6”, W 86°21’59.6”) , leaf litter, extracted, coll. J. Acosta and L. Frandsen ( MAM), 4 February 2017, 1♀; (N 39°08’16.6”, W 86°17’09.5”) , pitfall, coll. J. Acosta and L. Frandsen ( MAM), 5 February 2017, 1♀; (N 39°07’15.1”, W 86°22’12”) , leaf litter, extracted, coll. J. Acosta and L. Frandsen ( MAM), 11 June 2017, 1♀ ; Monroe County, Morgan-Monroe State Forest (N 39°19’17.5”, W 86°27’10.4”), deciduous forest, pit- fall, coll. M. Milne ( MAM), 29 March 2015, 1 ♂ ; (N 39°19’21.7”, W 86°27’07.6”) , leaf litter, extracted, coll. M. Milne ( MAM), 3 April 2016, 1♀; (N 34°19’13.5”, W 86°27’12.6”) , pitfall, coll. B. Deno, M. Sparenberg ( MAM), 8 October 2016, 1♀; (N 34°19’17.5”, W 86°27’10.4”) , pitfall, coll. B. Deno, M. Sparenberg ( MAM), 8 October 2016, 1♀ . Mississippi: Marshall County, Strawberry Plains Audubon Center (N 34°49’59”, W 89°28’30”), deciduous forest, pifall, coll. J. Ryndock ( MLD), 26 October 2008, 1♂ 1♀ ; 28 October 2008, 2♂ ; leaf litter, 1 February 2009, 1♂; pitfall, 1 February 2009, 1♂. New Jersey: Ocean County, Lakehurst (N 40.0144, W 074.3117), coll. B. Vogel ( DMNS ZA 1425 ), 18 April 1964, 2♀ . New York: Suffolk County, Great Pond, north of Southold (N 41°5’, W 72°27’), 22 September 1962, coll. W. Ivie, 2♀ ; Oak Woods , NW of Southold (N 41°5’, W 72°27’), 7 May 1955, coll. W. Ivie ( AMNH), 2 ♂ 5♀ ; Riverhead , 11 April 1923, coll. W. Ivie ( AMNH), “ Type ”, 4 ♂ 8♀ . Ohio: Hocking County, Cantwell Cliffs, Rockbridge (N 39°32’, W 82°34’), coll. W. Barrows ( OSAL), 23 March 1928, 2♂ 1♀ ; Conkle’s Hollow N. Pres. (N 39°27’, W 82°35’), coll. R. Bradley ( OSAL), 17 August 1996, 2♀ ; Rockbridge , 23 June 2015, 1♀ . South Carolina: Greenville County (N 34°55’, W 82°25’), 12 March 1954, coll. W. Ivie ( AMNH), 4♀ . Texas: Tyler County, 2.3 mi. W, 1.3 mi. N. Spurger Beech Woods Trail in beech and magnolia leaf litter, 24 April 1988, coll. R. S. Anderson (FNNH 000044416), 3♀ . Virginia: Mecklenburg County, 15 October 2016, coll. M. and L. Milne ( MAM) 1♂ .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Collection localities of Epiceraticelus fluvialis (filled circles) and Epiceraticelus mandyae n. sp. (filled stars).

FIGURE 2. SEM micrographs of Epiceraticelus fluvialis: A, Retrolateral view of tibial apophysis of left palp of male. B, Ventral view of male left palp. C, Dorsal view of epigynum, cleared. D, Ventral view of epigynum. Abbreviations: CD, copulatory ducts; CG, copulatory grooves; CO, copulatory openings; E, embolus; EA, embolic apophysis; FD, fertilization ducts; MP, median plate; PC, paracymbium; S, spermathecae; ST, subtegulum; T, tegulum; TP, tailpiece. Scale bars, A, B, 0.1 mm; C, D, 0.05 mm.

FIGURE 3. Free hand Illustrations of Epiceraticelus fluvialis (proporations are approximate): A. Male left palp, ventral view. B, Male left palp, retrolateral view. C, Retrolateral view of tibial apophysis of male left palp. D, Lateral view of male carapace; E, Ventral view of epigynum. F, Dorsal schematic of epigynum. Abbreviations: C, cymbium; CD, copulatory duct; CO, copulatory opening; DSA, distal suprategular apophysis; E, embolus; EA, embolic apophysis; FD, fertilization duct; MP, median plate; PC, paracymbium; PT, protegulum; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, spermathecae; SPT, suprategulum; ST, subtegulum; T, tegulum; TP, tailpiece. Proportions are approximate.