Pholcus arayat Huber, 2011

Figs 53–54, 77–90

Pholcus arayat Huber, 2011a: 318 –320, figs 1514–1515, 1541–1542, 1574–1578.

Diagnosis (updated)

Distinguished from most similar known relatives (species with horns between eye triads carrying brushes of unglued hairs and with simple, unhinged procursi: P. pagbilao, P. schawalleri, P. baguio sp. nov., P. kawit sp. nov., P. mulu sp. nov.) by bifid process ventro-distally on procursus (arrows in Figs 82–84; cf. fig. 1575 in Huber 2011a) and by shapes of uncus and appendix (cf. fig. 1574 in Huber 2011a); from P. pagbilao also by more slender abdomen and shorter epigynum (cf. fig. 1541 in Huber 2011a); from P. baguio sp. nov. also by more slender male palpal femur (cf. fig. 1575 in Huber 2011a) and different shape of epigynum (not with two distinct dark lateral areas); from P. kawit sp. nov. and P. mulu sp. nov. also by divided median band ventrally on abdomen. From other species of the P. bicornutus group ( P. bicornutus; P. olangapo sp. nov.) by unhinged procursus, presence of appendix, large epigynal plate, and by absence of curved hairs on legs.

Material examined

New material

PHILIPPINES, Luzon: 14 ♁♁, 12 ♀♀, ZFMK (Ar 15509) and 1 ♁, 1 ♀, MSU-IIT, Bataan Prov., near Olangapo, along river near Pamulaklakin Forest Trail (14.798° N, 121.338° E), 80 m a.s.l., among rocks and vegetation, 28 Feb. 2014 (B.A. Huber) ; 2 ♀♀, 1 juv., in absolute ethanol, same data, ZFMK (Phi 208); 2 ♁♁, Laguna Prov., Los Baños, Makiling Forest (14.145° N, 121.230° E), 20 Mar. 2014 (S. Huber), ZFMK (Ar 15510) .

Assigned tentatively

PHILIPPINES, Bohol Isl.: 3 ♀♀, Rajah Sikatuna (Magsaysay Park) (9.705° N, 124.123° E), 430 m a.s.l., forest, 6 Mar. 2014 (B.A. Huber), ZFMK (Ar 15511) ; 1 ♁, Valencia, Barangay Marawis, ‘site 3’ (9.723° N, 124.202° E), 440 m a.s.l., 11 Jun. 2015 (M.R.B. Dacar), ZFMK (Ar 15512) .

Note

The single male specimen from “Baybay, VISCA complex”, misidentified as “ Pholcus phalangioides ” by Barrion & Litsinger (1995) was tentatively assigned to Pholcus arayat in Huber (2011a) . Recently, Yao et al. (2014) described Pholcus schawalleri from “Visca, N. of Baybay” (which should be ViSCA, Visayas State College of Agriculture, now Visayas State University, approx. 8 km N of Baybay, ~ 10°45' N, 124°49' E – not 10°39' N, 124°51' E as in Yao et al. 2014). These authors did not mention Barrion & Litsinger’s (1995) record, but the identical locality and the shape of the uncus (large and roundish) strongly suggest that Barrion & Litsinger’s dubious specimen is P. schawalleri rather than P. arayat .

Description (amendments)

As noted in Huber (2011a), the holotype is apparently artificially darkened. The new material supports this assumption: carapace in males and females light brown with darker median band (sometimes indistinct; in females medially divided) and lateral bands (sometimes barely visible); sternum light brown to orange in both males and females. Hairs on male ocular processes not ‘glued’ together (Figs 77–78, 80). Tip of procursus extremely complex (Figs 83–84). Male palpal tibia with small but distinct ventral cavity. Distal male cheliceral apophyses with two modified (cone-shaped) hairs each (Fig. 85). Male gonopore with four epiandrous spigots (Fig. 86). Tarsus 4 comb-hairs as in Fig. 87. ALS in both sexes with one widened, one pointed, and three very small conical spigots (Figs 88, 90).

Variation

Tibia 1 in 15 newly examined males: 10.1–13.5 (mean 11.9); in 12 newly examined females: 9.2–11.1 (mean: 10.3). The specimens from Bohol are overall very similar to those from Luzon but the male differs in some details of the palp: tip of trochanter apophysis not so strongly directed proximad; distal semitransparent process on procursus not clearly bifid; distance between tip of uncus and subterminal process larger. They are thus assigned tentatively.

Natural history

The spiders were found both in sheltered spaces (among rocks and logs) and among vegetation, with their domed webs sometimes directly exposed to the sun.

Distribution

Known from several localities in central Luzon (Fig. 2); specimens from Bohol are assigned tentatively (see above).