Scotina celans (Blackwall, 1841)

(Figs 13-16)

Agroeca celans Blackwall 1841: 624 (descr. male, female); Simon 1878: 308.

Scotina celans; Simon 1932: 945, 972.

Description:

Measurements: Male: Total length 2.8-3.3; carapace 1.32 long, 1.60 wide. Female: Total length 3.0-4.8; carapace 1.44-1.92 long, 1.12-1.52 wide.

Colour: Carapace yellowish brown, with two dark para-median brown to black stripes; legs yellowish brown, tibiae and tarsi in males often darkened; abdomen dorsally dark olive brown to black, with indistinct reddish brown spots.

Palp (Figs. 13-14): Tibia with triangular apophysis; median apophysis hooked; embolus S-shaped, basal part relatively wide, terminal part linear.

Epigyne (Fig. 15): Poorly chitinised, with two parallel sutures, between them two anchoring holes.

Vulva (Fig. 16): Copulation ducts wide, U-shaped; spermathecae oval, wider than the ducts.

Material examined:

Algeria - Aïn Defla: Djebel Zaccar, Aïn n’Sour, 900m, 1 female in Quercus ilex litter, 18.V.1988, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

- Annaba: Djebel Edough, Seraidi, 810m, 1 male in litter in Quercus faginea forest, 24.XI.1989, and 1 female in pitfalls, 2.III.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

- Batna: Massif de l’Aures: monts de Belezma, Col Telmet, 1820m, 6 males in pitfalls in Cedrus forest, 26.II.1988, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) ; foret de S’gag, 1650m, 10 males 2 females in pitfalls in Cedrus forest, 5.XI.87 - 9.IV.1988, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

- Blida: Chrea, 850m, 2 females in pitfalls in Quercus suber forest, 27.III.1985, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB); Chrea, 1000m, 1 female, pitfalls in Quercus faginea forest, 20.V.1985, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB); Chrea, Pic Abdelakder, 1520m, 1 female in pitfall in Cedrus forest, 20.V.1987, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) ; Meftah, Djebel Zerouela, 480m, 16 males in pitfalls in Ouercus suber forest, 11.XII.1986 - 23.VI.1987, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) ; Meurdja, 950m, pitfalls in planted Cedrus forest, 4 males 7 females, 2.V-15.VI.1982, and 24 males 8 females, 15.VI.1987 - 22.XII.1988, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB); Debel Mouzaia, 1200m, 1 male 1 female, stones in grassland, 27.1.1990, and 1300m, 8 males 1 female, pitfalls in Acer forest, 6.X-4.XI.1985, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

- Bouira: Massif du Djurdjura: Tala Rana, 1310m, 5 males in pitfalls in Cednis forest, 6.X.1987 - VI.1988. Tikjda, 1475m, 2 males, pitfalls in Cedrus forest, 2- 24.IV.1982, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

- Boumerdes: Rhegaia, 15m, 3 males 1 female in pitfalls in Populus alba forest, 13.VT. 1988. Zemmouri, 10m, 4 males 1 female, pitfalls in Pinus halepensis forest, 7.I.1989, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

- Chleff: Bai des Souhalia, 10m, 1 female, stones in Pinus halepensis forest, 7.V.1989, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) . Damous, 50m, 1 male, pitfalls in Pinus halepensis forest, 20.I.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) ; foret de Tacheta, 850m, 6 males 1 female in pitfalls in Quercus faginea forest, 12.IV. 1989, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

- El Tarf: El Kala, Lac Melah, 4m, 1 female in pitfall in Quercus suber forest, 7.IV.1982, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

- Medea: Col de Beni Chicao, 1230m, 1 male, pitfalls in Quercus ilex forest, 13.I-20.V.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

- Oran: Foret de M’sila, 400m, 1 female in Quercus ilex litter, 25.IV.1984, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

- Setif: Djebel Babor, 1600m, 1 female in pitfall in Cedrus forest, 20.V.1982, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

- Skikda: road Djendel-Larbi ben Mhid, 200m, 2 males 2 females in Quercus ilex litter, 2.III.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

- Tipasa: Bouchaoui, 95m, 3 males 1 female in pitfalls in Ulmus forest, 27.I.1996, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) ; Douaouda, Oued Mazafran, 50m, 2 malés in pitfalls in Olea maquis, 12.I.1988, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) ; Sidi Fredj,

25m, 8 males 2 females in pitfalls in Pinus halepensis forest, 18.XII.1986, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

- Tissemsilt: Theniet el Had, Djebel Ouarsenis, 1400- 1600m, 24 males 5 females in pitfalls in Cedrus atlanticus forest, 23.X.1987 - 15.V.1988, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

- Tizi Ouzou: Massif du Djurdjura: Ait Ouabane, 1500m, I female, stones in Quercus faginea forest, 20.X. 1986, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB ) ; Col de Tizi ’n Kouillal, 1500m, 2 males 2 females in pitfalls in montane grassland, I-XII.1992, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB ) ; Tala Guilef, 1420m, 6 males in pitfalls in Cedrus atlanticus forest, 6.X.1989 -I. VI.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) ; Yakouren, 820m, 2 males 1 female in pitfalls in Quercus faginea forest, 4.XH.1986, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB).

- Tlemcen: Col de Zarifète, 1150m, 2 females in pitfalls in Quercus ilex forest, 6.V. 1984, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB ) ; Col de Tal Temy, 1300m, 2 males 8 females in pitfalls in Quercus ilex forest, 6.V.1984, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) ; Forêt d’Hafir, 1350m, 5 males 1 female in pitfalls in Quercus suber forest, 23.V.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB ) ; Monts de Traras, El Arabienne, 580m, 2 males in pitfalls in Olea maquis, 24.V.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) ; Tal Terny, 1300m, 1 male in pitfalls in Quercus ilex forest, 24.V.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

Distribution: Western and Central Europe, Maghreb.

Ecology: A very common species in all kinds of forests and maquis, in the south only at higher altitudes. Adult in winter and early spring: males were collected from November to April, females from December to May.