Pholcus maepo Lee & Lee, sp. nov.

Figs 1Q–R, 2Q–R, 11, 16M–R, 18

Type material. Holotype: ♂, SOUTH KOREA: Chungcheongbuk-do: Danyang-gun, Maepo-eup, near oriental arborvitae forest in Yeongcheon-ri (37˚03'40"N, 128˚18'07"E, 190 m), 17 Jun. 2017, Doo-Yeong Choi leg. (NIBR) . Paratypes: 3♀♀, same data as holotype (KNU-Ar 20230085–87); 2♂♂, same data as holotype (KNU-Ar 20230088– 89); 8♂♂ 19♀♀, same data as holotype (KNU-kise 736) .

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Maepo-eup. Noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Males similar to Pholcus sokkrisanensis Paik, 1978, having membranous and spatulate dorsal process, triangular prolateral process distally with single pointed projection (Fig. 11D), and half-heart shaped uncus (Fig. 11F), but can be distinguished by: 1) prolateral process of procursus distally with large dagger-like projection, submarginally with thick linear sclerotized mark (Fig. 11D) (distally with small spur, marginally with thin sclerotized mark in P. sokkrisanensis, see Paik 1978: fig. 40); 2) uncus inner margin slightly sinuated, without projection (strongly concave, with single pointed projection in P. sokkrisanensis, see Paik 1978: fig. 41). Females similar to Pholcus simbok Huber, 2011, having triangular epigynal anterior plate, pair of oval sclerotized areas on epigynal posterior plate (Fig. 11H), and enlarged lateral concave area with anterior portion elongated (Fig. 11I), but can be distinguished by: 1) epigynal anterior plate sclerotized only anteromedially (Fig. 11H) (entirely sclerotized in P. simbok, see Huber 2011: fig. 2145); 2) anterior portion of lateral concave area strongly elongated, more than twice as long as posterior portion (Fig. 11I) (slightly longer than posterior portion in P. simbok, see Huber 2011: fig. 2146).

Description. Male (holotype). Habitus as in Fig. 1Q. Total length 5.4. Prosoma 1.6 long, 1.7 wide. Carapace round, pale yellow, with dark brown radial marks and marginal band on thoracic area. Eye area slightly elevated, posteriorly with dark brown marks laterally and medially. Diameter of AME 125 µm, ALE 171 µm, PME 146 µm, PLE 154 µm. AME–AME 51 µm, PME–PME 242 µm, PME–ALE 29 µm. Clypeus with large brown mark, without process. Chelicera (Fig. 2Q–R) with thumb-like proximo-lateral apophysis, stout, blunt, and ventrally curved frontal apophysis, and ventrally curved, notched triangular distal apophysis longer than proximo-lateral apophysis. Sternum longer than wide, shield-like, pale yellow with brown marks laterally and posteriorly. Opisthosoma 3.7 long, 2.0 wide, cylindrical, pale yellow, without cuticular patterns, with cardiac pattern and many black granular spots dorsally and laterally. Leg femora and tibiae yellowish brown with two whitish and two dark brown bands distally, two dark brown bands proximally; patellae, metatarsi, tarsi dark brown, without bands; leg Ⅰ femur distinctly darker. Leg Ⅰ 46.1 (11.8 + 0.8 + 11.9 + 19.3 + 2.4), leg II 30.2 (8.6 + 0.7 +7.7 + 11.7 + 1.5), leg III 20.2 (6.0 + 0.7 + 4.9 + 7.6 + 1.0), leg IV 27.8 (8.3 + 0.7 + 6.9 + 10.7 + 1.3). Ratio of leg Ⅰ (15.1: 1.0: 15.3: 24.7: 3.0), leg II (12.1: 1.0: 10.9: 16.5: 2.1), leg III (9.1: 1.0: 7.5: 11.5: 1.6), leg IV (12.3: 1.0: 10.3: 16.0: 1.9). Leg formula 1243. Tibia Ⅰ L/d 85. Tibiae, metatarsi, tarsi with short vertical setae, tibiae and metatarsi Ⅰ, II with long curved hairs. Tibiae with three trichobothria, except tibia Ⅰ (prolaterally absent). Retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia Ⅰ at 4% proximally. Tarsus I with 30 pseudosegments, mostly irregular. Palp (Fig. 11A–G). Trochanter apophysis (Fig. 11B) tiny, about 0.2 times as long as femur, blunt, proximo-retrolaterally with tubercle; femur ventrally swollen; tibia with prolatero-ventral tubercle; procursus (Fig. 11B–E) dark brown, slightly sinuated dorsally, with small ventral knee; dorso-subdistally slightly swollen, with two spines (Fig.11C); procursus tip (Fig.11C–E) with three large ridges and several indistinct ridges retrolaterally (Fig.11E), dorsal process membranous, spatulate, distally denticulate (arrowed 1 in Fig. 11D), and prolateral process triangular and membranous, retrolaterally with transparent blunt projection (arrowed 2 in Fig. 11D), prolatero-distally with large, strongly sclerotized, dagger-like, ventrally curved projection and thick linear strongly sclerotized mark (arrowed 3 in Fig. 11C–D); genital bulb oval, pale yellow; uncus (Fig. 11F) about 0.9 times as long as genital bulb, dark brown, half-heart shaped, distally slightly curved and pointed, outer margin with numerous tiny scales and small proximal concave area, inner margin slightly sinuated; pseudoappendix (Fig. 11G) tiny, triangular, slightly sclerotized; embolus (Fig. 11G) slender, distally fringed, weakly sclerotized, slightly longer than uncus.

Female (one of paratypes, KNU-Ar 20230085). Habitus as in Fig. 1R. Somatic characteristics generally similar to male, but cheliceral apophyses absent, legs slightly shorter. Total length 5.1. Prosoma 1.4 long, 1.4 wide. Diameter of AME 113 µm, ALE 158 µm, PME 112 µm, PLE 132 µm. AME–AME 38 µm, PME–PME 217 µm, PME–ALE 42 µm. Opisthosoma 3.6 long, 1.4 wide. Leg Ⅰ 32.1 (8.1 + 0.7 + 7.9 + 13.1 + 2.3), leg II 21.6 (5.9 + 0.6 + 5.4 + 8.4 + 1.4), leg III 15.9 (4.5 + 0.6 + 3.8 + 5.9 + 1.1), leg IV 21.9 (6.3 + 0.6 + 5.4 + 8.3 + 1.3). Ratio of leg Ⅰ (11.4: 1.0: 11.1: 18.5: 3.3), leg II (9.9: 1.0: 8.9: 13.9: 2.3), leg III (7.6: 1.0: 6.4: 10.0: 1.9), leg IV (10.2: 1.0: 8.6: 13.3: 2.1). Leg formula 1423. Tibia I L/d 66. Epigyne (Fig. 11H). Anterior plate obtuse triangular, with yellowish brown mark only medially, near epigynal knob dark brown; posterior plate ivory, slightly shorter than anterior plate, posterior edge slightly extended, with pair of oval brown sclerotized areas laterally, gradually darkened posterolaterally; epigynal knob dark brown, moderately thick, blunt, about 0.4 times as long as posterior plate; posterior sclerotized cuticle brown, moderately procurved, slightly shorter than posterior plate; interspace between posterior plate and posterior sclerotized cuticle yellowish brown, slightly shorter than posterior plate. Internal genitalia (Fig. 11I). Anterior arch triangular, median portion strongly sclerotized; genital valve slightly curved roundly; lateral portion enlarged, lateral margin ventrally strongly concave, dorsally slightly concave, anterior portion strongly elongated and pointing anterolaterally, lanceolate, blunt; pore plate oval, close together anteriorly and wide apart posteriorly.

Variation. Males. Prosoma width: 1.4–1.8 (mean 1.6), tibia Ⅰ: 10.3–12.5 (mean 11.4) (n=10).

An intrapopulational variation was observed on the shape of membranous distal dorsal process and membranous blunt retrolateral projection of prolateral process of procursus tip. The shape of strongly sclerotized mark on outer submarginal portion of prolateral process in procursus tip was also varied (Fig. 16M–N).

Females. Prosoma width: 1.4–1.6 (mean 1.5), tibia Ⅰ: 6.7–9.1 (mean 7.7) (n=10). An intrapopulational variation was observed on the size of pore plates and the shape of lateral portion of internal genitalia (Fig. 16Q–R), but the epigynal shapes were largely consistent (Fig. 16O–P).

Habitat information. This species was found inside road drains in mountainous regions.

Distribution. Korea (Danyang) (Fig. 18).