Misgolas villosus ( Rainbow, 1914 )

Wishart, Graham, 2006, Trapdoor Spiders of the Genus Misgolas (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae) in the Sydney Region, Australia, With Notes on Synonymies Attributed to M. rapax, Records of the Australian Museum 58 (1), pp. 1-18 : 3-6

Misgolas villosus ( Rainbow, 1914)

Figs. 1A–F, 12A–B

Megalosara villosa Rainbow, 1914: 206 , figs. 16–22.

Misgolas villosa ( Rainbow, 1914) .– Main, 1985b: 25 ( villosus in Platnick [2004]).

Not Misgolas rapax Karsch, 1878 .– Main, 1985b: 25; removed from synonymy in the present work.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE Ƌ, AM KS7178 . Enfield NSW.

Other material. Males: AM KS3572, Cattai (33°33'S 150°55'E), 25 Sep. 1979, R.H. Eastment; AM KS4462, Mortdale (33°58'S 151°05'E), 4 Feb. 1980, D. Day; AM KS5124, Croydon (33°52'S 151°06'E), 16 Apr. 1981, G. Howard; AM KS5905, Annangrove (33°39'S 150°56'E), 15 Sep. 1980; AM KS8787, Newtown (33°37'S 151°11'E), 22 Mar. 1982; AM KS9989, Glenorie (33°35'S 151°00'E), 15 Sep. 1982; AM KS10431, Willoughby (33°47'S 151°12'E), 22 Nov. 1982, I. Sippel; AM KS10980, Cremorne (33°48'S 151°13'E), 19 Mar. 1983, G. Copp; AM KS16541, Tempe (33°55'S 151°09'E), 28 Apr. 1986; AM KS17786, Mt Kuring-gai (33°45'S 151°04'E), 19 Oct. 1987; AM KS31958, Glebe (33°52'S 151°11'E), 20 May 1992; AM KS34393, North Rocks (33°46'S 151°01'E), 12 Aug. 1992, Mrs Bussel; AM KS36566, Manly (33°47'S 151°16'E), 6 May 1975, J. Marsh; AM KS38521, Panania (33°57'S 151°00'E), 14 Feb. 1972, M. Taylor; AM KS38536, North Sydney (33°50'S 151°12'S), 8 Feb. 1950, B. Adamson; AM KS40627 Narrabeen (33°43'S 151°18'E), 15 Mar. 1994, M.R. Fleming; AM KS43700, Hurstville (33°58'S 151°06'E), 15 Feb. 1971, A. Holland; AM KS44362, Galston (33°38'S 151°04'E), 28 Oct. 1991, T. Dixon; AM KS49357, New Lambton (32°54'S 151°42'E), 26 Mar. 1997, L.Abra; AM KS49381, Avoca Beach (33°27'S 151°26'E), 24 Apr. 1997, L. Abra; AM KS50029, Revesby (33°57'S 151°00'E), 15 May 1984, D.A. Pharm; AM KS50082, Chatswood (33°48'S 151°11'E), 4 Sep. 1997, R. Hendricks; AM KS51110, Gosford (33°25'S 151°20'E); 23 Jan. 1998, L. Abra; AM KS51163, Avalon (33°37'S 151°19'E), 12 Feb. 1998, L. Abra. Females: AM KS5329, Peakhurst (33°58'S 151°04'E), B. Smith; AM KS35576, Summer Hill (33°53'S 151°08'E), 19 Jul. 1993, K. Dorrian; AM KS44222, Burwood (33°52'S 151°06'E); AM KS44224, Gladesville (33°49'S 151°07'E), 15 Feb. 1929.

Diagnosis. Large brown spiders; rd surface of metatarsi IV without spines (Fig. 1E). Venter entirely pallid, brown pigmented pattern absent (Fig. 1D,F). In female: Carapace length c. 8–12. In male: Carapace length c. 8–10; embolus of bulb narrow, straight, with minute d subdistal raised mound; rl flange with c. 7 folds, edge straight (Fig. 1B,C). Conformation of palp as figured (Fig. 1A). TEM raised, pallid, rl surface slightly textured.

Remarks. The female (holotype, A. fuscipes Rainbow ) and male (holotype, Megalosara villosa Rainbow ) were redescribed by Main (1985a). However, the identity of the female specimen could be in doubt. The presence of a spine on the rd surface of metatarsi IV of this specimen points to the possibility that it may belong to Misgolas gracilis . Should this be the case the absence of a discernible venter pattern in the female specimen could be due to preservation effects. The weakly chitinized area extending onto the pleuron below the clypeus is more prominent in Misgolas villosus than in other Misgolas species found in the Sydney Region, this is especially so in males. Spines on the dorsal surface of the cymbium are usually pointed and projected gently forward; some rare variations of this have been observed. Very rarely a venter pattern is present.

Distribution and natural history ( Fig. 12A,B ). Misgolas villosus is unknown south of George’s River, north of Hunter River Valley or west of 150°55'E longitude. The spider is not found in the area east of the Prince’s Highway to the south of Port Jackson, perhaps due to sandy soil. Collection dates of 198 male specimens (AM) indicate males wander throughout the year. The burrow entrance is figured by Mascord (1970) showing a leaf attached in the manner of the burrow of M. rapax (= Misgolas hubbardi Wishart 1992 ).

Figures

Fig. 12. Species distribution of Misgolas species in the Sydney region (eastern Australia) based on material examined. Key to symbols for maps (A) and (B): O Misgolas gracilis; A M. melancholicus; Z M. villosus. Map (C): • M. beni; Z M. cliffi; Δ M. lynabra; M. maculosus; O M. michaeli; * M. rodi; A M. trangi; * M. wayorum.