Diaprograpta Simon, 1909

Raven, Robert J., 2009, Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders: IV. The spider subfamily Diaprograptinae subfam. nov. (Araneomorphae: Miturgidae), Zootaxa 2035, pp. 1-40 : 6

Diaprograpta Simon, 1909

Diaprograpta Simon, 1909: 174 ; Roewer 1955: 509; Lehtinen 1967: 228.

Diagnosis. Females differ from those of Eupograpta gen. nov. only in the characters of the epigyne which is short and wide with a broad rectanguloid scape (Figs 1e, 8d, 9a) and closely abutted lateral lobes. Females differ from those of Mitzoruga gen. nov. in having the broad elevated epigynal scape (Figs 1e, 8d, 9a). Males differ from those of Eupograpta gen. nov. in the RTA being a broad scoop, rather than a twisted spiral ( Fig. 3 a, 6c). Females differ from Zealoctenus only in the position of the eyes in which the AME are lowest and the anterior row is recurved in anterior view.

Type species. Diaprograpta striola Simon, 1909 , by monotypy.

Included pecies. Diaprograpta striola Simon, 1909 , D. abrahamsae sp. nov., D. alfredgodfreyi sp. nov., D. hirsti sp. nov., D. peterandrewsi sp. nov.

Distribution ( Fig. 25 a). Found near Winton (western Queensland), bayside Brisbane (southeast Queensland), near Adelaide (South Australia), northwestern Victoria and southwestern Western Australia. Diaprograpta is the rarest of the Australian miturgid genera represented by only one or two specimens for each of the new species. Despite intensive pitfall trapping over 12 months in a location in which one male ( Diaprograpta abrahamsae sp. nov.) was taken, no further material was found. Judged by the below ground retreats of various species of Miturga (pers. obs.; S. Douglass pers. comm.), the most likely explanation is that the spiders of the genus Diaprograpta occupy existing cavities in the soil.

Remarks. Diaprograpta very closely resembles the monotypic New Zealand Zealoctenus which is known only from one female. Raven & Stumkat (2003) suggested that the monotypic Zealoctenus may be a synonym of Diaprograpta . However, the epigyne and spermathecae of Zealoctenus ( Forster & Wilton 1973, figs 1039–1041) suggest the genus is distinct.

Of the five species included in Diaprograpta , three are known from a single male and the type species in known only from females; only D. peterandrewsi sp. nov., is known from both sexes.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Diaprograpta abrahamsae sp. nov., holotype male, palpal tibia, cymbium and bulb: a, ventral view; b, tibia and cymbium, retrolateral view. Scale line: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 25. Distribution records of Miturgidae in Australia: a, Diaprograpta, Eupograpta, Mitzoruga and Nuliodon; b, all records of Miturgidae for Australia.