Archoleptoneta schusteri Gertsch, 1974

Ledford, Joel M. & Griswold, Charles E., 2010, A study of the subfamily Archoleptonetinae (Araneae, Leptonetidae) with a review of the morphology and relationships for the Leptonetidae, Zootaxa 2391, pp. 1-32 : 11-13

Archoleptoneta schusteri Gertsch, 1974

( Figs. 1 , 6–10 , 23, 25–26 , 33 , 35, 37, 39, 41 , 43–45, 47–48 , 49–56 , 76–78 , 97–102 , 109 )

Types. Male holotype from 6 miles Southeast of Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, California, USA (AMNH, examined).

Other material examined. USA: California: Alameda County: Berkeley, 2.iii.1958, L. M. Smith, 37.87N, 122.26W, 4 females ( AMNH); Castro Valley, 24.iii.1941, W. M. Pearce, 37.71N, 122.07W, 1 female ( AMNH); Oakland, 30.ii.1953, W. O. Bentinck, 37.77N, 122.21W, 1 female ( AMNH); Sinbad Creek, West of Pleasanton, 27.iii.1992, D. Ubick, 37.61N, 121.88W, 1 female (DU); Contra Costa County: 1mi. West Orinda, 12.xii.1953, V. Roth, 37.88N, 122.20W, 1 male, 3 females ( AMNH); Mt. Diablo State Park, North Gate Road, 22.ii.1991, D. Ubick, 37.88N, 121.98W, 1 female (DU); Fresno County: 0.3 mi. South Highway 180 along Highway 63, 29.iii.1991, D. Ubick, 36.72N, 119.28W, 3 males, 2 females, 2 juveniles (DU); Marin County: Carson Ridge, 1.i.1961, C. W. O'Brien, 37.96N, 122.63W, 1 male ( AMNH); Inverness, xi.1953, V. Roth, 38.083N, 122.83W, 1 female ( AMNH); Novato, 7.i.1987, D. Ubick, 38.12N, 122.57W, 1 male, 1 female, 2 juveniles (DU); Novato, Burdell Mountain, 16.iii.1990, D. Ubick and T. S. Briggs, 38.12N, 122.57W, 2 males (DU); Novato, San Marin Drive, 2.i.1986, D. Ubick, 38.12N, 122.57W, 1 male, 3 females (DU); Novato, San Marin Drive, 18.iv.1992, D. Ubick and J. Boutin, 38.12N, 122.57W, 2 males (DU); South Slope of Burdell Mtn., North of Novato, 28.xi.1992, D. Ubick, J. Boutin, C. Griswold, and T. Meikle, 38.12N, 122.57W, 2 males, 8 females, 3 juveniles ( CASC); 3mi. NW San Rafael, Terra Linda, 7.iii.1982, D. Ubick and T. S. Briggs, 38.00N, 122.55W, 2 males (DU); Novato, San Marin Drive, 14.iii.1982, D. Ubick, 38.12N, 122.57W, 1 male, 2 females (DU); Novato, San Marin Drive, 7.xii.1985, D. Ubick, 38.12N, 122.57W, 1 male, 3 females (DU); Tiburon, Ring Mtn., 19.iii.1994, D. Ubick, 37.90N, 122.48W, 1 male, 1 female (DU); Monterey County: Coast Ridge Trail, 1.vi.1991, D. Ubick, 35.97N, 121.43W, 1 female (DU); Point Cypress, 4mi. NE of Carmel, 23.ii.1957, G. A. Marsh, 36.56N, 121.82W, 1 female ( AMNH); Napa County: 3mi. North Calistoga, 31.xii.1953, G. A. Marsh, R. O. Schuster, and V. Roth, 38.62N, 122.57W, 2 females ( AMNH); Mt. St. Helena, 31.xii.1953, G. Marsh, R. Schuster, and V. Roth, 38.66N, 122.63W, 1 female ( AMNH); San Benito County: 12.7mi. SE of Pacines on Panoche Rd., 1.xii.1984, D. Ubick, 36.66N, 121.05W, 1 male, 2 females (DU); San Francisco County: Potrero Hill, 18.i.1990, D. Ubick, 37.75N, 122.39W, 1 male (DU); Potrero Hill, 23.xii.1988, T. S. Briggs, 37.75N, 122.39W, 1 female (DU); San Mateo County: Belmont, 5.iii.1961, R. O. Schuster, 37.51N, 122.29W, 1 female ( AMNH); Canada College, 23.x.1988, T. S. Briggs, 37.44N, 122.26W, 2 females (DU); Edgewood Park, 2.i.1987, D. Ubick, 37.47N, 122.28W, 1 female, 2 juveniles (DU); Edgewood Park, 24.xii.1987, D. Ubick, 37.47N, 122.28W, 1 male (DU); Polhemus Rd., 2.i.1983, D. Ubick, 37.52N, 122.34W, 3 females (DU); San Bruno Mountain, 1.iii.1992, D. Ubick, 37.68N, 122.43W, 1 female (DU); San Bruno Mountain, 18.i.1992, D. Ubick, 37.68N, 122.43W, 1 female (DU); Sharp Park, 29.iii.1960, S. F. Bailey, 37.63N, 122.47W, 1 male ( AMNH); Jasper Ridge Biological Reserve, 30.xii.1988, D. Ubick, 37.40N, 122.24W, 3 females, 2 juveniles (DU); Santa Clara County: Henry Coe State Park, 31.iii.1989, D. Ubick, 37.21N, 121.51W, 1 female (DU); Mt. Madonna, 2.i.1954, R. Burdick, 37.01N, 121.70W, 1 male, 6 females ( AMNH); San Antonio Valley Rd., 7.iv.1991, D. Ubick, 37.35N, 121.54W, 1 female (DU); Santa Teresa County Park, South end, serpentine grassland, 10.ii.1989, 37.21N, 121.78W, D. Ubick, 1 female (DU); Shaeirn Ranch, 5.2mi. North Bell Station, 10.ii.1991, D. Ubick, W. Rauscher, 37.11N, 121.31W, 6 females (DU); Stevens Creek, 2.vi.1957, R. O. Schuster, 37.27N, 122.07W, 2 males, 6 females ( AMNH); Stevens Creek, 27.vii.1957, G. A. Marsh, 37.27N, 122.07W, 1 female ( AMNH); Santa Cruz County: 9.5mi. NE of Soquel, 31.xii.1956, S. M. Fidel, 37.11N, 121.95W, 6 males, 1 female, 8 juveniles ( AMNH); Ben Lomond, 21.vi.1953, C. D. MacNeill, 37.07N, 122.08W, 1 male ( AMNH); Santa Boulder Creek, 22.i.1955, Burdick and Wasbauer, 37.13N, 122.12W, 1 female ( AMNH); Cave Gulch, 18.vi.1984, D. Ubick, 36.99N, 122.07W, 1 female (DU); Shasta County: outside Potter Creek Cave, 8.vi.1995, D. Ubick, 40.78N, 122.28W, 1 female (DU); Sonoma County: 1.5mi. East Healdsburg, 29.iii.1981, D. Ubick, 38.62N, 122.83W, 1 female (DU); Mark West Springs, 31.xii.1953, Roth, Schuster, and Marsh, 38.54N, 122.72W, 1 female ( AMNH); Tulare County: Bacon Hill, 24.iii.1991, D. Ubick, T. Briggs, and W. Rauscher, 36.45N, 119.18W, 1 male (DU); Sequoia/ Kings Cyn. National Park, Clough Cave, 27.iv.2004, J. Krejca, P. Sprouse, S. Fryer, D. Ubick, P. Paquin, 36.35N, 118.76W, 2 females ( CASC).

Diagnosis. Separated from Archoleptoneta gertschi sp. nov. by having males with an embolus that runs the length of the tarsus ( Figs. 76 , 98 ) and an apically pointed median sclerite ( Figs. 98, 101 ). Females with elongate spermathecae on narrow bases, approximately three times as long as wide ( Fig. 109 ).

Description. Male (holotype).

Total length 1.36. Specimen yellow- orange; missing left leg II and patella- tarsus of legs III & IV.

Carapace 0.55 long, 0.48 wide, height at fovea 0.23 x carapace width; clypeus 0.08 high, chelicerae 0.23 long. Ocular area 0.04 long, 0.06 wide. Sternum 0.4 long, 0.35 wide; labium 0.03 long, 0.09 wide; palpal coxae 0.19 long, 0.11 wide.

Legs covered with fine setae. Leg formula IV, I, II, III. Measurements (Femur + Patella + Tibia + Metatarsus + Tarsus = [Total]): I: 0.76 + 0.21 + 0.20 + 0.58 + 0.40 = [2.15]; II: 0.64 + 0.20 + 0.53 + 0.47 + 0.28 = [2.12]; III: 0.58 + 0.18 + 0.46 + 0.43 + 0.34 = [1.99]; IV: 0.76 + 0.18 + 0.69 + 0.52 + 0.38 = [2.53]; pedipalpus: 0.32 + 0.08 + 0.15 + 0.29 = [0.84]. Femur I 1.58 x carapace width, palpal femur 0.66 x carapace width.

Palpal bulb 0.17 long, 0.13 wide; embolus sinuous and extending to the tip of the tarsus. Prolateral sclerite straight, produced to a blunt point apically; median sclerite with a slight retrolateral bend and tapering to a fine point; retrolateral sclerite tapering to a fine point.

Abdomen pale, without pattern, 0.81 long, 0.50 wide.

Variation (n = 8). Total length 1.23–1.77; carapace length 1.15–1.23 x carapace width; OAL 0.50–0.66 x OAW; length femur I 1.58–1.90 x carapace width, palpal femur 0.59–0.67 x carapace width. Embolus straight ( Fig. 98 ) to sinuous ( Fig. 76 ).

Female (Soquel).

Total length 1.45. Coloration and markings identical to male.

Carapace 0.60 long, 0.48 wide, height at fovea 1.4 × carapace width; clypeus 0.09 high, chelicerae 0.24 long. Ocular area 0.40 long, 0.70 wide. Sternum as long as wide; labium 0.03 long, 0.08 wide; palpal coxae 0.18 long, 0.06 wide.

Leg measurements (Femur + Patella + Tibia + Metatarsus + Tarsus = [Total]): I: 0.73 + 0.21 + 0.65 + 0.55 + 0.39 = [2.53]; II: 0.61 + 0.18 + 0.55 + 0.47 + 0.35 = [2.16]; III: 0.58 + 0.19 + 0.47 + 0.44 + 0.32 = [2.0]; IV: 0.73 + 0.19 + 0.69 + 0.50 + 0.37 = [2.48]; pedipalpus: 0.23 + 0.11 + 0.16 + 0.24 = [0.74]. Femur I 1.5 × carapace width, palpal femur 0.47 × carapace width.

Abdomen 0.85 long, 0.73 wide. Spermathecae longer than wide and with narrow bases ( Fig. 109 ).

Variation (n = 5). Total length 1.45–1.82; carapace length 1.20–1.27 × carapace width; OAL 0.57–0.67 × OAW; length femur I 1.50–1.72 × carapace width, palpal femur 0.42–0.61 × carapace width.

Distribution. Widespread in California ( Fig.115 ) from Sonoma County south to Monterey County and east to Fresno County.

Natural history. Archoleptoneta schusteri occurs in a variety of habitats but are most commonly encountered under moist stones and leaf litter. Several populations in the Bay Area are abundant on serpentine soils. The eggsac is a flattened disc, which contains 4– 6 eggs, adhered to the bottom of stones. Specimens maintained in captivity produced minimal silk and cribellate carding behavior has not been observed.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Images of living Leptonetidae. 1. Archoleptoneta schusteri female, Marin County, CA, USA; 2. Neoleptoneta myopica female, Tooth Cave, Travis County, TX, USA; 3. Neoleptoneta myopica male, Tooth Cave, Travis County, TX; 4. Web of Neoleptoneta myopica, Tooth Cave, Travis County, TX; 5. Eggsac of Neoleptoneta anopica, Corn Cobb’s Cave, Williamson County, TX.

FIGURES 6 – 10. Archoleptoneta schusteri, Burdell Mountain, Marin County, CA, USA. 6. Female habitus, dorsal; 7. Female carapace, dorsal; 8. Male habitus, dorsal; 9. Female habitus, lateral; 10. Male habitus, lateral.

FIGURES 23 – 28. Eyes of Leptonetidae. 23. Archoleptoneta schusteri female carapace, dorsal, Burdell Mountain, Marin County, CA, USA; 24. Leptoneta infuscata female carapace, dorsal, Cova de l’avenc del Pla de Comes, Spain; 25. A. schusteri female, eyes, dorsal, Burdell Mountain; 26. A. schusteri female, eyes, lateral, Burdell Mountain; 27. L. infuscata female, eyes, dorsal, Cova de l’avenc; 28. L. infuscata female, eyes, lateral, Cova de l’avenc.

FIGURES 29 – 34. Archoleptonetinae general morphology. 29. Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., male carapace, dorsal, arrows to stridulatory picks; 30. Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., stridulatory structures, dorsal; 31. Archoleptoneta schusteri, female, Burdell Mountain, Marin Co., CA, patella III, dorsal, showing gland; 32. Darkoneta reddelli sp. nov., juvenile carapace, dorsal; 33. Archoleptoneta schusteri, female, Burdell Mountain, Marin Co., CA, carapace, posterior; 34. Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., male abdomen, ventral, showing gonopore anteriad of epigastric furrow.

FIGURES 35 – 42. General Morphology, SEM. 35. Archoleptoneta schusteri, female, right endite, ventral, Burdell Mountain, Marin County, CA, USA, arrows to paired stout setae; 36. Leptoneta infuscata, female, left endite, ventral, Cova de l’avenc, Spain; 37. A. schusteri, female, tarsal organ, right tarsus, leg I, Burdell Mountain; 38. L. infuscata, female, tarsal organ, right tarsus, leg I, Cova de l’avenc, Spain; 39. A. schusteri, male, tarsal organ, right tarsus, leg I, Burdell Mountain; 40. L. infuscata, male, tarsal organ, right tarsus, leg I, Cova de l’avenc, Spain; 41. A. schusteri, female, left chelicera, Burdell Mountain; 42. Neoleptoneta myopica, female, right chelicera, Gallifer Cave, Travis County, TX, USA.

FIGURES 43 – 48. Archoleptonetinae spinnerets and calamistra, SEM. 43. Archoleptoneta schusteri, female, spinnerets, ventral, Burdell Mountain, Marin County, CA, USA; 44. A. schusteri, female, cribellum, Burdell Mountain; 45. A. schusteri, female, calamistrum, right metatarsus IV, Burdell Mountain; 46. Darkoneta stridulans, female, spinnerets, ventral, Chiriqui, Panama; 47. A. schusteri, female, cribellum, spigots, Burdell Mountain; 48. A. schusteri, female, calamistrum, right metatarsus IV, Burdell Mountain.

FIGURES 49 – 56. Archoleptoneta schusteri, spinnerets, Burdell Mountain, Marin County, CA, USA. 49. Female spinnerets, ventral; 50. Female right ALS; 51. Female PMS; 52. Female right PLS; 53. Male spinnerets ventral; 54. Male left ALS; 55. Male PMS; 56. Male left PLS. AC, aciniform gland spigots; CY, cylindrical gland spigots; MAP, major ampullate gland spigot (s); mAP, minor ampullate gland spigot (s); MSp, possible modified spigot; Nu MSp, nubbin of possible modified spigot; PI, piriform gland spigots; TP, tartipore.

FIGURES 73 – 78. Comparative views of archoleptonetine and leptonetine palps. 73 – 75: Leptoneta infuscata, right palp, Cova de l’avenc, Spain. 73. Ventral, 74. Retrolateral, 75. Dorsal. 76 – 78: Archoleptoneta schusteri, right palp, Burdell Mountain, Marin County, USA. 76. Ventral, 77. Retrolateral, 78. Dorsal. E, embolus; MS, median sclerite; PRS, prolateral sclerite; RLS, retrolateral sclerite.

FIGURES 97 – 102. Microstructure views of Archoleptoneta schusteri, male right palp, Soquel, Santa Cruz Co., California, USA. 97. Retrolateral; 98. Ventral; 99. Prolateral; 100. Bulb, prolateral; 101. Accessory sclerites, ventral; 102. Accessory sclerites, prolateral. E, embolus; MS, median sclerite; PRS, prolateral sclerite; RLS, retrolateral sclerite.

FIGURES 109 – 114. Leptonetidae female genitalia and respiratory system. 109. Archoleptoneta schusteri female genitalia, dorsal, Soquel, Santa Cruz Co.; 110. Archoleptoneta gertschi, sp. nov., female genitalia, dorsal, Calaveras Co.; 111. D. stridulans female genitalia, dorsal, Panama; 112. Darkoneta quetzal sp. nov., female genitalia, dorsal, Guatemala; 113. L. infuscata female genitalia, dorsal; 114. Appaleptoneta sp. female tracheae, dorsal (image from MJR).

FIGURES 115 – 116. Distribution maps for North American Leptonetidae. 115. Distribution of Archoleptoneta in California. A. schusteri localities outlined in orange, A. gertschi sp. nov. localities highlighted in red. Localities for which there are no known males and are in need of additional sampling are outlined in black. 116. Distribution of Darkoneta.