Arthur M. Chickering.
The Family Oonopidae (Araneae) in Florida.
Psyche 76:144-162, 1969.

Full text (searchable PDF, 1504K)
Durable link: http://psyche.entclub.org/76/76-144.html

The following unprocessed text is extracted from the PDF file, and is likely to be both incomplete and full of errors. Please consult the PDF file for the complete article.

THE FAMILY OONOPIDAE (ARANEAE)
IN FLORIDA*
BY ARTHUR M. CHICKERING
Museum of Comparative Zoology
During my study of the family Oonopidae (Araneae) in Central America and the West Indies I have also become interested in this family as it exists in the State of Florida. In February, March and April, 1968, I had an opportunity to collect spiders in Florida as a part of my study of this group of animals with the support of the National Science Foundation Grant No. GB-5013. In addition to my own collection I have had helpful loans from the American Museum of Natural History and the University of Florida in Gaines- ville. Dr. W. J. Gertsch has also made it possible for me to examine the types of Ischnothyreus barrowsi Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935 and Stenoonops minutus C. and I., 1935, now being placed on semi- permanent loan from the University of Utah to the American Mu- seum of Natural History. Oonopidae from Florida and the West Indies now a part of the collections in the Museum of Comparative Zoology have also been very helpful in this study. As usual, my entire collection of this family will be deposited in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. All types described from specimens on loan from the American Museum of Natural History will be deposited in that institution.
My appreciation and gratitude are again expressed for the con- tinued aid and encouragement in the pursuit of my studies extended by the staff of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. My thanks are also extended to Dr. W. J. Gertsch, recently retired from the staff of the American Museum of Natural History and to Dr. Howard V. Weems, Jr., Florida Department of Agriculture, Gaines- ville, Florida, for the loan of very helpful collections. Grants GB-1801 and GB-5013 from the National Science Foundation have made it possible for me to continue my studies in the Museum of Comparative Zoology and on several collecting expeditions for nearly six years.
As a result of my study of the Oonopidae of Florida as indicated above I have been able to identify seven different genera. Among these I have been obliged to recognize five different species of the 'Manuscript received by the editor February 13, 1969 Published with the aid of a grant from the Museum of Comparative Zoology.




================================================================================

19691 Chickering - Oonopidae I45
genus Opopaea. It seems highly probable that diligent collecting in the habitats preferred by members of this family will yield additional genera and species not yet recorded in the state. Key to the known genera of Oonopidae in Florida Genera with dorsal abdominal scutum (Ischnothyreus, Opopaea, . .
Trzaerzs ........................................................................................ 2 Genera without a dorsal abdominal scutum (Heteroonops, Oonops, Orchestina, Stenoonops) ................................................ 4 Abdomen with dorsal and ventral scuta strongly chitinized and covering nearly the entire abdominal surface ........ Opopaea, p. Abdomen with scuta covering only a relatively small portion of the abdominal surface and not so strongly chitinized ............ ........................................................ (Ischnothyreus, Triaeris) 3 ALE nearly contiguous to one another; Pnm contiguous to one another and to PLE; males with dark brown palps and a basal hook on the cheliceral fang .......................... Ischnothyreus, p. ALE fairly well separated; PnfE contiguous but more or less well separated from PLE ............................................. Triaeris, p. PME moved far forward between ALE thus making an anterior row of four eyes .................................................... Orchestina, p. PME not moved forward as given above; fo,rming a somewhat recurved row with PLE .... (Heteroonops, Oonops, Stenoonops) 5 Legs without conspicuous spines; venter of abdomen with a moderately well outlined epigastric scutum and with a narrow ventral scutum just posterior to the genital groove .................... ................................................................................ Stenoonops p. Legs with more or less conspicuous spines; venter of abdomen with weakly outlined scuta ................ (0 onops, Heteroonops) 6 Palpal patella with a conspicuous prolateral bulge bearing ro- bust spines; palpal femur and tibia also with conspicuous spines (Figs. 29-3 I ) ............................................... Heteroonops, p. Palpal patella without notable distortion ; palpal segments with- out conspicuous spines ................................................ Oonops, p. Genus Ischnothyreus Simon, 1893
Ischnothyreus fieltifer ( Simon)
Ischnaspis peltifer Simon, 1891: 562,
The female holotype from St. Vincent,
B. W. I. is in the British Museum (Natural History), examined. Ischnothyreus peltifer Simon, 1893: 298; (not the male p. 299 fig. 264). Petrunkevitch, 1911: 127; 1928: 88; 1929: 66; Bryant, 1940: 266; Roewer, 1942: 287; Chickering, 1951: 219 ; 1968: 80; Bonnet, 1957: 2309.



================================================================================

146 Psyche [June
Ischnothyreus barrowsl Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935: 9, fig. 7. The female holotype from Marco Island, Florida has been in the University of Utah but is now being placed in the American Museum of Natural
History on semipermanent loan, examined. New Synonymy. Dysderina antillana Bryant, 1942 : 234; 1948 : 340. The female holotype from the Virgin Islands is in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, examined.
As I have shown in a recent ~ublication (1968)) this species is now well known from Costa Rica, Panama, many of the West Indies and now, also the State of Florida. I am, however, sceptical about its reported distribution in extensive a,reas of Asia and Africa. Dur- ing my period of field work in Florida in the month of March (1968) I collected a few specimens of both sexes in avocado groves in the vicinity of Homestead. Further careful collecting will prob- ably show that the species is well distributed through at least the southern parts of the state.
Genus Opopaea Simon, 1891
There is considerable confusion in the literature regarding the characters used for separating the genus Opopaea from the genus Gamasomorpha. I am not at present prepared to attempt a clarifica- tion of this confusion and in view of this fact I am placing Gamaso- morpha floridam Banks along with four other species in the genus Figures 1-3. Opopaea bandina sp. nov. Fig. 1. Carapace from above. Fig. 2. Eyes from above.
Fig. 3. Epigynal area from below.




================================================================================

19691 Chickering - Oonopidae I47
Opopaea. This decision appears to be in accord with the treatment given several species by Petrunkevitch ( I 929), Gertsch ( I 936)) Bry- ant ( I 940)) Chickering ( 195 I ) , and Sumon (in part, 1965 ) . Key to the known males of Opopaea in Florida Ia. Species with palpal patella greatly inflated as shown in Fig- ures 5-8 ................................................................ 0. brasima, p. I b. Species with palpal patella not greatly inflated ........................ ................................................................ (0. calona, 0. lutzi) 2 2a. Species with palpal ta,rsus terminating in a pair of long, slender processes (Embolus and conductor) ........................ 0. lutzi, p. 2b. Species with palpal tarsus terminating in a pair of short processes turned at right angles ............................................ 0. calona, p. No satisfactory key has yet been devised to aid in the sepa,ration of the five known kinds of females from Florida. Opopaea bandina sp. nov.
Figures 1-3
Holotype. The female holotype is from Pinellas Co., Largo, Florida, Nov., 1964.
Collected by Mrs. Lorna R. Levi. The name of the species is an arbitrary combination of letters. Description. Total length exclusive of the somewhat extended spinnerets 1.58 mm; including the spinnerets total length is nearly 1.67 mm. Carapace 0.56 mm long; 0.44 mm wide opposite second coxae where it is widest; about 0.20 mm tall; gently raised just behind PME and then nearly level along midline to beginning of steep posterior declivity opposite interval between third and fourth coxae ; very finely rugulose as usual along lateral surf aces ; with numerous short hairs. Eyes: six as usual in a compact group ; pos- terior row only moderately recurved. Ratio of eyes ALE: PME: terior row only moderately recurved. Ratio of eyes ALE : PME : PLE = 12 : 10 : 9.5. ALE separated from one another by about one fourth of their diameter (some irregularities in outlines noted) ; separated from PME and PLE by broad lines. PME contiguous as usual and separated from PLE by a broad line. With a. moderate amount of black pigment in ocular area. Height of clypeus nearly equal to radius of ALE. Folded fragile legs make it difficult to observe closely the chelicerae, maxillae, palps and lip but apparently all are typical of females of the genus. Sternum: quite typical of
the genus; longer than wide in ratio of about 4 : 3 ; with marginal lobes and grooves moderately developed; posterior end squarely truncate, viewed directly from below; extended between bases of



================================================================================

fourth coxae which are separated by nearly twice their width. Legs: 41-23 in order of length; no spines observed; only hairs, bristles and trichobothria. Abdomen : typical of the genus in general ; dorsal scutum covers about ten-elevenths of dorsal surface; ventral and epigastric scuta cover nearly four-fifths of ventral surface; with rather wide lateral surfaces bare of scuta. Epigynal area obscurely distinctive (Fig. 3).
Color in alcohol: quite typical of the genus. This species appears to be more or less closely related to Opopaea recondita Chickering.
Records. One female paratype taken with the holotype. One female assigned to this species is from "Alachua Co., Florida, Science Hall bookcase"; no further data given but assumed to have been taken at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Two females from Edgewater, Florida, February 1939 (C. A. Frost) filed in Museum of Comparative Zoology as Gamasomorpha floridana Banks. Four females on loan from the American Museum of Natural History from the following localities: Lake Placid, Archbold Research Sta- tion, Nov. 23, 1952; December 8, 1959 and October I, 1962 to- gether with De Soto City, October 5,
1962 (all four just noted
collected by A. M. Nadler).
Opopaea brasima sp. nov.
Figures 4-10
Holotype. The male holotype is from Kendall, Florida, Mar. 1953; collected by A. M. Nadler. The name of the species is an arbitrary combination of letters. The holotype will be deposited in the American Museum of Natural History, New York City. Description. Total length 1.3 mm Carapace 0.55 mm long; 0.44 mm wide opposite second coxae where it is widest; nearly 0.22 mm tall; nearly flat along midline from slightly behind PME to begin- ning of steep posterior declivity; posterior border recurved; lateral and posterior surfaces finely rugulose; with numerous black hairs. Eyes : six as usual in a compact group ; viewed from above, posterior row only gently recurved. Ratio of eyes ALE : PME : PLE = 13 : 11 : 10. ALE separated from one another by nearly half their radius. PME contiguous to one another and separated from PLE by a, line. Height of clypeus nearly equal to two-thirds of the diam- eter of ALE. Chelicerae, maxillae and lip apparently quite typical of the genus. Sternum: moderately convex and moderately lobed along lateral margins; with marginal bristles curved medially; only a little longer than wide; nearly squarely terminated between bases of fourth coxae which are separated by about their width. Legs:



================================================================================

Chickering - Oonopidae
Figures 4-10. Ofofaea brasima sp. nov. Fig. 4. Eyes of holotype from above. Figs. 5-6. Left palp of holotype; prolateral and retrolateral views, respectively. Fig. 7. Left palp of male from Homestead; prolateral view. Fig. 8. Left palp of male from Haines City; retrolateral view. Fig. 9. Genital area of male holotype. Fig. 10. Epigynal area of described female paratype.
4123 in order of length; no true spines observed; many hairs and spiniform bristles. Palp: essential features shown in Figures 5-8; femur short and moderately inflated ; patella strongly inflated ; tibia very short; tarsus with distinctive features obscure and difficult to observe clearly; a slight change of position greatly alters appearance. Abdomen: typically flattened; dorsal scutum covers entire dorsal area; ventral and epigastric scuta cover entire ventral surface back to bases of normal spinnerets; the expected sclerite at base of spin- nerets shows dorsal to posterior border of ventral scutum; genital area very similar to that of Opopaea calona sp. nov. (Fig. 9). Color in alcohol: essentially as recorded for other species in the genus 0 PO paea.
Female paratype. Total length 1.67 mm. Carapace 0.59 mm long; about 0.46 mm wide opposite posterior borders of second coxae;



================================================================================

nearly 0.23 mm tall.
Eyes: essentially like those of male holotype except that the posterior row appears to be straight or very slightly procurved, measured by posterior borders. Ratio of eyes ALE : PME : PLE = 10 : 10 : 9; PME plainly longer than wide (long diameters always used for measurements) ; posterior row occupies about three-fourths of width of carapace at that level. Chelicerae, maxillae, palps and lip all appear to be typical of females of the genus. Sternum and legs appear to be essentially like those of male holotype. Abdomen: scuta essentially as in male except that a larger area at posterior end of the abdomen is left uncovered on both dorsal and ventral sides. The epigynal area is very obscure but is, never-the-less, quite distinctive (Fig. 10). Color in alcohol: es- sentially as in male with minor differences. Records. The described female paratype was taken 2 mi. south- east of Marathon, Florida, December I 5, 1962 (Wilton Ivie) . Nu- merous males and females have been on loan from the American Museum of Natural History as follows : Punta Gorda, January I 946 (Stowell Rounds) ; Alachua Co., Science Hall, Dec. 6, 1948; Key West, Dec. 1950 (A. M. Nadler) ; 2-5 mi. so. of Florida City, April I, 1957 (R. Forster and W. J. Gertsch) ; 2 mi. southeast of Marathon, Dec. 15, 1962 (Wilton Ivie). I collected this species at Haines City, Feb. 28 and at Homestead, March, 1968. The male described as the allotype of Gamasomorpha floridana Banks by Miss Elizabeth Bryant apparently belongs in this species. Early in the study of this group of specimens three different species seemed to be present. Careful examination of all of them have finally convinced me that they all belong in a single species as presented here. Opopaea calona sp. nov.
Figures I I - I 9
Holotype. The male holotype is from Florida. The label reads: Science Hall, October 15, 1947. Another vial on loan from the American Museum of Natural History states that Science Hall is in Alachua Co. It is assumed, therefore, that this specimen was taken in Science Hall at the University of Florida in Gainesville. It will be deposited in the American Museum of Natural History, New York City. The holotype has the abdomen separated from the cephalothorax but is in good condition for description. Description. Total length nearly I.% mm. Carapace 0.66 mm long; 0.49 mm wide opposite second coxae where it is widest; about 0.23 mm tall; raised somewhat just behind PME and then slightly arched to slightly raised portion just at beginning of steep posterior



================================================================================

19691 Chic fiering - Oonopidae 151
declivity; just beneath posterior border there is a strongly chitinized conical projection not seen in any other species studied (Fig. I I) ; general form as in Figures I 7-18 of female; surface nearly smooth and shiny with no median thoracic pit or groove. Eyes: six in two rows and in a compact group as usual; posterior row rather strongly recurved (Figs. I 2-1 3) and occupies nearly three-fourths of width of carapace at that level. Ratio of eyes ALE : PME : PLE = 12.5 : 10 : I I. ALE separated from one another by nearly three-fourths of their diameter and only slightly separated from PME and PLE. PME contiguous for nearly their length and narrowly separated from PLE. Clypeus only slightly porrect ; with height nearly equal to five-sixths of diameter of ALE. Chelicerae apparently as usual in the genus. Maxillae moderately convergent, slender and appar- ently without special modifications. Lip apparently as usual in the genus. Sternum: quite convex; nearly as wide as long; posterior end slightly bilobed and extended just to bases of fourth coxae which are separated by nearly twice their width; with a sparse supply of stiff bristles; only slightly lobed and grooved along margins. Legs: 41 I23 in order of length; no true spines observed on legs or palps. Palp : general features shown in Figures 14-1 5 ; only tarsus inflated; features of tarsus appear to be unique since no structures like these closely adherent and so difficult to follow have been seen in collections available to me for study. Abdomen: dorsal scutum covers all of dorsal surface except a small area just above the anal tubercle; ventral and epigastric scuta cover all of venter except a narrow area just anterior to nearly semicircular sclerite at base of spinnerets; genital area as shown in Figure 16; dorsal and epigastric scuta nearly meet dorsal to base of pedicel but diverge posteriorly so that a lateral area of considerable size is left uncovered. Color in alcohol: cara-
pace, sternum and scuta all a clear yellowish brown; legs yellowish; black pigment in ocular area essentially as shown in Figures 12-13; abdominal areas not covered by scuta a clear white. Female paratyee.
I .61 mm. Carapace about 0.7 mm long; about 0.53 mm wide opposite second coxae where it is widest; about 0.3 mm tall ; somewhat overlapped by anterior end of abdomen ; otherwise essentially as in male (Figs.
17-18). Eyes essentially as in male.
Chelicerae, maxillae and lip essentially as in male with minor dif- ferences. Sternum as in male. Second legs missing but apparently all legs essentially as in male. Female palp as usual in females of the genus. Abdomen: the three recognized scuta cover almost the entire abdominal surface with very little exposure of the uncovered white surface; the epigynal area appears to be more or less distinctive



================================================================================

Psyche
Figures 11-19. Opopaea calona sp. nov. Fig. 11. Posterior border of cara- pace from above; with conical extension of posterior border lying over the pedicel.
Figs. 12-13. Eyes of male holotype from above and from in front, respectively. Fig. 14. Left male palp; retrolateral view. Fig 15. Tip of left male palpal tarsus; nearly ventral view. Fig. 16. Genital area of male holotype. Fig, 17. Carapace of described female paratype; right lateral view.
Fig.
18. Carapace of female from above. Fig, 19. Epigynal area of female paratype from below.




================================================================================

19691 Chic,kering - Oonopidae I53
(Fig. 19) and seems to indicate a close relationship with species such as Opopaea Zutzi Pet. where the male palp has no greatly inflated patella such as occurs in species like Opopaea tinzida Chick. and numerous others to be treated later.
Records. No male paratypes have been found in the collection. The femde, regarded as the described female paratype of this species) is from Valparaiso, Florida, April 1946 (Edwards). Opo+aea floridana (Banks)
Figures 20-21
Gamasomorpha floridana Banks, 1896: 57.
The female holotype from Punta
Gorda, Florida is in the Museum of Comparative Zoology) examined. Banks, 1904: 122; 1910: 5; Petrunkevitch, 1911: 126; Roewer, 1942: 286; Bryant, 1945: 199) not the male described as the allotype; this specimen was misidentified and is now placed with Opopaea brasima sp. nov.; Comstock, 1948: 309; Bonnet, 1957: 1930. Two specimens are in the type vial; one is somewhat injured with cephalothorax and abdomen detached; the other is in good con- dition and has been used in this study. As indicated above) I cannot accept the male described as the male of this species. Several features seem to me to separate it very definitely from Banks' species. Female holotype.
Total length 1.85 mm. Ratio of eyes ALE : PME : PLE = nearly 7 : 6 : 5, ALE separated from one an- other by a little more than their diameter (Fig. 20) ; separated from PME and PLE by a broad line. PME contiguous as usual and separated from PLE by nearly one half their width. The epigynal area (Fig. 21) seems to indicate that this species is c1osely related to Opopaea lutzi Pet. I am inclined to the belief that when the male of this species is definitelv identified it will be found to belong to the group in which the palpal patella is not greatly inflated nor with the palpal tibia so much diminished (Opopaea htzi Pet. and Opopma caZona sp. nov. )
Opopaea Zutzi Petrunkevitch
Figures 22-27
Opopaea lufzi Petrunkevitch, 1929: 61, figs. 42-50. The male holotype from Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico is probably in the American Museum of Natural History, New York City. Bryant, 1940: 267; Roewer, 1942: 288; Bonnet, 1958: 3197.
In a,ddition to the holotype male Dr. Petrunkevitch also had an immature specimen taken with the holotype and a male and two im- mature specimens from Dorado, Puerto Rico. Miss Bryant ( 1940) had both sexes from Cuba. The species is now believed to be widely distributed in Central America and the West Indies as I hope to



================================================================================

show in a later paper on this genus, I now have on loan from the American Museum of Natural History two females from Florida; one is from Crandon Park, Dade Co., November 27, 1952 (A. M. Nadler) and the other is from Kendall, Dade Co,, November 26, 1965 (A. M. Nadler). I have in my personal collection several speci- mens of both sexes from Homestead, Florida, March, 1968. The
species seemed to be abundant in leaf litter in avocado groves on West Mowry St; I also have both sexes taken from litter in an open field near the avocado groves just mentioned. Although the basic pattern of the parts associated with the epigynal area remain con- sistent the arrangement of the folds, grooves, etc. varies considerably among the specimens available for study. Genus Triaeris Simon, 1891
Triaeris st enaspis Simon
Triaeris stenas$& Simon, 1891: 561. The type females from St. Vincent) B. W. I. are in the British Museum (Natural History). Simon, 1892: 443; 1893: 302; Petrunkevitch, 1911: 130; 1928: 88; Roewer, 1942: 290; Bryant, 1948: 342; Bonnet, 1959: 4684; Chickering? 1969 (in press). Triaeris patellaris Bryant, 1940: 268. The type female from Cuba, W. I. is in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Chickering, 1951: 243. In a brief paper on the genus Triaeris in Central America and the West Indies now in press I have shown that T. stenaspis Simon is now known to be widely distributed in Costa Rica, Nica,ragua, Pan- ama and many of the West Indies with one record from Miami, Florida. I now believe that I have additional record,s from Fort Myers, January 1934 (W. M. Barrows) and also from Miami, Brickell Hammock, November 30, 1961 (F. M. Mead). The male is still unknown,
SPECIES WITHOUT A DORSAL SCUTUM
Genus Heteroonops Dalmas, 1916
Heteroonops spinirnanus (Simon)
Figures 28-32
Oonops s$inomams Simon, 1891: 563, fig. 6. The female holotype from St. Vincent) B. W. I. is in the British Museum (Natural History), Simon, 1893: 294; 1892: 445; Petrunkevitch, 1911: 128; 1929: 67, figs. 53-57; Gertsch, 1936: 8.
Heteroozop~, spinimanus, - DalmasJ 1916: 203) 217 ; Bryant, 1940: 205 ; Roewer, 1942: 276; Bonnet) 1957: 2185.
Simon had only the female. Dr. Petrunkevitch had what he con- sidered to be "several males and females'' from Puerto Rico. Mis Bryant recorded the species from Cuba. Dr. Gertsch was the first to record it from Florida. The species is now believed to be widely



================================================================================

Figures 20-21. Opopaea Foridana (Banks). Fig. 20. Eyes of female from above. Fig. 21. Epigynal area from below. Figures 22-27, Opopaea lutzi Petrunkevitch. Fig. 22. Left palp of male; retrolateral view. Figs. 23-24. Left male palpal tarsus; prolateral and nearly ventral views, respectively. Fig. 25. Genital area of male from below. Fig. 26, Eyes of female from above. Fig. 27. Epigynal area of female from below. distributed in the northern parts of South America, at least in the southern pasts of Central America, in many of the West Indies and at least in Florida in the United States. I am not certain that the species should be separated from the genus Oonops but for the present I am leaving it where Dalmas placed it.
I am also uncertain concerning the male of the species described by Dr. Petrunkevitch. I have not yet been able to identify the male with any degree of certainty among the numerous species of Oonops now awaiting final treatment. The eyes of the female are repre- sented in Figure 28. There is a moderately well outlined epigastric