New Linyphiidae spiders associated with playas in the Southern High Plains (Llano Estacado) of Texas (Arachnida: Araneae)

Abstract

Three species [Ceratinella playa new species, Erigone denticulata Chamberlin & Ivie, Mermessus denticulatus (Banks)] in the spider family Linyphiidae were associated with emergent vegetation in playa wetlands in the Southern High Plains of Texas. Playa wetlands are being rapidly degraded in the Great Plains of the U.S.A. We describe and illustrate the new species Ceratinella playa from a male and female from Briscoe County, Texas. Erigone denticulata is redescribed and illustrated from males and females from Texas. New distributional records are provided for E. denticulata from the U.S.A.: Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. All of these except those from Wyoming are new state records. A new county record of Mermessus denticulatus is reported from Texas. RESUMENTres especies [Ceratinella playa nueva especie, Erigone denticulata Chamberlin & Ivie y Mermessus denticulatus (Banks)] de la familia Linyphiidae fueron asociadas a la vegetación emergente en cuerpos de aguas temporales "playas" de humedales en las Grandes Planicies del sur de Tejas. Los humedales están siendo degradados rápidamente en las Planicies de los E.E.U.U. Se describe e ilustra macho y hembra de la nueva especie Ceratinella playa del condado Briscoe, Tejas. Machos y hembras de Erigone denticulata de Tejas son redescritos e ilustrados. Nuevos datos distribucionales son reportados para E. denticulata para los estados de Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregón, Tejas, Utah y Wyoming. Todos, excepto los de Wyoming, son nuevas citas para estos Estados. Mermessus denticulatus se cita por primera vez para Tejas.

Catalogue of Texas spiders

“… Hypsosinga funebris Cokendolpher et al 2008 : 8, 13; Dean and Eger 1986 : 141; Dondale et al 2003 : 292, mf, desc. (figs 688–696); Jackman 1997 : 161; Levi 1975b : 273 [S] …”

“… Argiope trifasciata Agnew et al 1985 : 3; Breene 1988 : 23–24; Breene et al 1988 : 180; Breene et al 1993c : 10, 47, 101, mf (figs 148A-C); Cokendolpher et al 2008 : 8, 13 (fig. 3, photo 13); Dean et al 1982 : 254; Dean et al 1988 : 285–286; Dondale et al 2003 : 157, mf, desc.…”

“… Cokendolpher et al (2008) studied playas in the Texas panhandle. Yantis (2005) studied the spiders under trees (pine and post oak) in unmanaged habitats.…”

“…Reddell (1965 , 1970 ) investigated the cave fauna. More recently, Cokendolpher (2004a) , Cokendolpher and Reddell (2001a , b ), Reddell and Cokendolpher (2004) have studied the fauna of select caves. Goetze and Flores (2001 a, b) sampled spiders in Laredo but only identified them to family.…”

“… Aphonopelma hentzi Breene et al 1996 : 22, 23; Cokendolpher et al 2008 : 10, 52, (photos 37–38); Jackman 1997 : 160; Janowski-Bell and Horner 1999 : 504; Roberts 2001 : 48 [ Smith 1995 : 107 [T], mf, desc. (figs 393–411)] …”