In addition to the genus diagnosis, the following features characterize the species:MALECephalothorax almost uniformly dark brown, covered by inconspicuous adpressed setae, colourless, or dark, except white setae on posterior half of eye field and whitish trianglar patch in lighter pigmented foveal area which extends narrowing onto posterior slope of thorax; lower sides dark without ventral margin of white setae. Anterior slope of the eye field is gently inclined; flat surface of cephalothorax limited to space between eyes II and III; beyond eyes III height of cephalothorax is reduced as much as eyes III, then follows short flattening of cephalothorax, the posterior slope begins at 81% of length of cephalothorax. Abdomen: tegument of median area transparent with silver white spots of internal guanine cells, bisected along anterior 1/3 by a thin, darker median streak, corresponding to heart location; broad marginal, dark greyish, zigzagging bands with four triangular apexes pointing medially and four light triangular spots at the margin of lateral surfaces.Frontal aspect: face dark brown with a thin row of short setae ventrally along edge of clypeus, consisting of two spots of short white setae beneath AME, separated in the middle and limited laterally by indistinct brown setae; eyes I surrounded by sparse indistinct whitish setae, yellowish along lateral rims of ALE. Chelicerae dark brown; cymbium light brown, dorsal surface of remaining segments of pedipalps dark yellow with white setae, very prominent triangle of white setae apically on femur, however larger specimen from Bet Shemesh devoid of white setae; no triangular apophysis on patella; leg I with prolateral surface of femur dark brown, all remaining segments light yellow. Ventral aspect: external angle of maxillary plate prominently expanded triangularly; mouth parts brown; sternum brown to light brown, anterior coxae light brown, rest yellowish; abdomen light with greyish streak between two lines of dot-like depressions. Legs I-IV light yellow, (except brown lateral surfaces of femur I mentioned above). Larger specimen from Bet Shemesh has legs distinctly darker: legs I are light brown with darker brown lateral surfaces of femur I, also darkened lateral surfaces of femur II, femur III-IV with two lateral brown annuli, less distinct lateral annuli on tibia and metatarsus III-IV. Palpal organ: ventral ramus of tibial apophysis directed diagonally back, long, tapering and pointed apically; dorsal ramus developed into prominent plate, thin with edge divided into three small lobes. Menemerus soldani has similar ventral ramus, but differs by well developed dorsal ramus, narrow, long, directed anteriorly and slightly bent terminally. Measurements (mm). Length of cephalothorax 2.28-2.96; length of abdomen 2.38-2.89; length of 5 segments of leg I 5.93-7.48, length of legs order I, IV, II, III. (c) PRÓSZYŃSKI 2003 Eyes: AER: dorsal edge straight. Labium: Length: longer than wide. Distribution: Geographical Distribution: Afrika. Middle East. FEMALEEpigynum resembles M. animatus in general shape of epigynum, transverse oval with prominent sclerotized pockets at posterior edge, and copulatory opening located near marginal grooves at the mid-length of epigynum; it differs by less delimited and not separated grooves, connected by semicircular depression. Broad copulatory opening leads to transverse channel, located at mid-length of epigynum, across mid-length of spermatheca; short narrower channel running posteriorly joins elongate medial spermatheca, with prominent scent pore at posterior end, and fertilisation channel at anterior end. In M. animatus transverse anterior channel has comparable location, but the short, narrower, "S"-bent channel runs anteriorly; spermatheca is spherical and located anteriorly. External appearance of epigynum in M. soldani shows some similarity with both M. animatus and M. davidi, its internal structure, however, was not studied.Measurements (mm). Length of cephalothorax 2.96; length of abdomen 4.76; length of 5 segments of leg I 5.84, length of legs order IV, III, I, II. (c) PRÓSZYŃSKI 2003 Eyes: AER: dorsal edge straight. Labium: Length: longer than wide. Distribution: Geographical Distribution: Afrika. Middle East. COMMENTSDiagnosis. Similar to M. animatus in external appearance, but general plan of palpal organ and epigynum are different from any other Menemerus I have seen. The differences with M. animatus are: lack of white ventral margin on carapace, far less distinct light triangle in the foveal area, different abdominal pattern, brown surfaces of femur I (prolateral darker, in M. animatus these surfaces are light yellow), remaining segments and legs light yellow, presence of two spots of short white setae on edge of clypeus (in M. animatus dense white line of setae, continuous with marginal white streak but interrupted medially by small dark bald spot); ventral ramus of tibial apophysis directed diagonally back, long, tapering and pointed apically, the dorsal ramus three-lobed plate. Female epigynum differs by anterior connecting groove, and arrangement of channels and spermathecae.Seasonal appearance of adult specimens. Males - III, VI. (c) PRÓSZYŃSKI 2003 |