The North American spider genera Paratheridula, Tekellina, Pholcomma and Archerius (Araneae: Theridiidae)
Author
Levi, Herbert W.
text
Transactions of the American Microscopical Society
1957
76
2
105
115
http://antbase.org/ants/publications/Levi1957d/Levi1957d.pdf
journal article
Levi1957d
Archerius
, *
gen. nov.
Small theridiid spiders. Carapace slightly longer than wide, highest behind eyes. Only six small eyes present. Posterior eye row slightly recurved as seen from above. Chelicerae strong with three large teeth on anterior margin, denticles on posterior margin. Sternum convex
:
truncate between posterior coxae. Legs short, first and fourth subequal
;
third shortest. A small tubercle on retrolateral face of each patella A large tarsal comb on fourth tarsus. In only species known, abdomer heavily sclerotized, with sclerotized spots on dorsum of female, a scutum covering dorsum of male. Colulus large, bearing setae (Fig. 42). Leaver of lungs, usually square-shaped in theridiid spiders, are about six timei longer than wide in
Archerius
and there are only about four leaves or each side.
Female genitalia with one pair of seminal receptacles. Palpus with paracymbial hook (
P
in Fig. 47) on side of cymbium (
Y
) and nonĀ¬ functional. Conductor (
C
) and two sclerites present. It is assumed thai one is the remains of the median apophysis (
M
); the other, the radi (
R
). Conductor supports tip of embolus.
The structure of the genitalia suggests a close relationship between
Ctenium
and
Archerius
. Archer his differs from
Mysmena
which also has
a
relatively large colulus, by having a more complex palpus, from
Pholcomma
and
Paidisca
by the large colulus, and from these genera as well as
Ctenium
and most other theridiid genera, by having only six eyes.
*Named after my colleague A. F. Archer.
The
type
species of
Archerius
(masc.) is
Archerius mendocino
,
new species
.