Aculepeira apa Levi 1991

Aculepeira apa Levi, 1991 Figs 12A–D, 13A–D, 14A–C, 15 Aculepeira apa Levi 1991: 302, figs 557–559, map 7. Type material. Holotype ♀ from Apa, Paraguay, (AMNH), not examined. Additional material examined. BRAZIL: Pará: São Geraldo do Araguaia, Serra dos Martírios/Andorinhas (06°13'32.9''S, 48°26'35.0''W), 22.X.2019, P. Pantoja coll., 1♂ (MPEG. ARA 038505); same locality as previous (except 06°14'35.7''S, 48°28'2.5''W), N. Feitosa coll., 1♀ (MPEG. ARA 038504). Diagnosis. Males of A. apa resemble those of A. travassosi (Soares & Camargo, 1948) (Levi 1991, fig. 447) and A. vittata (Gerschman & Schiapelli, 1948) (Levi 1991, fig. 452) by the elongated median apophysis, with teeth on the retrolateral edge and flagellar projections on the prolateral edge (Figs 12C, 14A). Males of A. apa can be distinguished from those species by presenting three dark brown longitudinal bands on the dorsum of the abdomen (Fig. 12A), smaller, semicircular embolus and smaller flagellar projections than in A. vittata and A. travassosi (Figs 12C, 14A); A. travassosi has no dorsal bands on the abdomen and A. vittata has one median longitudinal white band, both of these species have slender and long embolus, almost reaching the ventral edge of the tegulum (Levi, 1991; figs 547, 552). Females are unique among Aculepeira species by the slender thread-like epigynal scape and the dorsal longitudinal dark stripes on the abdomen (Figs 13A, C). Description. Male (based on MPEG.ARA 038505): Carapace dark orange (Fig. 12A); chelicerae, maxillae, labium and sternum orange, labium prolaterally pale yellow (Fig. 12B). Legs yellow at the base and brown distally, except for the metatarsi, which bears brown annular median and apical bands, and coxae entirely orange (Figs 12A, B).Abdomen twice as long as wide; dorsum brown, with three longitudinal dark brown stripes with white outline (Fig. 12A); venter brown (Fig. 12B). Palp (Figs 12C, D, 13A): terminal apophysis longer than wide, pointed; conductor longer than wide; embolus with a wide, semicircular base, acute distally; median apophysis wider than long bearing two fishtail-shaped flagella at the prolateral end and several dark teeth on the retrolateral end. Measurements. Total length: 6.85. Carapace: length 1.91; width 1.53. Leg I: femur 1.76; patella + tibia: 2.57; metatarsus 0,83; tarsus 1.69. Patella + tibia II 2.03; III 1,18; IV 1.89. Female (based on MPEG.ARA 038504): Carapace, chelicerae, maxillae, labium and sternum as in male (Figs 13A, B). Legs orange (Figs 12A, B). Abdomen oval, about twice as long as wide; dorsum similar to that of the male, but lighter, pale brown with three brown longitudinal stripes (Fig. 13A); venter dark brown, surrounded by a beige large strip laterally (Fig. 13B). Epigynum (Figs 13C, D, 14B, C) bearing an anterior slender scape, curved posteriorly at the base, the tip reaching the middle region of the ventral plate; posterior plate cordiform; lips convex, laterally encircling the ventral and the posterior plates. Taxonomic notes. The male described here (Figs 12D, 14A) was collected along with a female of Aculepeira apa (Figs 13A–D, 14B, C). The association is also justified by the remarkable similarity in the morphology of the abdomen of these specimens (Figs 12A, 13A). Distribution. Paraguay and Brazil (Pará; new record; Fig. 15).