Herbert W. Levi.
The American Spider Genera Spintharus and Thwaitesia (Araneae: Theridiidae).
Psyche 70(4):223-234, 1963.

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THE AMERICAN SPIDER GENERA
SPINTHARUS AND THWAITESIA
(ARANEAE : THERIDIIDAE)*
BY HERBERT W. LEV!
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University The two genera Spintharus and Thulaitesia are very similar. I have not combined them, however, because I expect that additional species may throw new light on the relationship. Both genera are close to Episinus in genitalic structure, general appearance, and in possession of a small spigot at the anterior pair of spinnerets (Levi and Levi, 1962).
Thwaitesia has never been revised. North American Spintharus has previously been revised (Levi, 1955). On reexamining a few specimens, I began to think that I had confused several species in my previous revision and that the specimens could easily be sorted out into three species. Reexamination of larger collections, how- ever, reestablished my previous observation that the genitalia of Spintharus are variable and that there are at most two species. Evi- dence for this is presented in Figures I and 2. A National Science Foundation Grant (G-43 I 7) permitted the examination of many types, a grant from the National Institutes of Health (AI-01944) supported the research. I am thankful to the following colleagues who provided me with specimens or permitted examination of types under their care: Dr. W. J. Gertsch of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), Dr. H. Exline (Mrs. D. Frizzell) for specimens of her own collection and, with Dr. E. S. Ross, specimens from the California Academy of Sciences (CAS). Dr. J. Cooreman and J. Kekenbosch of the Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique (ISNB), Dr. A. M. Chickering whose collections are housed in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Dr. G. Owen Evans, K. Hyatt, E. Browning of the British Museum (Natural History); Prof. M. Vachon of the Mus6um National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris (MNHN), Prof. G. C. Varley and E. Taylor of the Hope Department of Entomology, Oxford, and Dr. 0. Kraus of the Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt (SMF). Spintharus Hentz
Spintharus Hentz, 1850, Jour. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 6: 284. Type species by monotypy : Spintharus flawidus Hentz. *,Manuscript received by the editor April 29, 1963. 223




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224 Psyche [December
Description. Carapace nearly circular, weakly sclerotized. Pos- terior median eyes separated by about three diameters. Chelicerae small. Legs long, first patella and tibia 1.5-3.0 times carapace length. Abdomen longer than wide, widest anterior (Figs. 6, 7). Diagnosis. Separated from Argyrodes by having two setae in place of colulus, from Episinus by having different abdominal shape, the abdomen being longer than wide, widest anterior, and by lacking horns in eye region and not having eyes on tubercles. Unlike Thwait- esia, Spintharus lacks silvery spots and has the posterior median eyes far apart.
Distribution.
Known from only two American species.
f lavidus
gracilis
Map 1. Distribution of Spintharus species.



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19631 Levi - Spider Genera 225
Problems.
The specimens of S. ftavidus are variable in structure. They sometimes have an elevated eye region or humps on the anterior of the abdomen (Levi, 1955). Reexamining larger collections re- established my previous observation that the genitalia of Spintharus are variable. Evidence is presented in Figures I and 2. Of interest
is the much shorter embolus in the palpus of a North Carolina speci- men (F) and in one series from Panama (R) . A second series from the same Panamanian locality contained three individuals with emboli of variable length (Q). The ducts of the female epigynum also seem variable in length, but since their study means damaging specimens, this was not done. This might be advisable when more specimens are on hand.
Spintharus flavidus Hentz
Figures I, 2~-U, W, 3-9
Spintharus flavidus Hentz, 1850, Jour. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 6: 284, pi. 10, fig. 8, 9. Types from Alabama, lost. -Levi, 1955(1954), Jour. New York Ent. Soc., 62: 79, figs. 46, 43-50, 52, 53, 9, 8. Spintharus elongatus Keyserling, 1884, Die Spinnen Amerikas, Theridiidae, 1: 178, pi. 8, fig. 108, 9. Female type from Tambillo, [I850 m Ca- jamarca, prov. Jean] Peru in the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw. Sp'intharus lineatus 0. P-Cambridge, 1896, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Araneidea, 1: 190, pi. 23, fig. 11, 8. Male holotype from Chichochoc [?I, Guatemala in the British Museum.
Spintharus affinis 0. P-Cambridge, 1896, op. cit. 1 : 190, pi. 24, fig. 2, 8. Male holotype from Coban, Guatemala in the British Museum. Spintharus hentzi Levi, 1955(1954), Journ. New York Ent. Soc., 62: 83, figs. 47, 51, 54, 55,
9. Female holotype from Trinidad, Lesser Antilles, in the American Museum of Natural History. NEW SYNONYMY. Distribution. Eastern United States to Peru and northern Brazil (Map 1'
Additional records: United States. District of Columbia: Wash- ington (N. Banks). Tennessee. Great Smoky Mtn. Natl. Park, Newfound Gap (P. j. Darlington). Arkansas. Washington Co.: S, of Prairie Grove (M. Hite). Texas. Hardin Co.: Saratoga (J. Bequaert) ; Old Hardin (A. Brady) .
Mexico. Puebia: ? Tehiutlan (H. Wagner, AMNH). Oaxaca: Oaxaca (AMNH). Costa Rica: San Isidro del General, 600-1200 m (D. Rounds) ; San Jose (E. Schmidt, AMNH). Panama. El Volcin (A. M. Chickering) ; Boquete (A. M. Chickering j . Panama Canal Zone. Forest Reserve (A. M. Chickering) ; Barro Colorado Isl. (many collections).
Cuba. Oriente: S. side of Pico Turquino (P. J. Darlington). Las Villas: Soledad (P. J. Darlington). Jamaica: John Crow Mtns. WSW of Ecclestown (A. F. Archer, AMNH) ; Claremont (P. Vaurie, AMNH) . Haiti: La Visite (P. J. Darlington) ; NE of La



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19631 Levi - Spider Genera 227
Hotte (P. J. Darlington). Dominican Republic. S of Santiago (P. J. Darlington) ; Loma Rucilla
(P. J. Darlington). Puerto Rico :
El Yunque (P. J. Darlington) ; Maricao Forest (P. J. Darlington). Virgin IxZ. St. John (A. I?. Archer, AMNH). Peru. H,U&UCO: Tingo Maria (J. C. Pallister, AMNH). Junin: Pan de Azficar, Rio Tarma,
1400 m (A. M. Nadler, AMNH).
Brazil. Pard: Belkn (A. M. Nadler, AMNH). Bolivia. Beni; Rurrenabaque, 10 Nov. 1956, $ (L. Pefia, ISNB) . Spin tharus gracilis Keyserling
Figures 2 ~ , I 0- I 3
Spint/iarus gracilis Keyserling, 1886, Die Spinnen Amerikas, Theridiidae, 2 (2) : 244, pi. 20, fig. 298, ? , 8. Syntypes from Blumenau, [Santa Catarina], Brazil, in the British Museum, examined. Spintharus fiavidus,-Mello-Leitao, 1943, Arq. Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, 37: 168, fig. 11, 8, Not S. flawidus Hentz. Description. Carapace of female yellow-white; eyes on black. spots; male with a black band on each lateral margin. Sternum yel- low-white. Legs yellow in female; male with some longitudinal black stripes and ends of femora and tibiae black, ~atellae black. Abdomen of female yellow-white, without pigment in alcohol; that of male with some gray pigment on sides. Lateral eyes of females two diameters of anterior medians, posterior medians one and one-half diameters of anterior medians. Eyes of male about sub-equal in size. Female with anterior median eyes one diameter apart, almost touch- ing laterals. Posterior median eyes three and one-half diameters apart, touching laterals. Anterior median eyes of male one-third diameter apart, almost touching laterals. Posterior median eyes two diameters apart, one-third diameter from laterals. Total length of female 3.7 mm. Carapace 0.9 mm long, 0.8 mm wide. Abdomen 2.8 mm long, 0.9 mrn wide. First patella and tibia, I .6 mm ; second, I .O mm; third, 0.7 mm. Fourth femur, 2.3 mm; patella and tibia, 2.0 mm; metatarsus, 2.4 mm ; tarsus, 0.6 mm. Total length of male 2.3 mm. Carapace 0.8 mm long, 0.8 mm wide. First patella and tibia, 1.3 mm; second, 0.7 mm; third, 0.5 mm. Fourth femur, 1.7 mm ; patella and tibia, I .3 mrn ; metatarsus, I .5 mm ; tarsus, 0.5 mm. Fig. 1. Variation in palpal structure of Spintharus flawidus, United States. A. Alpine, Bergen Co., New Jersey. B. New Haven, Connecticut. C. Long Island, New York. D. Olive Hill, Carver Co., Kentucky. E. New- found Gap, Great Smoky Mountain Natl. Park, Tennessee. F. Raleigh, North Carolina. G. Athens, Georgia. H. Baldwin Co., Alabama. I. Gaines- ville, Florida. J. Tavernier, Monroe Co., Florida.



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228 Psyche [December
Records. Brazil. Guanabara: Paineiras, Cidade Rio de Janeiro, 22 Jan. 1949 (A. M. Nadler, AMNH). Siio Paulo: Jabaquara, Cidade Sao Paulo, 21 Dec. 1945 (H. Sick, AMNH) ; Sao Paulo, 13 Jan. 1959 (A. M. Nadler, AMNH).
Thwaitesia 0. P.-Cambridge
Thwaitesia 0. P.-Cambridge, 1881, Proc. 2001. Soc. London, 1881: 766. Type species by monotypy: T. margaritifera 0. P.-Cambridge, 1881 from Ceylon.
Description. Carapace nearly circular. Posterior median eyes separated by their diameter or less. Chelicerae small, without teeth. Legs long, first patella and tibia 2.0-3.5 times carapace length. Abdo- men usually higher than wide with silvery spots. The genitalia are
similar to those of Spintharus. Both have palpi with a large con- ductor and duct looping through the median apophysis (Levi and
Levi, I 962).
Diagnosis. Separated from Argyrodes by having two setae in place of colulus, from Episinus by different shape of abdomen (Figs. 14, 15)) by lacking horns in eye region and not having tubercles. Thwaitesia differs from Spintharus by having the posterior median eyes closer together.
Distribution. Probably world-wide in tropics. Four species from America.
Problems.
Two of the four American species are known from the type specimens only. The two other species, T, affinis and T. brac- teata are widespread and probably have been confused with each other, a reason for not copying literature records. It is of interest that the species have not been collected in the same vicinity; they may have similar ecological requirements (Map 2). In the American Museum of Natural History is a Thwaitesia with an epigynum similar to that of T. bracteata but with ducts parallel and seminal receptacles more anterior. The abdomen is low, subtriangular, widest anterior and without silvery spots. The specimen is from Minnehaha Springs, 700 rn, Pocahontas County, West Virginia, July 1948 (K. W. Haller)
and is believed to be
exotic.
Figure 2. Variation in palpal structure of Spintharus south of the United States. K. Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico. L. Huauchinango, Puebla, Mexico. M. Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. N, Tenejapa, Chiapas, Mexico. 0. Moca, Guatemala. P. San Isidro del General, Costa Rica. Q. El Volczin, Panama (one collection). R. El Volch, Panama (second collection). S. Pico Turquino, Oriente, Cuba. T. Portland, Jamaica. U. Lorna Rucilla, Dominican Republic.
V. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. W. Utcuyacu, Junh, Peru, (K-U, W are S. flavidus; V is S. gracilis)



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230 Psyche
[December
Figs. 3-9. Spintharus flavidus Hentz. 3-5. Epigynum cleared. 3. (Wash- ington, D. C.). 4. (Peru). 5. (Belkm, Brazil). 6, 7. Female, without legs. 8, 9. Left palpus. 8. (Washington, D. C.). 9. (Panama). Figs. 10-13. S. gracilis Keyserling. 10. Female genitalia, dorsal view. 11. Epigynum, cleared. 12. Epigynum. 13. Palpus,



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Levi - Spider Genera
Figures I 4- I 9
Thwa'ites'u afinis 0. P.-Cambridge, 1882, Proc, 2001. Soc. London, 1882: 431, pi. 31, figs. 8a, 9, 3. Female, male syntypes from the Amazon, in the Hope Department of Entomology, Oxford, examined. Thwaitesia adamantifera Keyserling, 1884, Die Spinnen Amerikas, Theri- diidae, 2 (1) : 164, pi. 7, fig. 101 (in part) 9. Female lectotype here designated Maraynioc, [Junin], Peru in the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, examined. Male paratype from Minas Gerais [Brazil] in the 0. P.-Cambridge collection in the Hope Department of Entomology, Oxford, examined. Female, male paratypes from Rio de Janeiro in the Keyserling collection in the British Museum, examined. NEW SYN- ONYMY.
Description. Carapace, sternum and legs yellowish. Distal ends of tibiae brown. Abdomen yellowish with silvery spots on dorsum. Carapace with clypeus projecting. Eyes subequal in size. Anterior median eyes one diameter apart, almost touching laterals. Posterior median eyes one diameter apart, two-thirds diameter from laterals. Abdomen subtriangular (Fig. IS), male not as high (Fig. 14). Epigynum with an oval depression wider than long, a pocket on each sideand openings apparently in center (Fig. 19). Palpus as illustrated by Figures 16, 17. Total length of female 4.5 mm. Carapace, 1.6
mm long, 1.3 mm wide. First femur, 3.5 mm; patella and tibia, 3.6 -
mm; metatarsus, 3.9 mm; tarsus, 0.7 mm. Second patella and tibia, 2.1 mm; third, 1.2 mm; fourth, 3.2 mm. Total length of the male, 2.7 mm. Carapace, I. I mm long, I .O mm wide. First femur, 3.5 mm ; patella and tibia, 3.5 mm; metatarsus, 3.9 mm; tarsus, 0.7 mm. Map 2. Distribution of Thivaitesia affims and T. bracteata.



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19631 Levi - Spider Genera 233
Second patella and tibia, 1.7 mm; third, 1.0 mm; fourth, 2.5 mm. Records. Panama'. Barro Colorado Isl. ; Forest Reserve ; Chilibre ; Fort Davis ; Arraij in ; Summit ; Fort Randolph ; Fort Sherman ; Madden Dam; (A. M. Chickering). Las Sabanas (N. Banks). V-enezuela. Mirida : Timotes ( SMF) . Ecuador. Tungurahua, 2200 m (W. C. Macintyre) . Peru. Junin: Maraynioc (Keyserling coll., BXINH). British Guiana. Rupununi Riv., near Mt. Makarapan (W. G. Hassles, AMNH). Brazil. Adinas Gerais: Vicosa (Ham- bleton, AMNH) . Guanabara: Sumare, Rio de Janeiro (sev. coll.) . Est. Rio de Janeiro: Teres6polis (H. Sick, AMNH) ; Petropolis ( H. Sick, AMNH) . Sao Paulo:
Cidade Sao Paulo (sev. Coll.) ;
Guapituba (N. L. H. Krauss, AMNH) ; Id (A. M. Nadler, AMNH). Parand: Roliindia (A. Mailer, AMNH). Santa Catari- no: Pinhal (A. Mailer, AMNH) ; Nova Teutonia, lat 27' 11' S, -52' 23' W (F. Plaumann, SMF). Paraguay. Territ. Foncierc (E. Reimosei-). Alto Parand: Hernandarias, 25O S; 55' W (C. J. D. Brown).
Thwaitesia hracteata (Exline)
Figures 22-24
71~wa2tesia adamantifera Keyserling, 1884, Die Spinnen Amerikas, Theri- diidae, 2(1): 164. In part from Soriano, Peru, not T. affinis 0. P.- Cambridge.
Topo bracteatus Exline, 1950, Studies Honoring Trevor Kincaid, 1950 : 114, pi. 1, figs. 1, 6, pi. 2, fig. 15,
9. Female holotype from junction of
Pastaza and Topo Rivers, Province Napo, Ecuador, in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, examined.
Description. Carapace, sternum, legs yellowish. Abdomen yel- lowish with silvery spots on dorsal portion. Anterior median eyes slightly larger than others. Anterior median eyes two-thirds their diameter apart, almost touching laterals. Posterior median eyes al- most one diameter apart, their radius from laterals. The eyes of the male slightly smaller than those of female. Total length of female, from Peru, 4.3 mm. Carapace 1.7 mm long, 1.3 mm wide. First femur, 3.2 mm; patella and tibia,
3.4 mm; metatarsus, 3.7 mm;
tarsus, 0.8 mm. Third patella and tibia, 1.3 mm. Total length of
male, 2.9 mm. Carapace, 1.4 mm long, 1.2 mm wide. First femur, Figs. 14-19. Thiuaitesia afinis 0. P.-Cambridge. 14. Male. 15. Female. 16,17. Left palpus. 18. Female genitalia, dorsal view. 19. Epigynum. Figs. 20, 21. T. simoni (Keyserling). 20. Epigynum, cleared. 21. Epigy- num.
Figs. 22-24. T. bracteata (Exline). 22. Epigynum, cleared. 23. Epigy- num. 24. Palpus.
Figs. 25-26. T. splendida Keyserling. 25. Epigynum, cleared. 26. Epigy- num.




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234 Psyche [December
4.3 mm; patella and tibia, 4.4 mm ; metatarsus, 5.0 mm ; tarsus, 0.9 mm. Second patella and tibia, 2.2 mm; third, 1.4 mm; fourth, 3.4 mm .
Diagnosis. The palpus of T. bracteata has a longer tibia and a different tip than that of T. affinis. The depression in the epigynum is almost square and on a projection (Figs. 22-24). Natural History: The type specimens were found on underside of a leaf.
Records. Trinidad.
Port of Spain, 191 3 (R. Thaxter ) . Colombia. Amazonas: Leticia (J. N. Layne). Peru: Hudnuco: Tingo Maria, 8 Oct. 1946 (J. C. Pallister, AMNH) ; Monz6n Valley, Tingo Maria (E. I. Schlinger and E. S. Ross, CAS). Sun Martin: Mop bamba, 20 Dec. 1949 (J. C. Pallister, AMNH) ; Mishqui-yacu, 20 km NE of Moyobamba, 1600 m, Aug. 1947 (F. Woytkowski, AMNH) . Ayacucho: Soriano (K. Jelski, PAS). Brazil. Para: Belkm, Feb. 1959, $2, d (A. M. Nadler, AMNH). Paraguay: Concepcibn: Apa, I 909 (AIVINH ) Alto Parand: Taquarazapa (AMNH). Bolivia. Cochabamba: El Palmar, Chapai-e, 900-1000 111, Sept. 1956, $ (L. Peiia, ISNB). La Paz: Chulumani, 1700 nl, Dec. 1955, $ (L. Peiia, ISNB).
Thwaitesia splendida Keyserling
Figures 25-26
Thwaitesia splendida Keyserling, 1884, Die Spinnen Amerikas, Theridiidae, 2 (1) : 166, pi. 8, fig. 102. Female holotype from "Neu Granada" [Co- lombia, Panama and Venezuela] in the British Museum, examined. T'hwaitesia siin oni ( Keyserling )
Figures 20-2 I
Hildbolda simoni Keyserling, 1884, Die Spinnen Amerikas, Theridiidae, 2 (1) : 157, pi. 7, fig. 97, 9. Female holotype from "Le Para" [Belkm, Para, Brazil], in the Museum National dlHistoire Naturelle, Paris, examined. Keyserling wrote that this species came from "Boston"; it does not occur in North America and the label in the vial indicates a Brazilian locality.
Thwa"tcsia simoni,-Petrunkevitch, 1911, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 29: 212.
The abdomen of this species is wider than high with silvery spots. REFERENCES CITED
I>EVI. H. w.
1955 (1954). The spider genera Episinus and Spintharus from North America, Central America and the West Indies (Araneae: Theridiidae.) Jour. New York Ent. Soc., 62: 65-90. LEVI, H. W. and L. R. LEVI.
1962.
The genera of the spider family Theridiidae. Bull. Mus. Comp.
ZOO^., 127 (1) : 1-71.




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