206 Psyche [June-September 
Males: 
Mean 
Range 
Mean 
Range 
Ant. Eye Row 
.631 
.60- 
.66 
Femur I 
2.38 
2.2- 2.7 
PME 
.790 
.74- 
.94 
Pat.-Tibia I 
3.18 
2.8- 3.6 
PLE 
.984 
.91- 
1.09 
Meta. I 
2.03 
1.8- 2.4 
POQ 
.701 
.66- 
.76 
Tarsus 1 
1.20 
1.1- 1.4 
Total I 
8.82 
8.0-10.0 
Carapace 
Width 
2.60 
2.4 - 
3.0 
Femur IV 
2.84 
2.5- 3.2 
Carapace 
Length 
3.56 
3.2 - 
4.0 
Pat.-Tibia IV 
3.56 
3.2- 4.0 
Body Length 
6.67 
5.8 - 
7.6 
Meta. IV 
3.44 
3.0- 3.8 
Pat.-Tibia II 
2.86 
2.5 - 
3.2 
Tarsus IV 
1.53 
1.4- 1.8 
Pat.-Tibia III 
2.61 
2.4 - 
3.0 
Total IV 
11.37 
10.0-12.9 
Diagnosis. Trochosa parthenus resembles shenandoa and gosiuta 
in epigynal structure, but it can be easily distinguished from these 
two species (compare Figs. 8, 9 with Figs. 18, 23, 25, 27). The male 
palpal organ of parthenus (Figs. 32, 33) is most similar to that of 
shenandoa (Figs. 34, 35, 42, 43), but again can be readily distingi- 
ushed. Trochosa parthenus is the smallest member of the avara 
species group, averaging considerably smaller in size than avara, 
gosiuta, or shenandoa (see Measurements). This species is also the 
only member of Trochosa occurring in peninsular Florida. Even 
though there is a single male specimen recorded from near Alpine, 
Texas, parthenus seems to be largely restricted to the southeastern 
United States. 
Natural History. Wallace (1947) reported on the natural history 
of this species in Florida: 
“Lycosa parthenus matures and mates during January and 
February in the Gainesville region; however, I have two records 
of males from October. Females with egg sacs have been taken 
only during January and February. During the spring adults 
gradually decrease in numbers until, by the middle of the 
summer, they are rare. By June the young have left the mother 
and are common in the leaf mould of appropriate situations. 
This species is apparently confined to dry leaf mould. In such 
xeric situations as turkey oak or old fields it is found among the 
leaves under trees but is missing on open sandy stretches. When¬ 
ever dry leaf mould occurs, including all situations drier than 
mesophytic hammock, this species is likely to be present.” 
Distribution. Southeastern United States. One male from western 
Texas. 
