First record of the genus Falconina (Araneae, Corinnidae) from Mexico, with a description of a new species and observations on its interactions with ants

By

Ibarra-Núñez, Guillermo
Marín, Linda

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024-8-1

Original Publication

Zoosystematics and evolution

Volume

100

Series / Issue

Issue: 3

Pages

1099--1106

Subjects

Chiapas , Coffee agroecosystems , male palpal structure , North America

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia Pensoft

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.127612

 

Abstract

Falconina cafeterasp. nov. (Araneae, Corinnidae) is described based on specimens of both sexes. Specimens were collected in shaded coffee agro-ecosystems and in a suburban cacao orchard in Chiapas, Mexico. This new species is the first Falconina recorded from Mexico and the northernmost species of the genus in continental America, with the exception of F. gracilis (Keyserling, 1891) introduced to the USA and Cuba. F. cafeterasp. nov. differs from all other Falconina species by having most of its opisthosoma light-colored with some dark patches and by the characteristics of the male palp and female epigynum. Observations are included about one sclerite found in the male palp of this species, not mentioned for other species in this genus. The key of Falconina species by García and Bonaldo (2023) is modified to include this species. Furthermore, field observations and laboratory rearing of juveniles indicate that F. cafeterasp. nov. spiders are able to feed on ants.