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A first-time analysis of taxonomically relevant characters, functional morphology, geographic distribution, ecoregion preference, and hypothetical host spiders of Pepsis basifusca Lucas (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae) is presented. This analysis is compared with other Nearctic species in Vardy’s (2005) Pepsis menechma species-group, particularly P. cerberus Lucas and P. elegans Lepeletier which are suspected parasitoids of trapdoor spiders. Pepsis basifusca females differ from females of these species in possessing a rounded gena-postgena in dorsal view; straight mid and hind tibial spurs; short hind tibial inner spur; and short, very stout, and backward slanted hind tibial bristles. Pepsis basifusca Level III Ecoregions comprise mountains, plateaus, highlands, and tablelands, often at high elevation (~3,000–5,000 feet (914–1,524 meters), from Utah, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri to Panama. Pepsis basifusca, the smallest Nearctic congener, should be expected to capture comparatively small mygalomorph spiders like some other species in Vardy’s (2005) Pepsis menechma species-group. Based on taxonomic, morphological, biogeographical, and potential host spider criteria, P. basifusca should probably be removed from this group and transferred to another species-group.
ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4D3BF37C-3358-4C25-B56A-104C57301AE2
Seven new species of Schismatothele Karsch, 1879 (Araneae, Theraphosidae) are described, almost doubling the diversity of the genus: S. caeri sp. nov.; S. caiquetia sp. nov.; S. merida sp. nov.; S. moonenorum sp. nov.; S. quimbaya sp. nov.; S. timotocuica sp. nov. and S. wayana sp. nov. An identification key for all species of Schismatothele (except S. kastoni) is presented, as well as a complementary diagnosis for the genus. Also, a standardized nomenclature is proposed to describe the prolateral keels of male palpal bulbs of species of Schismatothele.
Neotropical species of the genus Idiops Perty, 1833 are reviewed, and four new species are described from Brazil: I. duocordibus Fonseca-Ferreira, Guadanucci & Brescovit sp. nov., I. guri Fonseca-Ferreira, Guadanucci & Brescovit sp. nov., I. mocambo Fonseca-Ferreira, Guadanucci & Brescovit sp. nov. and I. sertania Fonseca-Ferreira, Guadanucci & Brescovit sp. nov. The majority of species are redescribed based on the examination of the types and extensive material. Males of I. petiti (Guérin, 1838), I. rastratus (Pickard-Cambrige, 1889), I. rohdei Karsch, 1886 and I. nilopolensis Mello-Leitão, 1923, and females of I. fuscus Perty, 1833 and I. pirassununguensis Fukami & Lucas, 2005, hitherto unknown, are described for the first time. Idiops nilopolensis, considered a nomen dubium, is revalidated. Idiops fulvipes Simon, 1889 is synonymized with I. argus Simon, 1889, and I. santaremius (Pickard-Cambrige, 1896) is synonymized with I. petiti. Neotypes are designated for Idiops fuscus, I. nilopolensis and I. siolii (Bücherl, 1953). Idiops bonapartei Hasselt, 1888 is considered species inquirendae, since the type is an immature female. Finally, an updated distribution map of Neotropical species is included. The genus now has 24 species in the Neotropical region.