New Linyphiidae spiders associated with playas in the Southern High Plains (Llano Estacado) of Texas (Arachnida: Araneae)

Abstract

Three species [Ceratinella playa new species, Erigone denticulata Chamberlin & Ivie, Mermessus denticulatus (Banks)] in the spider family Linyphiidae were associated with emergent vegetation in playa wetlands in the Southern High Plains of Texas. Playa wetlands are being rapidly degraded in the Great Plains of the U.S.A. We describe and illustrate the new species Ceratinella playa from a male and female from Briscoe County, Texas. Erigone denticulata is redescribed and illustrated from males and females from Texas. New distributional records are provided for E. denticulata from the U.S.A.: Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. All of these except those from Wyoming are new state records. A new county record of Mermessus denticulatus is reported from Texas. Copyright © 2007 Magnolia Press.