Plexippus devorans (♂,♀) (O. PICKARD-CAMBRIDGE, 1872)

In addition to the genus diagnosis, the following features characterize the species:

MALE

Cephalothorax yellow with two striking brown, large spots on posterior slope of thorax; eye field fawn with no white streak. Abdomen: median area whitish yellow, with three pairs of marginal darker spots and single darker spot in front of spinnerets; spinnerets whitish. Face yellow with dense long white setae on clypeus, some of which stretch diagonally forward, partially overhanging cheliceral bases. Eyes I surrounded ventrally by white, dorsally by yellowish setae, eye field fawn. Chelicerae basally yellow, apical half light brown. Pedipalps light yellow, with yellow cymbium, which dorsally has large basal spot of white setae (resembling Plexippus sp., but less contrasting because cymbium lighter); pedipalpal femur, tibia and cymbium with long white setae.
Palpal organ: embolus thin and short, located at about mid-length of anterior edge of bulbus, the part of bulbus opposite to apophysis particularly strongly developed, stronger than in any other Israeli Plexippus.
Ventral aspect whitish. Legs I: femur ventrally whitish, along prolateral surface light brown line, tibiapatella I light fawn, metatarsus-tarsus I yellow; legs II-IV yellow.
Measurement of male specimen from Enot Hazor (in mm and % of LC). LC 2.16 mm = 100%, LE 1.4 = 65%, WE1 1.44 = 67%, WE3 1.44 = 67%, HC 1.04 = 48%, LA 2.32 = 2.16%. Flat area beyond eye field 0.8 = 37%. Measurement of male segments of legs: tarsus to femur (in mm and in % of leg I): leg I 0.56 + 0.72 + 1.04 + 0.8 + 1.28 = 4.4 mm = 100%; leg II 0.56 + 0.72 + 0.8 + 0.8 + 1.2 = 4.08 mm = 93%; leg III 0.64 + 1.2 + 1.44 + 0.72 + 1.4 = 5.4 mm = 123%; leg IV 0.56 + 1.2 + 0.96 + 0.8 + 1.44 = 4.96 mm = 113%. Leg order III, IV, I, II.
(c) PRÓSZYŃSKI 2003

Body: Markingsdark or bright vertical stripes. Eyes: AERdorsal edge procurve. Labium: Lengthlonger than wide. Embolus: Shapeshort chisel-like. Legs: Leg formula4-3-1-2. Distribution: Geographical DistributionEurope. Afrika. Eastern Europe & Asia. Middle East.

FEMALE

Cephalothorax yellow with lighter median thoracic streak ending by broader spot in the foveal area; posterior slope of thorax steeper than in P. paykulli; sides whitish yellow with traces of indistinct darker radial bars; eye field darker yellow with an indistinct thin diagonal line of white setae along lateral edges of eye field, medially from eyes II to junction between ALE and AME; eyes surrounded black. Abdomen variable - in one specimen anterior half divided into three indistinct transverse belts: white, brown and white; posterior half divided into three indistinct longitudinal streaks: light median (with remnants of chevrons) and two dark brown lateral, the latter with two pairs of very small white dots; tip of abdomen dark brown, sides yellow, spinnerets yellow. In remaining specimens examined, distinct belts and streaks not visible, more or less uniform whitish grey with adpressed yellowish grey setae and longer, darker setae, giving hairy appearance (resembling Chinese P. setipes). Frontal aspect: while dorsal surface of eye field in this position appears dark, remaining parts are whitish yellow including lower face, chelicerae, pedipalps, femora of legs; eyes surrounded with white setae. Legs generally yellow, femora whitish yellow. Ventral aspect: whitish yellow. Epigynum with anterior median circular depression, behind sclerotized semicircular fold [vaginal roof] and extended posteriorly by the median furrow; openings in diagonal slits laterally to furrow, often covered by hard brown semitransparent secretion; spermathecae spherical;
Fresh female specimen from Enot Samar differs by having eye field dark brown, black anteriorly and with lateral eyes surrounded by black, but these are partly covered by white setae: surrounding eyes III, along eyes lateral, scattered over eye field and between ALE and AME. Thorax yellow with greyish shade, covered with sparse but distinct short black bristles arising from dark bases, giving specimen a hairy appearance. Abdomen yellowish white with greyish lateral areas, no distinct pattern, also "hairy" owing to black bristles. Face yellow with lines of white scale-like setae under orbits of ALE, eyes I surrounded by whitish setae. Long sparse horizontal white setae form triangle under AME. Epigynum almost black, abdomen ventrally white greyish.
(c) PRÓSZYŃSKI 2003

Body: Markingsdark or bright vertical stripes. Eyes: AERdorsal edge procurve. Labium: Lengthlonger than wide. Distribution: Geographical DistributionEurope. Afrika. Eastern Europe & Asia. Middle East.

COMMENTS

Diagnosis. Small, cephalothorax yellowish white with two brown reddish spots on posterior thoracic slope, abdomen white with spots different from those of Plexippus paykulli, different proportions of palpal organ, a flag of long white setae on palpal femur. Epigynum differs from Plexippus setipes by shorter longitudinal channels, broader and proportionately larger spermathecae and broader slit behind vaginal roof.
Remark. Plexippus strandi from Uzbekistan and Tadjikistan, as well as Plexippus strandi dushanbinus from Tadjikistan agree with Israeli specimens in general colour pattern, palpal organ and presence of a flag (bunch) of long white setae on palpal femur. Matching of males and females is confirmed by occurrence of identical pairs in Algeria and in Tadjikistan. Related species Plexippus kondarensis (Charitonov, 1951) has narrower bulbus, without serrated prolateral edge, epigynum with longer median oval grooves, both illustrated correctly by Andreeva (1976: Figs 116-117).
Seasonal appearance of adult specimens. Males - III, X; females - III, V, VIII.
(c) PRÓSZYŃSKI 2003