Book Description

"The genus Drasyllus is redefined to include those gnaphosids with a preening comb on metatarsi III and IV, closely spaced posterior median eyes, and a medially situated, bifid terminal apophysis on the male palp, and is hypothesized to be the sister group of Camillina. The 59 known American species, found from southern Canada to Mexico, are placed in eight species groups. Keys, disgnoses, descriptions, illustrations, scanning electron micrographs, locality records, and distribution maps are provided. Zelotes mexicanus (Banks) is transferred to Drasyllus. Drasyllus novus (Banks) and D. dromeus Chamberlin are removed from the synonymy of D. frigidus (Banks) and D. orgilus Chamberlin, respectively, and considered valid. Fourteen specific names are newly synonymized: D. zelotoides (Worley) and D. moronius (Chamberlin), both with D. lamprus (Chamberlin); D. finium Chamberlin and D. dentelifer Chamberlin, both with texamans Chamberlin; D. sporadicus Muma with D. dixinus Chamberlin; D. virginianus Chamberlin with D. novus (Banks); D. ostegae Chamberlin with D. aprilinus (Banks); D. lutzi Chamberlin and D. devexus Chamberlin, both with D. dromeus Chamberlin; D. monicus Chamberlin with D. proclesis Chamberlin; D. lasalus Chamberlin and Gertsch and D. hubbelli Chamberlin and Gertsch, both with D. mexicanus (Banks); and D. mephisto Chamberlin and D. coahuilanus Gertsch and Davis, both with D. lepidus (Banks). The males of D. eremitus Chamberlin, D. nannellus Chamberlin and Gertsch, D. seminolus Chamberlin and Gertsch, D. lamprus (Chamberlin), D. louisianus Chamberlin, D. orgilus Chamberlin, D. arizonensis (Banks), D. saphes Chamberlin, and D. fractus Chamberlin, and the females of D. socius Chamberlin, D. inanus Chamberlin and Gertsch, D. eremophilus Chamberlin and Gertsch, D. ellipes Chamberlin and Gertsch, and D. prosaphes Chamberlin are described for the first time. Twenty-three new species are described from the southern United States and Mexico"--P. [3].