Paruroctonus becki (Gertsch & Allred 1965)

Vejovis becki Gertsch & Allred, 1965: 2, 9-11, fig. 1, 2, 4-7, 10, 20.
Vejovis (Paruroctonus) becki: ►Gertsch & Soleglad, 1966: 6, 47-52, fig. 39-41, 56, 59, 60, 65.
Paruroctonus becki:: Williams, 1972: 3; Soleglad, 1973b: 355; Williams, 1976: 2; Hjelle, 1982: 98; ►Haradon, 1985: 24, 40; Kovarík, 1998: 143; Sissom, 2000:508; Soleglad & Fet, 2003a: 31.

original description:

type(s): Vejovis becki Gertsch & Allred 1965: Holotype: M (AMNH), Nevada Test Site, approx. 34 mi N Mercury, Nye County, Nevada, USA.

subsequent accounts:
Gertsch and Soleglad 1966

DIAGNOSIS: Resembling mesaensis in lacking dark pattern on preabdomen and in having eyes of quite large size. Quite slender hands and long fingers readily separating it from that and most species in series. Chelicerae large and having distal tooth on upper margin of movable finger of medium size, widely separated from large apical tooth of lower margin. Male and female as shown in figures 59 and 60.
COLORATION: Base color in both sexes yellow to bright orange-brown, but legs and pectines pale yellow. Carapace (fig. 65) typically with dark pattern as follows: Eyes and eye tubercles black; dark central dusky patch enclosing median eyes and from it inconspicuous dusky shadings radiating toward side eyes; central patch in some cases limited to median eyes, with rest of carapace pale. Preabdomen and cauda unmarked above or below; tip of sting dark red.
STRUCTURE: Similar to that of boreus in both sexes except as noted below. Males smaller and more slender than females. Measurements given in table 7.
Carapace: Shape of carapace of female from Nevada test site as shown in figure 65. Anterior margin essentially straight, more rarely with gentle curvature, set with six suberect setae. Granulation as in boreus, most distinct in males. Median eyes large, on conspicuous suboval tubercles; width of median diad about one-third of width of carapace at this point, somewhat less in a few specimens.
Cauda: Sculpturing essentially as in boreus. Segments I-IV with 4-5-5-5 pairs of setae on obsolete, inferior, median keels.
Telson: Sting moderately curved, shorter than quite smooth vesicle. Subaculear nodule inconspicuous. Vesicle about as wide as segment V of cauda.
Pectines: Similar to those of boreus in both sexes. Those of female of median width and length; middle lamellae consisting of about 20 small oval pieces; pectinal teeth numbering from 17 to 21. Those of male much larger and broader; middle lamellae about 30 small ovoid pieces; pectinal teeth long, curved, numbering 24 to 29.
Chelicerae: Similar in both sexes (figs. 39-41) and most closely resembling those of stahnkei and gracilior. Fixed finger with typical dentition, with long, thin, apical spur, with faint indication of, or completely lacking, rounded nodules on nearly obsolete lower margin. Movable finger a very long, flat blade, bearing on upper margin five teeth of which distal one is of medium size, well separated from enlarged apical tooth of lower margin (fig. 40); carina of lower margin crenulate, dissected into series of six to 12 pale teeth.
Pedipalps: In both sexes quite long, with hands of medium size and long fingers. Femur about three times as long as broad, with all carinae distinct and granulated. Tibia not fully three times as long as broad, narrowed at base, inflated at center, with all carinae granulated. Chela with all eight carinae low and set with small granules. Inner keels essentially straight to lightly scalloped, with small granules and teeth ar ranged as in boreus. Walking legs: Protarsi of third legs with series of about seven long setae.

Haradon 1985

key Cheliceral fixed digit inferior carina extends proximally at least to level of bicusp; carapace length/cheliceral fixed digit length ratio 4 .2 or more ………Pectinal teeth 24/24 or more in males and 17/18 or more in females and 37 or more primary denticles (less proximal row) on pedipalp movable fingers, or if fewer pectinal teeth then either (1) dorsal metasomal setae I-IV 0,0,0,1, or (2) no mrs seta on basitarsus II; Basitarsus II with mrs seta 4; Carapace length/cheliceral fixed digit length ratio 6 .5 or less.............becki microgroup, P. becki.

distribution: NORTH AMERICA. USA (California, Nevada). View Map

published records:  V.

notes: & 

TYPE DATA: Male holotype from the Nevada test site, approximately 34 miles due north of Mercury, Nye County, Nevada, July 21, 1961, in the American Museum of Natural History.

DISTRIBUTION: Southern Nevada and southern California (fig. 56). RECORDS: California: Riverside County: Indio, April 3, 1959 (W. J. Gertsch), female. Los Angeles County: Pearblossom, May 2, 1960 (W. J. Gertsch), male. San Bernardino County: Saratoga Springs, Death Valley, February 9, 1955 (W. McDonald), female; Phelan, April 19, 1960 (W. J. Gertsch), female; Pisgah Crater, February 11 to July 12, 1961-1962 (Norris and Heath), two males, 11 females; Victorville, April 2, 1922 (E. Seton), three females. Kern County: Two miles south of Mojave, June 29, 1960 (T. S. Briggs), male. Inyo County: Lee Flat, on Saline Valley road, 6.7 miles southwest of Grapevine Canyon, south of Saline Valley, August 27, 1965 (T. S. Briggs, K. Hom), under yucca, male; Grapevine Canyon, south of Saline Valley, August 27, 1965 (V. Lee, K. Hom), exposed at night by UV lamp, female, two immature; Olancha, July 18, 1952 (W. J. Gertsch), male. Nevada: Clarke County: Eight miles northeast of junction of Deer Creek road and Highway 52, near Charleston Mountain, August 18, 1965 (K. Hom), two females; Las Vegas, February-June, 1965 (D. J. Zinn), male, two females. Nye County: Nevada test site, north of Mercury (Gertsch and Allred, 1965), many males and females; Lathrop Wells, August 28, 1965 (K. Hom), under boards, three immature; Round Mountain, June 28, 1961 (F. E. Russell), immature male. Churchill County: Soda Lake, near Fallon, July 23, 1965 (K. Hom), two males, female, two immature.