Paruroctonus stahnkei (Gertsch & Soleglad 1966)

Vejovis (Paruroctonus) stahnkei Gertsch & Soleglad, 1966: 30-34, fig. 36-38, 56.
Paruroctonus stahnkei: Soleglad, 1972: 73; Soleglad, 1973b: 355; Stahnke, 1974a: 138; Williams, 1972: 3; Sissom & Francke, 1981: 102; Haradon, 1985: 31, 40; Kovarík, 1998: 144; Sissom, 2000:510; Soleglad & Fet, 2003a: 8, 31, 36, 104, 161, figs. 6, 75; Soleglad & Fet, 2005: 6.

Paruroctonus stahnkei (Gertsch & Soleglad), male.  Photo by W. David Sissom

type(s) :  
Vejovis (Paruroctonus) stahnkei Gertsch & Soleglad: Holotype: M (AMNH), Sentinel, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA.

original description:
Gertsch and Soleglad 1966

DIAGNOSIS: Small, pale species, readily differentiated from boreus by following features: Preabdomen essentially unmarked by dark pattern, and dark lines not present beneath cauda. Distal tooth on upper margin of movable finger of chelicera reduced in size and far smaller than corresponding tooth of lower margin. Number of teeth in combs much smaller, 14-15 in females and 20-23 in males.
COLORATION: Entire body pale yellow except as follows: eyes and eye tubercles black; V-shaped dusky patch centered at median eyes more or less evident; preabdomen either unmarked or showing very faint pattern similar to that of boreus; tip of sting red.
SSTRUCTURE: Similar to that of boreus in both sexes except as indicated below. Male differing little from female in size and appearance. Measurements given in table 4.
CCarapace: Anterior margin gently rounded, essentially straight, set with six fine setae. Length greater than width at caudal margin. Median eyes of average size, set on low tubercles; width of median diad somewhat more than one-fourth of width of carapace at that point (9/33). Granulation less conspicuous than that of boreus but similar in distribution.
Preabdomen: Tergites generally quite smooth except for weak granules on posterior margins.
Cauda: Sculpturing essentially as in boreus. Dorsal and superior lateral keels of segments I-IV in male less strongly crenulate, with individual granules small and regularly spaced; these keels of female quite smooth, with fewer granules. Inferior lateral keels of female obsolete on segments I and II, faintly visible but smooth on segment III, more developed and crenulate in caudal half of segment IV. Inferior median keels of female obsolete on basal segments, faintly visible and weakly crenulate on segment IV. All inferior keels of male finely granulated. All segments with scattered setae, but those on ventral surface in regular rows; segments I-IV with 3-4-5-5 pairs of setae on obsolete inferior median keels.
Telson: Slender, with long, slightly curved sting half as long as vesicle.
Pectines: Pectinal teeth of females 14-15, of males 20-23.
Chelicerae: Similar in both sexes (figs. 36-38) and showing important differences from those of boreus. Lower margin of fixed finger without distinct nodules at base. Movable finger a quite large, flat blade bearing on upper margin five teeth, of which distal one is quite small, well separated from enlarged apical tooth of lower margin (fig. 37); carina of lower margin faintly dissected into weak denticles.
Pedipalps: Those of female of medium length, with chelae of medium stoutness. Basal segments with all carinae quite uniformly granulated. Chelae moderately thickened, with all carinae distinct but relatively smooth and weakly granulose. Inner keels of fingers weakly scalloped, armed as in boreus. Pedipalp of male heavier than that of female, with conspicuous carinae set with numerous rounded granules.
Walking legs: Setation essentially as in boreus; protarsi of second and third legs with row of six or seven long setae.

subsequent accounts:

distribution: NORTH AMERICA. México(Sonora), USA (Arizona). View Map

published records:  V.

notes:  

Vejovis stahnkei, new species

Figures 36-38, 56

TYPE DATA: Male holotype from Sentinel, Maricopa County, Arizona, October 9, 1959 (V. Roth).

DISTRIBUTION: Southern Arizona (fig. 56).

RECORDS: Arizona: Maricopa County: Buckeye, April 24, 1961 (J. Rozen, R. Schrammel), female. Sunshine Acres Childrens Home, 5 miles northeast of Mesa, October 11 to December 27, 1959, four males, female; November, 1960, male (M. E. Soleglad, R. Dingman). Pima County: Four miles northeast of Arivaca, October 3, 1953, male (V. Roth).