GENITAL MECHANICS IN SOME NEOTROPICAL PHOLCID SPIDERS (ARANEAE, PHOLCIDAE), WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR SYSTEMATICS

Genital mechanics are studied in five species from three genera of neo tropical pholcid spiders. The study focuses on the function of a point ed and upward projecting ('pup') apophysis on the male pedipalpal femu r: it engages an indentation in the genital bulb during copulation. Th is character is geographically restricted to spiders in Central and No rth America and the West Indies and is considered a key character of t he monophyletic 'Modisimus group'. This includes the genera Modisimus Simon, 1893, Psilochorus Simon, 1893, Bryantina Brignoli, 1985, Anopsi cus Chamberlin & Ivie, 1938, and some species now misplaced in Corysso cnemis Simon, 1893 and Blechroscelis Simon, 1893. Evidence for the pol yphyly of the following genera is presented: Psilochorus, Coryssocnemi s, and Blechroscelis. Some notes on the reproductive biology of the sp ecies studied are briefly presented.