Luthela Xu & Li, 2022

Genus Luthela Xu & Li , gen. nov.

Type species: Luthela yiyuan sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Males of Luthela can be distinguished from those of Songthela Ono, 2000 by the contrategular margin having regular larger teeth ( Figs 3D View FIGURE 3 , 5D View FIGURE 5 , 6D View FIGURE 6 , 7D View FIGURE 7 , 10H View FIGURE 10 , 12D View FIGURE 12 , 14D View FIGURE 14 ); from those of the other genera of Heptathelinae by the conductor with a smooth surface, and with two long spines, upper and lower ones ( Figs 3D View FIGURE 3 , 5D View FIGURE 5 , 6D View FIGURE 6 , 7D View FIGURE 7 , 10H View FIGURE 10 , 12D View FIGURE 12 , 14D View FIGURE 14 ). Luthela females differ from those of Songthela by the middle receptacular clusters having shorter stalks ( Figs 4 View FIGURE 4 , 5H View FIGURE 5 , 6H–J View FIGURE 6 , 8 View FIGURE 8 , 9 View FIGURE 9 , 11 View FIGURE 11 , 13 View FIGURE 13 , 14H–M View FIGURE 14 ); from those of the other genera of Heptathelinae by the positions of two pairs of the receptacular clusters: middle ones situated at anterior margin of bursa copulatrix and lateral ones situated at dorsolateral position of bursa copulatrix ( Figs 4 View FIGURE 4 , 5H View FIGURE 5 , 6H–J View FIGURE 6 , 8 View FIGURE 8 , 9 View FIGURE 9 , 11 View FIGURE 11 , 13 View FIGURE 13 , 14H–M View FIGURE 14 ).

Description. Male body length, 12.5–18.6 ( N = 18), female, 12.5–27.0 ( N = 85); male palpal conductor with a smooth surface, and with two long spines, upper and lower ones ( Figs 3D View FIGURE 3 , 5D View FIGURE 5 , 6D View FIGURE 6 , 7D View FIGURE 7 , 10H View FIGURE 10 , 12D View FIGURE 12 , 14D View FIGURE 14 ); contrategular margin with regular teeth ( Figs 3D View FIGURE 3 , 5D View FIGURE 5 , 6D View FIGURE 6 , 7D View FIGURE 7 , 10H View FIGURE 10 , 12D View FIGURE 12 , 14D View FIGURE 14 ); tegulum with three distinct apophyses ( Figs 3C View FIGURE 3 , 5F View FIGURE 5 , 6E View FIGURE 6 , 7F View FIGURE 7 , 10F View FIGURE 10 , 12F View FIGURE 12 , 14F View FIGURE 14 ); female genitalia with two paired receptacular clusters, middle ones situated at anterior margin of bursa copulatrix with tubular stalks, and lateral ones situated more dorsolaterally ( Figs 4 View FIGURE 4 , 5H View FIGURE 5 , 6H–J View FIGURE 6 , 8 View FIGURE 8 , 9 View FIGURE 9 , 11 View FIGURE 11 , 13 View FIGURE 13 , 14H–M View FIGURE 14 ).

Etymology. The genus name is created by a combination of ‘Lu-’, referring to Shandong Province, China, and ‘thela’, referring to spinnerets as the Greek word thele means nipple-like protuberance ( Ono 2000). The gender is feminine.

Composition. L. yiyuan sp. nov. ( type species), L. luotianensis ( Yin et al., 2002) , comb. nov., L. schensiensis ( Schenkel, 1953) , comb. nov., L. badong sp. nov., L. dengfeng sp. nov., L. handan sp. nov., L. taian sp. nov., L. yuncheng sp. nov.

Distribution. China ( Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Shandong, Shaanxi, and Shanxi Provinces).