Dinorhaxinae
  Dinorhax
Melanoblossinae
  Daesiella
  Lawrencega
  Melanoblossia
  Microblossia
  Unguiblossia

Genus Lawrencega Roewer 1933

Lawrencega Roewer 1933: 342; Roewer 1941: 123; Wharton, 1981: 54.

Diagnosis:

Type species: Lawrencega hewitti (Lawrence 1929)

Included species: Lawrencega hamiltoni Lawrence 1972; Lawrencega hewitti (Lawrence 1929); Lawrencega longitarsis Lawrence 1967; Lawrencega minuta Wharton 1981; Lawrencega procera Wharton 1981; Lawrencega solaris Wharton 1981; Lawrencega tripilosa Lawrence 1968

Distribution:

Original description:
Roewer 1933: 342.

Gebiß und Flagellum-Komplex siehe Abb. 135, A (sub Melanoblossia); Pedipa[pen nicht bedornt; Propeltidium kurz beborstet und mit einigen längeren Borsten untermischt; 1. Stigmensternit des Opisthosoma (= 3. Sternit) jederseits mit je 5 langen Ctenidien (deren Form ?). - Färbung rostgelb, Opisthosoma auf den Tergiten braun, auf Pleura und Sterniten aschgrau; Körperlänge etwa 10 mm.
nur ♂ - Süd-Afrika (Klein Namaqualand: Henkries, nahe dem OrangeFluß)- (non vidi).

 

Subsequent treatments:
Roewer 1941: 123.

1935 gibt Lawrence (p. 88) nachträglich die ventrale Bedornung der Tarenglieder des 2., 3. und 4. Beines an. Es ist also der Diagnose dieser Gattung hinzuzufügen: Ventrale Bedornung des 2. und 3. Tarsus - des 4. Tarsus 1.2.2.2 2.2.2.2.2.

Wharton 1981: 54.

Leg IV tarsi with either 1 or 2 distinct segments, or with only a weak suture in some species.  Leg IV tarsi ventrally with 2 rows of 5 spine-like setae plus an apical pair slightly more laterally placed. Leg IV tarsal claws at most weakly modified.  Flagellum a dorsalventral, curved row of plumose setae in a compact cluster; these setae increasing in length dorsally to ventrally.  Dentition in main series of dorsal cheliceral finger varying in males from absent or nearly so to present as a long series of small denticles indistinguishable from outer cheek series; females with long series of similarly-sized teeth usually indistinguishable from outer cheek series. Ventral cheliceral finger either toothless or with 4 or more teeth.  Adults of known species with at least 4 pairs of fleshy ctenidia.

Notes:

Wharton 1981:

Roewer (1933) separated Lawrencega from Melanoblossia solely on the basis of a difference in the number of leg IV tarsal segments.  Lawrence (1967), however, noted that this was not a stable character in Lawrencega.  The two genera are very closely related, but are retained as separate entities because of differences in the flagellum.  The relatively few species thus far described are not indicative of the rich Namibian fauna.  Most species are probably fairly local in their distribution, as in the daesiid genus Blossia.

KEY TO LA WRENCEGA SPECIES (MALES)

1. Four pairs of ctenidia on first post-genital sternite; ctenidia very broad, length of broadest ctenidium three to four times greatest width (fig. 57).  Ventral cheliceral finger strongly curved, bearing only very weak denticles ........................................................................................ L. minuta n. sp.

-- Four or more pairs of ctenidia; if only four pairs, ctenidia more slender, broadest ctenidium at least five times longer than greatest width (e.g. fig. 58).  Ventral cheliceral finger variable, usually with well developed teeth .............................................................................................................................. 2

2. Ventral cheliceral finger with median row of five teeth plus raised subapical row of approximately 5 contiguous teeth (fig. 55) ................................................................................................... L. solaris n. sp.

- Ventral cheliceral finger with median row of 4-6 teeth with or without subapical series of minute denticIes (fig. 60-63) ........................................................................................................................................ 3

3. Ventral cheliceral finger with only four teeth. Leg IV tarsal cIaws with moderately long second segment .............................................................................................................................. L. hamiltoni Lawr.

- Ventral cheliceral finger with at least six teeth .......................................................................................... 4

4. Distal half of dorsal cheliceral finger very slender,the finger narrowing abruptly below flagellum (fig.60). Ventral cheliceral finger without series of minute denticIes on apical third. L. hewitti (Lawr.)

-- Dorsal cheliceral finger less abruptly narrowing distally, and only beyond tip of flagellum; slender apical portion relatively short. Ventral cheliceral finger with se ries of minute denticIes on apical third .........................................................................................................................................................5

5. Ocular tuberc1e nearly half as long as propeltidium.  Apical series of denticIes on ventral cheliceral finger set within a well-defined groove ..................................................... L. longitarsis Lawr.

-- Ocular tuberc1e sm aller, 1/3rd-%th length of propeltidium.  Apical groove of ventral cheliceral finger obsolescent ........................................................................................................................................... 6

6. First post-genital sternite on each side with row of four ctenidia plus a shorter fifth ctenidium inserted anteriorly between second and third; ctenidia gradually tapering from base to apex .......
............................................................................................................................................... L. tripilosa Lawr.

-- First post-genital sternite on each side with row of three broad and two narrower ctenidia plus a shorter sixth ctenidium inserted anteriorly between third and fourth; lateral ctenidia broadest in middle .................................................................................................................................... L. procera n. sp.