@article {8439, title = {Food choice of the Neotropical harvestman Erginulus clavotibialis (Opiliones: Laniatores: Cosmetidae)}, journal = {Journal of Arachnology}, volume = {41}, year = {2013}, pages = {219{\textendash}221}, abstract = {

Relatively little is known about the food habits of neotropical harvestmen. We used Erginulus clavotibialis (Pickard-Cambridge 1905), a locally abundant species of cosmetid harvestman in Belize, in a food choice experiment. Individuals were presented with fresh fruit (pineapple) and live invertebrate prey (termites) in an experimental chamber. This species showed a strong preference for fruit, as 72\% of individuals ate it first and 67\% spent the most time in the fruit- containing portion of the experimental chamber. Five E. clavotibialis (13\%) consumed termites, confirming this species\’ ability to capture and consume live invertebrate prey. Adult males located food more quickly than nymphs. Harvestmen feeding on fruit were also significantly more active than non-feeding individuals or those preying upon termites first. Opportunistic frugivory may be important to E. clavotibialis during times when fruit is available (e.g., wet season). We hypothesize that this species exhibits a generalist diet in the field.

}, author = {Schaus, Maynard H and Townsend, Victor R and Illinik, Jeffrey J} } @article {145, title = {A new species of Santinezia (Opiliones: Cranaidae) from Panama}, journal = {Journal of Arachnology}, volume = {38}, year = {2010}, pages = {460{\textendash}465}, abstract = {

A new species, Santinezia noctiscansor, most similar to members of the S. festae group, is described from central Panama; this species is the only member of the genus that occurs in Central America. Our examinations of adults and nymphs collected from Cocl\é and Panam\á Provinces revealed that males are sexually mature as penultimate nymphs. The subadult strongly resembles the adult with respect to coloration, scutal outline, armature of femora III\–IV, and penis morphology, but differs in having fewer tarsomeres on each leg, a smaller body size (scutal length and width), and a much smaller tubercle on the ventral surface of coxa IV. Natural history observations are provided for specimens collected from the field site in Cocl\é Province.

}, keywords = {Harvestman, Laniatores, natural history, Neotropics}, url = {https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/partpdf/229246}, author = {Townsend, Victor R and Milne, Marc A} } @article {144, title = {Two new species of Manaosbiidae (Opiliones: Laniatores) from Panama, with comments on interspecific variation in penis morphology}, journal = {Journal of Arachnology}, volume = {39}, year = {2011}, pages = {92-101}, abstract = {

In Central America, the family Manaosbiidae is recorded only from Panama and Costa Rica. Four species occur in this region: Barrona williamsi Goodnight \& Goodnight 1942, Bugabitia triacantha Roewer 1915, Poassa limbata Roewer 1943, and Zygopachylus albomarginis Chamberlin 1925. In this paper, we describe Barrona felgenhaueri new species (Cocl\é Province, Panama) and Bugabitia akini new species (Cocl\é Province, Panama) and report a new record for B. williamsi (Cocl\é Province, Panama). We used SEM to examine the penis morphology of Barrona Goodnight \& Goodnight 1942 and the Caribbean species Cranellus montgomeryi Goodnight \& Goodnight 1947 and Rhopalocranaus albilineatus Roewer 1932. We compared genital morphology of these species with published descriptions for Manaosbiidae from South America. With respect to genital morphology, we found that the most variable characters were the number and relative sizes of the setae that occur on the lateral margins of the ventral plate. Other features that exhibited interspecific variation included the shape of the ventral plate, the shape of the distal border of the ventral plate, and the shape and armature of the apex of the stylus.

}, keywords = {Central America, morphology, Neotropics, taxonomy}, author = {Townsend, Victor R and Milne, Marc A and Proud, Daniel N} } @article {13, title = {Key to the Cosmetidae (Arachnida, Opiliones) of Central America, with notes on penis morphology and sexual dimorphisms}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {2414}, year = {2010}, month = {09/2010}, pages = {1-26}, type = {Scientific, Identification Key}, abstract = {

To facilitate identification of harvestmen of the family Cosmetidae in Central America, we developed dichotomous keys that distinguish the 33 known genera and the 133 described species for this region. Couplets are based upon characters found in the literature and examinations of museum specimens. Important characters include the number of tarsomeres on leg I, armature of the dorsal scutum, free tergites and legs, as well as the coloration and relative length of the body and legs. In addition, we provide a summary of sexually dimorphic features and comment on the potential usefulness of penis morphology and coloration as characters for distinguishing taxa.

}, keywords = {Arachnida, Central America, Cosmetidae, Laniatores, Opiliones, taxonomic key}, issn = {1175-5334}, url = {http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2010/f/z02414p026f.pdf}, author = {Townsend, Victor R and V{\'\i}quez, Carlos and VanZandt, P.A and Proud, Daniel N} }