Luthela Xu & Yu & Liu & Li 2022, gen. nov

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, 5D, 6D, 7D, 10H, 12D, 14D); 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, 5D, 6D, 7D, 10H, 12D, 14D). Luthela females differ from those of Songthela by the middle receptacular clusters having shorter stalks (Figs 4, 5H, 6H–J, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14H–M); 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, 5H, 6H–J, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14H–M). 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, 5D, 6D, 7D, 10H, 12D, 14D); contrategular margin with regular teeth (Figs 3D, 5D, 6D, 7D, 10H, 12D, 14D); tegulum with three distinct apophyses (Figs 3C, 5F, 6E, 7F, 10F, 12F, 14F); 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, 5H, 6H–J, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14H–M). 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).