Asceua piperata Ono, 2004

Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhang, Feng, 2018, Two new species of the spider Family Zodariidae from Laos, Zootaxa 4459 (2), pp. 285-300 : 290-294

Asceua piperata Ono, 2004

( Figs 4–6 )

Asceua piperata Ono, 2004: 68 , f. 1-5.

Material examined. LAOS, Champasak Province: 1 male (Z-Laos-11-40) and 2 females (Z-Laos-11-41, Z-Laos- 11-42), Pakse City, Tad Etu (N 15°11', E 106°06'), 20 Nov. 2011, Z.Z. Gao leg.

Diagnosis. Asceua piperata Ono, 2004 resembles to A. wallacei Bosmans & Hillyard, 1990 with the roughly triangular base of the embolus, the very long embolus following dorso-prolateral curvature of cymbium, the spherical and adjoining spermathecae and anteromedian epigynal pocket. However, it can be distinguished from the latter by the thin and bifurcate retrolateral tibial apophysis, the tip of cymbium without pointed lateral process, the tip of conductor not bifurcate and the course of the internal copulatory ducts ( Figs 4E , 5A–E , 6A–E ).

Description. Male (Z-Laos-11-40): Total length 2.92: prosoma 1.55 long, 1.23 wide; opisthosoma 1.29 long, 1.03 wide. Carapace ( Fig 4A ) longer than wide, brown, thorax elevated, tegument smooth and shiny, median part with V-shaped black patch in front of black fovea. Clypeus 0.50 high, brown. Anterior eye row slightly procurved and posterior eye row strongly procurved in dorsal view. Each eye ringed with black. Eye diameters: AME 0.12, ALE 0.04, PME 0.11, PLE 0.10. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.04, ALE–ALE 0.50, AME– PME 0.06, PME–PME 0.11, PME–PLE 0.13, PLE–PLE 0.65, ALE–PLE 0.06. MOQ 0.29 long, anterior width 0.29, posterior width 0.31. Chilum single sclerite, triangular. Mouthpart ( Fig 4B ): chelicerae brown, with two anterior and one posterior teeth on margins of fang furrows, terminal part armed with row of black scopula; fangs short; endites brown, apices pale, furnished with dense black scopula; labium triangular, 0.25 long, 0.31 wide, brown. Sternum ( Fig 4B ) 0.69 long, 0.74 wide, brown, with sparse black setae, lateral margin with intracoxal triangles. Legs yellow, coxae whitish, each femur, patella, metatarsus with black patches at extremities, each tibia with black patches at base and extremities. Leg measurements:? 5.54 (1.40 + 0.35 + 1.31 + 1.79 + 0.69),? 4.30 (1.10 + 0.38 + 1.00 + 1.24 + 0.58),? 4.45 (1.11 + 0.48 + 1.04 + 1.26 + 0.56),? 6.09 (1.31 + 0.38 + 1.76 + 1.77 + 0.87). Leg formula: 4132. Opisthosoma ( Figs 4A, B ) oval, longer than wide, covered with grey short hair, with small rectangular dorsal scutum. Dorsum of opisthosoma black, with two pairs of anterior white patches, followed by two transversal median bands; anterior part of venter yellow, posterior part white and with some black patches. Spinnerets ( Fig 4B ) yellow brown, laterally with blackish patches.

Male palp ( Figs 4E , 5A–C , 6A–C ): tibia with wide dorsal apophysis and bifurcate retrolateral apophysis, with large concavity between them, fitting by posterior, globose cymbial projection; tegulum with thin sharp posterior hook; conductor wide and semi-circular; embolus long, thread-like, at first following dorso-prolateral curvature of cymbium on mesal side of palp, then turning to lateral side of palp and following dorsal margin of conductor; cymbium tareperd apically, without terminal spine, with deep, sinuous pro-and lateral folds not reaching tip.

Female. One of the specimens (Z-Laos-11-41) measured: Total length 3.06: prosoma 1.44 long, 1.04 wide; opisthosoma 1.38 long, 1.16 wide. Clypeal height 0.49. Eye diameters: AME 0.07, ALE 0.04, PME 0.11, PLE 0.13. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.42, AME–PME 0.10, PME–PME 0.13, PME–PLE 0.12, PLE–PLE 0.61, ALE–PLE 0.03. MOQ 0.28 long, front width 0.25, back width 0.30. Labium 0.19 long, 0.28 wide. Sternum 0.61 long, 0.66 wide. Leg measurements: I 3.42 (0.91 + 0.37 + 0.72 + 0.92 + 0.50), II 3.10 (0.76 + 0.31 + 0.71 + 0.87 + 0.45), III 3.18 (0.85 + 0.31+ 0.75 + 0.81 + 0.46), IV 4.45 (1.13 + 0.37 + 1.03 + 1.36 + 0.56). Leg formula: 4132. Dorsum of opisthosoma without dorsal scutum and with two pairs of white anterior patches, followed by three transversal median bands ( Fig 4C ); venter white. Spinnerets ( Fig 4D ) yellow brown, ringed with blackish patches. Other color as in male ( Figs 4C–D ).

Female genitalia ( Figs 5D–E , 6D–E ): copulatory openings situated in anterior part of epigyne, median part with short central epigynal pocket; long and winding copulatory ducts visible through integument; adjoining spermathecae big and spherical, situated posteriorly.

Distribution. Laos (Champasak), Vietnam.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Asceua piperata Ono, 2004, male (A–B, E) and female (C–D). A–D. Habitus (A, C, dorsal view; B, D, ventral view), E, Left male palp, dorsal view.

FIGURE 5. Asceua piperata Ono, 2004, male (A–C) and female (D–E). A–C. Left male palp (A, ventral view; B, retrolateral view; C, prolateral view); D. Epigyne, ventral view; E. Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURE 6. Asceua piperata Ono, 2004, male (A–C) and female (D–E). A–C. Left male palp (A, ventral view; B, retrolateral view; C, prolateral view); D. Epigyne, ventral view; E. Vulva, dorsal view.