Theridion pinicola Simon, 1873

Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) – II, ZooKeys 16 (16), pp. 227-264 : 251-254

Theridion pinicola Simon, 1873

Figs 65-67 , 69-75

Theridion pinicola Simon, 1873b: 364 , 371, male female. Type locality: Corsica.

Paidiscura pinicola : – Wunderlich 2008: 392, transfer from Theridion .

Material examined. France: Corsica, 3 ♂ 35 ♀ 4 juveniles ( MHNP AR 2257 ). N Corsica, Calvi, Forêt de Bonifatu, Bocca di Erbaghiolu , 1200 m, 42°25’15.0’’N 08°50’15.5’’E, beating from Pinus nigra laricio , 5 ♂ 3 ♀ 1 subadult ♂ 1 subadult ♀, 2.5.2001, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-409 Co-01/8] . Ibidem, 1200 m, 3 ♂ 1 ♀ 3 subadult ♂, 30.4.2001 . Corsica, Haute Asco , 42°23’32.2’’N 08°55’08.9’’E, 1400-1440 m, 2 ♀, 12.9.2001, beating pine at timber line, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-417 Co01/15] . Tunisia: Kasserine, W Thélepte, Dernaya (close to Algerian border), 35°7’24.3’’N 8°28’57.0’’E, 1120 m, sparse pine wood, 2 ♂ (1 ♂ CM, 1 ♂ SMF), 19.4.2007, leg. C. Muster .

Voucher specimens deposited in CTh, MHNG, NMW if not specifically indicated.

Description, identification. The species has not been reported since the original description of Simon (1873b: 364, 371; 1881: 105).

Measurements. Males (n=5, min-max): Total length 1.5-1.9, carapace length 0.7- 0.9, width 0.7-0.8, length femur I 0.9-1.1, tibia I 0.6-0.8 mm. Females (n=5, min-max): Total length 1.5-2.4, carapace length 0.7-0-8, width 0.6-0.7, length femur I 0.7-0.9, tibia I 0.5-0.6 mm.

Somatic features ( Figs 65-67 ). Carapace yellowish with thin dark margins and dark median band from eye region to midline. Sternum light, its margins may be diffuse dark. Legs yellowish with dark annulations from distal femora onwards. Abdomen dark brown, dorsum usually with whitish median folium. Male epigaster protruding.

Male palp ( Figs 69-71 ). Conformation of male palp as in other representatives of the Theridion varians group (see Knoflach 1998). Tibia short, with one retrolateral trichobothrium. Conductor pointed and curved. Prolateral part of median apophysis triangular and strongly protruding. Theridiid tegular apophysis pointed. Embolus slender. Distal part of embolus 0.25 mm long.

Epigynum /vulva ( Figs 72-75 ). Epigynal cavity rounded, its posterior border strongly sclerotised; with central copulatory orifices fused to common, rounded opening. Copulatory ducts ca. 0.4 mm long. They diverge laterally, forming a few coils, turn inwards and enter the receptacula by a final wide coil. In mated females the epigynal cavity is filled by plug secretions. All parts of vulva clearly translucent through integument.

Copulatory behaviour. Copulation follows the pattern of the Theridion varians group, with 6-8 sperm inductions, a presumed initial pseudocopulation and a final mating plug sequence ( Knoflach 2004).

Generic placement: The generic placement of Theridion pinicola in Paidiscura by Wunderlich (2008) has to be rejected, since there is no convincing argument for such a combination. T. pinicola is clearly a member of the T. varians group, see above and Knoflach (2004), for Paidiscura see Knoflach and Thaler (2000).

Distribution. Theridion pinicola was hitherto known only from Corsica ( Simon 1873b, 1881, 1914). The present new record from Tunisia suggests a wider distribution. As indicated by the naming of Simon the species occurs on pines, and appears to be a specialised inhabitant of pine forest, “en été sur les pins” ( Simon 1881).

Figures

Figures 63-68. Theridion musivum Simon (63-64), female from Corsica (63), female guarding egg-sac from Sardinia (64). T. pinicola Simon from Corsica (65-67), male (65-66), copulating pair (67). T. semitinctum Simon from Northern Italy, female vulva, dorsal view (68).

Figures 69-75. Theridion pinicola Simon from Corse, Forêt de Bonifatu. Male palp, retrolateral (69), ventral (70), prolateral view (71). Epigynum/vulva, ventral (72, 74), dorsal view (73, 75). 69-71 and 72-75 drawn at same scale. Scale lines: 0.20 (69-71) and 0.10 mm (72-75).