Artoria helensmithae, Framenau, Volker W. & Baehr, Barbara C., 2018

Framenau, Volker W. & Baehr, Barbara C., 2018, The wolf spider genus Artoria in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia (Araneae, Lycosidae, Artoriinae), Evolutionary Systematics 2 (2), pp. 169-241 : 169

Artoria helensmithae sp. n. Figs 23, 24 A–H, 47K Helen’s Forest Runner

Material examined.

Holotype, Booti Booti National Park, S of Forster, southern end of park (32°16 ’47” S, 152°31 ’28” E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA), 30 September– 9 October 1997, L. Wilkie, pitfall trap (AM KS128076). Paratypes: 4 males, same data as holotype (AM KS61893); 1 female, Munmorah State Recreation Area, 33°12 ’26” S, 151°34 ’37” E (AM KS61928); 7 females, Booti Booti National Park (32°14 ’28” S, 152°32 ’50” E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA), 25 November 1997, pitfall trap, L. Wilkie, BBC02/03 (AM KS61914); 1 female, same data (ZMH A0002168); 33 males, Bungonia Caves area, near Information Centre (34°48 ’02” S, 150°00 ’57” E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA), mid-October–mid-November 1989, G. Hunt, pitfall trap (AM KS22556); 1 male, same data (ZSMH A0002169).

Other material examined.

175 males, 100 females (2 with spiderlings) and 1 juvenile 134 records. AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 2 males, 4 km NE of Mt Wog Wog, 17 km SE Bombala, 37°04 ’30” S, 149°28 ’00” E (AM KS98791, KS98810); 1 male, Barrington Cave Pigna Barney PB1-20, 31°46 ’24” S, 151°31 ’17” E (AM KS52386); 3 males, 1 female, Bondi State Forest, S of Bombala, 37°07'S, 149°08'E (AM KS18203-5, KS70234); 47 males, 21 females, Booti Booti National Park, 32°14 ’28” S, 152°32 ’50” E (AM KS50502-13, KS52069-70, KS61861, KS61868, KS61872, KS61875, KS61879, KS61881, KS61889, KS61892-4, KS61897-8, KS61909, KS61911-2, KS61919, KS61923, KS61927, KS61935-6, KS61978, KS64040-48); 2 males, Cherry Tree north State Forest, 28°58'S, 152°15'E (AM KS52392); 1 female, Dover Heights, Rodney Reserve, 33°52 ’26” S, 151°16 ’59” E (AM KS110534); 2 males, 6 females, 1 juv., Harrington, 3-5 km NE, 31°52'S, 152°42'E (AM KS23427); 1 male, 1 female, Munmorah State Conservation Area, 30 m off Birdie Beach Drive and 200m north of Freemans, 33°12 ’17” S, 151°36 ’9” E (AM KS122654, KS122908); 10 males, Munmorah State Recreation Area, 33°12 ’24” S, 151°34 ’59” E (AM KS61862, KS61864); 2 males, Munmorah State Recreation Area, 33°12 ’26” S, 151°34 ’37” E (AM KS61852-3); 1 female, Munmorah State Recreation Area, 33°12 ’27” S, 151°34 ’37” E (AM KS61907); 15 males, 9 females, Munmorah State Recreation Area, 33°12 ’34” S, 151°34 ’59” E (AM KS61848, KS61856, KS61876, KS61883-4, KS61896, KS61908, KS61930-31, KS61933-4, KS86380); 18 males, 1 female, Munmorah State Recreation Area, 33°13 ’09” S, 151°34 ’15” E (AM KS61859, KS61871, KS61885, KS61891, KS61903, KS64049); 1 male, 1 female, Myall Lakes National Park, 32°29 ’22” S, 152°23 ’53” E (AM KS61887, KS64051); 2 males, Myall Lakes National Park, 32°30 ’26” S, 152°21 ’55” E (AM KS61899); 2 males, 1 female, Myall Lakes National Park, 32°34 ’45” S, 152°17 ’27” E (AM KS61900, KS64052); 5 male, 2 females, Myall Lakes National Park, 32°34 ’45” S, 152°12 ’27” E (AM KS61849, KS61865, KS61873, KS61888, KS61890, KS61916); 9 male, 8 females, Myall Lakes National Park, 32°37 ’56” S, 152°12 ’27” E (AM KS61850-51, KS61855, KS61869, KS61878, KS61886, KS61906, KS61915, KS61921-2, KS61926); 4 males, 5 females, Nullica Beach, 37°06'S, 149°53'E (AM KS83713, KS83718, KS83723); 2 females, Nullica River Bridge, S of river between bridge and coast, 37°04'S, 149°48'E (WAM T56211); 1 male, Seven Mile Beach National Park, picnic area., 34°47 ’30” S, 150°46 ’44” E (AM KS119173); 2 females, Tamarama, Marks Park, 33°53 ’56” S, 151°16 ’30” E (AM KS110537); 1 female, Wallaroo State Forest, Flaggy Creek, 32°36 ’03” S, 151°48 ’07” E (AM KS39707); 9 males, 20 females, Wyrrabalong National Park, 33°16 ’44” S, 151°32 ’51” E (AM KS61854, KS61874, KS61895, KS61904, KS61917, KS61920, KS61924-5, KS64053-5); 3 male, 3 females, Wyrrabalong National Park, 33°16 ’47” S, 151°32 ’40” E (AM KS61866, KS61870, KS61880, KS61905, KS61913, KS61929); 3 males, 2 females, Wyrrabalong National Park, 33°16 ’48” S, 151°32 ’45” E (AM KS61867, KS61877, KS64057, KS64059-60); 1 male, Wyrrabalong National Park, 33°16 ’51” S, 151°32 ’37” E (AM KS64058).

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a matronym honouring Dr Helen Smith of the Australian Museum, Sydney, for her ongoing support of our spider research.

Diagnosis.

Artoria helensmithae sp. n. males and females are very similar to those of A. beaury sp. n. (see diagnosis above).

Description.

Male (based on holotype, AM KS128076).

Total length 3.9.

Prosoma. Length 2.2, width 1.5; carapace light yellow-brown with dark radial pattern and black V-shaped pattern between cephalic and thoracic region; indistinct and irregular lighter central and marginal band (Fig. 24A); sternum light, margin dusted dark grey (Fig. 24B).

Eyes. Diameter of AME: 0.10; ALE: 0.07; PME: 0.28; PLE: 0.20.

Anterior eye row. Slightly procurved, evenly spaced.

Chelicerae. Dark brown darker apically.

Labium. Dark brown, with lighter anterior rim (Fig. 24B)

Pedipalp coxae. Dark brown, with lighter anterior rim (Fig. 24B).

Legs. Femora, tibiae and metatarsi of leg I very dark to almost black; other legs brown, with darker annulations; tarsi and metatarsi lighter brown (Fig. 24A).

Opisthosoma. Length 1.7, width 1.3; dark grey with light yellow-brown anterior cardiac mark and light irregular pattern (Fig. 24A). Venter pale with darker pattern anteriorly (Fig. 24B); spinnerets dark grey.

Pedipalps. Tibia as long as broad; cymbium tip with 8-10 macrosetae (Fig. 24E, F); dorsal scopula patch absent; tegular apophysis distally widely scooped, basally narrowed to 1/2, retrolateral tip strongly hooked and reaching beyond margin of cymbium (Fig. 24E, F); palea about 1 1/2 times as long as wide, basoembolic apophysis large, triangular; embolus broad, widely semicircular; terminal apophysis triangular, tip scooped (Fig. 47K).

Female (based on AM KS61928).

Total length 3.8.

Prosoma. Length 2.2, width 1.6; carapace and sternum colouration as male (Fig. 24C, D).

Eyes. Diameter of AME 0.08, ALE 0.08, PME 0.26, PLE 0.19.

Anterior eye row. Slightly procurved, evenly spaced.

Opisthosoma. Length 1.6, width 1.5; otherwise as male, but legs I not darker and opisthosoma pattern more obscure (Fig. 24C, D).

Epigyne about slightly longer than wide, strongly sclerotized at posterior tips (Fig. 24G); spermathecal heads globular around 1 diameter apart, spermathecal stalks attached laterally slightly s-shaped (Fig. 24H).

Life history and habitat preferences.

Habitat descriptions found on the collection labels of A. helensmithae sp. n. include 'under tall shrubs’, 'sand dunes’, open forest, litter’, ‘rainforest’ and 'dry forest’. A single record is from the dark zone of a cave. Therefore, A. helensmithae sp. n. seems to show some variation in its habitat preferences. Most records also state ‘litter’.

Artoria helensmithae sp. n. appears to have three peaks of reproductive activity, the first around April/May, then in July and again from October to December. Females with spiderlings were found in December. This is an unusual phenology for wolf spiders, i.e. this species appears to be reproductively active in autumn, winter and summer.

Distribution.

In NSW, A. helensmithae sp. n. has generally been found east of the Great Dividing Range, with records from the NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SYB), South East Corner (SEC) and South East Highlands (SHE) IBRA regions (Fig. 23). The species has also been found in eastern and central Victoria (V.W. Framenau, unpublished data).