Hersilia asiatica Song & Zheng, 1982

Pakawin Dankittipakul & Tippawan Singtripop, 2011, The spider genus Hersilia in Thailand, with descriptions of two new species (Araneae, Hersiliidae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 118 (2), pp. 207-221 : 208-210

Hersilia asiatica Song & Zheng, 1982

Figs 1-5 , 27

Hersilia asiatica Song & Zheng, 1982: 40 , figs 1-5; Hu, 1984: 81, figs 74.1-5. – Song, 1987: 116, fig. 78; Feng, 1990: 48, figs 23.1-6. – Chen & Zhang, 1991: 78, figs 69.1-5. – Baehr & Baehr, 1993: 25, figs 20c-f. – Chen, 1994: 1, figs 1A-F. – Song, Zhu & Chen, 1999: 80, figs 32I-J, 33C-D. – Chen, 2007: 14, figs 1, 5-12.

NEW MATERIAL: MHNG-PDC-0254542121111111; Thailand, Chiang Mai Province, Chiang Mai District, Doi Suthep-Pui NP, Doi Pui, Huay Khok Ma Watershed Station, 1200-1300 m; 1 male, 2 females; from a tree trunk in evergreen hill forest (closed canopy); 8.8.1999; leg. P. Dankittipakul. – MHNG-PDC-541354654020213163; Thailand, Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province, Tha Sala District, Khao Nan NP, 100-200 m; 1 female; beating shrub in dry lowland evergreen forest; 17.8.2006; leg. P. Dankittipakul. – TNHM-PDC-54651516514654; Thailand, Phetchabun Province, Lomsak District, Nam Nao NP, forests behind park headquarters, 600 m; 1 female; 16.-17.vii.2005; leg. P. Dankittipakul.

REMARKS: Hersilia asiatica is an extremely long-legged species. Males are recognized by: palpal patella with strongly sclerotized ridge carrying short erect spines, the ridge is recognized by a broad cleft ( Fig. 1 ); embolus linear ( Figs 1-3 ); median process of TA with prolateral denticle ( Figs 1-2 ); lateral process of TA with sharply pointed anterior margin, and carrying an elongate process ( Fig. 2 ). Females are recognized by: epigyne a distinctly elevated mound with sclerotized anterior margin ( Fig. 4 ); copulatory orifices situated anterior to sac-like membranous part of epigyne ( Fig. 4 ); elongate tubular insemination ducts originating antero-medially, descending postero-laterally, connected to basal perforate sinusoids ( Figs 5 , 27 ); ovoid receptacula originating posteriorly, with tubular stalks ( Fig. 5 ); fertilization ducts situated close to epigastric furrow, connected to vulva via short tubular ducts running obliquely (Fig. 5). Apart from the diagnostic characters given above and mentioned by Baehr & Baehr (1993), an additional feature was observed in the males examined: the lateral process of the TA bears a prolateral petal-shaped denticle (Figs 1, 3), its apex directed mesad. This structure is heavily sclerotized and sharply pointed in lateral view ( Fig. 3 ); it is easily distinguishable from the median process of the TA which is less sclerotized and pigmented.

DISTRIBUTION: China, Thailand and Laos. Hersilia asiatica was previously recorded from northeastern Thailand (Khao Yai NP, Nakhon Ratchasima Province and Phu Kradueng NP, Loei Province) by Baehr & Baehr (1993). New localities reported herein extend the known distribution range of this species southwards to southern Thailand ( Fig. 32 ).

Figures

FIGS 1-5 Hersilia asiatica. (1) Left male palp, prolateral view. (2) Ditto, ventral view. (3) Ditto, retrolateral view. (4) Epigyne, ventral view. (5). Vulva, dorsal view. Scale lines = 1.0 mm.

FIGS 27-31 Hersilia asiatica (27), H. sundaica (28, 31), H. cf. striata (29), H. serrata sp. n., paratype (30). (27-28) Vulva, dorsal view. (29-30) Right half of vulva, dorsal view. (31) Seminal receptacle.

FIG. 32 Currently known Hersilia localities in Thailand.