Araneus yuboi, Mi & Wang & Gan, 2023

Mi, Xiaoqi, Wang, Cheng & Gan, Jiahui, 2023, Six new species of the orb-weaver spider genus Araneus Clerck, 1757 (Araneae, Araneidae) and a redescription of A. colubrinus Song & Zhu, 1992 from Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China, ZooKeys 1173, pp. 243-273 : 243

Araneus yuboi sp. nov.

Figs 13 , 14 , 16I-L , 17

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (TRU- Araneidae -254), China: Guizhou Province, Tongren City, Yinjiang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Ziwei Township, Dayuanzhi Village, Mianxüling (27°54.89'N, 108°40.17'E, ca 1790 m), 14.VI.2019, C. Wang & J.H. Gan leg; Paratypes: 4♂4♀ (TRU- Araneidae -255-262), same data as for holotype; 2♂ (TRU- Araneidae -263-264), same locality (27°54.83'N, 108°40.03'E, ca 2000 m), 9.V.2020, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 3♀ (TRU- Araneidae -265-267), same locality (27°54.89'N, 108°40.17'E, ca 1790 m), 23.VII.2021, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.

Diagnosis.

The new species resembles A. bimaculicollis Hu, 2001 in appearance, but differs in: 1) scape with nearly parallel sides (Fig. 13A ) vs twisted into an S-shape ( Hu 2001: fig. 283.2); 2) scape with trapeziform tip in ventral view (Fig. 13A ) vs spoon shaped tip ( Hu 2001: fig. 283.2); 3) copulatory openings located on the ventral surface (Fig. 13A ) vs on the ventral to posterior surface ( Hu 2001: fig. 283.2); 4) spermathecae elliptical (Fig. 13D ) vs C-shaped ( Hu 2001: fig. 284.3); 5) conductor with a basal spur (Fig. 14B-D ) vs lacking ( Hu 2001: fig. 284.1, 2); and 6) male tibia I not expanded medially (Fig. 16I ) vs expanded ( Hu 2001: fig. 284.4).

Description.

Male (holotype, Figs 13G, H , 14 , 16I-L ). Total length 4.25. Carapace 2.20 long, 1.80 wide. Abdomen 2.50 long, 2.20 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.10, PME 0.13, PLE 0.10, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.15, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.28, MOA length 0.35, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.38. Leg measurements: I 9.05 (3.00, 3.20, 2.00, 0.85), II 8.05 (2.60, 2.80, 1.85, 0.80), III 4.85 (1.60, 1.70, 0.95, 0.60), IV 6.15 (2.00, 2.05, 1.45, 0.65). Carapace pear-shaped, yellowish brown with pale setae, cervical groove slightly obvious, fovea longitudinal. Chelicerae yellow, four promarginal teeth and three retromarginal teeth. Endites square, yellow, with tooth-like process laterally, labium triangular, grayish yellow, both with pale tip. Sternum cordiform, grayish yellow with dark setae. Legs yellow with brown annuli, tibia I with 13 macrosetae, tibia II with 12 macrosetae, tibia III with eight macrosetae, tibia IV with eight macrosetae. Abdomen wide oval, blunt anteriorly, ~ 1.13 × longer than wide, covered with pale setae, dorsum grayish yellow with a pair of white spots anteriorly; venter grayish yellow. Spinnerets yellowish brown.

Pedipalp (Fig. 14 ): with basal femoral protrusion; patella with two bristles; median apophysis large, with a pointed tip and two fin-shaped protuberances; embolus extremely long, twisted into a U-shape, distal end enlarged and heavily sclerotized, with wide membranous embolic lamella; conductor weakly sclerotized, with a spur at base; terminal apophysis weakly sclerotized, digitiform; subterminal apophysis prominent, heavily sclerotized with dozens of denticles.

Female (paratype TRU- Araneidae -255, Fig. 13A-F ). Total length 5.55. Carapace 2.45 long, 1.90 wide. Abdomen 3.50 long, 3.85 wide. Clypeus 0.05 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.10, PME 0.13, PLE 0.10, AME-AME 0.13, AME-ALE 0.30, PME-PME 0.15, PME-PLE 0.38, MOA length 0.35, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.38. Leg measurements: I 8.65 (2.70, 3.15, 1.95, 0.85), II 7.65 (2.35, 2.80, 1.70, 0.80), III 4.70 (1.55, 1.55, 0.95, 0.60), IV 6.60 (2.15, 2.30, 1.50, 0.65). Habitus similar to that of male but abdomen slightly wider than long and with a pair of anterolateral humps.

Epigyne (Fig. 13A-D ): ~ 1.6 × wider than long; scape almost straight, distal end trapeziform; copulatory openings widened and deeply concaved, on the ventral surface; copulatory ducts long, coiled about 360°; spermathecae elliptical, touching each other.

Variation.

Total length: ♂♂ 3.30-4.25 (n = 7); ♀♀ 4.30-5.55 (n = 7).

Distribution.

Known only from type locality.

Comments.

The female abdomen wide oval with a pair of anterolateral humps, the long, ridged scape indicate that the new species belongs to the A. diadenmatus group.

Etymology.

The species is named after Mr. Bo Yu (Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau), who accompanied us on field collections; noun in genitive case.

Figures

Figure 13. Araneus yuboi sp. nov. A-F female paratype TRU- Araneidae - 255 G, H male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., anterior view C ibid., posterior view D vulva, posterior view E habitus, dorsal view F ibid., ventral view G ibid., dorsal view H ibid., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A-D); 1 mm (E-H). Abbreviations: CD copulatory duct, CO copulatory opening, FD fertilization duct, Sc scape, Sp spermatheca.

Figure 14. Araneus yuboi sp. nov. male holotype A pedipalp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view E part of expanded bulb. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: C conductor, E embolus, EL embolic lamella, MA median apophysis, ST subterminal apophysis, TA terminal apophysis.

Figure 16. Legs of Araneus spp. male holotypes, prolateral view A-D A. wanghuai sp. nov. E-H A. yangchuandongi sp. nov. I-L A. yuboi sp. nov. A, E, I legs I B, F, J legs II C, G, K legs III D, H, L legs IV. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 17. Distribution map of the species.