Pholcus domingo

Bernard A. Huber, Joseph K. H. Koh, Amir-Ridhwan M. Ghazali, Kamil A. Braima, Olga M. Nuñeza, Charles Leh Moi Ung & Booppa Petcharad, 2016, New leaf- and litter-dwelling species of the genus Pholcus from Southeast Asia (Araneae, Pholcidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 200, pp. 1-45 : 34

Pholcus domingo species group

Diagnosis

The two species included in this group are medium-sized, long-legged spiders (body length ~4.5, male leg 1 length:~35–40), distinguished from similar P. kerinci group by bipartite appendix (sclerotized retrolateral and whitish prolateral part; Figs 140 , 150 , 157 ), by shape of procursus (presence of dorsal process; absence of distal spine-like process; Figs 141 , 158 ), and by dorsal trichobothrium of male palpal tibia in ‘usual’ position (i.e., at ~45% of tibia length, versus 55–60% in P. kerinci group); from other species groups in Pholcus by combination of the following characters: elongate abdomen angular dorso-posteriorly ( Fig. 139 ); eight eyes; male chelicerae almost unmodified (indistinct lateral humps proximally; Fig. 142 ); male genital bulb without uncus; epigynum weakly sclerotized, with numerous transversal folds ( Figs 143 , 156 , 159 ).

Description

See individual descriptions of the two very similar species below.

Composition

Only the two species described below.

Natural history

Both species were found on the undersides of live leaves where they built very fine webs tightly attached to the leaf surface. For further information, see description of P. domingo Huber sp. nov. below.

Distribution

The P. domingo group is restricted to Mindanao ( Fig. 1 ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Known distributions of the Pholcus ethagala group (Malay Peninsula and Sumatra; Sri Lankan species not shown), of the P. tambunan group (Borneo) and of the P. domingo group (Philippines).

Figs 140 – 144. Pholcus domingo Huber sp. nov. (ZFMK, Ar 15720 – 21). 140 – 141. Left male palp, prolateral and retrolateral views. 142. Male chelicerae, frontal view. 143 – 144. Cleared female genitalia, ventral and dorsal views. Scale bars: 140 – 141 = 0.5 mm; 142 – 144 = 0.3 mm.

Figs 148 – 156. Pholcus domingo Huber sp. nov., SEM micrographs (ZFMK, Ar 15720 – 21). 148. Male prosoma, frontal view. 149. Tip of left procursus, prolateral view. 150. Left bulb and appendix, prolaterodistal view. 151. Right male palp, retrolatero-distal view. 152. Male gonopore. 153. Comb-hairs on male tarsus 4. 154. Right appendix, retrolateral view. 155. Female ALS. 156. Epigynum, ventral view. Scale bars: 148, 151 = 200 µm; 149 – 150, 156 = 100 µm; 152 = 30 µm; 153, 155 = 10 µm; 154 = 60 µm.

Figs 157 – 160. Pholcus matutum Huber sp. nov. (ZFMK, Ar 15730 – 31). 157 – 158. Left male palp, prolateral and retrolateral views. 159 – 160. Cleared female genitalia, ventral and dorsal views. Scale bars: 157 – 158 = 0.5 mm; 159 – 160 = 0.3 mm.

Figs 131 – 139. Live specimens and dorsal color patterns, Pholcus domingo group. 131 – 137. Pholcus domingo Huber sp. nov., ♂ and ♀ with parasitized egg-sac from Santo Domingo (131 – 132), habitus of ♂♂ from Santo Domingo (133) and Mt. Mupo (134), and carapace dorsal views, ♂ and ♀ from Santo Domingo (135 – 136) and ♂ from Mt. Mupo (137). 138 – 139. P. matutum Huber sp. nov., Mt. Matutum, ♂ and ♀ with egg-sac.