Tidarren haemorrhoidale ( Bertkau, 1880 )

Knoflach, Barbara & Harten, Antonius Van, 2006, The one-palped spider genera Tidarren and Echinotheridion in the Old World (Araneae, Theridiidae), with comparative remarks on Tidarren from America, Journal of Natural History 40 (25 - 26), pp. 1483-1616 : 1590-1599

Tidarren haemorrhoidale ( Bertkau, 1880)

( Figures 260–265 , 267–271 ; Tables XXX, XXXI)

Theridium haemorrhoidale Bertkau 1880, p 78 ; n. sp., ♀, type locality: Rio ( Brazil).

Tidarren mixtum: Kraus 1955, p 19 , only Figures 45–48 , ♀ (not Figures 43, 445 T . mixtum). Tidarren haemorrhoidale: Levi 1969, p 71 .

Synonyms: see Platnick (2006).

Material examined

Costa Rica: 2♀, 1juv, NMW Inv. No. 720, San Jose´, La Caja, 9 ° 589N, 84 ° 079W, leg. E. Schmidt, 1930, det. Reimoser (sub Theridion fordulum ). Venezuela: 2♀, MNHN 11236 AR 10708, Carabobo, La Cumbre, leg. Simon, 1888, det. Levi, 1960 (sub Tidarren fordum ). 6♀ 2sad ♀, MNHN 11664, without AR number, La Guaira, leg. E. Simon, det. Levi, 1960 (sub T. fordum ). 1♀, MNHN 11299 AR 10774, Aragua, Tovar, leg. Simon, 1888, det. Levi, 1960 (sub T. fordum ). 8♀ 5juv, MNHN AR 2411, Caracas, in vial of ‘‘ Theridium taeniatum ’’ together with several Achaearanea females, which at least partially appear to represent Achaearanea taeniata ( Keyserling, 1884) . French Guiana: 1♀, MNHN AR 10710, Gomdouville, leg. R. Benoit, 1914 (sub T. fordum ). 2♀, 1juv (together with one theridiid female), MNHN 10709, St. Jean de Maroni, leg. R. Benoit, 1914 (sub T. fordum ). 1♀, MNHN 23784 AR 10711, Cayenne, leg. R. Benoit, 1914, det. Levi, 1960 (sub T. fordum ). 1♀, MNHN AR 10703, Farinda N. Niag (sub T. fordum ). Brazil: 1♀, MNHN 19240, without AR number, Bahia, Salvador, 12 ° 599S, 38 ° 319W, leg. Goeldi. 1♀, MNHN AR 2300, Bahia, in vial of Nesticodes rufipes (Lucas, 1846) sub Theridium albonotatum Taczanowski, 1872 , which is a synonym of N. rufipes . Paraguay: 1♀, MNHN 9054 AR 10773, Germain (locality unclear, two labels, on one Germ, on the other Germain), det. Levi, 1960 (sub T. fordum ). Peru: 5♀, 3juv, MNHN 4066, without AR number, Loreto, Pebas, 3 ° 209S, 71 ° 499W. 2♀, MNHN AR 2304, same locality, det. E. Simon (sub Theridium giganteum Keyserling, 1884 ). Mexico: Chiapas state, Tapachula, Rosario Itzapa, „ ♀, 6–12 October 2001, leg. S. P. Benjamin and J. A. Garcia-Ballinas. Descendants of these from five egg-sacs were reared to adulthood in captivity in Basel by S. P. Benjamin. Voucher specimens are deposited in AMNH, CAS, CTh, MHNG, MNHN, MRAC, NHMB, NHRS, NMBS, NMW, SMF.

Description

Chamberlin and Ivie (1934, sub Tidarren minor , ♀), Levi (1957, sub T. fordum , „ ♀). Identification according to Levi (1957, 1969).

Measurements (mm)

[„ / ♀, n 56/7, minimum–maximum (mean).] Total length 1.07–1.44 (1.32)/3.01–5.31 (4.38), carapace length 0.45–0.57 (0.53)/1.10–2.35 (1.77), width 0.45–0.50 (0.48)/0.96– 2.03 (1.48), length femur I 0.74–0.86 (0.82)/1.72–4.70 (3.57), tibia I 0.49–0.55 (0.53)/ 1.02–3.09 (2.32). Abdomen 0.74–1.13 (1.01)/2.46–4.58 (3.4) high, 0.59–0.88 (0.79)/ 1.96–3.40 (2.70) long, and 0.59–0.83 (0.73)/1.72–2.93 (2.35) wide. Ventral side (distance petiolus to spinnerets) 0.45–0.64 (0.59)/1.25–2.54 (2.05) long. Clypeus in male 0.14–0.30 (0.17) high, in females 0.23–0.49 (0.35). Chelicerae 0.15–0.25 (0.21)/0.39–0.78 (0.63) long. Sternum 0.33–0.35 (0.35)/0.64–1.37 (1.00) long and 0.31–0.35 (0.33)/0.58–1.09 (0.85) wide. Labium on average 0.07/0.21 long, 0.13/0.27–0.55 (0.39) wide. Gnathocoxae 0.15–0.20 (0.17)/0.39–0.70 (0.57) long, 0.06–0.08 (0.07)/0.19–0.35 (0.28) wide. Femur of male palp 0.21 long (mean). Leg formula 1423, see Tables XXX, XXXI. Number of dorsal setae on tibiae I–IV 2/2/1/2. Trichobothria in retrodorsal/prodorsal row on tibia of female palp 2/2, of legs I–IV 3/3, 3/3, 3/3, 4/ 4 in female and 2/1, 2/1, 2/2, 2/ 2 in male (1 „, 1♀ examined). Metatarsi I–III with one trichobothrium, position on I in female (male) 0.28 (0.33), on II 0.31 (0.39), on III 0.44 (0.46). Tarsal claws of legs with four to five (one to two) side teeth in female (male), claw of female palp consisting of seven teeth. Tarsal organ on female palp at 0.80, on female (male) legs I–IV 0.51 (0.36), 0.26 (0.31), 0.34 (0.27), 0.33 (0.29).

Somatic features, colouration ( Figure 260 )

Sternum without posterior tubercle. Abdomen higher than long, rounded, without tubercle.

Female ( Figure 260a ). Carapace yellow with broad dark margins and with dark median band from eye region to centre, tapering posteriorly and sometimes extending laterally. Clypeus greyish. Chelicerae, gnathocoxae, and labium light brown or yellow. Sternum light brown to yellow, with thin dark margin and frequently with distinct dark stripes opposite each coxa; sometimes with numerous fine dots instead. Legs and palps light brown to yellow with dark patches and annulations of various extent. Numerous fine dots present especially on femora I–II and tibia I–II. Coxae light yellow, only in few specimens coxae I and IV with a greyish spot. Abdomen whitish to light brown, with white line pattern and variable dark pigmentation. On dorsum two dark, rounded median patches just before apex, outlined by clear white lines; from these two white stripes curve to each side. Further white and dark dots on anterior part of dorsum. Sides sometimes with large areas of dark pigmentation. In some specimens this abdominal pattern is very indistinct or even almost absent. Aboral area whitish to brownish with clear white median stripe from apex to spinnerets and with two or three dark transverse, upwardly curved bands. Epigastric region greyish, region in front of epigynal protruberance yellowish, so that receptacula are visible through integument. Book lung covers yellow. Venter with dark and white patches. Spinnerets light brown.

Male ( Figure 260b ). Carapace pale yellow with dark median area from eye region to centre, gradually tapering, and sometimes also with dark margins. Clypeus greyish. Chelicerae yellow, often suffused with grey. Gnathocoxae and labium yellow. Sternum yellow with dark undulated margins as in female. Legs pale yellow with dark patches and annulations of various extent. Coxae uniformly pale yellow. Male palp uniformly pale yellow. Abdomen yellowish to whitish. Dark pigmentation, if present at all, on anterior half of dorsum and sides. Posterior half light. Epigaster greyish or dark, book lung covers yellow. Venter dark, with two small white paramedian spots. Further white spots surround spinnerets. Spinnerets light brown suffused with grey.

Male palp ( Figures 261–265 )

Tibia ca 0.7 width of palpal organ at widest part; its base ca 0.4 width of distal rim ( Figure 265 ). Cymbium with retrolateral incision and two distal lobes, which bear long hairs ( Figures 262, 264 ). Intermediate part with three to four ridges with teeth. Cymbium not projecting beyond bulbus. Bulbus ca 0.2 mm long and 0.25 mm wide. Distal rim of tegulum sclerotized and bulging, but without processes ( Figure 265 ). Retrolateral part of conductor membranous, with hyaline, slender appendix ( Figures 263 , 265 ). Prolateral part more sclerotized, its surface sculptured with numerous tiny scales. Embolar base suboval, 0.1 mm long and 0.05 mm wide, coiled into two small basal lobes ( Figures 263 , 265 ). Distal part of embolus 0.2 mm long. Haematodochae not modified.

Epigynum, vulva ( Figures 267–271 )

‘‘Epigyne als kleines, spitz dreieckiges Hornzäpfchen vorragend’’ ( Bertkau 1880). Epigynal protuberance triangular, short and pointed, directed ventrad. However, its length is remarkably variable ( Levi 1957). Posterior, aboral side gradually merges with surrounding integument ( Figure 271 ). Copulatory orifices widely separated, situated at sides of epigynal protuberance ( Figures 268, 269 ), in ventral view level with posterior end of receptacula. Copulatory ducts short, 0.17–0.18 mm long; they turn to midline and enter receptacula at posterior inner side after a short coil. Receptacula seminis 0.18–0.26 mm long and 0.14– 0.17 wide (n 53).

Variation

Levi (1957, 1969) referred to the considerable variation of females in size, epigynal shape, and internal genitalia, with all intergradations and without clear pattern. Only a better knowledge of males from various regions will help to judge this variation. Among the present material the offspring of five females from Mexico were reared to adulthood (by S. P. Benjamin). One of these females was rather large in size and differed in epigynal shape and size of receptacula from the other four. Female descendants resembled their respective mothers. However, male descendants did not show obvious differences in their palpal organs. They were only slightly smaller as compared with the male offspring of the larger female, but still with overlap (compare with measurements of six males above). Body dimensions of male descendants of a small-sized female [in mm, n 55, minimum– maximum (mean)]: total length 1.01–1.07 (1.06), carapace length 0.43–0.51 (0.47), width 0.41–0.43 (0.42), length femur I 0.59–0.68 (0.64), tibia I 0.37–0.43 (0.40); clypeus 0.12– 0.14 (0.13) high.

Natural history

Web. According to Benjamin and Zschokke (2003), the web of T. haemorrhoidale contains neither gum-footed lines nor other viscid elements.

Prey. Surprisingly, aphids were the most dominant prey of T. haemorrhoidale in a cotton agroecosystem in Texas ( Nyffeler et al. 1988).

Distribution

Tidarren haemorrhoidale is widespread and occurs from southern USA to Argentina ( Levi 1957).

Tidarren mixtum (O. P.- Cambridge, 1896)

( Figures 272–275 )

Theridion mixtum O. P.- Cambridge 1896, p 206, Plate 24, Figure 11 ; n. sp., ♀, type locality Chiajan (Chiacam), Guatemala. Tidarren mixtum: Kraus 1955, p 19 , only Figures 43, 44 , ♀ (not Figures 45–485 T . haemorrhoidale).

Material examined

Costa Rica: 1♀, NMW Inv. No. 736 San Jose´, La Caja, 9 ° 589N, 84 ° 079W, leg. E. Schmidt 1931, det. Reimoser, 1938 (sub Theridion mixtum ) . 1♀, AMNH, San Jose, leg. Enrique Schmidt, det. Levi, 1954 (see Levi 1957) .

Description

Chamberlin and Ivie (1934) and Levi (1957). Identification according to Levi (1957). Tidarren mixtum is known only from the female (contrary to Roewer 1942 and Platnick 2006).

Measurements (mm)

[♀, n 52.] Total length 4.8–5.8, carapace length 1.9–2.0, width 1.7–1.8, length femur I 3.0, tibia I 1.9. Abdomen 3.0–4.5 high, 3.0–3.5 long, and 2.7–3.1 wide. Distance petiolus to spinnerets 2.0–2.4 long. Clypeus 0.4–0.5 high. Chelicerae 0.41 long. Sternum 1.1–1.2 long and 1.0 wide. Labium 0.25 long, 0.4 wide. Gnathocoxae 0.5–0.6 long, 0.3 wide. Leg formula 1423.

Somatic features, colouration

Sternum without posterior tubercle. Abdomen higher than long, forming a distinct dorsal tubercle. Colour pattern faded in both females. Femora I–II and tibiae I–II dotted.

Epigynum, vulva ( Figures 272–275 )

Epigynal protuberance triangular, pointed and curved posteriorly in lateral view ( Figure 272 ), truncate in ventral view and broader than in T. haemorrhoidale . Aboral side gradually merging with surrounding integument ( Figure 274 ). Copulatory orifices separate ( Figure 273 ), situated near midline and at anterior border of epigynal protuberance (in T. haemorrhoidale at sides), in ventral view level with posterior end of receptacula. Copulatory ducts comparatively longer, 0.26–0.29 mm long; they turn posteriorly to midline and after a wide coil enter receptacula at posterior inner side ( Figures 273, 275 ). Epigynal protuberance 0.19 mm long in side view, 0.25 mm wide in ventral view, about as long as receptacula. Receptacula seminis 0.19 mm long and 0.18 mm wide. The epigynum of one female from El Salvador illustrated by Kraus (1955, Figures 43, 44 ) fully agrees with the present ones.

Distribution

Tidarren mixtum appears to be less widespread than T. haemorrhoidale and occurs from Mexico to Costa Rica ( Levi 1957).

Figures

Figure 260. Tidarren haemorrhoidale (Bertkau) from Mexico. Habitus of female (a) and male (b). Auto-Montage digital photos from specimens preserved in alcohol.

Figures 261–264. Tidarren haemorrhoidale (Bertkau) from Mexico. Right male palp, ventral (261), apical (262), retrolateral (263), and retrolateral-apical view (264). Arrow points to vestigial distal haematodocha (263). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figures 265, 266. Right male palp, dorsal view. (265) Tidarren haemorrhoidale (Bertkau) from Mexico. (266) T. sisyphoides (Walckenaer) from Costa Rica. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figures 267–271. Tidarren haemorrhoidale (Bertkau) from Brazil, Bahia (267, 269, 270) and Peru, Loreto (268). Female epigynum/vulva in lateral (267), ventral (268, 269), dorsal (270), and aboral view (271). Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figures 41–46. Male palp. (41–44) Tidarren argo Knoflach and van Harten from Yemen. (45, 46) T. cuneolatum (Tullgren) from Yemen. (41) Palp expanded, basal and median haematodochae serve as holdfast structures. (42, 44) Palp with sclerites at rest in frontal-dorsal view. (43) Detail of distal part of cymbium. (45, 46) Palp in retrolateral view, showing inverted position, cymbium ventral, bulbus dorsal. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (42, 45); 0.1 mm (41, 46); 0.02 mm (43); 0.05 mm (44).

Figures 47–50. Left male palp. (47–49) Tidarren cuneolatum (Tullgren) from Yemen. (50a, b) T. argo Knoflach and van Harten from Yemen. (47, 50a, b) Cymbium separated from bulbus, viewed from inside (dorsal view). Arrows point to cymbial hook. (48) Palpal organ with sclerites loosened. (49) Embolus, showing two basal lobes. Auto-Montage digital photos.

Figures 272–275. Tidarren mixtum (O. P.-Cambridge), from Costa Rica. Female epigynum/vulva in lateral (272), ventral (273), aboral (274), and dorsal view (275). Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

Figures 11–17. Prosoma, lateral (11, 12), ventral (13–15), and ventro-lateral view (16, 17) of Tidarren females (11, 13–17) and male (12). (11–15) T. cuneolatum (Tullgren) from Yemen (11, 12), Cape Verde Islands (13), and Tanzania (14, 15). (16) T. konrad n. sp. from Yemen. (17) T. dentigerum n. sp. from Yemen. Eye region in female recessed, clypeus low and concave (11). Note posterior sternal tubercle in 16, 17.