Argiope perforata Schenkel, 1963

Wang, Cheng, Gan, Jiahui & Mi, Xiaoqi, 2021, On four species of the genus Argiope Audouin, 1826 (Araneae, Araneidae) from China, ZooKeys 1019, pp. 15-34 : 15

Argiope perforata Schenkel, 1963 Figures 5 , 6 , 7 , 10

Argiope perforata Schenkel 1963: 135, fig. 79a, b (♀, female holotype from China locality Lunan fu City, Szetchuan Province and deposited in the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, not examined); Levi 1983: 293, figs 162-166 (♀); Wang 1988: 101, figs 1-3 (♂, mismatched); Yin et al. 1997: 78, fig. 11a-i (♀; ♂, mismatched); Song et al. 1999: 262, figs 151V, Y, Z, 153B, M (♀; ♂, mismatched); Yin et al. 2012: 578, fig. 278a-i (♀; ♂, mismatched).

Argiope abramovi Logunov and Jäger 2015: 345, figs 1-7 (♀, female holotype from Vietnam, locality 14 km N of Kon Plong Town, Kon Plong District, Kon Tum Province and deposited in the Zoological Museum of Moscow University (ZMMU), Moscow, Russia, not examined). Syn. nov.

Material examined.

China - Guizhou Province • 1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -42), Tongren City, Bijiang District, Wenbi Park (27°43.26'N, 109°10.03'E, ca 460 m), 19.v.2013, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg. • 1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -43), same locality, 10.vi.2017, Cheng Wang leg. • 3♂ (TRU- Araneidae -44-46), Tongren City, Jiangkou County, Dewang Township, Baxi Village, Nanmuping (27°51.68'N, 108°36.88'E, ca 900 m), 10.vi.2013, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg. • 5♀4♂ (TRU- Araneidae -47-55), same locality, 14.vi.2013, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg. • 6♀ (TRU- Araneidae -56-61), same locality, 15-16.vii.2015, Cheng Wang and Mingyong Liao leg. • 2♂ (TRU- Araneidae -62-63), Tongren City, Jiangkou County, Dewang Township, Baxi Village, Datuzu, 10.vi.2013, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg. • 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -64), Tongren City, Yinjiang County, Muhuang Township, Jinchang Village (28°01.37'N, 108°45.00'E, ca 1300 m), 14.vii.2013, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg. • 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -65), Tongren City, Songtao County, Wuluo Township, Lengjiaba Village (27°54.93'N, 108°36.70'E, ca 1150 m), 15.vii.2013, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg. • 3♀ (TRU- Araneidae -66-68), same locality, 10.vii.2015, Cheng Wang and Mingyong Liao leg. • 3♂ (TRU- Araneidae -69-71), Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Libo County, Dongtang Township, Yaosuo Village, Bizuo, Maolan National Nature Reserve (25°16.37'N, 108°02.97'E, ca 550 m), 07-10.viii.2013, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg. • 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -72), Tongren City, Jiangkou County, near the Kaima primary school (27°50.77'N, 108°46.43'E, ca 530 m), 07.vii.2015, Cheng Wang and Mingyong Liao leg. • 2♀ (TRU- Araneidae -73-74), Tongren City, Jiangkou County, Taiping Township, Kuaichang Village, Macaohe (27°49.08'N, 108°51.52'E, ca 680 m), 08.vii.2015, Cheng Wang and Mingyong Liao leg. • 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -75), Tongren City, Yinjiang County, Ziwei Township, Zhangjiaba Village (27°56.62'N, 108°36.60'E, ca 780 m), 12.vii.2015, Cheng Wang and Mingyong Liao leg. • 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -76), Tongren City, Yinjiang County, Ziwei Township, Tuanlong Village (27°54.93'N, 108°42.70'E, ca 1150 m), 14.vii.2015, Cheng Wang et al. leg. • 3♀1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -77-80), Tongren City, Jiangkou County, Dengwang Township, Jinghe Village, Xujiagou (27°48.29'N, 108°37.45'E, ca 820 m), 20.vii.2015, Cheng Wang et al. leg. • 2♀ (TRU- Araneidae -81-82), Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Shibing County, Yuntaishan Scenic Area (27°07.74'N, 108°06.57'E, ca 990 m), 30.vii.2015, Cheng Wang et al. leg. • 4♀1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -83-87), Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Libo County, Maolan National Nature Reserve (25°16.07'N, 108°59.07'E, ca 760 m), 30.iv.2016, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg. • 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -88), Zunyi City, Xishui County, Sanchahe Township, Sanchahe Village (28°29.04'N, 106°25.28'E, ca 800 m), 29.vii.2016, Cheng Wang et al. leg. • 4♂ (TRU- Araneidae -89-92), Zunyi City, Xishui County, Sanchahe Township, Sanchahe Village, Tiantangba (28°26.37'N, 106°24.96'E, ca 1000 m), 30.vii.2016, Cheng Wang et al. leg. • 2♀ (TRU- Araneidae -93-94), Tongren City, Bijiang District, Tianshengqiao Scenic Area (27°49.80'N, 109°12.77'E, ca 580 m), 12.v.2018, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg. • 1♀1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -95-96), Tongren City, Shiqian County, Pingshan Township, Daping Village (27°17.97'N, 108°10.05'E, ca 720 m), 08.vi.2019, Cheng Wang et al. leg. • 1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -97), Tongren City, Songtao County, Wuluo Township, Taohuayuan Village (27°58.04'N, 108°47.73'E, ca 790 m), 29.v.2017, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg. • 3♀ (TRU- Araneidae -98-100), Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Leishan County, Fangxiang Township, Getou Village (26°24.09'N, 108°15.40'E, ca 1100 m), night of 22.vii.2017, Cheng Wang et al. leg. • 1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -101), Guiyang City, Guanshanhu District, Donglinsi Park (26°39.60'N, 106°38.00'E, ca 1300 m), 23.v.2018, Cheng Wang leg. • 1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -102), Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Zhenyuan County, Dadi Township, Dadi Village (27°21.56'N, 108°12.29'E, ca 700 m), night of 23.v.2018, Xiaoqi Mi leg. • 3♀ (TRU- Araneidae -103-105), Tongren City, Shiqian County, Pingshan Township, Fodingshan Village, Yaoshang (27°20.54'N, 108°09.50'E, ca 640 m), night of 24.v.2018, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg. • 3♀ (TRU- Araneidae -106-108), Tongren City, Yinjiang County, Yangxi Township (27°38.53'N, 108°26.43'E, ca 700 m), 17.vi.2018, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg. • 1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -109), Tongren City, Shiqian County, Ganxi Township, near the 524 road (27°25.10'N, 108°07.97'E, ca 550 m), night of 06.vi.2019, Cheng Wang et al. leg. • 2♀ (TRU- Araneidae -110-111), Shibing County, Baiduo Township, Heichong (27°9.37'N, 108°07.40'E, ca 990 m), 20.vi.2019, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg. • 1♀(TRU- Araneidae -112), Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Shibing County, Chengguan Township (27°03.02'N, 108°7.78'E, ca 700 m), night of 21.vi.2019, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg.; China - Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region • 1♀2♂ (TRU- Araneidae -113-115), Fangchenggang City, Shangsi County, Shiwandashan National Forest Park (21°53.87'N, 107°54.26'E, ca 370 m), 14.viii.2017, Xiaoqi Mi et al. leg.; China - Hainan Province - Ledong County - Jianfeng Township - Jianfengling National Nature Reserve • 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -116), Mingfeng Valley (18°44.61'N, 108°51.24'E, ca 810 m), night of 12.iv.2019, Cheng Wang and Yuanfa Yang leg. • 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -117), Sanfenqu (18°45.24'N, 108°51.57'E, ca 900 m), night of 13.iv.2019, Cheng Wang and Yuanfa Yang leg. • 1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -118), Tianchi (18°45.22'N, 108°51.53'E, ca 850 m), 14.iv.2019, Cheng Wang & Yuanfa Yang leg. • 2♀1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -119-121), Sanfenqu (18°45.24'N, 108°51.57'E, ca 900 m), night of 14.iv.2019, Cheng Wang and Yuanfa Yang leg. • 2♀ (TRU- Araneidae -122-123), Yulin Valley, Zijin Waterfull (18°44.79'N, 108°55.76'E, ca 630 m), 15.iv.2019, Cheng Wang and Yuanfa Yang leg. • 1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -124), Tianchi (18°45.22'N, 108°51.53'E, ca 850 m), night of 15.iv.2019, Cheng Wang and Yuanfa Yang leg.

Diagnosis.

The male of this species resembles A. aetheroides Yin, Wang, Zhang, Peng & Chen, 1989 in the general shape of the palp, but it differs in the distal end of embolus is slender (Fig. 6A ) versus flattened in A. aetheroides ( Yin et al. 1997: fig. 13h), and the median apophysis is bifurcated at its distal end in posterior view (Fig. 6D ) versus bifurcated at the base in A. aetheroides ( Yin et al. 1997: fig. 13i). The female of the species closely resembles A. anasuja Thorell, 1887 in having the epigynal flange and broad posterior plate, but it differs in the median septum being less than 1/3 of the posterior plate width in ventral view (Fig. 7A-C ), versus more than 1/3 of the posterior plate width in A. anasuja ( Levi 1983: fig. 167) and the dorsal abdomen possesses white patches laterally (Fig. 5A, B ), versus has three wide, transverse white patches in A. anasuja ( Levi 1983: fig. 170).

Description.

Male (TRU- Araneidae -118). Total length 3.65. Carapace 1.98 long, 1.90 wide; abdomen 1.90 long, 1.37 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.14, ALE 0.07, PME 0.15, PLE 0.12, AME-AME 0.13, AME-ALE 0.07, PME-PME 0.18, PME-PLE 0.16. Legs: I 9.59 (2.67, 3.01, 2.81, 1.10), II 9.39 (2.67, 2.95, 2.67, 1.10), III 5.05 (1.67, 1.48, 1.14, 0.76), IV 7.59 (2.48, 2.24, 2.01, 0.86). Carapace (Fig. 5D ) pale pink, flat, acutely narrowed anteriorly, with indistinct, brown, radial markings on the thorax. Fovea linear, chelicerae and endites (Fig. 5E ) yellow. Labium (Fig. 5E ) pale. Sternum (Fig. 5E ) heart-shaped, paler medially. Legs (Fig. 5D ) yellow, spiny. Abdomen (Fig. 5D, E ) elongate-oval, dorsum pale, darker posteriorly, with two pairs of muscle depressions medially, covered with sparse dark long hairs; venter pale laterally and green-brown medially. Spinnerets yellow, hairy.

Palp (Fig. 6A-D ): patella with a long bristle; tibia swollen; paracymbium curved medially, blunt at tip; median apophysis bifurcated, with a short terminal spur; conductor flat, slightly curled; embolus enlarged at proximal end, curved almost 90° medially in prolateral view and with a lance-like tip in apical view.

Female (TRU- Araneidae -122). Total length 9.86. Carapace 4.67 long, 4.14 wide; abdomen 5.76 long, 4.48 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.26, ALE 0.15, PME 0.27, PLE 0.26, AME-AME 0.25, AME-ALE 0.34, PME-PME 0.49, PME-PLE 0.51. Legs: I 16.77 (5.13, 5.38, 4.63, 1.63), II 16.51 (5.13, 5.25, 4.50, 1.63), III 9.32 (3.25, 2.69, 2.25, 1.13), IV 14.76 (5.25, 4.38, 3.88, 1.25). Carapace (Fig. 5A, B ) narrowed anteriorly and rounded in thorax region, pale yellow with brown butterfly-shaped markings, covered with sparse hairs. Fovea depressed. Chelicerae (Fig. 5C ) pale yellow. Endites, labium (Fig. 5C ) dark at base with pale tip. Sternum (Fig. 5C ) heart-shaped, red-brown laterally, with a longitudinal white band and a pair of white spots posterio-laterally. Legs yellow to yellow-brown. Abdomen (Fig. 5A-C ) suboval with a pair of anterior-lateral humps, dorsum silver with three pairs of lateral transverse brown stripes, and a broad golden marking gradually narrowing from the middle part to the terminus; venter dark-brown with a pair of white longitudinal bands laterally. Spinnerets yellow, hairy. Epigyne (Fig. 7A-F ) longer than wide, with a narrow, constricted septum; the posterior plate broad, almost 3/4 of the epigynal width.

Distribution.

China (Hainan, Guangxi).

GenBank accession numbers.

TRU- Araneidae -116: MW464195, TRU- Araneidae -121: MW464196.

Comments.

Argiope perforata was originally described based on the female holotype from Sichuan, China; the illustrations are poor. It was redescribed and better illustrated by Levi (1983) who based on a specimen from Guangdong, China. Herein, the opposite sexes of the new specimens were collected from the same localities, and their pairing has been supported by the result of DNA barcoding. Additionally, the male of A. perforata , as described by Wang (1988), is considered to be mismatched and herein proposed to be the male of A. boesenbergi Levi, 1983 due to the close resemblances in palp structure. Besides, A. abramovi Logunov & Jäger, 2015 is almost indistinguishable from the new material of A. perforata in the epigynal structures and generally habitus markings, except that there are some differences in the dorsal abdomen markings; thus, A. abramovi is suggested as a synonym of A. perforata .

Figures

Figure 5. Habitus of Argiope perforata Schenkel, 1963 A-C female (TRU- Araneidae - 122) D, E male (TRU- Araneidae - 118) A, D dorsal B lateral C, E ventral. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 6. Male palp of Argiope perforata Schenkel, 1963 (TRU- Araneidae - 118) A prolateral B apical C retrolateral D median apophysis, posterior. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 7. Epigyne-vulva of Argiope perforata Schenkel, 1963 A TRU- Araneidae - 116 B TRU- Araneidae - 122 C-F TRU- Araneidae - 123 A-C ventral D lateral E posterior F dorsal. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 10. Distributional records of Argiope species.