Mystaria variabilis ( Lessert, 1919 ) Honiball Lewis & Dippenaar-Schoeman, 2014

Honiball Lewis, Allet S. & Dippenaar-Schoeman, Ansie S., 2014, Revision of the spider genus Mystaria Simon, 1895 (Araneae: Thomisidae) and the description of a new genus from the Afrotropical region, Zootaxa 3873 (2), pp. 101-144 : 133-135

Mystaria variabilis ( Lessert, 1919) comb. n.

Figs 40–42 , 87–90 , 127

Paramystaria variabilis Lessert 1919: 103 , fig. 2, 3, 4 (descr. ♂); pl.2 figs 14, 21, 27 (descr. ♀); 1925: 323; 1936: 253; 1943: 313.

Type material: Holotype (designated by Lessert 1919): ♂, TANZANIA: Kilimanjaro Region, Kibongoto [03°10’S, 37°05’E] (MNHG). Type series from MNHG was examined.

Other material examined. TANZANIA: Kilimanjaro Region, 2 ♀, same locality as holotype (MNHG). DEMOCRATIC REPULIC OF CONGO (DRC) : Bass-Congo Region, 2 ♂, 6 ♀, Kisantu [05°06’S, 15°05’E], 1919, R.P. Vanderyst (MNHG) . Equateur Region, 1 ♀, Bokuma [0°39’S, 21°01’E], February 1925, R.P. Lootens (MRAC 81635) ; 1 ♀, Bokungu, Boende [00°13’S, 20°52’E], 1950, Dupuis (MRAC 67392) ; 1 ♀, Bamba [06°49’S, 17°18’E], January 1940, H. De Saeger (MRAC 20088) . Katanga Region, 2 ♀, Kalemie ( Albertville ) [05°56’S, 29°12’E], 18 November 1925, D.H. Schouteden (MNHG) . Nord-Kivu Region, 1 ♀, Rwankwi [01°20’S, 29°22’E], July 1951, J. Leroy (MRAC 71571) ; 4 ♂, 4 ♀, 2 juveniles, Butembo, valley of Musosa [00°09’N, 29°17’E], May 1967, R.P.M. Lejeune (MRAC 132.856) ; 5 ♂, 2 ♀, 2 juveniles, Butembo region [00°09’N, 29°17’E], September–October 1965, M.J. Celis (MRAC 130.120) ; 4 ♀, Rutshuru [00°36’S, 29°27’E], March 1937, J. Gherquien (MRAC 21091, 21096, 21103, 21108) . Orientale Region, 2 ♀, Watsa Niangara [03°01’N, 29°31’E], L. Burgeon (MNHG) ; 2 ♂, 2 ♀, Kisangani ( Stanleyville ) [00°31’N, 25°11’E], 28 April 1928. A. Collart (MRAC 11512/11516) ; 2 ♀, Saki [02°31’N, 27°25’E], March 1936. L. Lippens (MRAC 20950/20951) . ETHIOPIA: Shewa Province, 1 ♂, Awash river [08°25’N, 39°25’E], sweeping, November 1966, (AMNH) . KENYA: Rift Valley Province, 1 ♀, Baringo Lake , [00°28’N, 35°57’E], found on dead grass, 20 December 1979, P. Reavell (NM 13347) ; 1 ♂, Lodwar [03°07’N, 35°35’E], 60 km W of Lake Rudolf, 16–26 August 1963, B. Patterson (MCZ) . MALAWI: Northern Region, 1 ♂, Chintheche [11°49’S, 34°10’E], 1 December 1977, R. Jocqué (MRAC 153.378) . MOZAMBIQUE: Sofala Region, 1 ♀, Sangadze [17°26’S, 34°51’E], May, (MNHG) . RWANDA: Kigali Province, 1 ♀, no exact locality data, (SMF) ; 1 ♀, Kigali [01°56’S, 30°04’E], 28–31 January 1976, J. Decelle (MRAC 147.909) . Eastern Province, 1 ♂, Bugesera-Kibungo [02°09’S, 30°32’E], 22.vii.1975, P. Nyalugaka (MRAC 155.506) . SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province, 1 ♀, Port Alfred [33°36’S, 26°54’E], sweeping, 30 November 1977, A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman (NCA 88/485) . UGANDA: Masaka District, 2 ♀, Rakai [00°43’S, 31°24’E], sweeping, July 1994, D. Penney (MRAC 210209) . Iganga District, 1 ♀, on banks of marsh river Tabu [00°45’N, 33°30’E], February 1967, J. Ruabunesa (MRAC 131.565) . Mbarara District, 1 ♀, on bank of river Lutebe [00°27’S, 30°22’E], February 1967, J. Ruabunesa (MRAC 131.552) .

Diagnosis. Epigyne with atrium horseshoe-shaped; ( Fig. 89 ); intromittent canals as in Fig. 90 . Bulb round with VTA broad at base; RTA thickened at base, extending straight, directed antero-laterally ( Fig. 87 ).

Re-description: Female. Size, measurements (n = 6). TL: 3.14 (3.06–3.45); CL: 1.22 (1.18–1.34); CW: 1.11 (1.12–1.22); CI: 1.10 (1.04–1.18); CH: 0.75 (0.63–0.82); CLL: 0.24 (0.18–0.27); MOQ-L: 0.25 (0.23–0.28). Colour. Carapace often with dark copper markings on thoracic, cephalic region and eye area, paler posterolaterally; uniform specimens with orange colour and postero-thoracic edge tinted; eyes on black tubercles; clypeus with yellow patch ( Fig. 40 ); sternum brown and chelicerae uniform copper. Carapace and abdomen colour and patterns may vary between idividuals. Abdomen pale with variable pattern dorsally: a grey longitudinal band with slightly zig-zag edge, or band extending wider anteriorly and centrally; ventrally pale white with pale blue to darker grey striae; legs usually uniform pale yellow-orange, femora I–II may have infuscated brown bands; femora III–IV brown distally ( Figs 40, 41 ). Carapace. Broad. Sternum. SL: 0.50; SW: 0.52; SI: 0.97. Eye s. Eye measurements: AME–AME: 0.22; ALE–AME: 0.30; AME–AME/AME–ALE: 0.75; PME–PME: 0.37; PLE–PME: 0.30; PME–PME/PME–PLE: 1.24; ALE/AME: 1.34; PLE/PME: 0.81; MOQ-AW/MOQ-PW: 0.61; MOQ-L/MOQ-W: 0.41; Clyp/AME–AME: 1.06. Legs. With numerous fine setae, dark erectile setae present dorsally, ventrally and laterally on all segments; tibia and femora with five long spiniform setae; leg formula: II:I:IV:III; leg measurements: leg I—Fe 0.81, Pat 0.29, Tib 0.64, Mt 0.54, Ta 0.43, total 2.71; II—Fe 0.79, Pat 0.31, Tib 0.66, Mt 0.55, Ta 0.42, total 2.72; III—Fe 0.63, Pat 0.28, Tib 0.45, Mt 0.37, Ta 0.29, total 2.01; IV—Fe 0.73, Pat 0.27, Tib 0.56, Mt 0.47, Ta 0.34, total 2.37. Abdomen. Round to slightly wider posteriorly. AL: 1.92; AW: 1.75; AI: 1.11. Epigyne. Intromittent orifices open antero-laterally; intromittent canals long and complex with large coils anteriorly on both sides ( Fig. 90 ).

Male. Size, measurements (n = 3). TL: 2.49 (2.34–2.59); CL: 1.08 (1.08–1.09); CW: 0.96 (0.90–1.01); CI: 1.13 (1.08–1.20); CH: 0.66 (0.66–0.66); CLL: 0.22 (0.21–0.24); MOQ-L: 0.23 (0.20–0.26). Differ from female as follows: Colour. Body orange or copper-red, abdomen dorsally dusted with blackish-brown pattern, usually with pale border anteriorly ( Fig. 42 ); ventrally pale blue or slightly metallic blue, with striae darker blue; clypeus lighter yellow or orange area; legs usually uniform pale, with shades of brown or orange-yellow; femora I–II, tibiae and/or metatarsi IV may be slightly darker. Carapace. Smooth. Sternum. SL: 0.44; SW: 0.45; SI: 0.98. Eyes. Eye measurements: AME–AME: 0.19; ALE–AME: 0.28; AME–AME/AME–ALE: 0.67; PME–PME: 0.33; PLE–PME: 0.27; PME–PME/PME–PLE: 1.21; ALE/AME: 1.49; PLE/PME: 0.83; MOQ-AW/MOQ-PW: 0.56; MOQ-L/MOQ-W: 0.42; Clyp/AME–AME: 1.18. Legs. Leg segments covered with very fine medium length setae; femora and tibiae I–IV with few medium length, spiniform setae; leg formula: I:II:IV:III; leg measurements: leg I—Fe 0.91, Pat 0.26, Tib 0.78, Mt 0.61, Ta 0.31, total 2.87; II—Fe 0.61, Pat 0.19, Tib 0.53, Mt 0.41, Ta 0.29, total 2.03; III—Fe 0.65, Pat 0.26, Tib 0.49, Mt 0.22, Ta 0.20, total 1.82; IV—Fe 0.69, Pat 0.23, Tib 0.57, Mt 0.30, Ta 0.22, total 2.02. Abdomen. AL: 1.41; AW: 1.20; AI: 1.17. Palp. RTA directed antero-laterally ( Fig. 87 ); RTA slightly shorter than VTA ( Fig. 88 ).

Natural History. Specimens were sampled from vegetation. Adults were sampled throughout the year, and juveniles were sampled from May until October.

Distribution. Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania. New records: Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, and Uganda ( Fig. 127 ).

Figures

FIGURE 127. Recorded geographical distribution of Mystaria variabilis (Lessert, 1919) comb. n. Scale line = 2000 km.

FIGURES 25–42. Microscope photographs of dorsal and lateral views of Mystaria species. 25 Mystaria mnyama sp. n. male from Tembe Elephant Park (dorsal view); 26–28 Mystaria occidentalis (Millot, 1942) comb. n. (26, 27 female from Democratic Republic of Congo, Kaisola antero-and latero-dorsal views, 28 male from Rwanda, Butare dorsal view); 29–30 Mystaria oreadae sp. n. female from Rwanda, Rwankuba antero-and latero-dorsal views; 31–32 Mystaria rufolimbata Simon, 1895 (31 female from Democratic Republic of Congo, Walikale dorsal view, 32 male from Gabon, Kinguélé dorsal view); 33–35 Mystaria savannensis sp. n. (33, 34 female from South Africa, Soutpansberg antero-and latero-dorsal views, 35 male from Soutpansberg dorsal view); 36–37 Mystaria soleil sp. n. (36 female from Kenya, Kakamega dorsal view, 37 male from Kakamega dorsal view); 38–39 Mystaria stakesbyi sp. n. (38 female from Ghana, Legon dorsal view; 39 male from Democratic Republic of Congo, Semliki dorsal view). 40–42 Mystaria variabilis (Lessert, 1919) comb. n. (40, 41 female from Democratic Republic of Congo, Kisantu antero-and latero dorsal views, 42 male from Democratic Republic of Congo, Butembo dorsal view).

FIGURES 83–90. Line drawings of copulatory organs in male and female Mystaria species, with ventral- (left) and retrolateral (right) views of male palps and ventral- (left) and dorsal (right) views of female epigynes. 83–86 Mystaria stakesbyi sp. n. (83, 84 male left palp, 85, 86 female epigyne); 87–90 Mystaria variabilis (Lessert, 1919) comb. n. (78, 88 male left palp, 89, 90 female epigyne). Scale lines = 10mm.