Alpaida citrina ( Keyserling, 1892 )

Rodrigues, Everton Nei Lopes & Mendonça, Milton De S., 2011, Araneid orb-weavers (Araneae, Araneidae) associated with riparian forests in southern Brazil: a new species, complementary descriptions and new records, Zootaxa 2759, pp. 60-68 : 61

Alpaida citrina ( Keyserling, 1892)

( Figs. 1–4 )

Epeira citrina Keyserling, 1892: 88 , pl. 4, fig. 66 (Three females syntypes from Serra Vermelha, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, deposited at BMNH, not examined).

Araneus citrinus, Petrunkevitch, 1911: 285 .

Aranea citrinella, Roewer, 1942: 839 .

Metepeira citrine, Mello-Leitão, 1943: 187 .

Alpaida citrina, Levi, 1988: 418 –420, figs. 204–206; Platnick, 2010.

Diagnosis. The male palp of Alpaida citrina ( Keyserling, 1892) resembles that of A. pedro Levi, 1988 (see Levi 1988: fig. 252) by having a rectangular terminal apophysis without projections, differing from the other species of the genus. Alpaida citrina can be distinguished from A. pedro by the median apophysis with margin bearing numerous teeth and a shorter and wider embolus ( Figs.1, 2 ).

Note. For the diagnosis and description of female see Levi (1988: 418–420).

Description. Male (MCN 47001, Maquiné, RS). Total length 2.85. Carapace length 1.35, width 1.30, height 0.89. Clypeus height 0.0 7. Sternum length 0.65, width 0.65. Abdomen length 1.50, width 1.25, height 1.0 0. Leg formula I/II/IV/III. Leg lengths (I/II/III/IV): femur 1.50/1.30/0.85/1.20; patella 0.60/0.55/0.35/0.44; tibia 1.25/ 0.95/0.55/0.95; metatarsus 0.95/0.80/0.55/0.85; tarsus 0.44/0.44/0.35/0.44. Total leg (I/II/III/IV): 4.74/4.04/2.65/ 3.88. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.0 7, PME 0.0 7, PLE 0.07; AME-ALE 0.17, PME-PLE 0.20, AME-AME 0.10, PME-PME 0.12. Eyes with black borders ( Fig. 4 ). Carapace, sternum, endites and chelicerae yellowish. Legs with thighs yellow, other segments brown and distal portion dark-brown. Abdomen longer than wide, cylindrical. Dorsal side yellowish dotted with many black and a few white dots. Ventral side yellow without black pigment, except around the spinnerets. Palp with terminal apophysis very sclerotized without bumps. Tegulum with projection on the margin ( Figs. 1, 2 ). Median apophysis sclerotized, toothed and distally excavated ( Figs. 1, 2 ). Paracymbium short, hook-like ( Figs. 2, 3 ).

Variation. Total length (five males) range: 2.85 to 3.25. Some males with scattered black spots on the dorsum of the abdomen and in others abdomen all black.

Material examined. BRAZIL, Rio Grande do Sul: Maquiné, riparian forest of Maquiné river, seven males and three females, 18.IX.2007 – 09.XI.2008, all collected by E. N. L. Rodrigues leg. (MCN 47001-47004).

Distribution. Brazil (Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Alpaia citrina (Keyserling, 1892): (1 – 3) male palp: (1) mesal view, (2) ventral view, (3) ectal view, (4) male body, dorsal view (E = embolus; MA = median apophysis; P = paracymbium; T = tegulum; TA = terminal apophysis). Scale lines: (1 – 3) 0,25 mm, (4) 0,5 mm.