Larinioides chabarovi (Bakhvalov, 1981)

Figs 5, 8 E, 9E, 10E, 19, 20, 32, 33

Araneus chabarovi Bakhvalov 1981b: 143, fig. 2 (D♀).

Larinioides chabarovi: Marusik 1989: 43; Oliger et al. 2002: 94, figs 1–6 (♀, D♂).

Material examined: RUSSIA: Krasnoyarsk Province: 1♀ (1867): Padun Village on Angara River, A. Czekanowski (ZISP). Amur Province: 1♂ (1858): Khingan [may refer to Khingan Mountains], G.I. Radde (ZISP); 1♀ (3 June 1978): environs of Zeya Village, V.V. Belov (ZISP); 10♀♀ (August 1983): environs of Arkhara and Kundur Villages, Y.M. Marusik (IBPN). Khabarovsk Province: 2♀♀ (5–22 June 1911): environs of Nizhne- Tambovskoye Village, V.K. Soldatov (ZISP); 1♂ (18 June 1976): Kutuzovka Village, Moskvichev (ZISP); 1♂ (July 1976): Vyatskoye Village (Moskvichev) (ZISP); 1♀ (31 July 1931): Far East, Khor Station, Khor River, env. of Khabarovsk, V.I. Sytchevskaya (ZMMU). Maritime Province: 2♂♂ 1♀ (6 June 1978): Lazovski Reserve, Valunovka Gorge, valley forest, T.I. Oliger (IBPN); 2♂♂ 2♀♀ (28 May 1978, 3 August 1980): Lazovski Reserve [specimens from different two collections mixed in one vial; Korpad' Kordon, valley forest, 28 May 1980; Valunovka Gorge and Benevskoye Village, 3 August 1979], T.I. Oliger (IBPN).

Diagnosis. Coloration and pattern resemble those in L. cornutus and L. folium; however, males of L. chabarovi differ by an unusual shape of median apophysis, a pointed process is present on tegulum, and absence of a flat shield on embolus; females differ by the unique shape of epigyne, with almost reduced scapus and strongly enlarged median plate.

Description. Carapace and sternum uniformly brown; chelicerae dark brown; folium of the abdomen dark brown with a typical pale cross, which is less distinct in darker specimens (Figs 5 A, C). Venter of abdomen with dark median band between epigastric furrow and spinnerets, enclosed by white longitudinal bands (Figs 5 B, C). Legs yellow, with dark annulation. Tibia and metatarsi darker, with an indistinct central dark ring (Fig. 8 E).

Male. Total length 6.8–8.6. Carapace 3.4–4.1 long, 3.1–3.3 wide. Length of the first patella + tibia 4.9–5.4. Tibia II indistinctly modified, shorter and thicker than tibia I, with stronger black prolateral spines (Fig. 8 E). Palp as in Figs 9 E, 10E, 19, 20; bulbus strongly sclerotised; terminal apophysis large and tapered; subterminal apophysis 1 indistinct and blunt, subterminal apophysis 2 large with pointed tip; second type of embolus, simple, long and tapered (Figs 19, 20); median apophysis projecting, bipartite, distally with a large flat process; lower with pointed, thin spur and with a conical hump near its base (Fig. 10 E); conductor small and rhomboid (Fig. 9 E); tegulum with a distinct, pointed retrolateral process (Fig. 9 E).

Female. Total length 9.4–11.5. Carapace 3.7–4.1 long, 3.0–3.7 wide. Length of the first patella + tibia 4.5–5.3. Epigyne as Fig. 32, well sclerotised, massive, posteriorly 1.4 times longer than wide; scapus very small, completely merged into epigyne; copulatory openings near the base of epigyne, lateral lamellae very close to median plate of epigyne.

Distribution. South Siberia east of Angara River to Russian Far East: from Angara River east to Nizhnetambovskoye Village on Amur River and south to Maritime Province (Lazo Reserve) (Fig. 33). Although this species is known in Russia only, its occurrence in neighbouring China (Heilongjiang Province) and North Korea is very likely.

Comments. Holotype female from Khabarovsk Province, Khabarovsk Pedagogical Institute Biological Station (June to July 1970, Yalymova) is probably lost, as are almost all Bakhvalov’s types.