Pholcus tambunan species group

Diagnosis

The two species included in this group are medium-sized, long-legged spiders (body length ~4, male leg 1 length: ~35–40), distinguished from other species groups in Pholcus by combination of the following characters: elongate abdomen angular dorso-posteriorly (Figs 94, 98); six eyes; male chelicerae with distinctive distal apophyses (flat sclerites without modified hairs; Figs 103, 108, 120); most palpal structures unusually long (in particular genital bulb; Figs 101, 121); male bulb without uncus; epigynum weakly sclerotized, scape directed towards anterior with terminal ‘knob’ (Figs 104, 123); female internal genitalia with pair of highly distinctive three-layered telescopic tubes (Figs 105, 124).

Description

See individual descriptions of the two very similar species below.

Composition

Only the two species described below.

Natural history

Both species were found on the undersides of live leaves where they built very fine webs tightly attached to the leaf surface. Both species were frequently seen to share their webs with cecidomyiid flies. For further information, see descriptions below.

Distribution

The P. tambunan group is restricted to northern Borneo (Fig. 1).