Porrhomma microps (Roewer, 1931)

Figs. 34A–F.

Troglohyphantes microps Roewer, 1931 — Roewer (1931): p. 72, Figs. 7a–b (descr. ♀); transferred by Thaler (1967).

Porrhomma kolosvaryi Kratochvíl, 1934 — Kratochvíl (1934): p. 186, Figs. 5a–b (descr. ♂ ♀); synonymised by Thaler (1967).

P. spipolae Caporiacco, 1949 — Bianchi et al. (1949): p. 500, Figs. 2a–b (descr. ♂ ♀); considered a nomen dubium by Thaler (1968: p. 384); considered a synonym of Porrhomma convexum (Westring, 1851) by Brignoli (1979: 26); examined and rejected from this synonymy by Helsdingen (1986); examined and synonymised by Růžička (2009).

P. microphthalmum lativela Tretzel, 1956 — Tretzel (1956): p. 45, Figs. 1–4 (descr. ♂); elevated to species by Thaler (1983); synonymised by Růžička (2009).

P. microps — Thaler (1967): p. 171, Fig. 5 (♀); synonymy.

P. microphthalmum microps — Miller & Obrtel (1975): p. 8, Pl. II, Fig. 6 (♂).

sub P. convexum —Loksa (1981): p. 335, Figs. 12–14 (♂ ♀); misidentification.

P. lativela —Thaler (1983): p. 146, Fig. 2–3, Figs. 102–103 (♂ ♀).

P. lativela — Helsdingen (1986): p. 13, Figs. 3–5 (♂ ♀). P. microps — Růžička (2009): p. 1089, Figs. 5, 6, 9 (♂); synonymy. sub P. microcavense, Helsdingen & IJland (2011): Figs. 1–3, 5 (♀), misidentification. sub P. convexum — Demircan & Topçu (2016): p. 88, Figs. 1A–D (♂ ♀); misidentification.

Material examined. CZECHIA: Skuteč-Hluboká, 31 Jul –15 Sep 2006, 5 Ƌ 2 ♀, leg. V. Laška & I . H. Tuf. Jenišovice-Zalažany, Mravín, 28 Apr –29 Sep 2015, 5 Ƌ 2 ♀, leg. V. Růžička & J . Dolanský. Moravian Karst, Harbešská Cave, 10 Apr 2015 –12 Nov 2016, 2 Ƌ, leg. V. Růžička. Lanžhot, Ranšpurk Reserve, 21 Jun –27 Jul 1999, 2 ♀, leg. J. Chytil. Dolní Věstonice, Netopýří Cave , 15 Dec 2004 –18 Oct 2005, 2 ♀, leg. R. Mlejnek (IECA). SLOVAKIA: Revúcka Vrchovina Hills, near Malá Drienčanská Jaskyňa Cave, leg. & coll. J. Chrystophoryová . ITALY: Trieste, Grotta di Trebiciano Cave, 17 Jul 1999, 1 Ƌ 1 ♀, leg. F. Gasparo (CCTh) . SLOVENIA: Podvin pri Polzeli env., Ravbarjevo Brezno Abyss, 20 Aug 2001, 1 Ƌ 3 ♀, leg. R. Mlejnek (IECA) .

Diagnosis. Two species of the microphthalmum -group have reduced eyes: P. microps and P. profundum . Males of P. microps (Fig. 33C) differ from those of P. profundum by the free end of the embolus approximately two to three times longer than the velum is wide. Females (Fig. 34E) differ by very marked fold in the uppermost part of the copulatory ducts.

Description. ♀ (from Horka nad Moravou, Czechia, 17 Apr–2 Oct 2008). Carapace brown, 0.84 mm wide, eyes reduced, PME–PME = 2.3 (Fig. 34A). Abdomen grey. Fe I–III with one dorsal spine, Fe I with one prolateral spine. Ti I with one prolateral spine, Ti I–II with one retrolateral spine. Tm Mt I = 0.36, Mt I/CW = 1.13.

Aperture rather square in appearance, broad side loops of the copulatory ducts are seen as circular windows at sides of the aperture (Fig. 34C). Axes of copulatory ducts seem to be almost parallel on the epigynum and in the ventral view of vulva (Figs. 34C–D). The fold in the uppermost part of the ducts is very marked in caudal view (Fig. 34E). Axes of main sacks seem to be horizontal in the dorsal view of the vulva (Fig. 34F).

Ƌ (together with female). Embolus long, with a broad velum containing a pigmented spot. Curved to the side and crossing the upper margin of the embolic plate. AP relatively long, approximately three times longer than broad, reaching almost to the end of the embolus (Fig. 34B). The free end of the embolus approximately two to three times longer than the velum is wide (Fig. 33C).

Variation. Ƌ ♀. Carapace 0.78–0.91 mm wide. Fe I–III, and sometimes also Fe IV with one dorsal spine. Tm Mt I = 0.33–0.42, Mt I/CW = 1.07–1.20 (n = 10).

Comments. See Růžička (2009) for details.

Ecology. Inhabits leaf litter in floodplain forests and alluvial soils in these forests at a depth of 5–45 cm (Růžička et al. 2011; Růžička & Dolanský 2016). It was also recorded in the soil and in subjacent fissured rock formed by a sandy marlite at a depth of 50–135 cm (Laška et al. 2011; Růžička & Dolanský 2016). Also found in caves in Czechia, Slovenia and northern Italy.

Global distribution. Europe after Helsdingen (2017), modified. The occurrence in Hungary was documented by Loksa (1981; sub P. convexum). The occurrence in European Turkey was documented by Demircan & Topçu (2016; sub P. convexum). See Fig. 35. The occurrence in Caucasus (Otto 2017) is partly based on misidentifications (Ponomarev in litt.) and should be reconsidered. The distribution area of P. microps would include also North Africa, in the case of synonymy of P. indecorum Simon, 1910 with P. microps .