Porrhomma microphthalmum (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871)

Figs. 31A–F.

Linyphia microphthalma O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871 — O. Pickard-Cambridge (1871): p. 434, Pl. 56, no. 25 (descr. ♂); transferred by Simon (1884); examined by F. O. Pickard-Cambridge (1894) and Jackson (1913).

L. decens O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871 — O. Pickard-Cambridge (1871): p. 436, Pl. 56, no. 27 (descr. ♂); examined by F. O. Pickard-Cambridge (1894) and Jackson (1913); synonymised by F. O. Pickard-Cambridge (1895).

Linyphia ? incerta O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1878 — O. Pickard-Cambridge (1878): p. 117, Pl. XI, Fig. 2 (descr. ♀); examined by F. O. Pickard-Cambridge (1894) and Jackson (1913); synonymised by F. O. Pickard-Cambridge (1895).

Porrhomma microphthalma — Simon (1884): p. 372.

Opistoxys acuta Simon, 1884 — Simon (1884): p. 373, Figs. 148–149 (descr. ♂); examined and synonymised by Thaler (1975).

P. meadii F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894 — F. O. Pickard-Cambridge (1894): p. 101, Pl. II, Fig. 2 (descr. ♂ ♀); synonymised by F. O. Pickard-Cambridge (1895).

P. microphthalmum — F. O. Pickard-Cambridge (1895): p. 36; synonymy.

P. microphthalmum — Jackson (1913): p. 41, Pl. II, Figs. 16, 26 (♂ ♀); synonymy.

P. microphthalmum microphthalmum — Tretzel (1956): p. 54.

P. microphthalmum — Thaler (1975): p. 142, Figs. 1–4; synonymy.

P. microphthalmum — Růžička (2009): p. 1086, Figs. 3–4, 7 (♂).

Material examined. CZECHIA: Krkonoše Mts., Pec pod Sněžkou, Úpská Rašelina Peatbog, 18 Jun –4 Jul 1984, 1 Ƌ, leg. J. Vaněk. Skuteč-Borek, 22 Apr –4 Jun 2005, 14 Ƌ 11 ♀, leg. V. Laška & I . H. Tuf. Velký Osek, 16 Aug 1994, 2 Ƌ 1 ♀, leg. J. Zelený. Třeboň-Přeseka, 24 Jun –11 Jul 1977, 1 Ƌ, leg. V. Růžička. České Budějovice, 1 Apr – 2 Jun 2002, 18 Ƌ 18 ♀, leg. L. Šimek (IECA). Drahanovice, 29 Aug 1991, 1 ♀, leg. J. Svatoň (WSM) . KAZAKHSTAN: East Kazakhstan Area, Kalbinsky District, 60 km WNW of Ust’ -Kamenogorsk, env. of Dongaly, 4 Jun 1997, 1 ♀, leg. R. Dudko & V. Zinchenko (ZMMU).

Diagnosis. Porrhomma microphthalmum can be distinguished from other species of the microphthalmum - group by fully developed eyes.

Description. ♀ (from České Budějovice, Czechia, 1 Apr–2 Jun 2002). Carapace greyish brown, 0 67 mm wide, eyes normal, PME–PME = 1.0 (Fig. 31A). Abdomen brown-grey. Fe I–II 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 = 0.33, Mt I/CW = 0.84.

Epigynum rather square in appearance, broad side loops of the copulatory ducts are seen as circular windows at sides of the pit (Fig. 31C). Conspicuous fold is formed in the uppermost part of the vulva, short descending part of the ducts ends with a spermatheca (Figs. 31D–F).

Ƌ (together with female). Embolus long with a broad velum containing a pigmented spot. AP relatively short, approximately twice as long as broad, and reaches maximally up to the end of the velum (Fig. 31B). The free end of the embolus is approximately as long as the velum is wide (Fig. 33A).

Variation. Ƌ ♀. Carapace 0.60–0.70 mm wide. Tm Mt I = 0.29–0.38, Mt I/CW = 0.83–1.00 (n = 41).

Comments. Bathyphantes charpentieri was removed from the synonymy of P. microphthalmum; see P. convexum .

Ecology. A common spider of various open habitats—rock steppes, meadows, subalpine zones, also fields and various dumps in early successional stages (Růžička & Hejkal 1997).

Global distribution. Europe after Helsdingen (2017) and Mikhailov (2013). Turkey after Danişman & Koşar (2013), Iran after Tanasevitch (2009), Kazakhstan after this article. Song et al. (1999) mentioned the rocord in China. See Fig. 32.