Micrommata virescens ( Clerck, 1757 )

Jäger, Peter, 2023, Revision of the huntsman spider genus Micrommata Latreille, 1804 (Sparassidae Sparassinae), Zootaxa 5352 (1), pp. 1-45 : 29-37

Micrommata virescens ( Clerck, 1757)

Figs 1 , 104–140

Araneus virescens Clerck, 1757: 138 , pl. 6, fig. 4 (Description of female; holotype female from SWEDEN, NHRS, lost). Schrank 1781: 533; Martyn 1793: 65, pl. 10, fig. 5 (redescription of female).

Araneus roseus Clerck, 1757: 137 , pl. 6, fig. 7 (Description of male; holotype male from SWEDEN, NHRS, lost). Martyn 1793: 65, pl. 9, fig. 9 (redescription of male).

Aranea viridissima . De Geer 1778: 252, pl. 18, figs 6–16 (description of male, female; N.B.: unjustified emendation of virescens ).

Aranea rosea . Olivier 1789: 226.

Aranea smaragdula Fabricius, 1793: 412 (Description of?).

Aranea ornata Walckenaer, 1802: 226 (Description of?; preoccupied by Sulzer 1776, see Philodromus margaritatus )

Micrommata smaragdina . Latreille 1804: 135. Latreille 1806: 115 (N.B.: unjustified emendation of smaragdula ). Hahn 1833 a: 119, fig. 89 (redescription of male, female).

Sparassus smaragdulus . Walckenaer 1805: 39; Sundevall 1831: 40; Sundevall 1832: 147 (redescription of male, female; synonym of Sparassus roseus ); Blackwall 1861 a: 102, pl. 5, fig. 61 (redescription of male, female).

Sparassus roseus . Walckenaer 1805: 40.

Sparassus ornatus . Walckenaer 1805: 40. Walckenaer 1837: 583 (Redescription of male, female). C.L. Koch 1845: 90, fig. 1021 (illustration of female).

Sparassus smaragdinus . Walckenaer 1830: 102 (S of Sparassus virescens ).

Sparassus virescens C.L. Koch 1837: 28 (Synonymy of Sparassus smaragdinus [= S. smaragdulus ]); C.L. Koch 1845: 87, fig. 1019 (illustration of male); Westring 1861: 406; Prach 1866: 632, pl. 11, figs 3–5, 22–25 (male, female).

Sparassus fulvus Simon, 1868: 453 (Description of male, female).

Micrommata virescens . Thorell 1870: 176; Thorell 1871: 227; Menge 1875: 389, pl. 67, fig. 222 (male, female); Herman 1879: 370 (S of Micrommata virescens ornata ); Hansen 1882: 63, pl. 4, fig. 9 (male, female); Becker 1882 b: 155, pl. 13, fig. 1 (male, female); Chyzer & Kulczyński 1891: 79, pl. 3, fig. 14 (male, female); Simon 1897a: 66, figs 55, 57; Bösenberg 1903: 410, pl. 39, fig. 605 (male, female); Kulczyński 1911: 36, pl. 1, figs 39-40 (m). Järvi 1912: 63, f. 52, pl. 5, figs 1–6 (f); Järvi 1914: 178; Bristowe 1926: 126, figs 3–6 (illustration of male, female); Bristowe 1941: 497, fig. 95 (redescription of male, female); Locket & Millidge 1951: 167, figs 84A–C (male, female); Bristowe 1958: 135, figs 66a–b (male, female); Yaginuma 1960: 119, figs 100.10–11 (male, female); Azheganova 1968: 102, figs 243–244 (male, female); Paik 1968: 174, figs 5–6, 30–40 (male, female); Yaginuma 1971: 119, figs 100.10–11 (male, female); Braendegaard 1972: 8, figs 1–2 (male, female); Roberts 1985: 96, fig. 38a (male, female); Hu & Fu 1985: 89, figs 1–6 (male, female); Yaginuma 1986: 197, fig. 110.1 (male, female); Hu & Wu 1989: 312, figs 249.1–6 (male, female); Izmailova 1989: 121, fig. 112 (m); Chikuni 1989 b: 131, fig. 4 (male, female); Roberts 1995: 147, figs (male, female); Roberts 1998: 156, figs (male, female); Song et al. 1999: figs 269G, M (male, female); Jäger 1999a: 7 (S of Micrommata virescens ornata confirmed); Jäger & Ono 2000: 43, figs 1-6 (male, female); Jäger 2000b: 239, figs 11, 14, 17, 20, 25-26 (m); Namkung 2002: 500, figs 40.4a–b (male, female); Bayram & Özdag 2002: 305, figs 1A–F (male, female); Namkung 2003: 503, figs 40.4a–b (male, female); Urones 2004: 48, figs 18–21 (male, female, S of Micrommata virescens valvulata ); Almquist 2006: 451, figs 388a–f (male, female); Ono 2009: 472, figs 13–15 (male, female); Marusik & Kovblyuk 2011: 229, figs 33.1–7 (male, female); Lecigne 2011: 55, fig. p. 55 (f); Jäger 2016: 64, figs 1–5 (m); Breitling et al. 2016: 57 (S of Micrommata virescens valvulata confirmed); Lecigne 2016: 33, figs 15D–E (f); Kim & Lee 2017: 54, figs 30A–E, pl. 10 (male, female); Breitling 2020: 356, figs 33B–C (m).

Micrommata virescens ornata Chyzer & Kulczyński 1891: 79 .

Micrommata ornate . Thorell 1871: 228; Menge 1875: 394, pl. 67, fig. 223 (male, female); Becker 1882: 158, pl. 13, fig. 2 (male, female).

Micrommata fulva Simon 1874: 275 .

Micrommata viridissima valvulata Franganillo, 1913: 131 (description of female)

Micrommata viridissima . Reimoser 1931: 129, fig. 4 (redescription of male, female); Palmgren 1943: 77, fig. 81 (redescription of male, female); Tullgren 1944: 127, pl. 18, figs 245–247 (redescription of male, female).

Micrommata rosea . Simon 1932: 891, 959, fig. 1335–1336 (male, female).

Micrommata roseum ornata Simon 1932: 892 , 960 (Synonym of Micrommata fulva ).

Micrommata roseum . Miller 1971: 62, pl. III, fig. 7 (illustration of male); Paik 1978: 399, figs 180.1-6 (illustration of male, female); Heimer & Nentwig 1991: 456, fig. 1201 (illustration of male, female); Mcheidze 1997: 120, figs 176–178 (illustration of male, female).

Material examined. GERMANY: Hamburg: 1 female, bei Hamburg [ca. 53°28’17.68”N, 10° 2’36.96”E, 7 m], Sch ̧tz leg. 1995, PJ 345, MVGERF4 ( SMF) . Thuringia: 1 male, S of Weimar [50°56’39.04”N, 11°20’59.37”E, 269 m], meadow in forest, A. Grabolle leg. 26 May 2008, TK 5034 ( SMF) ; 1 male, close to Jena , N of Reinstädt, [50°48’55.99”N, 11°28’40.15”E, 439 m], upper part of a dry slope, A. Grabolle leg. 22 May 2008, TK 5134 ( SMF) ; 1 male, without locality data, R. Samm leg. & ded. 6.6.1996, PJ 698 ( SMF) ; 1 juvenile female(?), Weimarer Land, SE Erfurt, bei Kranichwald [50°51’43.89”N, 11°12’55.11”E, 362 m], clearing in spruce high forest, on blueberry shrubs, A. Grabolle leg. July 2008, TK 5139 ( SMF) ; 2 females, Ilm district , E of Ilmenau, shore of small lake in forest [50°41’6.41”N, 10°57’20.28”E, 473 m], in retreat, A. Grabolle leg. July 2008, K 5332, MVGERF2–3 ( SMF) . Baden-Württemberg: 1 female, Swabian Alb, bei Balingen [48°15'34.57"N, 8°52'16.45"E, 593 m], M. Grasshoff leg. 14 August 1958, MVGERF1N ( SMF) . Bavaria: 1 female (with nymphs), East-Allgäu, Oberstdorf, Hahnenköpfle , below Riefenkopf , 47°22'44.40"N, 10°19'30.40"E, ca. 1799 m, S. Huber leg. 10 August 2013, TK 8627, MVGERF1, SD 447 ( SMF) ; 1 subadult male, 1 subadult female, Spessart, bei Wiesen [50° 6'28.70"N, 9°22'41.39"E, 442 m], W. Hohorst leg. ( SMF) . CZECH REPUBLIC: Prague: 1 female, South of Prague [49°54’39.00”N, 14°33’3.90”E, 424 m], S. Huber leg. 26 July 2005, MVCZEF1 ( SMF) . SWITZERLAND: Wallis: 1 female, Zermatt [ca. 46° 1'19.61"N, 7°45'14.46"E, 1648 m], MVSWIFN1 ( SMF) . AUSTRIA: Carinthia: 1 male, Carnic Alps, Sch ̧tt/ Gailtal , Nassfeld , ski arena [46°34’22.43”N, 13°15’45.88”E, 1588 m], J. Martens leg. June 1966, A. Witwicka det. ( SMF) . SPAIN: Basque Country: 1 female, ca 3 km E of Orduna , 42°59’37.40”N, 2°58’15.50”W, 430 m, S. Huber leg. 28 April 2007, MVS PAF1 ( SMF) . ITALY: Piedmont: 1 female, Turin [45° 2’53.40”N, 302 m], S. Huber leg. June 2006, SD 532, MVITAF1 ( SMF) ; 1 female, Turin, Superga , 45° 4’50.30”N, 7°46’2.10”E, 674 m, S. Huber leg. 24 June 2011, SD711 ( SMF) . Lazio: 1 female, SE of Rome, Rocca die Papa [ca. 41°46’9.94”N, 12°42’45.67”E, 535 m], forest margin, G. Ackermann leg. October 2004, MVITAF3 . HUNGARY: Nógrád: 2 females, Börzsöny hség, Csoványos [47°56’56.44”N, 18°56’52.78”E, 931 m], L. Szijj-Vágvölgyi leg. 2 May 1948, MVHUNF1/1A ( SMF) . Western Transdanubia: 1 female, ca. 15 km E Szombathely [ca. 47°20’14.82”N, 16°30’57.23”E, 316 m], S. Huber. leg. & det. 27 July 2002, MVHUNF1 ( SMF) . ROMANIA: Sud-Vest Oltenia: 1 male, Vilcea, E of Horezu, Muzeul (museum) Trovatiļor , 45° 8’14.60”N, 24° 4’5.20”E, 446 m, A. Schönhofer & R. Plăiasu leg. 2 May 2005 ( SMF) . BULGARIA: Kyustendil Province: 1 male, Rila Mountains, Rila monastery, 42° 7’9.36”N, 23°19’30.66”E [1062 m], P. Jäger & D. Kunz leg. 6 August 2005, PJ 3413, SD 413 ( SMF) . Blagoevgrad: 1 female, E Melnik, Rozhen monastery, 41°31’54.54”N, 23°25’38.58”E, 587 m, P. Jäger leg. 3 August 2005 by hand, SD 408, MVBULF1 ( SMF) . GREECE: West Macedonia: 1 male, Prespes , 250 m W of Agios Germanos [40°50’20.95”N, 21° 9’10.38”E, 985 m], M. Chatzaki leg. by hand 26 June 2014, FC 17083 ( SMF) ; 2 females, Prespes , 850 m NE of Agios Germanos [40°50’46.22”N, 21°10’0.26”E, 1067 m], M. Chatzaki leg. by hand 26 June 2014, FC 17050, MVGREF3–4 ( SMF) ; 1 male, Prespes , 1.1 km NW of Pyli [40°46’55.17”N, 21° 1’44.09”E, 1013 m], M. Chatzaki leg. 27 June 2014, FC 17042 ( SMF) ; 1 male, Prespes , 1.9 km NW of Pisoderi [40°48’1.16”N, 21°14’6.72”E, 1532 m], M. Chatzaki leg. 25 June 2014, FC 17048 ( SMF) ; 1 female, Grevena , 3.3 km W of Zakas [40° 1’38.50”N, 21°13’51.60”E, 1246 m], M. Chatzaki leg. 3 July 2014, FC 17169, MVGREF5 ( SMF) ; 1 female, Grevena , 1.6 km S of Perivoli [39°57’55.70”N, 21° 6’59.99”E, 1422 m], M. Chatzaki leg. 1 July 2014, FC 17088, MVGREF6 ( SMF) ; 1 female, Grevena , 0.8 km S of Perivoli [39°58’17.71”N, 21° 7’0.86”E, 1332 m], M. Chatzaki leg. 3 July 2014, FC 17085, MVGREF1 ( SMF) . Central Macedonia: 1 female, Agia Triada [ca. 40°29’50.84”N, 22°52’33.60”E, 27 m], Paliani, Phoiztidos, Parashi leg. 3 July 1984 ( SMF) . KAZAKHSTAN: Akmola: 1 female, Balkashino District, ca. 1–3 km E of Petrovka, Kokshetau Mountains [52°28’26.63”N, 68°45’0.45”E, 439 m], A.V. Gromov leg. 18–20 June 1997, MVKAZF4 ( SMF) . Almaty: 1 female, Zailijskij Alatau National Park, above Medeo [43° 6’42.62”N, 77° 6’54.90”E], 3200 m, Talghar Pass, A.V. Gromov leg. 19 June–1 August 1997, MVKAZF2 ( SMF) ; 1 female, SW vicinities of Talghar town [43°16’24.21”N, 77°15’27.79”E, 1200 m], A.V. Gromov leg. 1 June 1998, MVKAZF3 ( SMF) . East Kazakhstan: 1 female, near Kutikha [49°51’7.09”N, 84° 4’32.52”E, 452 m], A.B. Nenilin & S. Deryugin leg. September 1985, Coll. Gromov, MVKAZF1 ( SMF) . RUSSIA: Novosibirsk: 1 male, 2 female, West Siberia, Novosibirsk Area, Novosibirsk environments [ca. 54°59’22.46”N, 83° 1’44.84”E, 152 m], bottomland Zirynka river , A. Kozlov leg. June 1950, MVSYBF ( SMF) ; 1 female, West Siberia, Novosibirsk Area, Novosibirsk environments [ca. 54°59’22.46”N, 83° 1’44.84”E, 152 m], meadow, V.V. Dubatolov leg. 13 June 1992, MVSYBF1 ( SMF) ; 1 female, Shadricka drive, bottomland [54°48’46.36”N, 83°11’41.87”E, 163 m], V.V. Dubatolov leg. 1–12 June 1992, S.Y- Rakov det. sub M. roseum, MVSYBF 2 ( SMF) . Altai: Teletskoye Lake, Artybash [51°47’40.57”N, 87°15’59.89”E, 468 m], V.V. Dubatolov leg. August 1992, S.Y. Rakov det. sub M. roseus, MVRUSF 1 ( SMF) . JAPAN: Nagano: 2 females, Karuizawa [ca. 36°20'48.77"N, 138°36'14.24"E, 985 m], J. Trotzig leg., MVJAPF1–2 ( NHMS) . Without exact locality : 1 female, sub Mexico [most likely incorrect locality] ( NHMW) . 1 male, Germany , Micr. 15 ( SMF) . 1 female [together with 1 female M. ligurina , see note there], Switzerland, Tarask [in Switzerland there is only a castle Tarasp in the canton of Grisons, with an elevation of 1492 m and in the middle of the Alps, it seems to be an unlikely locality for the southern European species; in France in the Rhone valley, there exists a town Tarascon (=formerly Tarasque), which would fit much better in the range of this species], Gerlach leg. 1908, FVSWIF2 ( SMF).

Diagnosis. Males of M. virescens are recognised by the clearly visible embolus in ventral view and by the long RTA extending beyond cymbial spine base in retrolateral view ( Figs 104–108 ; in all other species embolus seen only in retrolateral view and RTA not reaching beyond cymbial spine base). Females may be identified by the following combination of characters: 1. Epigynal pockets visible in ventral view with posterior margin of MS slightly to distinctly pointed or bulged medially, 2. Anteromedian incision of MS not reaching its centre, 3. Ventroanterior parts of IDS freely visible in dorsal view, i.e. not covered by dorso-anterior part of IDS, and 4. Glandular appendages situated slightly posterior to postero-median windings ( Figs 115–128 ).

Description. MALE (from Germany, Thuringia, S of Weimar): Measurements: TL 7.1, PL 3.9, PW 3.1, AW 1.5, OL 3.8, OW 2.1. Eyes: AME 0.15, ALE 0.22, PME 0.16, PLE 0.18, AME-AME 0.14, AME-ALE 0.03, PME-PME 0.28, PME-PLE 0.20, AME-PME 0.38, ALE-PLE 0.17, CH AME 0.39, CH ALE 0.40 ( Figs 110–112 ). Spination: Pp 131, 120, 2101, 1112; Fe I–III 323, IV 3(2)21; Pa I–IV 101; Ti I–II 2024, III–IV 2124; Mt I–II 1004, III 3024, IV 3037. Measurements of palps and legs: Pp 4.4 (1.4, 0.6, 1.0, -, 1.4); I 14.7 (4.0, 1.6, 4.0, 3.8, 1.3); II 15.6 (4.2, 1.6, 4.3, 4.1, 1.4); III 12.7 (3.6, 1.3, 3.4, 3.2, 1.2); IV 15.5 (4.3, 1.3, 4.0, 4.5, 1.4). Leg formula: II-IV-I-III. Cheliceral furrow with 2 promarginal and 4/5 retromarginal teeth, without denticles ( Fig. 109 ), with 6 ES.

Palp ( Figs 104–108 ): As in diagnosis. RTA tapering, slightly curved towards cymbium in ventral view. Fundus of spermophor moderately wide, may be more than or equal to width of basal tegular winding, retrolaterad to retrolatero-distad. Tegular denticle field weakly developed. Plate of embolic division lobed distally, and covering distal margin of tegulum in ventral view. Embolus large, sickle-shaped, and with serrate prolatero-proximal margin.

Colouration: Yellowish-brown with distal leg segments of legs slightly darker. DS with dark median band and indistinct lateral and marginal bands. OS dorsally with indistinct dark median band, with white guanine crystals throughout except for heart patch. Live spiders with green PS and appendages and yellow OS with red median band and 1 broad lateral red stripe each ( Figs 133–136 ). Juveniles and subadults pale yellowish to greenish with many red to brownish dots all over ( Figs 130–131 ).

FEMALE (from Thuringia, Ilmenau): Measurements: TL 12.0, PL 4.5, PW 3.7, AW 2.2, OL 7.7, OW 4.2.

Eyes: AME 0.15, ALE 0.20, PME 0.16, PLE 0.17, AME-AME 0.20, AME-ALE 0.05, PME-PME 0.41, PME-PLE 0.27, AME-PME 0.46, ALE-PLE 0.25, CH AME 0.44, CH ALE 0.44 ( Fig. 113 ). Spination: Pp 130, 121, 2121, 1013; Fe I 323, II 223, III 323, IV 2(1)21; Pa I–IV 000; Ti I 1024, II 2014, III–IV 2123; Mt I–II 1004, III 3024, IV 3037. Measurements of palps and legs: Pp 4.6 (1.3, 0.7, 1.0, -, 1.6); I 14.7 (4.1, 1.8, 3.8, 3.7, 1.3); II 15.6 (4.5, 1.8, 4.1, 3.8, 1.4); III 12.6 (3.8, 1.6, 3.1, 2.9, 1.2); IV 15.8 (4.6, 1.7, 3.9, 4.2, 1.4). Leg formula: IV-II-I-III. Cheliceral furrow with 2 promarginal and 3/4 retromarginal teeth, without denticles ( Fig. 114 ), with 7/8 ES.

Copulatory organ ( Figs 115–128 ): As in diagnosis. EF and MS distinctly wider than long. Anterior incision of MS with distinct margins. MS with 4–6 radial grooves. Epigynal pockets distinct and widely separated. IDS posteriorly widened, glandular appendages oval. Fertilisation ducts with postero-lateral S-shaped part.

Colouration: Pale yellowish brown, slightly darker on MT and TA of legs. DS with indistinct dark bands consisting of dark setae. OS ventrally in front of spinnerets darker. Live spiders entirely vividly green throughout ( Figs 134–136 ). Juveniles pale yellowish to greenish with many red to brownish dots all over ( Figs 129, 132 ).

Variation. Males (n=14): TL 7.2–9.8, PL 3.8–4.4, OL 3.7–5.6, CH 2/4–6, ES 6–9. Females (n=44): TL 9.3– 17.7, PL 3.8–5.6, OL 5.4–12.2, CH 2/4–7, ES 6–9. MS width/length (unscaled measurements): 62/36=1.722, 61/40=1.525, 62/36=1.722, 70/46=1.521; Japan: 60/47=1.27, Novosibirsk: 74/54=1.37. MS with 3–5 radial grooves on each side.

Distribution. Europe, Ţrkiye, Caucasus, Russia (Urals to Far East), Iran, Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan ( Fig. 1 : red circles).

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Distribution ranges of Micrommata species. 1 M. virescens (red circles), M. diesenhoff spec. nov. (black triangle). 2 M.ligurina (red circles), M. biggi spec. nov. (black triangles).3 M. formosa (red circles), M.aljibica (black triangles). Majority of records is from specimens examined, some are from published literature or websites like iNaturalist (western record of M. aljibica, several records of M. virescens in its central range).

FIGURES 104–109. Micrommata virescens, male. 104–108 Left palp (104 prolateral; 105, 107 ventral; 106, 108 retrolateral). 109 Left chelicera, ventral (104–106 from Russia; 107–108 from Japan; 109 from Germany). E—embolus, EP—embolic plate, TP—tegular prong.

FIGURES 110–114. Micrommata virescens from Germany. 110–113 Prosoma with eye arrangement (110, 113 dorsal; 111 lateral; 112 frontal). 114 Left chelicera, ventral (110–112 male; 113–114 female).

FIGURES 115–120. Micrommata virescens, female copulatory organ (115, 117 epigyne, ventral; 116, 118–119 vulva, dorsal; 120 schematic course of IDS, dorsal) (115–116 from Russia; 117–120 from Japan).

FIGURES 121–128. Micrommata virescens, female copulatory organ (121, 125 127–128 epigyne, ventral; 122 ditto, posterior; 123, 126 vulva, dorsal; 124 schematic course of IDS, dorsal) (121–124 from Germany; 125–127 from Kazakhstan; 128 from Russia).

FIGURES 129–132. Micrommata virescens, immatures from Germany, habitus (129, 132 juvenile; 130–131 subadult male).

FIGURES 133–138. Micrommata virescens, adults from Germany, habitus and behaviour. 133 Male, looking for a female. 134 Female and male in the natural habitat. 135 Male and female in mating position. 136 Ditto, male bites leg of female. 137 Female with egg sac in rolled leaf of Rubus sp. 138 Egg sac with green eggs. Arrows indicating scars on the opisthosoma of female spiders. Photo credit: 136 Herbert Schirmer.

FIGURES 139–140. Micrommata virescens, µ-CT pictures of male and female genitalia during copulation (139 dorsal; 140 lateral). Pink: female internal duct system; light blue: RTA; light violet: cymbium plus basal haematodocha; dark blue: subtegulum and tegulum; black: tegular prong; golden: embolic division.