Theridion pinicola Simon, 1873

Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) – II, ZooKeys 16 (16), pp. 227-264 : 251-254

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.3897/zookeys.16.237

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3791744

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F387D5-FFE1-FFA0-06E4-FAF6CD8AFB83

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Theridion pinicola Simon, 1873
status

 

Theridion pinicola Simon, 1873 View in CoL

Figs 65-67 View Figures 63-68 , 69-75 View Figures 69-75

Theridion pinicola Simon, 1873b: 364 View in CoL , 371, male female. Type locality: Corsica.

Paidiscura pinicola : – Wunderlich 2008: 392, transfer from Theridion View in CoL .

Material examined. France: Corsica, 3 ♂ 35 ♀ 4 juveniles ( MHNP AR 2257 ). N Corsica, Calvi, Forêt de Bonifatu, Bocca di Erbaghiolu , 1200 m, 42°25’15.0’’N 08°50’15.5’’E, beating from Pinus nigra laricio , 5 ♂ 3 ♀ 1 subadult ♂ 1 subadult ♀, 2.5.2001, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-409 Co-01/8] GoogleMaps . Ibidem, 1200 m, 3 ♂ 1 ♀ 3 subadult ♂, 30.4.2001 GoogleMaps . Corsica, Haute Asco , 42°23’32.2’’N 08°55’08.9’’E, 1400-1440 m, 2 ♀, 12.9.2001, beating pine at timber line, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-417 Co01/15] GoogleMaps . Tunisia: Kasserine, W Thélepte, Dernaya (close to Algerian border), 35°7’24.3’’N 8°28’57.0’’E, 1120 m, sparse pine wood, 2 ♂ (1 ♂ CM, 1 ♂ SMF), 19.4.2007, leg. C. Muster GoogleMaps .

Voucher specimens deposited in CTh, MHNG, NMW if not specifically indicated.

Description, identification. The species has not been reported since the original description of Simon (1873b: 364, 371; 1881: 105).

Measurements. Males (n=5, min-max): Total length 1.5-1.9, carapace length 0.7- 0.9, width 0.7-0.8, length femur I 0.9-1.1, tibia I 0.6-0.8 mm. Females (n=5, min-max): Total length 1.5-2.4, carapace length 0.7-0-8, width 0.6-0.7, length femur I 0.7-0.9, tibia I 0.5-0.6 mm.

Somatic features ( Figs 65-67 View Figures 63-68 ). Carapace yellowish with thin dark margins and dark median band from eye region to midline. Sternum light, its margins may be diffuse dark. Legs yellowish with dark annulations from distal femora onwards. Abdomen dark brown, dorsum usually with whitish median folium. Male epigaster protruding.

Male palp ( Figs 69-71 View Figures 69-75 ). Conformation of male palp as in other representatives of the Theridion varians group (see Knoflach 1998). Tibia short, with one retrolateral trichobothrium. Conductor pointed and curved. Prolateral part of median apophysis triangular and strongly protruding. Theridiid tegular apophysis pointed. Embolus slender. Distal part of embolus 0.25 mm long.

Epigynum /vulva ( Figs 72-75 View Figures 69-75 ). Epigynal cavity rounded, its posterior border strongly sclerotised; with central copulatory orifices fused to common, rounded opening. Copulatory ducts ca. 0.4 mm long. They diverge laterally, forming a few coils, turn inwards and enter the receptacula by a final wide coil. In mated females the epigynal cavity is filled by plug secretions. All parts of vulva clearly translucent through integument.

Copulatory behaviour. Copulation follows the pattern of the Theridion varians group, with 6-8 sperm inductions, a presumed initial pseudocopulation and a final mating plug sequence ( Knoflach 2004).

Generic placement: The generic placement of Theridion pinicola in Paidiscura by Wunderlich (2008) has to be rejected, since there is no convincing argument for such a combination. T. pinicola is clearly a member of the T. varians group, see above and Knoflach (2004), for Paidiscura see Knoflach and Thaler (2000).

Distribution. Theridion pinicola was hitherto known only from Corsica ( Simon 1873b, 1881, 1914). The present new record from Tunisia suggests a wider distribution. As indicated by the naming of Simon the species occurs on pines, and appears to be a specialised inhabitant of pine forest, “en été sur les pins” ( Simon 1881).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Theridiidae

Genus

Theridion

Loc

Theridion pinicola Simon, 1873

Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad 2009
2009
Loc

Paidiscura pinicola

Wunderlich J 2008: 392
2008
Loc

Theridion pinicola

Wunderlich J 2008: 392
Simon E 1873: 364
1873
Loc

Theridion pinicola

Simon E 1873: 364
1873
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