Araneus pronubus (Rainbow, 1894)

W. Framenau, Volker, 2019, Generic and family transfers, and numina dubia for orb-weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae) in the Australasian, Oriental and Pacific regions, Evolutionary Systematics 3 (1), pp. 1-27 : 17

Araneus pronubus (Rainbow, 1894)

Epeira pronuba Rainbow, 1894: 289-290, plate 10, figs 2, 2 a–d.

Araneus pronubus (Rainbow). Rainbow 1911: 191; Bonnet 1955: 570.

Aranea pronuba (Rainbow). Roewer 1942: 831.

Type material.

Holotype of Epeira pronuba Rainbow, 1894: female, Bungendore [35°14'S, 149°127E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA] (whereabouts unknown).

Remarks.

The female holotype of Epeira pronuba is not present at the AM and must be considered lost. The original description suggests close affinities with Larinia Simon, 1874 or species associated with Araneus talipedatus (Keyserling, 1887). However, the epigyne is not illustrated and the short verbal description ( Rainbow 1894, p. 290: "Epigyne a short blunt dark process directed forwards") does not allow an accurate identification of this species. Therefore, I consider the species-group name Epeira pronuba a nomen dubium.