Agelena labyrinthica ( Clerck, 1757 )

Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, Zhu, Ming-Sheng & Song, Da-Xiang, 2005, On Agelena labyrinthica (Clerck, 1757) and some allied species, with descriptions of two new species of the genus Agelena from China (Araneae: Agelenidae), Zootaxa 1021 (1), pp. 45-63 : 48-50

Agelena labyrinthica ( Clerck, 1757) ( Figs. 1–6 )

Araneus labyrinthicus Clerck 1757: 79 , pl. 2, fig. 8 (Types lost).

Agelena labyrinthica ( Clerck, 1757) : Dahl 1931: 13, figs. 18–20; Drensky 1942: 52, figs. 14a–b; Lehtinen 1967: 209, figs. 216, 221; Blauwe 1980: 13, figs. 20–25; Song 1980: 159, figs. 85a–d; Song et al. 1981: 85, figs. 8–9; Hu 1984: 203, figs. 214.14; Guo 1985: 110, figs. 2–51.1–4; Zhu & Shi 1985: 121, figs. 106a–d; Yaginuma 1986: 138, fig. 73.2; Song 1987: 190, fig. 149; Zhang 1987: 135, figs. 112.1–4; Hu & Wu 1989: 179, figs. 148.1–3; Feng 1990: 139, figs. 114.1–4; Chen & Gao 1990: 114, figs. 143a–b; Chen & Zhang 1991: 185, figs. 182.1–3; Zhao 1993: 299, figs. 137a–c; Levy 1996: 87, figs. 9–13; Roberts 1998: 259; Song et al. 1999: 354, figs. 205G, 207A; Hu 2001: 129, figs. 41.1–3; Kim & Tak, 2001: 119, figs. 6a–f; Song et al. 2001: 273, figs. 171A–C.

Material examined: China: Hebei: Area of Mt. Taihang , 16 males, 32 females, June to July, 1999, F. Zhang leg. ( MHBU) ; Weichang (41°56’N, 117°45’E), Saihanba Forestry Centre , 1 female, 16 July 1998, W.L. Lie leg. ( MHBU) ; Yuxian, Xiaowutai (39°57’N, 115°2’E), 1 male, 3 July 1998, F. Zhang leg. ( MHBU) ; Xiaowutai , 1 female, 2 August 1998, W.L. Lie leg. ( MHBU) ; Xiaowutai , 1 male, 90 females, 14 July 2002, F. Zhang et al. leg. ( MHBU) ; Zhangbei, Zhangbei Rangeland (41°23’N, 114°56’E), 2 males, 4 females, 31 July 1998, W.L. Lie leg. ( MHBU) ; Zhangbei (41°09’N, 114°42’E), 1 female, July 2000, D. Li leg. ( MHBU) ; Linshou (38°18’N, 114°22’E), Wuyuezhai , 1 male, 21 June 1998, W.L. Lie leg. ( MHBU) ; Fengning (41°12’N, 116°38’E), 1 male, 1 female, 27 July 2002, G.M. Tang et al. leg. ( MHBU) ; Pingquan (41°01’N, 118°41’E), 4 females, 30 July 1982 ( MHBU) ; Inner Mongolia: Hesigten Qi, Dalai Nur (43°17’N, 116°35’E), 1 male, 3 July 2002, Z.S. Zhang leg. ( MHBU) ; Jilin: Changchun (43°54’N, 125°19’E), Jinyuetan , 1 female, 27 August 1981 ( MHBU) ; Tumen (42°57’N, 129°51’E), Near Baihe River , 6 males, 4 females, 12 July 2003, F. Zhang et al. leg. ( MHBU) ; Tumen, Near Tumen River , 2 males, 2 females, 13 July 2003, F. Zhang et al. leg. ( MHBU) ; Jiaohe (43°42’N, 127°21’E), 4 females, 27 July 2003, F. Zhang et al. leg. ( MHBU) ; Mishan, Near Xinkai Lake (45°17’N, 132°48’E), 3 females, 17 July 2003, F. Zhang et al. leg. ( MHBU) ; Liao­ ning: Beipiao (41°48’N, 120°47’E), 2 males, 5 females, 29 July 2003, F. Zhang et al. leg. ( MHBU) ; Beipiao, Shanbaota (41°51’N, 120°51’E), 7 females, 30 July 2003, F. Zhang et al. leg. ( MHBU) ; Heilongjiang: Fuyuan (48°21’N, 134°18’E), 1 male, 6 females, 21 July 2003, F. Zhang et al. leg. ( MHBU) ; Shuifenhe (44°25’N, 131°11’E), 2 males, 7 females, 15 July 2003, F. Zhang et al. leg. ( MHBU) ; Sichuan: Qinchuan (32°36’N, 105°12’E), Daqinggou , 2 males, 2 females, 13 July 2003, J.X. Zhang et al. leg. ( MHBU) ; Qinchuan, Muyu , 2 females, 21 July 2003, J­X. Zhang et al. leg. ( MHBU) ; Shandong: Weihai (37°31’N, 122°07’E), Cuizhulou , 2 females ( MHBU) ; Xinjiang: Zhaoshu (43°08’N, 81°06’E), 3 females, 21 July 1982 ( MHBU) ; Gansu: Sunan (38°50’N, 99°30’E), 1 female, 6 August 2003, W.Q. Wang and X.J. Li leg. ( MHBU) ; Qinhai: Xinin (36°38’N, 101°48’E), Xishan , 2 females, 4 July 1998, Y. Zeng et al. leg. ( MHBU) ; Switzerland: 5 males, 9 females ( NHMB) .

Diagnosis: The species is similar to A. orientalis ( Levy 1996: 86, figs. 4–8), but can be recognized by the hooked embolus, the slightly blunt conductor median apophysis of the male palp, and by the invisible copulatory openings of the epigynum.

Description: The general description has been made by many authors, e.g. Song (1987: 190).

Male palp ( Figs. 4–6 ): patella with one apophysis, tibia with two apophyses: the retrolateral tibial apophysis (or RTA, larger and arising ventrally) and the lateral tibial apophysis (short and broad, small, behind the RTA in a ventral view). Embolus strongly sclerotized, with hooked tip. Conductor with three processes on its apex: conductor ventral apophysis (often strongly sclerotized), conductor distal apohysis (slightly sclerotized) and conductor median apophysis (almost unsclerotized), respectively. Also, under the conductor distal apophysis retrolaterally, another process, conductor dorsal apophysis (also found in most species of Coelotinae) with tip curved backwards.

Epigynum ( Figs. 2–3 ), with saccate copulatory ducts. Spermathecae can be separated into three portions: spermathecal head (medially originated, thin and small), spermathecal base and spermathecal stalk (between the other two apophyses and indistinct, while distinct in the other species mentioned below, with the exception of A. orientalis , just as these structures of Coelotinae and Tamgrinia Lehtinen, 1967 of Amaurobiidae ). On the surface of spermathecal base is a peculiar small process, called spermathecal apophysis (found only in these 7 species). The fertilization ducts are small, arising from the posterior end of the spermathecae.

Distribution: China (Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Sichuan, Shandong, Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinhai); Palearctic.

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Agelena labyrinthica (Clerck, 1757). 1. Male, dorsal view. 2. Female, epigynum, ventral view. 3. Same, vulva, dorsal view. 4. Left palp of the male, prolateral view. 5. Same, ventral view. 6. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bar: 1, 1.0mm; 2–6, 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: A = atrium; C = conductor; CD = copulatory duct; CDA = conductor dorsal apophysis; CDiA = conductor distal apophysis; CMA = conductor median apophysis; CVA = conductor ventral apophysis; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; LTA = lateral tibial apophysis; MA = median apophysis; PA = patellar apophysis; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; S = spermathecae; SA = spermathecal apophysis; SB = spermathecal base; SH = spermathecal head; ST = subtegulum; T = tegulum.