Leptothele bencha Raven & Schwendinger, 1995: 637-639 New euagrid spider species from Thailand and Malaysia, and new localities of Leptothele bencha (Arachnida: Araneae) Schwendinger, Peter J. Lehmann-Graber, Christina Hongpadharakiree, Komson Syuhadah, Nurul Revue suisse de Zoologie 2020 127 2 423 453 Raven & Schwendinger, 1995 Raven & Schwendinger 1995 [182,725,1390,1414] Arachnida Dipluridae Leptothele Animalia Araneae 6 428 Arthropoda species bencha   Figs 1E-F, 3-4      Leptothele bencha Raven & Schwendinger, 1995: 637-639, figs 2C, 3E-F, 4E, 5F-G, 9 (description of males and females).     Holotype:QMS 29275; male; THAILAND, Krabi Province, Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, near Huay To Waterfall, 8°14’16”N, 98°55’02”E,  260 m;  21.IX.1992; leg. P.J. Schwendinger.   Paratypes: QMS 29276; 3 females; same data as for holotype. – MHNG; 1 maleand 1 female; same data as for holotype.  Other material examined:  MHNG(sample THMA- 00/14); 5 males(matured 17.VIII.2000, 24.IX.2000, beginning XII.2000), 11 females; THAILAND, Phuket Province, Ko Sirey, 7°53’10”N, 98°26’11”E,  50 m;  12.VIII.2000; leg. P.J. Schwendinger. – MHNG(sample TH-02/11); 1 male, 1 female; Ko Sirey,  30 m;  22.VIII.2002; leg. P.J. Schwendinger. – MHNG; 4 females; THAILAND, Krabi Province, Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, near Huay To Waterfall(the type locality),  260 m;  21.IX.1992; leg. P.J. Schwendinger. – MHNG(sample THA-99/1); 1 female; THAILAND, Krabi Province, Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, near Huay To Waterfall, 8°14’24”N, 98°54’56”E,  100- 190 m;  11.X.1999; leg. P.J. Schwendinger. – MHNG(sample TH-07/10); 5 females; THAILAND, Phang Nga Province, Ko Yao Noi, 8°11’04”N, 98°38’02”E,  70 m;  16.VII.2007; leg. P.J. Schwendinger. – MHNG(sample TH-06/07); 2 males(one of them matured XII.2006), 2 females; THAILAND, Ko Yao Noi, near Ban An Pao, 8°09’53”N, 98°37’20”E,  150 m;  21.IX.2006; leg. P.J. Schwendinger. – MHNG(sample THMA- 08/10); 2 females; THAILAND, Krabi Province & District, Khlong Jilat, 8°05’18”N, 98°52’56”E,  60 m;  16.VI.2008; leg. P.J. Schwendinger. – MHNG(sample THMA-08/07); 1 male(hatched VIII.08, matured end XII.09), 4 females; THAILAND, Krabi Province & District, Thab Khaek- Hang Nak Hill, near waterfall, 8°05’43”N, 98°45’11”E,  300 m;  13.VI.2008; leg. P.J. Schwendinger. – MHNG(sample TH-09/09); 1 female; THAILAND, Krabi Province & District, Ban Chong Phlie, 8°04’50”N, 98°49’50”E,  80 m;  13.VI.2009; leg. P.J. Schwendinger. – MHNG(sample THA-99/3); 3 males(hatched end XII.1999; matured 18.VI.2000, VII.- VIII.2000, IX.2000), 9 females; THAILAND, Krabi Province, Ko Lanta, 7°28’36”N, 99°05’25”E,  5 m;  15.X.1999; leg. P.J. Schwendinger. – MHNG(sample TH-09/03); 2 females; THAILAND, Trang Province, Ko Muk, near Morakot Cave, 7°21’52”N, 99°17’30”E,  60 m;  28.V.2009; leg. P.J. Schwendinger. – MHNG(sample TH-05/09); 4 males(one collected mature, others matured 16.IX.2005, 7.X.2005, 9.XI.2005), 11 females; THAILAND, Trang Province, Ko Libong, near Ao Tokae, 7°16’04”N, 99°22’39”E,  30 m;  20.VII.2005; leg. P.J. Schwendinger. – MHNG(sample TH-09/02); 1 male, 10 females; THAILAND, Trang Province, Ko Sukon, 7°05’51”N, 99°34’53”E,  140 m;  23.V.2009; leg. P.J. Schwendinger. – MHNG; 6 males(matured 13.II.1996, 20.IX.1996, 13.VI.1997, 10.VII.1997, 22.VIII.1997, 27.VIII.1997), 12 females; THAILAND, Satun Province, Ko Tarutao, 6°40’60”N, 99°38’47”E,  30 m;  12.I.1996; leg. P.J. Schwendinger. – THNHM; 1 male(matured 10.IX.1996), 1 female; THAILAND, Satun Province, Ko Tarutao,  30 m;  12.I.1996; leg. P.J. Schwendinger.  Extended diagnosis:Distinguished from  L. chang sp. nov.by smaller size and darker body colour. Males with shorter bulbous part of palpal organ ( Fig. 3A, D, G, Hcf. Fig. 6A-E), normally only with two ventral megaspines [ Fig. 3C, F(one exception with four megaspines, Fig. 3J); 2-3 megaspines in  L. chang sp. nov., Fig. 6H-K] and without wrinkles behind and in front of subdistal ventral ridge on tibia II ( Fig. 3C, F, J; present in  L. chang sp. nov., Fig. 6H-K), and with a more distinct, conical ventral process on metatarsus II ( Fig. 3B, E, Icf. Fig. 6G). Females with longer and narrower spermathecal trunks and with much shorter stalks of median receptacles ( Fig. 4cf. Fig. 7).   Variation:Carapace lengths in males (n = 25) range 1.52-2.04, carapace widths 1.29-1.78. The smallest male examined is the paratypedeposited in the MHNG, the largest male is from Thab Khaek - Hang Nak Hill. The largest female (from Khlong Jilat) has a 2.94 long and 2.49 wide carapace. Among the 25 malesexamined 24 have two ventral megaspines on the tibiae of both legs II. Only a single male (from Ko Sukon) has a relatively low ventral spur carrying four megaspines on its left tibia II ( Fig. 3I-J), which is clearly abnormal; its right tibia II is equipped with a more elevated (i.e. normal for this species) ventral spur carrying two megaspines. The holotype(not re-examined) appears to lack any proximal spines on the ventral side of metatarsus I of at least the right leg ( Raven & Schwendinger, 1995: 638, fig. 9F), but all males examined for this study (including a paratype) have 1-2 weak spines at that position. A male from Ko Libong has a slightly longer bulbal part of the palpal organ ( Fig. 3H) than the other conspecific males examined.  Fig. 3.  Leptothele bencha; males from Ko Sirey (A-B), Ko Tarutao (C-F, G, showing two specimens), Ko Libong (H) and Ko Sukon (I- J). (A, D, H) Distal part of palp, ventral view. (B, E) Right tibia and metatarsus II, prolateral view. (C) Left tibia and metatarsus II, ventral view. (F) Right tibia and metatarsus II, ventral view. (G) Palpal organ, ventral view. (I) Left tibia and metatarsus II of aberrant specimen, prolateral view. (J) Same, ventral view. Scale line 1.0 mm. The vulvae of two femalesfrom Ko Siray (the northernmost locality of this species; Fig. 4E-F) have median receptacles with relatively smaller heads and much longer stalks, as well as lateral receptacles with a much narrower apex than females from the other localities ( Fig. 4A-D). Despite these quite pronounced differences in female genitalia, the males from Ko Siray show no relevant distinctions from the other males examined ( Fig. 3A-B cf. Fig. 3C-J). We consider this as a geographical form that does not deserve specific or subspecific rank.   Remark:The “small pointed protuberances” on the spermathecae and receptacles of two paratypesshown in Raven & Schwendinger (1995: 638, fig. 9J-K) are actually the cuticular bases of gland ducts that empty through pores into the interior of the spermathecae (see also Schwendinger & Ono, 2011: figs 56-58, 61-64). These gland duct bases are clearly visible on exuviae ( Fig. 7A, showing  L. chang sp. nov.), but not on unstained vulvae dissected from specimens (only the pores are visible there, Fig. 4, see also Fig. 7B-D showing  L. chang sp. nov.). These protuberances thus have no or only very limited taxonomic value.   Distribution:This species is known from 11 localities near the Andaman coast of southern Thailand( Fig. 2, localities 1-10, 4 refers to two nearby localities). Four sites (including the typelocality) lie on the mainland in Krabi Province, on or near the coast, the others are on islands quite close to the mainland (the most distant is Ko Tarutao, about 17 kmoffshore, Fig. 2, locality 10). Despite extensive sieving of forest litter on PhuketIsland and at numerous additional forest sites in southern Thailand, no other conspecific specimens were collected.   Biology:Most spiders examined were collected by sieving leaf litter in semi-evergreen rain forests. At Thab Khaek - Hang Nak Hill they were found in tiny tunnel webs in holes of earthbanks on roadside and in holes and in moss on granite rock close to a small waterfall in the forest. This species does not have a clear preference for limestone (as  Phyxioschemaspp.in southern Thailandhave): only at Ban Chong Phlie was a female collected from a web in a crack of a limestone bolder. Four females from Ko Libong produced egg sacs in captivity in late August 2005; from one of them spiderlings hatched 22 days later. In captivity – but not in nature – females from Ko Libong and Ko Tarutao camouflaged the white lenticular egg sacs by attaching soil particles to their surface. No limited mating period could be observed. Some males from the northern localities were collected as adults in the field between late June and early December, others collected as immatures matured in captivity during the same period of the year. On Ko Sukon a mature male was collected in late May, and males collected on Ko Tarutao in early January matured in February and between June and November. In captivity a pair from Ko Tarutao mated in the following manner: The male courted in the web of the female by quivering and tiptoeing. He approached the female directly, abruptly and forcefully pulled her towards him, locked his tibia II spur and megaspines onto her femur II which was bent sideward at a right angle, whilst his legs I bent her legs I and palps far backwards. In this locked position, which lasted for 21 minutes, the male alternately inserted his palpal organs several times. The pair then separated abruptly and the female chased the male away. That female produced a first egg sac exactly one month later and the spiderlings hatched two weeks afterwards. A second egg sac was produced later. Another female (collected gravid) from Ko Tarutao constructed seven eggsacs in a succession. A total of 33 eggsacs were preserved, each containing 5- 17 eggsand early instar spiderlings; eight eggswas the most common count (n = 7). 3889801353 1992-09-21 P. J. Schwendinger. Thailand 260 8.237778 Huay To Waterfall 21 98.91722 Khao Phanom Bencha National Park 6 428 1 1 Krabi Province holotype 3889801303 6 428 3 3 3889801306 MHNG 6 428 2 1 1 3889801330 2000-08-12 MHNG P. J. Schwendinger. Thailand 50 7.886111 Ko Sirey 21 98.436386 6 428 16 11 5 Phuket Province 3889801334 2002-08-22 MHNG P. J. Schwendinger. 30 Ko Sirey 6 428 2 1 1 3889801357 1992-09-21 MHNG P. J. Schwendinger. Thailand 260 Khao Phanom Bencha National Park 6 428 4 4 Krabi Province 3889801329 1999-10-11 MHNG P. J. Schwendinger. Thailand 145 8.240001 Khao Phanom Bencha National Park 21 98.91556 6 428 1 1 Krabi Province 3889801305 2007-07-16 MHNG P. J. Schwendinger. Thailand 70 8.184444 Ko Yao Noi 21 98.63389 6 428 5 5 Phang Nga Province 3889801311 2006-09-21 MHNG P. J. Schwendinger. Thailand 150 8.1647215 near Ban An Pao 21 98.62222 Ko Yao Noi 6 428 4 2 2 3889801333 2008-06-16 MHNG P. J. Schwendinger Thailand 60 8.088333 Khlong Jilat 21 98.882225 6 428 2 2 Krabi Province & District 3889801317 2008-06-13 MHNG Thab Khaek & P. J. Schwendinger. Thailand 300 8.095278 Hang Nak Hill 21 98.75305 6 428 5 4 1 Krabi Province & District 3889801350 2009-06-13 MHNG Ban Chong Phlie & P. J. Schwendinger. Thailand 80 8.080556 Krabi Province & District 21 98.83055 6 428 1 1 Krabi Province & District 3889801341 1999-10-15 MHNG P. J. Schwendinger. Thailand 5 7.476667 Ko Lanta 21 99.09028 6 428 12 9 3 Krabi Province 3889801316 2009-05-28 MHNG P. J. Schwendinger. Thailand 60 7.3644443 Ko Muk 21 99.291664 6 428 2 2 Trang Province 3889801313 2005-07-20 MHNG P. J. Schwendinger. Thailand 30 7.267778 Ko Libong 21 99.3775 6 428 15 11 4 Trang Province 3889801320 2009-05-23 MHNG P. J. Schwendinger. Thailand 140 7.0975003 Ko Sukon 21 99.58139 6 428 11 10 1 Trang Province 3889801355 1996-01-12 MHNG P. J. Schwendinger. Thailand 30 6.6833334 Ko Tarutao 21 99.646385 6 428 18 12 6 Satun Province 3889801314 1996-01-12 THNHM P. J. Schwendinger. Thailand 30 Ko Tarutao 6 428 2 1 1 Satun Province