Asceua quadrimaculata, Zhang, Bao-Shi, Zhang, Feng & Jia, Xiao-Mei, 2012

Zhang, Bao-Shi, Zhang, Feng & Jia, Xiao-Mei, 2012, Two new species of the ant spider genus Asceua Thorell, 1887 (Araneae: Zodariidae) from China, Zootaxa 3307, pp. 62-68 : 62-64

Asceua quadrimaculata sp. nov.

( Figs 1–7 )

Type material. Holotype 3, CHINA, Hainan Province: Datian National Nature Reserve (19°09ʹN, 108°47ʹE), 5 Aug. 2007, F. Zhang leg. Paratypes: 1Ƥ, same data as holotype; 2Ƥ, Bawangling Mountain (19°07ʹN, 109°04ʹE), 3 Aug. 2007, F. Zhang leg.; 1Ƥ, Bawangling Mountain, 21 May 2009, C. Zhang leg.; 13, 3Ƥ, Jianfengling Mountain (18°37ʹN, 108°42ʹE), 9 Nov. 2008, G.X. Han leg.; 23, 2Ƥ, Jianfengling Mountain, 28 May 2009, C. Zhang leg.

Diagnosis. The male of the new species can be distinguished from other Asceua species by the wide median apophysis and long membranous conductor. It differs from A. jianfeng , A. menglun , A. similis and A. maculosa Logunov, 2010 by the shapes of median apophysis and retrolateral tibial apophysis, and the dorsal pattern on the opisthosoma ( Figs 1–4 ). The female can be distinguished from other Asceua species by the central epigynal pocket, the dorsal pattern on the opisthosoma and the details of genitalia; it differs from A. piperata Ono, 2004 by the spermathecae well separated, and from A. jianfeng by the central epigynal pocket and the course of internal copulatory ducts ( Figs 5–6 ).

Etymology. The specific name is a nominative neuter singular of the Latin adjective quadrimaculatus, meaning with four dots and refers to the pattern of dorsal opisthosoma.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 1.76: prosoma 0.86 long, 0.63 wide; opisthosoma 0.88 long, 0.54 wide.

Color. Carapace ( Fig. 1 ) brown; median furrow black. Clypeus brown, median part dark brown. Each eye ringed with black. Chelicerae, endites and labium brown, apices of endites and labium yellow, median part of labium with a black patch. Sternum brown, lateral margin slightly dark. Legs brown, apices and bases of femora and tibia ringed with black. Dorsum of opisthosoma black, with an ovoid scutum, lateral part with two pairs of white patches; venter yellowish. Spinnerets yellowish.

Prosoma ( Fig. 1 ). Carapace longer than wide, tegument smooth and shiny. Both the eye rows slightly procurved in dorsal view. Diameters of eyes: AME 0.09, ALE 0.08, PME 0.07, PLE 0.08. Interdistances of eyes: AME–AME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.31, PME–PME 0.07, PME–PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.39, ALE– PLE 0.07. MOA 0.23 long, front width 0.20, back width 0.18. Clypeal height 0.18. Labium triangular, 0.17 long, 0.16 wide. Sternum 0.50 long, 0.50 wide and sparsely covered with black setae.

Legs. Each femur with a dorsal spine. Measurements of legs: I: 2.76 (0.68, 0.27, 0.68, 0.63, 0.50), II: 2.03 (0.54, 0.18, 0.45, 0.50, 0.36), III: 2.22 (0.59, 0.23, 0.50, 0.54, 0.36), IV: 3.12 (0.72, 0.23, 0.77, 0.90, 0.50). Leg formula: 4132.

Opisthosoma ( Fig. 1 ). Oval, longer than wide, covered with short, black hairs. Dorsal scutum distinct.

Male palp ( Figs 2–4 ). Retrolateral tibial apophysis thin, digitiform, palpal tibia with an elevated ridge on the ventral and retrolateral side respectively; cymbium with typical huge retrolateral fold; bulb prolaterally with a blunt tubercle; median apophysis wide and strong; membranous conductor wide and long; embolus threadlike.

Female. Paratype (from Datian National Nature Reserve, Hainan). Total length 2.07: prosoma 0.90 long, 0.59 wide; opisthosoma 1.13 long, 0.68 wide.

Prosoma. Both eye rows slightly procurved in dorsal view. Diameters of eyes: AME 0.09, ALE 0.07, PME 0.08, PLE 0.08. Interdistances of eyes: AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.30, PME–PME 0.08, PME–PLE 0.07, PLE–PLE 0.36, ALE–PLE 0.07. MOA 0.22 long, front width 0.17, back width 0.20. Clypeal height 0.23. Labium 0.18 long, 0.16 wide. Sternum 0.41 long, 0.41 wide.

Legs. Each femur with a dorsal spine. Measurements of legs: I: 2.12 (0.54, 0.18, 0.45, 0.54, 0.41), II: 1.85 (0.45, 0.18, 0.45, 0.41, 0.36), III. 1.94 (0.50, 0.18, 0.45, 0.45, 0.36), IV: 2.58 (0.59, 0.23, 0.54, 0.77, 0.45). Leg formula: 4132. Opisthosoma without dorsal scutum.

Female genitalia ( Figs 5–7 ). Median part with a central epigynal pocket, copulatory openings situated in anterior part of epigynum; long and winding copulatory ducts visible through integument; spermathecae small and spherical, situated posteriorly and well separated.

Distribution. China (Hainan).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Asceua quadrimaculata sp. nov., 1 – 4, male holotype. 1, habitus, dorsal view; 2, left male palp, prolateral view; 3, same, ventral view; 4, same, retrolateral view; 5 – 7, female paratype. 5, epigyne, ventral view; 6, internal genitalia, dorsal view; 7, schematic course of internal duct system (circle: copulatory opening; arrow: copulatory duct in direction of uterus externu). Scale bars: 1, 1 mm; 2 – 6, 0.1 mm.