Tegenaria ferruginea, (PANZER, 1804)

Bolzern, Angelo, Burckhardt, Daniel & Hänggi, Ambros, 2013, Phylogeny and taxonomy of European funnel-web spiders of the Tegenaria-Malthonica complex (Araneae: Agelenidae) based upon morphological and molecular data, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Zool. J. Linn. Soc.) 168 (4), pp. 723-848 : 799-802

TEGENARIA FERRUGINEA ( PANZER, 1804) STAT. REV.

( FIG. 21J–M )

Araneus domesticus: Clerck, 1757: 76–79 , pl. 2, tab. 9, fig. 1, in part.

Aranea ferruginea Panzer, 1804 : pl. 227, fig. 2.

Aranea subpilosa Panzer, 1804 : pl. 227, fig. 3.

Aranea stabularia C. L. Koch, 1834: 125 , pl. 13, male.

Tegenaria stabularia: C. L. Koch, 1841: 32–34 , fig. 614, female.

Tegenaria petrensis C. L. Koch, 1841: 27 , 28, fig. 609, female.

Tegenaria ferruginea: Simon, 1875: 65–67 , pl. 6, fig. 7.

Tegenaria heteropalpa Lebert, 1877: 209 , 210, pl. 6, fig. 41 male; syn. nov.

Malthonica ferruginea Guseinov et al., 2005: 164 .

Comments

Tegenaria heteropalpa Lebert was synonymized with Teg. pagana by de Lessert (1910: 455). Types of Teg. heteropalpa are lost. However, the description of Lebert (1877) and in particular his illustration is sufficiently diagnostic to suggest that Teg. heteropalpa is conspecific with Teg. ferruginea . Tegenaria heteropalpa is a new synonym of Teg. ferruginea rather than one of Teg. pagana as suggested by de Lessert (1910). Their conspecificity is supported by the structure of the RTA, the shape of the MA, the relative length of the bulb to cymbium length ( Lebert, 1877: pl. 6, fig. 41), the overall size, and the number of teeth on the chelicerae. Tegenaria pagana occurs south of the Alps, Teg. ferruginea on either side.

No type material available.

Other material examined

Albania (1 ♀) ; Austria (1 ♂, 6 ♀) ; Belgium (1 ♂) ; Bulgaria (4 ♀) ; Croatia (1 ♀) ; France (14 ♂, 18 ♀) ; Germany (26 ♂, 33 ♀) ; Greece (5 ♀) ; Italy (2 ♂, 4 ♀) ; Poland (1 ♂) ; Slovenia (1 ♂, 2 ♀) ; Switzerland (5 ♂, 5 ♀) . South America : Venezuela (1 ♂) .

Diagnosis: Tegenaria ferruginea females can be separated from Teg. parietina by the lateral margins of the median region of the epigyne following distinctly the run of the posterior sclerite (especially anteriorly, Fig. 21J , white arrows, in Teg. parietina this margin runs towards the middle of the epigyne, Fig. 21P , white arrow), the differently shaped posterior sclerite, and the stronger convoluted vulva (especially the first spiral). Moreover, the two symmetrical ducts are less separated from each other (under two duct diameters, more than three in Teg. parietina ). Other characters were presented in detail by Oxford & Merrett (2000). Males of Teg. ferruginea have a relatively short cymbium (much longer, in relation to the bulb, in Teg. parietina ), a distinctly longer and curved distal portion of the conductor (short and almost straight in Teg. parietina ), and a differently shaped ventral portion of the terminal end of the conductor.

Description

A short redescription, including information about the species‘ variation, was provided by Oxford & Merrett (2000).

Measurements: Male (N = 1): CL 6.40, CW 5.00, STL 3.00, STW 2.85, OL 7.35, OW 5.03. Leg I (7.85, 2.60, 6.95, 8.00, 3.60), II (7.35, 2.55, 6.05, 7.10, 3.25), III (6.50, 2.25, 5.25, 6.50, 2.55), IV (7.90, 2.45, 6.70, 8.55, 3.20). Pedipalp (3.20, 1.00, 1.35, 3.27), bulbL 2.57. Female (N = 1): CL 6.12, CW 4.90, STL 3.45, STW 2.88, OL 8.25, OW 5.93. Leg I (7.01, 2.40, 6.08, 7.13, 3.34), II (6.60, 2.40, 5.40, 6.38, 2.78), III (5.94, 2.10, 4.32, 6.00, 2.50,), IV (7.30, 2.35, 6.12, 7.90, 3.03). Pedipalp (2.69, 1.04, 1.54, 2.96). EPL 1.00, EPW 1.52, ATL 0.37, ATW 0.74. Eyes: PME 0.22–0.26, PLE 0.25–

0.30, AME 0.26–0.28, ALE 0.26–0.30. Eye distances: PME–PME 1–1.5 x PME, PME–AME 1–1.5 x PME, PME–PLE 1–1.5 x PME, PME–ALE 1.5 x PME, AME–AME <0.5 x AME, AME–ALE << 0.5 x AME. CLY1 1.5–2 x AME, CLY2 1.5–2 x ALE.

Male palp: RTA with three branches, ventral branch broad lobe-like, distally moderately protruding with distinct ridge, lateral branch broad and flat protruding, distally broadly truncated, dorsal branch strongly sclerotized, protruding, as long as wide, distally obtusely and oblique pointed, anteriorly with a stepped, small point. Filiform embolus longer than 2.5 x CB, originating at 7–8 o’clock position, distal tip at 4 o’clock position, conspicuously formed ( Fig. 2C ). Conductor with distal portion distinctly elongated and curved, lateral margin completely folded. Terminal end bifid, ventral part short, simple and truncated with a very small point, dorsal part plate-like, shorter than ventral part. Connection of conductor to tegulum moderately sclerotized. MA originating at 6 o’clock position, strongly protruding, distally with hook-like sclerite. MA membranously connected to tegulum. Basal part of tegulum visible and undulated.

Epigyne and vulva: Epigyne medially with a small pale, membranous area. Posterior sclerite developed as an extensive sclerotized bar with anterior margin concave (semicircular) and medially moderately protruding. CO between and laterally of the membranous median area and the posterior sclerite. Epigynal ‘pseudo teeth’ absent. Vulva consists of CBD, no distinct RC recognizable. Only very first part (CD) of CBD moderately sclerotized, largest part strongly sclerotized and convoluted, forming connected smaller anterior and larger posterior spiral regions. Ducts are separated by less than their duct diameters. FD only represented by small, leaf-shaped appendages distally of the CBD.

Other important characters: Cheliceral promargin and retromargin with four teeth. Colulus developed as trapezoidal plate with the distal margin almost straight or medially moderately notched. Same pattern of distal spigots on PMS (in females) as described for the type species. PLS with distal segment shorter than basal segment. Tarsal trichobothria on cymbium and palp tarsus present. Tarsal trichobothria seven to eight. Small teeth on paired claws of leg I 11–12. Leg spination: male palp (2–0–0–0, 2–0–0, 1–2–0–0 or 2–2–0–0), female palp (2–0–0–0 or 3–0–0, 2–0–0, 2–2–0–0), leg femora (2–3– 1–0 or 2–3–2–0 or 2–4–2–0, 2–2–2–0 or 2–3–2–0, 2–2–2–0, 1–2–2–0 or 2–2–1–0), patellae (all 2–0–0), tibiae [0–0–0–2p+1 or 0–1–0–2p+1 or 0–2–0–3p or 2–0–0–3p (dorsal spines very small), 0–2–0–2+1p or 0–2–0–3p or 2–2–0–2+1p (dorsal spines very small), 2–2–2–3p, 2–2–2–1+2p or 2–2–2–1p+1+1p+1 or 2–2– 2–1p+1+2p], metatarsi (0–0–0–3p+1, 0–1–0–3p+1, 0–2–3–3p+1 or 0–3–3–3p+1, 0–3–3–1+1p+1+3p or 0–3–3–1p+1+3p or 0–3–3–5p or 0–4–3–1+3p+1), tarsi (I & II 0, III & IV 0–0–1–0).

Coloration: Margin of carapace with three broad, crescent-shaped darkened spots, dorsally with two symmetrical longitudinal dark bands, serrated and not continuous. Chelicerae sometimes medially with darkened spot. Sternum with distinct pale median band, posteriorly very narrow or fused with lateral spots (sometimes with small dark spot in the middle of the posterior half of the pale median band), and three symmetrical pairs of pale spots laterally. Opisthosoma dark brownish, laterally moderately yellowish mottled, dorsally with a distinct, reddish median band. Anteriolaterally of red median band there are short, black bands, more laterally yellowish. More posteriodorsally with one or two symmetrical white spots and four to five indistinct chevrons more posteriad. Legs annulated, borders of bands darker than medially. Colulus partly darkened, ALS ventrally indistinctly darkened, dorsally black, PLS with basal segment black, distal segment pale.

Distribution

Reported from most European countries. Probably absent from northernmost Europe. The specimen from Venezuela would be the first record outside of the Palaearctic region. If the label is correct, Teg. ferruginea has been introduced into South America.

Discussion

The identity of this species has been misinterpreted by some authors. Our examination of Brignoli’s material showed that he misidentified female Teg. tridentina as Teg. ferruginea (see Brignoli, 1971a: 92, fig. 40). One female in his collection, which is Teg. ferruginea , is labelled ‘prope rhaetica ’ (IT: Alto Adige, Bolzano, Collalbo, Renon, 15/ 20.viii.1966, leg. Hartig) and is also mentioned and illustrated under this name ( Brignoli, 1971a: 102, figs 53, 55, 56). Platnick (2012) listed ‘prope rhaetica ’ as a synonym of Teg. agrestis .

Figures

Figure 2. Microscope and scanning electron microscopy pictures of character details. Plumose hairs (A) and claws (B) on tarsus I of Tegenaria dalmatica; C, embolus tip of Tegenaria ferruginea; D, male palp of Tegenaria dalmatica in ventroretrolateral view; E, retrolateral tibial apophysis in retrolateral view of Tegenaria ferruginea; F, epigyne in ventral view of Tegenaria domestica; G, long and dark spikes on the anal tubercle of Agelena labyrinthica; H, face and chelicerae, frontal view; I, cheliceral margins with teeth, ventral view; and J, sternum, ventral view, of female Eratigena atrica. Abbreviations: BT, basal portion of tegulum; C, conductor; CO, copulatory opening; CON, connection of tegulum and conductor; DB, dorsal branch; DC, distal portion of conductor; DP, dorsal part of terminal end of conductor; E, embolus; EP, epigynal plate; LB, lateral branch; LM, lateral margin of median region; MA, median apophysis; MC, lateral margin of conductor (here entirely folded); MP, median plate; MR, median region; PS, posterior sclerite (here bar- or band like); PT, ‘pseudo teeth’; TEC, terminal end of conductor (here bifid); VB, ventral branch; VP, ventral part of terminal end of conductor. Scale bars for F–J = 0.5 mm.

Figure 21. A–D, Tegenaria femoralis; E–I, Tegenaria tyrrhenica; J-M, Tegenaria ferruginea; N-R, Tegenaria parietina. Left male palp in ventral (A, E, L, N) and retrolateral views (B, F, M, O); epigyne in ventral (C, G, J, P) and vulva in dorsal (D, H, K, Q), lateral (R), and anterior views (I). Scale bars = 0.5 mm.