Hortophora lodicula (Keyserling, 1887) comb. nov.

Figs 2C, 12, 13, 14

Epeira lodicula Keyserling 1887: 159-160, pl. 13, figs 4, 4a.

Epeira scutigerens Hogg 1900: 100-102, pl. 15, figs 2, 2a-d. New synonymy.

Araneus lodiculus (Keyserling).- Rainbow 1911: 188.

Araneus scutigerens (Hogg).- Rainbow 1911: 192.

Type material.

Holotype of Epeira lodicula Keyserling, 1887: Female, Sydney (33°52'S, 151°12'E, New South Wales, Australia), ZMH (Rack (1961) -catalogue No. 248). Examined.

Syntypes of Epeira scutigerens Hogg, 1900: 1 male, 1 female, Macedon (37°25'S, 144°33'E Victoria, Australia (NHM 1907.2.24.20-21). Examined.

Other material examined.

See Appendix 1.

Diagnosis.

The median apophysis of the pedipalp of male of H. lodicula comb. nov. is most similar to that of H. walesiana comb. nov. due to a broad apical lobe (Figs 12C, 30C), but distinctly differs due to the absence of a conspicuous bubble-shaped terminal apophysis and the presence of a tegular lobe (Fig. 12C, D). Females of H. lodicula comb. nov. are most similar to those of H. yesabah sp. nov. due to a comparatively short scape (Figs 13C, D, 34C, D). However, H. lodicula comb. nov. differs distinctly by the much narrower subtriangular base of the scape (Fig. 13C).

Description.

Male (QM S116469): Total length 7.5. Carapace 3.9 long, 3.3 wide; orange-brown, cephalic area somewhat lighter (Fig. 12A). Eye diameter AME 0.25, ALE 0.13, PME 0.18, PLE 0.13; row of eyes: AME 0.77, PME 0.58, PLE 2.20. Chelicerae yellowish-brown; three promarginal teeth (similar size) and two retromarginal teeth (apical larger and on a ridge). Legs orange-brown, basally lighter on femora (Fig. 12A, B). Tibiae of leg II with very elongated and thickened setae and a relatively short and curved apico-ventral megaspur and spine (Fig. 2C). Leg formula I> IV> II> III; length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I - 5.4 + 2.6 + 4.3 + 3.7 + 1.7 = 17.7, II - 4.7 + 2.0 + 3.2 + 0.9 + 1.4 = 12.2, III - 3.5 + 1.4 + 2.0 + 1.9 + 0.9 = 9.7, IV - 3.8 + 1.9 + 2.9 + 3.0 + 1.2 = 12.8. Labium 0.54 long, 0.67 wide, brown, endites brown (Fig. 12B). Sternum 1.4 long, 1.0 wide, yellowish-brown, somewhat darker along the edge (Fig. 12B). Abdomen 3.6 long, 2.7 wide; no humeral humps but with distinct posterior tip; colour pattern poorly preserved (Fig. 12A); dorsum greyish-brown with indistinct darker median marking, venter greyish-brown with indistinct lighter lateral lines (Fig. 12A, B). Pedipalp length (femur + patella + tibia + cymbium = total length): 0.8 + 0.5 + 0.4 + 1.8 = 3.5; paracymbium elongated with rounded tip (Fig. 12D); tegulum with conspicuously pronounced tegular protrusion (Fig. 12 D); median apophysis elongated with a blunt terminal lobe pointing apically (Fig. 12C); conductor lobe not conspicuous (Fig. 12C); terminal apophysis elongate, not bubble-shaped, with pointed tip (Fig. 12C); conductor sclerotised apically and basally, with lamellar central section (Fig. 12C); embolus heavily sclerotized and sinuous (Fig. 12C).

Female (QM S31030): Total length 15.5. Carapace 5.9 long, 4.8 wide; reddish-brown with darker flanks, distinct cover of white setae in cephalic area (Fig. 13A). Eye diameter AME 0.32, ALE 0.16, PME 0.23, PLE 0.16; row of eyes: AME 0.77, PME 0.59, PLE 2.75. Chelicerae reddish-brown; four promarginal teeth (apical and third largest) and three retromarginal teeth (similar size) (Fig. 13B). Legs light brown with some darker discolourations (Fig. 13A, B). Pedipalp length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + tarsus = total length): 1.3 + 0.8 + 1.1 + 2.0 = 5.2. Leg formula I> IV> II> III; length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I - 5.3 + 2.9 + 4.2 + 4.8 + 1.6 = 18.8, II - 5.0 + 2.8 + 4.2 + 0.9 + 1.5 = 14.4, III - 3.7 + 1.8 + 2.1 + 2.0 + 0.8 = 10.4, IV - 4.7 + 2.2 + 3.7 + 4.0 + 1.4 = 16.0. Labium 0.90 long, 1.15 wide, brown; endites brown (Fig. 13B). Sternum 2.8 long, 2.5 wide, brown, with few white setae anteriorly (Fig. 13B). Abdomen 10.0 long, 9.8 wide; very indistinct humeral humps, olive-grey folium pattern and dark lanceolate median band, mottled yellowish to white (Fig. 13A); venter light olive-brown with light lateral bands that are widening posteriorly (Fig. 13B). Epigyne (Fig. 13C-E) almost hexagonal, with subtriangular borders and heart-shaped atrium; central division parallel-sided; scape with triangular basis, just reaching posteriorly beyond epigyne and with sparse setae.

Variation.

Size variation: total length males 7.5-10.6 (n=4), females 9.6-16.3 (n=9). The scape of the epigyne was not broken off in any females examined. Like other Hortophora gen. nov. species, the abdomen can be variable within the general folium pattern, and white guanine spots or lines are not uncommon. For example, the female syntype of E. scutigerens has a strong median guanine line along its whole abdomen (examined).

Remarks.

The NHM holds a further female of H. lodicula comb. nov. collected in Sydney that is, based on the registration number (NHM 1890.7.1.4193), part of the Keyserling collection that was purchased by that institute (J. Beccaloni, pers. com. to VWF). Keyserling (1887) clearly described the species based on a single holotype female and it is not necessarily clear if the female in the ZMH or NHM is the holotype. Both match the description of Keyserling (1887). We here follow Rack (1961) who considered the ZMH specimen the holotype of E. lodicula .

The male and female syntypes of Epeira scutigerens Hogg, 1900 match in somatic and genitalic characters the diagnostic characters of H. lodicula comb. nov. and the species is therefore proposed as junior synonym of H. lodicula comb. nov.

Life history and habitat preferences.

Mature males of H. lodicula comb. nov. have exclusively been found between January and April, suggesting this species to be summer- to autumn-mature. This matches the female phenology, as females appear somewhat earlier in the season, from November, and can be found into May. There is very little habitat information with specimens in collections, and these point to H. lodicula comb. nov. to inhabit open forests, including "amongst Proteas".

Distribution.

Hortophora lodicula comb. nov. is an eastern Australian species and occurs east and west of the Great Dividing Range from south of ca. 23°50'S Latitude in Queensland south into Tasmania (Fig. 14).