Dictynomorpha daemonis, Marusik, Yuri M., Esyunin, Sergei L. & Tuneva, Tatyana K., 2015

Marusik, Yuri M., Esyunin, Sergei L. & Tuneva, Tatyana K., 2015, A survey of Palaearctic Dictynidae (Araneae). 1. Taxonomic notes on Dictynomorpha Spassky, 1939, Brigittea Lehtinen, 1967 and Lathys Simon, 1884, Zootaxa 3925 (1), pp. 129-144 : 131

Dictynomorpha daemonis sp. n.

Figs 16–23

Dictynomorpha strandi Spassky 1939: 138 (in part).

Type. Holotype ♂ ( ZMMU), KAZAKHSTAN, South Kazakhstan Area: ~ 7 km NE Terekty Village, Boralday- Tau Range, N 42°51.751', E 69°50.887', 650 m, 11– 13.05.2010, T. Tuneva leg.

Etymology. The species name is derived from “daemon” a Latinized Greek word “δαίµων” meaning mythological creatures of mixed nature that can do good or evil; noun in genitive case.

Diagnosis. The species is most similar to D. strandi from which it can be separated by the strongly bent tip of embolus and the presence of a cymbial spur. The two species differ also in the shape of cymbium, the lower arm of the conductor, the tibial apophyses and patellar processes.

Description. Male. Total length 3.2. Carapace 1.4 long, 1.2 wide; brown, lighter median area. Sternum yellow with brown margin, covered with white setae. Chelicerae brown, with 3 prolateral teeth and 1 retrolateral tooth. Mouth parts ( Fig. 21 ): labium about 1.6 times longer than wide; endites as wide as labium, two times longer than labium width, converging. Legs uniform yellow. Leg formula 1243. Femora and tibiae without spines; metatarsi II–IV with 3 ventro-distal spines. Abdomen light grеy with white spots and pattern composed of grey setae; dorsum with 3 pairs of sigilla ( Fig. 20 ).

Leg measurements: I 4.33 (1.30+1.55+0.95+0.53), II 3.73 (1.13+1.28+0.83+0.50), III 3.08 (0.90+1.13+0.68+0.38), IV 3.58 (1.08+1.30+0.88+0.33).

Palp as in Figs 16–19 , 22–23 . Femur modified, with small prolateral knob on anterior third and impression of knob on patella. Patella modified with two processes: retrolateral (Pr) and a dorsal (Pp). Tibia cylindrical, with two apophyses, prolateral (Pa) and retrolateral (Ra). Cymbium with massive extension and retrolateral process (Rp) and long cymbial spur (Cs) subdivided on top ( Fig. 19 ). Bulbus round (as high as wide); conductor with strongly reduced upper arm (Ua) and simple lower arm (La); embolus relatively short, smoothly arching, with strongly bent tip.

Female unknown.

Distribution. So far, the species is known only from the holotype male. It is very likely that the record of D. strandi from the environs of Almaty ( Spassky 1939), the same locality as D. daemonis sp. n., refer to this species.

Figures

FIGURES 16 – 21. Dictynomorpha daemonis sp. n., copulatory organs and somatic features. 16 – 19 Male palp (16 ventral, 17 retrolateral, 18 dorso-retrolateral, 19 prolateral). 20 Habitus, dorsal. 21 Labium and gnathocoxae, ventral. Scale: 16 – 19 = 0.1 mm, 20 = 0.25 mm. Abbreviations: Cs—cymbial spur; Pa—prolateral apophysis; Ra—retrolateral apophysis; Pp—dorsal process of patella; Pr—retrolateral process of patella; Rp—retrolateral process of cymbium.

FIGURES 22 – 25. Dictynomorpha daemonis sp. n. (22 – 23), Lathys spasskyi (24 – 25 from Kyrgyzstan), male palp (22, 24 ventral; 23 tip of conductor, ventral; 25 tibia, retrolateral). Abbreviations: Cf—cymbial fovea; Da—dorsal tibial apophysis; La—lower arm of conductor; Ra—retrolateral tibial apophysis; Va—ventral tibial apophysis; Ua—upper arm of conductor.