Theridion xanthostichum (Rainbow, 1916) Rainbow, 1916

W. Framenau, Volker, 2019, Generic and family transfers, and numina dubia for orb-weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae) in the Australasian, Oriental and Pacific regions, Evolutionary Systematics 3 (1), pp. 1-27 : 13

Theridion xanthostichum (Rainbow, 1916) comb. n.

Araneus dianiphus xanthostichus Rainbow, 1916a: 107, plate 22, fig. 26.

Aranea dianipha xanthosticha Rainbow. Roewer 1942: 827.

Araneus dianiphus var. xanthostichus Rainbow. Bonnet 1955: 497.

Type material.

Holotype of Araneus dianiphus xanthostichus Rainbow, 1916: female, Gordonvale [17°05'S, 145°46'E, Queensland, AUSTRALIA], 3 September 1912; "forest, from folded leaf" ( Rainbow 1916a, p. 107) (AM KS6514) (examined).

Remarks.

Similar to A. dianiphus , examination of the holotype of Araneus dianiphus xanthostichus showed it to be a theridiid spider. It is more difficult to place this species in a currently recognised genus within the Theridiidae (I. Agnarsson, personal communication). It is clearly not conspecific and likely not congeneric with A. dianiphus comb. n. (see above). Somatic and genitalic characters suggest a placement in or near Theridion ( Walckenaer 1805). Therefore, I propose to elevate the species from subspecies to species status, Theridion xanthostichum (Rainbow, 1916), stat. & comb. n. within the spider family Theridiidae , pending a revision of the Australian theridiid fauna.