Revision of the orb-weaver spider genus Gea C. L. Koch, 1843 (Araneae, Araneidae) from China Author Mi, Xiaoqi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1744-3855 College of Agriculture and Forestry Engineering and Planning, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in the Fanjing Mountain Region, Tongren University, Tongren 554300, Guizhou, China mixiaoqi1018@163.com Author Liu, Feng Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, Guangdong, China Author Wang, Cheng College of Agriculture and Forestry Engineering and Planning, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in the Fanjing Mountain Region, Tongren University, Tongren 554300, Guizhou, China Author Gan, Jiahui College of Agriculture and Forestry Engineering and Planning, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in the Fanjing Mountain Region, Tongren University, Tongren 554300, Guizhou, China Author Wu, Yibei College of Agriculture and Forestry Engineering and Planning, Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization in the Fanjing Mountain Region, Tongren University, Tongren 554300, Guizhou, China text ZooKeys 2024 2024-02-09 1191 75 88 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1191.117592 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1191.117592 1313-2970-1191-75 13141202A28C4A148B6E860BBD434A69 A611EDBB44985EF2A01A6EF310F012A0 Gea jingdong Mi, Wang & Gan sp. nov. Figs 1 , 2 , 7A-D , 8 Type materials. Holotype : China • ♂; Yunnan Province, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Jingdong Yi Autonomous County, Jinping Township, Yubishan Park; 24°27.01'N , 101°49.53'E ; ca 1270 m elev.; 16.VIII.2015; X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; TRU- Araneidae -268. Paratypes : 3♀♀; same data as for holotype; TRU- Araneidae -269-271. Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality. Diagnosis. The new species resembles G. spinipes in appearance and genitalia structures, but it can be distinguished as follows: 1) median apophysis not exceeding the conductor in prolateral view and retrolateral view (Fig. 2A, B ) vs exceeding the conductor (Fig. 4A, B ); 2) visible part of embolus curled about 90° in ventral view (Fig. 2C ) vs about 180° (Fig. 4C ); 3) conductor shorter, extending ventrally and not exceeding prolateral margin of pedipalp in ventral view (Fig. 2C ) vs longer, extending ventro-prolaterally and the tip exceeding the prolateral margin of pedipalp (Fig. 4C ); 4) copulatory openings situated on inner edges of the depressions (Fig. 1A ) vs on anterior lateral edges (Fig. 3A ); 5) lateral epigynal plates not covering the anterior rim in lateral view (Fig. 1B ) vs covering the anterior rim (Fig. 3B ); and 6) female carapace lacking dark brown patches (Fig. 1E, G ) vs having dark brown patches (Fig. 3G, I ). Figure 1. Gea jingdong Mi, Wang & Gan, sp. nov. A-G female paratype TRU- Araneidae -269 H-J male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., lateral view C vulva, posterior view D ibid., dorsal view E, H habitus, dorsal view F, I ibid., ventral view G, J ibid., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm ( A-D ); 1 mm ( E-J ). Abbreviations: CD copulatory duct, CO copulatory opening, FD fertilization duct, LP lateral plate, Sp spermatheca. Figure 2. Gea jingdong Mi, Wang & Gan, sp. nov. male holotype A pedipalp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: C conductor, E embolus, MA median apophysis. Figure 3. Gea spinipes C.L. Koch, 1843 A-E, G-I TRU- Araneidae -274 F TRU- Araneidae -276 J-L TRU- Araneidae -272 A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., lateral view C ibid., anterior view D vulva, posterior view E ibid., dorsal view F ibid., dorsal view G, J habitus, dorsal view H, K ibid., ventral view I, L ibid., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm ( A-F ); 1 mm ( G-L ). Abbreviations: CD copulatory duct, CO copulatory opening, FD fertilization duct, LP lateral plate, Sp spermatheca. Figure 4. Gea spinipes C.L. Koch, 1843 A-D TRU- Araneidae -272 E TRU- Araneidae -279 A pedipalp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view E part of pedipalp (show the unbroken tip of embolus), prolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: C conductor, E embolus, MA median apophysis. Description. Male (holotype, Figs 1H-J , 2 , 7A-D ). Total length 3.80. Carapace 2.25 long, 1.90 wide. Abdomen 1.90 long, 1.45 wide. Clypeus 0.05 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.08, PME 0.15, PLE 0.15, AME-AME 0.13, AME-ALE 0.03, PME-PME 0.20, PME-PLE 0.18, MOA length 0.53, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.45. Leg measurements: I 8.85 (2.75, 2.65, 2.40, 1.05), II 8.35 (2.60, 2.45, 2.30, 1.00), III 4.55 (1.55, 1.30, 1.10, 0.60), IV 7.05 (2.35, 2.00, 1.90, 0.80). Carapace yellow, with inconspicuous gray patches in thoracic region; base of eyes black. Cervical groove inconspicuous; fovea longitudinal. Chelicerae yellow, with four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Endites wider than long, yellow, with very narrow, dark anterior edges. Labium triangular, yellow. Sternum cordiform, yellow, with a wedge-shaped white patch posteriorly. Legs yellow to yellowish brown, with inconspicuous annuli; femur I with 12 macrosetae; tibia I with 12 macrosetae; tibia II with seven macrosetae; tibia III with seven macrosetae; tibia IV with seven macrosetae. Abdomen shield-shaped, ~1.31 x longer than wide, grayish yellow, dorsal with a pair of dark brown patches anterolaterally and a dark brown folium posteriorly. Venter abdomen yellow with gray patches. Spinnerets yellow with gray tip. Pedipalp (Fig. 2 ): paracybium fingerlike; median apophysis bifurcated; dorsal ramus weaker than the ventral one; embolus thick at base, twisted and tapered into a fine tip; conductor membranous, curled, about 2 x longer than wide in retrolateral view. Female (paratype TRU- Araneidae -269, Fig. 1A-G ). Total length 5.05. Carapace 2.35 long, 2.00 wide. Abdomen 3.00 long, 2.35 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.08, PME 0.18, PLE 0.18, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.03, PME-PME 0.33, PME-PLE 0.35, MOA length 0.58, anterior width 0.43, posterior width 0.65. Leg measurements: I 8.45 (2.45, 2.80, 2.20, 1.00), II 8.35 (2.45, 2.75, 2.15, 1.00), III 5.10 (1.65, 1.60, 1.15, 0.70), IV 8.00 (2.60, 2.55, 2.00, 0.85). Habitus similar to that of male, but abdomen with a pair of low anterolateral humps and sternum with a throughout paler patch. Epigyne (Fig. 1A-D ): ~1.36 x wider than long in ventral view, with a distinct median septum separating two depressions; copulatory openings situated on inner edges of the depressions; copulatory ducts widest at the beginning part, a bit longer than spermatheca; spermathecae almost S-shaped in dorsal view, not touching. Variation. Total length: ♀ 5.05-6.70 ( n = 3). Distribution. China (Yunnan).