Genus Pua Forster, 1959

Pua Forster, 1959: 299 . Type species by original designation Pua novaezealandiae Forster, 1959 . Brignoli, 1983: 374. Platnick, 2009.

Affinities. The genus Pua appears to be the sister-lineage to Micropholcomma from Australia (Fig. 4).

Diagnosis. Pua novaezealandiae can be distinguished from all other Micropholcommatini by the presence of a short (length <5× width), hooked embolus situated distally on a rotated bulb (Figs 29 A–C). Other diagnostic characters include the loss of the AME (Fig. 25B), the presence of very large, globular spermathecae (Fig. 15F), and the presence of a dorsal scute on the female abdomen (Fig. 24B).

Description. Very small, entelegyne Araneoidea; total length 0.80 to 1.00. Cephalothorax: Carapace without glandular depressions above maxillae (Fig. 26D); cuticle without glandular pits (Fig. 26E); margins fused to sternum via pleural sclerites. Six eyes present on anterior margin of pars cephalica (Fig. 25B); AME absent. Chelicerae without bulging anterior projections in males; promargin with true teeth, a pair of fused setal sockets adjacent to base of fang and single peg tooth in males (Fig. 27F).

Legs and female pedipalp: Legs three-clawed (Fig. 28D), covered with smooth or serrate hair-like setae. Trichobothria present on legs; tibiae each with two (legs I–III) or three (leg IV) trichobothria (Fig. 28C); metatarsi without trichobothria. Female pedipalp four-segmented, with fused tibia-tarsus; claw absent (Figs 27 C–D).

Abdomen: Abdomen oval-globose; anterior sclerite present around epigastric region and petiole; large dorsal scute present on males and females (Figs 24 A–B); lateral sclerotic strips present on males; posterior sclerotic ring surrounding spinnerets and colulus. Six spinnerets situated posterior to fleshy colulus (Figs 23 C–D); PMS without AC gland spigots; PLS with complete triad. Anterior tracheal system well-developed, with relatively large lateral atria and multiple radiating tracheae; second tracheal tubes on each side looping mesally and extending through petiole into cephalothorax; posterior tracheal spiracle absent.

Genitalia: Male pedipalp (Fig. 29) relatively simple; patella with distally-directed, hooked ligulate retrolateral apophysis; bulb rotated 180 degrees, with embolus inserting distally relative to cymbium; tegulum smooth, with straight, evaginated tegular ridge; embolus exposed, short (length <5× width) and hooked; conductor absent. Female genitalia (Fig. 15F) with pair of separate, very large, globular anterior spermathecae; insemination ducts short, barely visible in dorsal view; fertilisation ducts simple, curved.

Distribution. New Zealand.

Composition. Only the type species Pua novaezealandiae Forster, 1959 .