Theridion hannoniae Denis, 1944

Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) – II, ZooKeys 16 (16), pp. 227-264 : 244-249

Theridion hannoniae Denis, 1944

Figs 45-47 , 50-52 , 56

Material examined. Tunisia: Hammamet, coast, 1 ♀, 27.2.1997, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler . Hammamet W, at coast, 1 ♂, 22.- 29.9.1980, leg. E. and A.D. Kreissl . Algeria: Souk Harras , 1 ♀ ( MHNP AR 2892, sub Theridion luctinosum ), det. E. Simon (prosoma length 0.78 mm) . Collective vial “ Constantine, Boghari, Tlemcen ”, 1 ♂ 6 ♀ ( MHNP AR 2890 , sub Theridion petraeum minus ), det. E. Simon . Portugal: Faro - Albufeira, Olhos de Aqua , at street, under paper, 1 ♀, 9.7.2001, leg. J. Buchar . Faro, saline area at coast, 1 ♂ 1 juvenile, 9.7.2001, leg. J. Buchar . Spain: Lerida-surroundings , xerothermic site, 1 ♀, 22.7.1982, leg. Thaler . Mallorca, Algaida, Alcudia , 2 ♀ (CTh), 1.4.- 8.4.1968, leg. V. Mahnert . France: N-Corsica, Calvi, Forêt de Bonifatu, Bocca di Erbaghiolu , 42°26’22.1’’N 08°50’40.4’’E, 800 m, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, 30.4.2001, in boulder scree, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-405 Co-01/4] . Italy: Toscana, Grosseto, Alberese, Sei Busi , pitfall trap, leg. P. Cenzi: 5 ♂ 3 ♀ 2 subadult ♂ 4 juveniles 2.7.1987 . 4 ♂ 1 ♀ 1 subadult ♂ 4 juveniles 23.7.1987 . 1 ♂ 8.8.1987 . 6 ♂ 1 subadult ♂ 1.9.1987 . 3 ♂ 1 juvenile 20.9.1987 . 2 ♂ 1 subadult ♂ 7 juveniles 10.10.1987 . 1 ♂ 1 subadult ♂ 1 juvenile 30.10.1987 . 10 ♂ 5 ♀ 9 subadult ♂ 12 juveniles 11.12.1987 . 4 ♂ 8 ♀ 1 subadult ♂ 1 juvenile 1.4.1988 . 2 ♂ 5 ♀ 4 juveniles 1.5.1988 . 2 subadult ♂ 38 juveniles 2.6.1988 . 3 ♂ 1 ♀ 6 juveniles 2.7.1988 . Toscana, Grosseto, Alberese, Le Tofane , pitfall trap, leg. P. Cenzi: 1 ♂ 7 juveniles 2.7.1987 . 1 ♂ 1 ♀ 1 subadult ♂ 2 juveniles 23.7.1987 . 2 juveniles 8.8.1987 . 5 ♂ 1 subadult ♂ 2 juveniles 1.9.1987 . 3 juveniles 20.9.1987 . 2 ♂ 3 subadult ♂ 7 juveniles 10.10.1987 . 1 ♂ 1 juvenile 30.10.1987 . 6 ♂ 1 ♀ 3 subadult ♂ 3 juveniles 11.12.1987 . 1 ♂ 2 ♀ 1.4.1988 . 2 ♂ 2 ♀ 1 juvenile 1.5.1988 . 3 ♀ 6 juveniles 2.6.1988 . 4 ♂ 2 ♀ 1 juvenile 2.7.1988 . Emilia-Romagna, Forli , 4 ♂, 1992, pitfall trap, leg. M. Paoletti and V. Celano.

Voucher specimens deposited in CTh, MHNG, MHNP, NHMB, NMW if not specifically indicated.

Description, identification. Denis (1944), Wunderlich (1987; sub T. denisi Wunderlich, 1987 ), Thaler and Noflatscher (1990), Bosmans et al. (1994), Kloid (1994), Roberts (1998), Nentwig et al. (2003), Warmingham and Merrett (2009, in press).

Measurements. Fig. 56 , smaller sibling species of Theridion pyrenaeum . Males (n=5, min-max): Total length 1.6-1.9, carapace length 0.7-0.8, width 0.6-0.7, length femur I 1.2-1.3, tibia I 1.0- 1.1 mm. Females (n=5, min-max): Total length 2.0-2.9, carapace length 0.7-0.8, width 0.7-0.8, length femur I 0.9-1.3, tibia I 0.7-1.0 mm.

Somatic features, colouration. Carapace and sternum brown to dark brown. Legs yellowish with dark annulations. Abdomen greyish brown with dorsal whitish folium. Venter dark, with two distinct white patches. Male epigaster protruding. Colour pattern as in Theridion pyrenaeum .

Male palp ( Figs 45-47 ). Conformation of male palp as in other representatives of the Theridion varians group (see Knoflach 1998). Conductor, median apophysis and theridiid tegular apophysis of specific shape, albeit highly concordant with the sibling species T. pyrenaeum . Median apophysis sickle-shaped, with abruptly narrowing, pointed, light prolateral tip. Theridiid tegular apophysis bifid. Differentiation from T. pyrenaeum by smaller dimension: Cymbium 0.32-0.38 mm long (mean 0.35, n=13). Distal part of embolus 0.18, 0.20, 0.25 mm long (n=3).

Epigynum /vulva ( Figs 50-52 ). Epigynal cavity marked by two longitudinal, sclerotised ridges encircling roughly a square, with copulatory orifices situated at the anterior edges. Copulatory ducts diverge sideways, form a wider inwards coil and another small turn before entering receptacula. Overall genital morphology as in T. pyrenaeum , distinguished by size and proportion of following parts: Epigynal cavity smaller than in T. pyrenaeum , 0.06-0.08 mm wide (mean 0.07, n=10), less than or as wide as the distance to outside of ducts (x, Fig. 50 ). Receptacula seminis distinctly longer than epigynal cavity.

Phenology. In Belgium Bosmans et al. (1994) found males from June to October only, while juveniles and females were abundant throughout the year. Present data from Tuscany reveal considerable male activity also during the winter season ( Table 1 ).

Distribution. Western Mediterranean, apparently expanding northwards. Theridion hannoniae is known from North Africa ( Algeria, Tunisia), Macaronesia, South-West-Europe and by scattered records from Central-Europe ( Bosmans et al. 1994). Numerous European records come from Portugal, Spain, France (type locality Douchy, NE-France) and Belgium. Recently, the species has also been found in Germany ( Kloid 1994, Staudt 2003) and Wales ( Warmingham 2008). The easternmost border of its distribution currently appears to lie in Italy (South Tyrol, Thaler and Noflatscher 1990; and present data from Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna). In northern Italy it may almost meet its eastern vicariant Theridion refugum , another representative of this still insufficiently known, ground-living, lapidicolous species complex. The allopatric occurrence of these closely allied species indicates different glacial refugia and respective reinvading processes. In contrast to its sibling T. pyrenaeum , T. hannoniae appears to be

restricted to lower altitudes; highest localities being about 800-1100 m. T. hannoniae occurs under stones in natural boulder fields and scree, but also in human debris, such as quarries, dikes and railway constructions ( Bosmans et al. 1994; Staudt 2003).

Figures

Figure 56. Relationship of prosoma width and length of tibia I in Theridion hannoniae Denis and T. pyrenaeum Denis. Open symbols represent females, closed males.

Figures 45-49. Theridion hannoniae Denis from Corsica; Forêt de Bonifatu (45-46) and Italy, Venezia (47). Theridion pyrenaeum Denis from Spain, Sierra Nevada (48-49). Male palp, ventral (45, 48), prolateral (46, 49), retrolateral-ventral view (47). All figures drawn at same scale. Scale lines: 0.20 (45-46, 48-49), 0.10 mm (47).

Figures 50-55. Theridion hannoniae Denis from Mallorca (50, 52) and Italy, Toscana (51). Theridion pyrenaeum Denis from Spain, Sierra Nevada (53, 54) and France, Pyrenees (55). Epigynum/vulva, ventral (50-51, 54-55), dorsal view (52-53). Scale lines: 0.10 mm.

Tables

Table 1. Phenological activity of Theridion hannoniae in Tuscany, Grosseto, Alberese (Sei Busi and Le Tofane) in 1987 and 1988, pitfall trapping by P. Cenzi. Abbreviations/explanations: sad M - subadult male, juv. M - juvenile male, juv. F - juvenile or subadult female, inad – inadult specimen, early instar.

	Male	Female	sad M	juv M	juv F	inad
02.07.1987	6	3	2	3	1	6
23.07.1987	5	2	2	4	1	1
08.08.1987	1	-	1	1	1	-
01.09.1987	10	-	2	-	-	2
20.09.1987	2	-	-	-	-	4
10.10.1987	4	-	4	4	5	7
30.10.1987	2	-	1	-	-	2
11.12.1987	17	6	12	2	9	4
01.04.1988	6	10	1	1	1	-
01.05.1988	3	6	-	-	-	7
02.06.1988	-	3	2	3	3	38
02.07.1988	7	3	-	-	-	7