Theridion glaucinum Simon, 1881

Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) – II, ZooKeys 16 (16), pp. 227-264 : 243

Theridion glaucinum Simon, 1881

Figs 41-42

T. glaucinum Simon, 1881: 76 , female, type locality Isères, Le Bourg-d´Oisans.

Material examined. France: “Alpes” [Rhone-Alpes, Isères, Grenoble, Le Bourgd´Oisans, see Simon 1881: 77], 1 ♀ ( MHNP AR2834 , type), det. E. Simon.

Description. Simon (1881: 76, female). Male unknown.

Measurements. Total length 3.0, carapace length 1.0, width 0.9, length femur I 1.8, tibia I 1.6 mm.

Somatic features, colouration. Carapace light, with narrow dark margins and dark central patch. Sternum dark. Legs light yellow with dark annulations. Abdomen in this faded specimen beige, a few faint dots on dorsum and a small dark longitudinal patch on venter. Spinnerets light, surrounded by dark pigmentation. For details see Simon (1881).

Epigynum /vulva ( Figs 41-42 ). Epigynal cavity wider than long, its width 0.09 mm at midline; its overall shape trapezoidal, as anterior and posterior borders unevenly wide. Copulatory ducts rather short, ca. 0.2 mm long. They diverge sideways and form a short inwards coil towards the receptacula thereby gradually narrowing. Receptacula seminis rather elongated.

Affinities. Theridion glaucinum appears to be closely related to T. petraeum L. Koch, 1872 . General appearance and epigynal characters are rather similar. Females of T. petraeum are comparatively larger, show an evenly transverse-oval epigynal cavity, copulatory ducts of 0.5 mm length and globular receptacula. As in other representatives of this species group, the epigynum of T. glaucinum is filled with mating plug secretions (see Knoflach 1998).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality. No further reference noted since its description.

Figures

Figures 41-44. Theridion glaucinum Simon from France (41-42), Theridion musivum Simon from Sardinia, Isola San Pietro (43) and Heterotheridion nigrovariegatum Simon from Northern Italy, Trieste (44). Epigynum/vulva, ventral (41, 43, 44), dorsal view (42). 41-42 drawn at same scale. Scale lines: 0.10 mm.