Episinus algiricus Lucas, 1846

Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) – II, ZooKeys 16, pp. 227-264 : 232-233

Episinus algiricus Lucas, 1846

Figs 10-13, 15-17, 22, 25-26

Episinus algiricus Lucas, 1846: 269 , fig. 11, pl. 17, subadult male, type region: Algeria, not examined.

Episinus albescens Denis, 1965: 611 , figs 1-3, female, holotype from Landes, France, in MHNP, examined, syn. n.

Description, identification. Kulczyński (1905), Denis (1965; sub E. albescens , female), Knoflach and Thaler (2000, female). Species name algiricus as in original description (see Lucas 1846: 269).

Synonymy. The type specimen (female) of Episinus albescens , which is in rather poor condition, allows a clear synonymisation according to the epigynal/vulval characters (Figs 15-16). Shape and size of epigynal cavity and receptacula agree well with E. algiricus . Also colour pattern and the abdominal shape figured by Denis (1965) support this interpretation. E. albescens has not been recorded since its description. The type locality in Landes lies within the distribution area of E. algiricus .

Material examined. France: Var, Cavalaire, 1 ♁ ( MHNP AR 2198, sub Episinus truncatus ). Menton, 1 ♁ ( MHNP AR 2184), 22.5.1915, E. Simon. “Gallia” without exact locality, 2 ♁, 6 ♀ 1 juvenile ( MHNP AR 2196). Landes, surroundings of Dax, 1 ♀,

Figures Ι0-Ι2. Episinus algiricus Lucas from France, Menton. Male palp, retrolateral (Ι0), ventral (ΙΙ), prolateral view (Ι2). All figures drawn at same scale. Scale line: 0.30 mm.

August 1962, leg. Schilt ( Denis 1965; type of E. albescens ; faded and shrivelled; MHNP). Corse, Evisa, 1 ♀ ( MHNP AR 2206 sub E. angulatus ). Italy: Sardinia, Ogliastra, W Baunei, 718 m, 40°06.319’ N, 09°34.867’ E, 1 ♁ ( CTh), 2.6.2003, beating from Quercus , leg. B. Knoflach & K. Thaler [Th-443 Sa03/2]. Baunei / Dorgali , close to branch-off to Codula di Luna , 635 m, 40°05.791’ N, 09°33.158’ E, 1 ♀ ( CTh), 5.6.2003, pasture plateau, beating from Cistus , leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-455 Sa03/14]. E Dorgali, above Cala Gonone , 220 m, 40°16.290’ N, 09°36.641’ E, 1 ♀ ( CTh), 5.6.2003, beating in oak forest with rocky, bare ground, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-458 Sa03/17]. Tunisia: Monastir, salt marsh near airport, 35°45’N 10°47’E, 1 ♁ ( CM), 27.4.2007, from scrub, leg. C. Muster. Algeria: “Forêt de Zonagha”, 1 ♀, 1 juvenile ( MHNP) .

Measurements. Males (n=5, min-max): Total length 2.9-4.2, carapace length 1.2- 1.6, width 1.0-1.4, length femur I 3.4-4.2, tibia I 2.8-3.9 mm. Females (n=5, minmax): Total length 4.2-5.0, carapace length 1.5-1.6, width 1.2-1.4, length femur I 2.5-2.8, tibia I 2.1-2.4 mm. Prosoma smaller than in E. maculipes (see also Kulczyński 1905), but male legs comparatively longer (Fig. 22).

Somatic features, colouration (Figs 22, 25-26). Habitus, colour and pattern similar to E. maculipes . Sternum dark, its light median stripe narrower than in E. maculipes , sometimes even missing. Carapace with brown median band and reticulate pattern at margins. These and leg markings more diffuse than in E. maculipes . Venter and epigaster usually dark or greyish.

Male palp (Figs 10-12). Theridiid tegular apophysis (= TA 2 in Knoflach and Thaler 2000) of characteristic shape, markedly projecting beyond conductor and cymbium (TTA in Figs 10-12). Conductor forming two small tips, retrolateral one tooth-like (Fig. 11). Palp morphology as in other congeners: embolus well developed, containing numerous loops of sperm duct, partially guided by a large conductor, three apophyses present (nomenclature of median apophysis, theridiid tegular apophysis and extra tegular apophysis according to Agnarsson et al. 2007), tibia with one dorsal and two retrolateral trichobothria, cymbium with two distal groups of setae. Palp altogether smaller than in E. maculipes (Figs 22 vs. 21; see also Kulczyński 1905), in ventral view 0.4-0.5 mm broad, 0.7-0.8 mm long (distance between distal rim of tibia and tip of cymbium). Tibia as wide as long (Fig. 11), see also Simon (1914).

Epigynum /vulva (Figs 13, 15-17). Epigynal cavity longer than wide, covering proximal part of receptacula (Figs 13, 17), without median septum. Cavity 0.19-0.21 mm wide, its posterior margin distinct. Receptacula seminis small as compared with E. maculipes , and less spherical. The uncertain assignment of E. algiricus females in Knoflach and Thaler (2000) can be confirmed here.

Distribution. Episinus algiricus is apparently confined to the western Mediterranean. Several records come from North Africa, Algeria ( Lucas 1846; Simon 1914; Denis 1937), Tunisia ( Simon 1914) and Morocco ( Simon 1873a), and from south-west Europe, Portugal ( Bacelar 1927; Cardoso 2009), Spain ( Simon 1873a, 1914), France ( Simon 1914; Denis 1934, 1964, 1965, 1966; Soyer 1973) including Corsica ( Simon 1873a; sub E. truncatus Walckenaer, 1809 ), and Italy (Sardinia), see also Knoflach and Thaler (2000). Sympatric occurrence with E. maculipes seems to be evident from a few localities only, e.g. Vendée, Longeville ( Denis 1964, 1966). Among the present records from Sardinia both species were found at least not far apart.