Walckenaeria corniculans (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1875)

Bosmans, Robert, Cardoso, Pedro & Crespo, Luis Carlos, 2010, A review of the linyphiid spiders of Portugal, with the description of six new species (Araneae: Linyphiidae) 2473, Zootaxa 2473 (1), pp. 1-67 : 58-59

Walckenaeria corniculans (O.P.- Cambridge, 1875)

Prosopotheca erythrina ; Bacelar 1928: 186 (misidentification).

Remarks: Walckenaeria erythrina ( Simon 1884) is a reddish erigonine spider (ερϋθρος = red) and in the past all reddish Walckenaeria species from the Mediterranean were identified as W. erythrina . We know now that W. erythrina is limited to the Maghreb and Corsica ( Bosmans & De Smet 1993). Alleged records from Greece by Hadjissarantos (1940) and from Macedonia by Drensky (1936) are incorrect and represent different species. Bacelar’s (1928) record is the only one from Portugal and we think it is evident that this is also a misidentification. W. corniculans was cited for the first time in Portugal from several locations ( Machado 1949) and the data in the present paper give further proof that is a common species in Portugal. Bacelar’s specimens must have been W. corniculans as well

Description: Wiehle (1960: 151, figs 263–268), Roberts (1987: 28, figs 5d, 8i).

Previous records: Braga: Vieira do Minho, Serra da Cabreira ( Machado 1949). Bragança: Mogadouro, S. Pedro ( Machado 1949). Faro: Monchique, Serra de Monchique ( Machado 1949). Guarda: Guarda ( Bacelar 1928, sub P. erythrina ). Leiria: Porto de Mós, Serra de Minde ( Machado 1949). Porto: Matosinhos, Leça do Bailio ( Machado 1949); Porto ( Machado 1949). Viseu: Tondela, Serra do Caramulo ( Machado 1949); Salzedas, Tarouca ( Machado 1949).

New records: Beja: Vale do Guadiana NP, Serpa, Ribeira de Limas , 2 females, 17.X.2002 (CPC) . Braga: Terras de Bouro, Leonte, 1 female, 22.IX.1982 (CJFM); Terras de Bouro, Cascata do Arado , 4 females, 21.XII.2008 (CLC) . Bragança: Douro Internacional NP, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Mazouco, 1 male 21. II.2001, 3 males 1 female, 17.X–28.XI.2001 (CPC); Freixo de Espada à Cinta , Palão , 1 male, 21. II.2001 (CPC); Miranda do Douro, Fonte d’Aldeia , 2 males, 21. II.2002 (CPC); Mogadouro , Bruçó , 1 male, 21. II – 2002 (CPC) . Faro: Tavira, 2 females, 16.IV.1982 (CJFM); Salema, Boca do Rio , 1 female, stones in ruins, 19. II.2006 (CRB) . Leiria: Serras de Aire e Candeeiros NP , Porto de Mós, Barrenta , 1 female, 12. III.2002 (CPC) . Lisboa: Tapada de Mafra, 1 female, Eucalyptus plantation, 17.V.2002 (CGT) . Santarém: Serras de Aire e Candeeiros NP, Vila Nova de Ourém, Bairro , 1 male, 3.XII.2002 (CPC) .

Distribution: Europe, North Africa.

Habitat type: Mostly collected in forests, but also in open habitat types.

Phenology: Adults mostly from October to February with some late females in March and April.