Walckenaeria dalmasi (Simon, 1914)

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 : 59

Walckenaeria dalmasi (Simon, 1914)

( Figs 125–131)

Diagnosis: Walckenaeria dalmasi is a member of the subgenus Wideria Simon, 1864 and is closely related to W. languida (Simon) known from France, Italy, Algeria and Morocco ( Bosmans & De Smet 1993). Males differ by the distance between the two cephalic tubercles, closely set in W. languida and clearly separated in W. dalmasi , and by the number of denticules in the tibial apophysis, five in W. languida , three in W. dalmasi . Females are separated by the shape of the posteromedian plate, rectangular and three times wider than long in W. dalmasi , triangular and 1.5 times as long in W. languida .

Description: Measurements: Total length 2.1–2.2; prosoma 0.92–1.08 long, 0.56–0.60 wide. Colour: Prosoma orange brown, tubercle and striae with grey; legs yellowish brown; abdomen grey. Prosoma ( Figs 125, 126): Cephalic part with two lobes, the anterior one conic and carrying some denticulate hairs, the posterior one rounded and carrying the posterior eyes. Chelicerae with 7–8 stridulating ridges on distal part and with 4 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth in fang groove. Eyes: a = 1.3, b = 1.5, d = 0.8. Legs: Male tibiae spineless; Tb Mt I = 0.4; Tb Mt IV absent. Palp ( Figs 127–129): Tibia with large prolateral and retrolateral apophyses, the prolateral one triangular and with three terminal denticules, the retrolateral one distinctly curved and terminally rounded; embolic division elongated, embolus corkscrew like, gradually narrowing and pointed.

Female: Measurements: Total length 1.9–2.3; prosoma 0.77–0.86 long, 0.54–0.60 wide. Colour as in the male. Eye disposition a = b = 0.3, c = d = 0.5. Legs: spine formula 2211; P Sp I Tb = 0.14; L Sp I = 0.8; Tb as in the male. Epigynum ( Fig. 130): With wide median plate with anteromedian blunt incision. Vulva ( Fig. 131): Spermathecae oval, oblique, with short insemination ducts.

Previous records: Braga: Peneda-Gerês NP, Terras de Bouro, Mata da Albergaria ( Cardoso et al. 2008b) .

New records: Beja: Vale do Guadiana NP, Mértola, Braciais, 1 female, 7.V.2003 (CPC); Serpa, Caminho de Limas , 3 females, 12.II–21.V.2003 (CPC). Bragança: Douro Internacional NP, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Mazouco, 20 females, 7.II–13.VI.2001; Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Palão, 1 male 8 females, 21.II–13.VI.2001; Miranda do Douro, Picote , 1 male, 22.I.2001; Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Picotino, 5 males 1 female, 7. II – 18.IVI.2001; Miranda do Douro, Fonte d’Aldeia , 1 male 3 females, 21.II–16.V.2002; Mogadouro, Bruçó, 6 males 1 female, 7.III–18.IV.2001; Mogadouro, Tó, 1 males 3 females, 7.III–21.III.2001, 1 male 28.XI.2001 (all CPC). Leiria: Serras de Aire e Candeeiros NP, Alcanena, Mira d’Aire, 1 female, 6.II.2002 (CPC); Porto de Mós , Barrenta, 2 females, 12.II and 19.XI.2002 (CPC). Lisboa: Lisboa, Monsanto, 3 males, 17.II–13.III.2005 ( CAR). Santarém: Serras de Aire e Candeeiros NP, Vila Nova de Ourém, Bairro, 3 females, 12. II –23.IV, 1 female, 8.X, 1 male 8.X.2002 (all CPC) .

Distribution: France, Portugal.

Habitat type: Abundant in closed forests.

Phenology: Adults were found from November to May.

[ Walckenaeria dysderoides (Wider, 1834) ]

Walckenaeria cfr dysderoides ; Cardoso et al. 2008b: 83.

The citation of a female identified as W. cfr dysderoides by Cardoso et al. (2008b) was verified and the specimen appeared to be a female of Microneta viaria (Blackwall) with partly expanded epigyne. The species is deleted from the checklist of Portugal.