Dictynomorpha strandi Spassky, 1939

Marusik, Yuri M., Esyunin, Sergei L. & Tuneva, Tatyana K., 2015, A survey of Palaearctic Dictynidae (Araneae). 1. Taxonomic notes on Dictynomorpha Spassky, 1939, Brigittea Lehtinen, 1967 and Lathys Simon, 1884, Zootaxa 3925 (1), pp. 129-144 : 131

Dictynomorpha strandi Spassky, 1939

Figs 1–13

Dictynomorpha strandi Spassky 1939: 138 , figs 1–3 (♂♀, in part).

Material examined: KYRGYZSTAN: 1♂ 1♀ ( IBPN), Bishkek, Summer 1992, S.V. Ovtchinnikov leg.

Diagnosis. The species can be identified from D. daemonis sp. n. by the weakly, not strongly, bent tip of the embolus and by the absence of a cymbial spur.

Description. Well described by Spassky (1939), here we provide details only of the copulatory organs.

Male palp ( Figs 6–7 , 10–13 ): femur short, almost half length of cymbium, and with small ventral knob (Fk). Patella long, almost as long as femur, with massive dorsal process (Pp) with two lobes, retrolateral (Rl) and dorsal (Dl). Tibia short, cylindrical, with two apophyses: a larger retrolateral (Ra) and smaller prolateral (Pa). Cymbium strongly modified, with large dorso-posterior extension (De) and a retrolateral process (Rp), two times longer than wide; dorsal process with small prolateral outgrowth (Po) and distal large cavity (Cc). Bulbus oval, higher than wide; tegulum (Te) large and extends beyond embolus anteriorly; conductor very short, with almost undeveloped upper arm (Ua); lower arm (La) -simple, with one turn; embolus thick with two small bends in mid section and terminal bend, embolic base large.

Epigyne ( Figs 2, 8–9 ): receptacles (Re) translucent in ventral view, copulatory openings (Co) small, widely spaced. Structure of endogyne vague, without well sclerotized receptacles; the only distinct structures are: the insemination ducts (Id) and an unpaired central plate (Cp) of vague function.

Distribution. The species is known from Central Asia: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. A record of this species from Kazakhstan ( Spassky 1939) refers most likely to D. daemonis sp. n.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 9. Dictynomorpha strandi, habitus and copulatory organs. 1 – 5 Habitus and pattern (1, 4 dorsal, 2, 5 ventral, 3 prosoma, dorso-frontal). 6 – 7 Palp (6 dorsal, 7 proximal). 8 – 9 Epigyne (8 ventral, 9 dorsal). Scales: 1 – 4 = 0.5 mm, 5 – 9 = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: Co—copulatory opening; Cp—central plate of endogyne; Id—insemination duct; Re—receptacle.

FIGURES 10 – 15. Dictynomorpha strandi (10 – 13), Ajmonia smaragdula (14 – 15, after Simon (1905 )), male palp (10, 14 retrolateral; 11 – 12 ventral, different aspects; 13, 15 prolateral). Scales = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: Cc—large cavity of De; De—dorso-posterior extension of cymbium; Dl—dorsal lobe of Pp; Fk—ventral knob of femur; La—lower arm of conductor; Pa—prolateral apophysis of tibia; Po—prolateral outgrowth of De; Pp—dorsal process of patella; Ra—retrolateral tibial apophysis; Rp—retrolateral process of cymbium; Rl—retrolateral lobe of Pp; Te—tegulum; Ua—upper arm of conductor.