Larinia Simon, 1874

Framenau, Volker W. & Castanheira, Pedro De S., 2022, Two new species in the orb-weaving spider genus Larinia Simon, 1874 (Araneae, Araneidae) from Western Australia, Zootaxa 5092 (3), pp. 350-360 : 351

Genus Larinia Simon, 1874

Type species. Epeira lineata Lucas, 1846 (by monotypy). Gender female.

Diagnosis. The wider diagnosis of Larinia followed here ( Harrod et al. 1991; Framenau & Scharff 2008) characterises the genus by several synapomorphic characters, including an elongate abdomen (often pointy anteriorly) with a white median ventral streak. This is in contrast to that of other nucteneines (sensu Scharff et al. 2020), Nuctenea and Larinioides , which have a shorter, ovoid abdomen ( Levi 1974, Šestáková et al. 2014). The epigynum is lightly sclerotized and has a wrinkled scape with a lip at its tip (as in Araneus Clerck, 1757 ), but in contrast to Nuctenea and Larinioides , which have a narrow, tapering scape without terminal lip ( Levi 1974, Šestáková et al. 2014). There are two setae on the male pedipalpal patella. The conductor sits on the rim of the tegulum and there is no paramedian apophysis. The tip of the heavily sclerotised embolus rests on the lightly sclerotised conductor, which is attached to the tegulum as a white, irregularly shaped cushion. The median apophysis is situated proximally to the embolus and often has a distal and basal projection or spine. In contrast, the median apophysis is transversally elongate with a bipartite tip in both Nuctenea and Larinioides ( Levi 1974, Šestáková et al. 2014). The tegulum may have a flat extension or lobe. Distal structures to the embolus, the terminal and stipes apophysis, are difficult to homologise between species, pending a comprehensive morphological revision of the genus ( Framenau & Scharff 2008). Within an Australian context, Larinia is somatically most similar to Lariniophora Framenau, 2011 due to the elongate abdomen with similar colour pattern ( Framenau 2011). Males of Larinia differ from those of Lariniophora by the presence of two patellar spines on the pedipalp (only one in Lariniophora ). The epigynum of Larinia is not elevated as it is in Lariniophora .

Included species ( Australia only). Larinia delicata Rainbow, 1920 , L. jamberoo Framenau & Scharff, 2008 , L. montagui Hogg, 1914 , L. phthisica (L. Koch, 1871) , L. sexta n. sp., L. tabida (L. Koch, 1872) , L. tumulus n. sp.