Hersilia asiatica Song & Zheng, 1982

Dankittipakul, Pakawin & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2011, The spider genus Hersilia in Thailand, with descriptions of two new species (Araneae, Hersiliidae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 118 (2), pp. 207-221 : 208-210

Hersilia asiatica Song & Zheng, 1982 Figs 1-5, 27

Hersilia asiatica Song & Zheng, 1982: 40 , figs 1-5; Hu, 1984: 81, figs 74.1-5. – Song, 1987: 116, fig. 78; Feng, 1990: 48, figs 23.1-6. – Chen & Zhang, 1991: 78, figs 69.1-5. – Baehr & Baehr, 1993: 25, figs 20c-f. – Chen, 1994: 1, figs 1A-F. – Song, Zhu & Chen, 1999: 80, figs 32I-J, 33C-D. – Chen, 2007: 14, figs 1, 5-12. NEW MATERIAL: MHNG-PDC-0254542121111111; Thailand, Chiang Mai Province,

Chiang Mai District, Doi Suthep-Pui NP, Doi Pui, Huay Khok Ma Watershed Station, 1200-1300 Hersilia asiatica . (1) Left male palp, prolateral view. (2) Ditto, ventral view. (3) Ditto, retrolateral view. (4) Epigyne, ventral view. (5). Vulva, dorsal view. Scale lines = 1.0 mm.

m; 1 male, 2 females; from a tree trunk in evergreen hill forest (closed canopy); 8.8.1999; leg. P. Dankittipakul. – MHNG-PDC-541354654020213163; Thailand, Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province, Tha Sala District, Khao Nan NP, 100-200 m ; 1 female; beating shrub in dry lowland evergreen forest; 17.8.2006; leg. P. Dankittipakul. – TNHM-PDC-54651516514654; Thailand, Phetchabun Province, Lomsak District , Nam Nao NP, forests behind park headquarters, 600 m ; 1 female; 16.-17.vii.2005; leg. P. Dankittipakul.

REMARKS: Hersilia asiatica is an extremely long-legged species. Males are recognized by: palpal patella with strongly sclerotized ridge carrying short erect spines, the ridge is recognized by a broad cleft (Fig. 1); embolus linear (Figs 1-3); median process of TA with prolateral denticle (Figs 1-2); lateral process of TA with sharply pointed anterior margin, and carrying an elongate process (Fig. 2). Females are recognized by: epigyne a distinctly elevated mound with sclerotized anterior margin (Fig. 4); copulatory orifices situated anterior to sac-like membranous part of epigyne (Fig. 4); elongate tubular insemination ducts originating antero-medially, descending postero-laterally, connected to basal perforate sinusoids (Figs 5, 27); ovoid receptacula originating posteriorly, with tubular stalks (Fig. 5); fertilization ducts situated close to epigastric furrow, connected to vulva via short tubular ducts running obliquely (Fig. 5). Apart from the diagnostic characters given above and mentioned by Baehr & Baehr (1993), an additional feature was observed in the males examined: the lateral process of the TA bears a prolateral petal-shaped denticle (Figs 1, 3), its apex directed mesad. This structure is heavily sclerotized and sharply pointed in lateral view (Fig. 3); it is easily distinguishable from the median process of the TA which is less sclerotized and pigmented.

DISTRIBUTION: China, Thailand and Laos. Hersilia asiatica was previously recorded from northeastern Thailand (Khao Yai NP, Nakhon Ratchasima Province and Phu Kradueng NP, Loei Province) by Baehr & Baehr (1993). New localities reported herein extend the known distribution range of this species southwards to southern Thailand ( Fig. 32 ).

Figures

FIG. 32 Currently known Hersilia localities in Thailand.