Molestia pollicaris, Irfan & Wang & Zhang, 2023

Irfan, Muhammad, Wang, Lu-Yu & Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, 2023, Survey of Linyphiidae spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from Wulipo National Nature Reserve, Chongqing, China, European Journal of Taxonomy 871, pp. 1-85 : 28-33

Molestia pollicaris sp. nov. (拇指Ñ蛛)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3D683307-EC36-4D97-852F-3D5B208EB386

Figs 20–23

Differential diagnosis

The new species can be distinguished from all other congeners by the tibia with a thumb-shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis; terminal apophysis wing-shaped with pointed end; embolus proper minute, lateral margin highly sclerotized, round in male palp ( Figs 20–21 ); scape C-shaped; posterior median plate trapezoid ( Fig. 23E ).

Etymology

The epithet is derived from the Latin adjective ‘ pollicaris ’ meaning ‘of or belonging to a thumb’ and referring to the tibia with a thumb-shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis in male palp ( Fig. 20C–D ).

Type material

Holotype

CHINA • ♂; Chongqing, Wushan County, Guanyang Town, Zhuxian Township , Xiang Yaocai Village ; 31°18′57.96″ N, 110°5′23.55″ E; elev. 1681 m; 6 Oct. 2020; L.Y. Wang, X.W. Zhou, T.Y. Ren, J.X. Zhao and L. Xiao leg.; SWUC-T-LIN-09-01 .

Paratypes

CHINA • 12 ♂♂, 17 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; SWUC-T-LIN-09-02–30 • 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀; Wushan County, Dangyang Town , Congping Management and Protection Station; 31°23′47.16″ N, 110°2′3.32″ E; elev. 1970 m; 3 Oct. 2020; L.Y. Wang, X.W. Zhou, T.Y. Ren, J.X. Zhao and L. Xiao leg.; SWUC-T-LIN-09-31–36 • 1 ♀; Wushan County, Guanyang Town , Pingqian Management Station; 31°22′22.75″ N, 109°56′17.25″ E; elev. 1832 m; 4 Oct. 2020; L.Y. Wang, X.W. Zhou, T.Y. Ren, J.X. Zhao and L. Xiao leg.; SWUC-T-LIN-09-37–38 • 4 ♀♀; Wushan County, Dangyang Town , Wushanya; 31°28′21.35″ N, 109°59′10.29″ E; elev. 1740 m; 2 Oct. 2020; L.Y. Wang, X.W. Zhou, T.Y. Ren, J.X. Zhao and L. Xiao leg.; SWUC-T-LIN-09-39–42 • 2 ♂♂; Wushan County, Guanyang Town , Zhuxian Township , Zhaoyang Ping; 31°16′23.77″N, 110°5′45.79″E; elev. 1575 m; 5 Oct. 2020; L.Y. Wang, X.W. Zhou, T.Y. Ren, J.X. Zhao and L. Xiao leg.; SWUC-T-LIN-09-43–44 • 6 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Wushan County, Dangyang Town , Congping Mountain; 31°23′47.16″ N, 110°2′28.04″ E; elev. 2150 m; 3 Oct. 2020; L.Y. Wang, X.W. Zhou, T.Y. Ren, J.X. Zhao and L. Xiao leg.; SWUC-T-LIN-09-45–53 .

Description

Male (holotype, Figs 20 , 23A )

MEASUREMENTS. Total 2.32 long; carapace 1.09 long, 0.89 wide; abdomen 1.38 long, 0.84 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.10, PME 0.09, PLE 0.10, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PLE 0.06, ALE–ALE 0.39, PLE–PLE 0.44, ALE–PLE 0.01, AME–PME 0.09.

CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace yellow, cephalic region slightly elevated; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.16 high.

CHELICERAE. With two promarginal and two retromarginal teeth.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. Legs long, yellow, covered with fine spines. Length of legs: I 5.62 (1.41, 1.77, 1.51, 0.93), II 4.68 (1.25, 1.44, 1.21, 0.78), III 3.50 (1, 1.03, 0.92, 0.55), IV 4.78 (1.33, 1.38, 1.25, 082). Leg formula I-IV-II-III. TmI 0.31 and TmIV absent. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2.

ABDOMEN. Oval, grey, posteriorly with four chevrons, base of spinnerets black, ventral side grey.

PALP ( Figs 20–21 ). Patella shorter than tibia with a long dorsal spine; tibia conic, distal margin much broader than proximal end, with two retrolateral and one dorsal trichobothria, with a thumb-shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis with blunt end; proximal cymbial apophysis short, with blunt end; prolateral margin of cymbium provided with an outgrowth. Basal part of paracymbium with somewhat triangular projection with sharp pointed end; distal arm grooved, distally narrow with blunt end. Distal suprategular apophysis relatively strong sclerotized, distal end grooved. Radix longer than wide, with a long proximal radical apophysis. Lamella characteristca with basal sclerite, with two chitinised branches and one additional more or less transparent extension with frayed margin. Fickert’s gland present within radix. Terminal apophysis sclerotized, wing-shaped with pointed end. Embolus broad; distally relatively round with minute embolus proper and unmodified thumb.

Female (paratype, SWUC-T-LIN-09-02, Figs 22 , 23B )

MEASUREMENTS. Total 2.65 long; carapace 1.08 long, 0.82 wide; abdomen 1.64 long, 1.26 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.10, PME 0.09, PLE 0.10, AME–AME 0.01, PME–PME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PLE 0.04, ALE–ALE 0.37, PLE–PLE 0.41, ALE–PLE contiguous, AME–PME 0.10.

CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace yellow, cephalic region slightly elevated; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.14 high.

CHELICERAE. With three promarginal and five retromarginal teeth.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. Legs long, yellow, covered with fine spines. Length of legs: I 4.63 (1.25, 1.44, 1.16, 0.78), II 3.97 (1.12, 1.22, 0.98, 0.65), III 3.10 (0.91, 0.95, 0.77, 0.47), IV 4.02 (1.19, 1.17, 1.05, 0.61). Leg formula I-IV-II-III. TmI 0.31 and TmIV absent. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2.

ABDOMEN. Same as in male.

EPIGYNE ( Fig. 22A–D ). Scape longer than wide, with lateral pockets on inner surface. Stretcher absent. Posterior median plate broad, trapezoid. Spermathecae C-shaped, situates dorso–laterally.

Distribution

Known from type locality.

Figures

Fig. 20. Molestia pollicaris sp. nov., holotype ♂, left palp (SWUC-T-LIN-09-01). A. Prolateral view. B. Retrolateral view. C. Dorsal view. D. Ventral view.

Fig. 21. Molestia pollicaris sp. nov., paratype ♂, embolic division (SWUC-T-LIN-09-03). A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view.

Fig. 22. Molestia pollicaris sp. nov., paratype ♀, epigyne (SWUC-T-LIN-09-02). A, C–D. Ventral view. B. Lateral view. E. Dorsal view.

Fig. 23. Molestia pollicaris sp. nov., habitus, dorsal view. A. Holotype ♂ (SWUC-T-LIN-09-01). B. Paratype ♀ (SWUC-T-LIN-09-02).