Araneus lacrymosus (Walckenaer, 1841)

W. Framenau, Volker, 2019, Generic and family transfers, and numina dubia for orb-weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae) in the Australasian, Oriental and Pacific regions, Evolutionary Systematics 3 (1), pp. 1-27 : 16

Araneus lacrymosus (Walckenaer, 1841)

Epeira lacrymosa Walckenaer, 1841: 34-35.

Epeira lacrimosa Walckenaer. L. Koch, 1871: 83.

Araneus lacrymosus (Walckenaer). Rainbow 1911: 188.

Type material.

Holotype of Epeira lacrymosa Walckenaer, 1841: sex/life stage not given, Port Jackson (Sydney) [33°50'S, 151°16'E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA], J. R. C. Quoy and J. P. Gaimard collection (considered lost).

Remarks.

The original description of A. lacrymosus does not allow an accurate identification of this species. Based on this description, L. Koch (1871) keyed A. lacrymosus to a diverse, clearly paraphyletic group of orb-weaving spiders that also does not allow an interpretation of its morphological affinities: Cyrtophora cordiformis (L. Koch, 1871), Neoscona punctigera (as Epeira indagatrix L. Koch, 1871), Araneus flavopunctata (L. Koch, 1871) (from Fiji; currently unknown affinities) and Araneus speculabundus (L. Koch, 1871) (representing a new genus of Australian orb-weaving spiders; unpublished data). Considering the diversity of Australian orb-weaving spiders, it is unlikely that the true identity of A. lacrymosus will be revealed without examining the holotype. I therefore consider the species-group name Epeira lacrymosa a nomen dubium.