Tibioploides stigmosus (Xia, Zhang, Gao, Fei, Rui & Kim 2001 ) Xia, Zhang, Gao, Fei, Rui & Kim, 2001

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2006, On some Linyphiidae of China, mainly from Taibai Shan, Qinling Mountains, Shaanxi Province (Arachnida: Araneae), Zootaxa 1325, pp. 277-311 : 308-310

Tibioploides stigmosus (Xia, Zhang, Gao, Fei, Rui & Kim 2001) comb. n.

Figs 84–90

Araeoncus stigmosus Xia & al. 2001: 164 (male only!).

Material: 1 ♂, 2 Ψ ( SMF), China, Quinghai Prov., Bei Shan National Park, 120 km NE Xining, 2300–2700 m, 23.V.–8.VI.1996, leg. J. Martens.

Taxonomic remarks. This species was described from Gansu Province, China as Araeoncus stigmosus from both sexes ( Xia et. al. 2001). According to the published figures, the female of this species belongs to the genus Dicymbium Menge 1868 , not Tibioploides Eskov & Marusik 1991 , and is probably referred to D. sinofacetum sp. n.

Tibioploides stigmosus , together with the Japanese T. monticola Saito & Ono 2001 and T. eskovianus Saito & Ono 2001 , comprise a homogeneous species­group which is characterised by the very long and well­sclerotised median membrane conducting the long and slender embolus over all its extent. The epigynes of these species are similar but differ in shape of the dorsal plate.

Short description. Male. Total length––2.60. Carapace 1.40 long, 1.00 wide, brownish red. Chelicerae 0.50 long. Legs pale yellowish red. Leg I, 3.41 long (1.00+0.30+0.85+0.73+0.53), IV––3.39 long (1.00+0.28+0.88+0.73+0.50). Chaetotaxy 2.2.2.1. Mt I–III each with a trichobothrium. TmI––0.29. Palp ( Figs 84–87 ): Paracymbium massive, anchor­shaped. Embolus long and slender, median membrane well­sclerotised, conducting the embolus all along its extent. Tip of embolus may be curved as in Fig. 86 . Opisthosoma 1.33 long, 1.00 wide, grey.

Female. Total length––2.55. Carapace 1.20 long, 0.90 wide. Chelicerae 0.55 long. Leg I, 3.11 long (0.90+0.33+0.75+0.68+0.45), IV––3.18 long (0.95+0.30+0.80+0.68+0.45). TmI––0.33. Opisthosoma 1.45 long, 1.10 wide. Epigyne as in Figs 88–90 : relatively large, dark; dorsal plate small, distal edge thickened and slightly incurved. Body and leg colouration, chaetotaxy as in male.

This is the first description of the female sex.

Figures

FIGURES 84 – 90. Tibioploides stigmosus (Xia, Zhang, Gao, Fei, Rui & Kim 2001) comb. n. 84 right palp (retrolateral view), 85 palpal tibia (dorsal view), 86 tip of median membrane and embolus (lateral view), 87 median membrane and embolic division (ventral view), 88 – 90 epigyne (88, 89 ventral view, 90 dorsal view). Abbreviations: E embolus, MM median membrane.