Kochiura, ARCHER, 1950

Agnarsson, Ingi, 2004, Morphological phylogeny of cobweb spiders and their relatives (Araneae, Araneoidea, Theridiidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 141 (4), pp. 447-626 : 476

KOCHIURA ARCHER, 1950

Kochiura Archer, 1950 , type species by original designation and monotypy, Theridium aulicum C. L. Koch, 1838 , not examined.

Removed from synonymy of Anelosimus , contra Levi (1956: 412). In addition to K. aulica (C. L. Koch, 1838) , several former Anelosimus species are transferred and the following new combinations established: K. attrita (Nicolet, 1849) , K. casablanca (Levi, 1963) , K. episinoides (Levi, 1963) , K. ocellata (Nicolet, 1849) , K. rosea (Nicolet 1849) , K. temuco (Levi, 1963) , and K. decolorata (Keyserling, 1886) .

Synapomorphies of Kochiura in this study ( K. aulica and K. rosea ) include: copulatory ducts convolute and encircling spermathecae (8, 9, Fig. 93J ), cymbial ridge setae curved towards bulb (21, Figs 51B–D , 52B, C ; 27 , Fig. 52C ), cymbial sheath (28, Fig. 52C ), enlarged conductor (63, Fig. 52B ), elongate embolus (91, Figs 51B , 52B, C ). Based on descriptions and illustrations in Levi (1963, 1967, treating seven species), these seem to be general in Kochiura .

Diagnosis

Kochiura differs from the similar Anelosimus by the long filiform embolus, large conductor, absence of epigynal plate ridges ( Fig. 53E, F ), presence of a small colulus, and hooked bulb-cymbium lock. The last two features also separate it from all theridiines.

Figures

Figure 27. Anelosimus vittatus, female. A–C, prosoma. A, front. B, sternum. C, labium. D, epigynum; note scape (1-1), here unique to A. vittatus and A. pulchellus, but also present in A. ethicus (pers. observ.). E, spinnerets. F, cheliceral promarginal teeth. G, tarsal organ on palpus, a tarsal organ much larger than setal bases and with broad opening (198-1) is a synapomorphy of theridiids minus Hadrotarsinae and Latrodectinae (enlarged tarsal organ clade). Scale bars: A–D, 100 mm; E–G, 20 mm.

Figure 51. Kochiura. A–E, K. aulica. A–D, male palp; note shape of tibia (14-1, 15-1, 17-1) and extremely pronounced row of strong tibial setae (arrow, 16-1). A, mesial. B, ventral. C, ectal. D, mesial close-up of C, TTA. E, SPR. F, G, K. attrita SPR. F, left field. G, details of setae; note modified bases (151-1). Scale bars: A–C 100 Mm; D, 50 Mm; E, F, 20 Mm; G, 10 Mm.

Figure 52. Kochiura rosea. A–D, male palp. A, mesial. B, ventral; note extremely elongated conductor, with a narrow base (lower arrow, 63-1) and broadened distally. C, ectal. D, details of palpal tip; note bifurcated TTA (81-1). E, area around pedicel on abdomen. F, SPR. Scale bars: A–C, 100 Mm; D, 50 Mm; E, 20 Mm; F, 10 Mm.

Figure 53. Kochiura. A, C-H, K. rosea. A, male PLS and PMS. B, K. attrita female PLS and PMS. C, setal proprioreceptors on abdomen. D, epiandrous gland spigots. E female genital furrow. F, epigynum. G, pedicel, paired rows of Ss forming lyriform organs (arrows), and stridulatory nubbins. H, details of pedicel. Scale bars: A, B, D, H, 20 Mm; C, E, 100 Mm; F, G, 50 Mm.

Figure 93. A–D, models of male sperm duct trajectory. A, Anelosimus eximiu: ectal view, numbers indicate where the duct completes loops 1-3. B, A. eximius, dorsal view. C. Theridion. D, Faiditus. E-J, schematic illustrations. E, Faiditus chickeringi, ducts. F, Anelosimus rupununi, epigynum. G, Kochiura aulica, epigynum. H, A. rupununi, internal female genitalia. I, Dipoena nigra, internal female genitalia. J, Kochiura aulica, internal female genitalia. (F–H & J, drawn by Sarah Crews.)