Araneus bidentatoides, Mi & Li, 2022

Mi, Xiaoqi & Li, Shuqiang, 2022, On eleven new species of the orb-weaver spider genus Araneus Clerck, 1757 (Araneae, Araneidae) from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China, ZooKeys 1137, pp. 75-108 : 75

Araneus bidentatoides sp. nov.

Figs 5 , 6

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (IZCAS-Ar43101), China: Yunnan, Xishuangbanna, Jinghong City, Mengyang Township, around Baihuashan tunnel, seasonal rainforest (22°9.51'N, 100°53.22'E, ca 890 m), 25.VI.2013, Q.Y. Zhao & Z.G. Chen leg. Paratype: 1♀ (IZCAS-Ar43102), Mengla County, Menglun Township, Menglun Nature Reserve, rubber plantation (21°54.73'N, 101°16.72'E, ca 590 m), 27.V.2013, Q.Y. Zhao & Z.G. Chen leg.

Etymology.

The specific name is a compound of “bidentatus” and the suffix “-oides”, referring to the resemblance of this species to A. bidentatus sp. nov.

Diagnosis.

See diagnosis above for the species A. bidentatus sp. nov.

Description.

Male (holotype, Figs 5D, E , 6 ). Total length 2.75. Carapace 1.50 long, 1.15 wide. Abdomen 1.75 long, 1.25 wide. Clypeus 0.10 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.08, PME 0.10, PLE 0.10, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.13, PME-PME 0.23, PME-PLE 0.15, MOA length 0.35, anterior width 0.35, posterior width 0.33. Leg measurements: I 4.35 (1.35, 1.55, 0.95, 0.50), II 3.70 (1.20, 1.25, 0.75, 0.50), III 2.70 (0.90, 0.90, 0.50, 0.40), IV 3.55 (1.15, 1.20, 0.75, 0.45). Carapace pear-shaped, dark brown, with pale setae, cervical groove slightly distinct. Chelicerae dark brown, 4 promarginal teeth, 3 retromarginal teeth. Endites wider than long, reddish brown, paler distally, labium triangular, dark brown, paler distally. Sternum cordiform, dark brown with a longitudinal reddish-yellow patch, with pale setae. Legs brown with yellow annuli, tibia I with 9 macrosetae, tibia II with 10 macrosetae, tibia III with 5 macrosetae, and tibia IV with 8 macrosetae. Abdomen elliptical, about 1.4 times longer than wide, with pair of very low humps anterolaterally, covered with pale setae, dorsum yellow with large white spot anteriorly, anterior half of humps black, posterior half whitish yellow, posterior abdomen with irregular dark markings; venter yellowish brown with irregular dark markings. Spinnerets yellowish brown.

Palp (Fig. 6 ): with 2 patellar bristles; median apophysis prominent, curved about 90° anticlockwise, distal end pointed toward tip of cymbium; embolus finger-like, tip slightly curved; conductor large, almost square in prolateral view; terminal apophysis with stout base, distally curved about 180° and tapered into tiny tip.

Female (paratype IZCAS-Ar43102, Fig. 5A-C, F, G ). Total length 4.20. Carapace 2.20 long, 1.45 wide. Abdomen 3.40 long, 3.20 wide. Clypeus 0.13 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.08, PME 0.13, PLE 0.10, AME-AME 0.23, AME-ALE 0.23, PME-PME 0.25, PME-PLE 0.38, MOA length 0.43, anterior width 0.45, posterior width 0.45. Leg measurements: I 5.25 (1.65, 1.90, 1.10, 0.60), II 4.65 (1.50, 1.65, 0.95, 0.55), III 3.35 (1.10, 1.15, 0.65, 0.45), IV 4.90 (1.70, 1.75, 0.95, 0.50). Habitus similar to that of male but abdomen slightly longer than wide.

Epigyne (Fig. 5A-C ): about 3 times wider than long; scape short, about 5 times wider than long, directed ventrally; copulatory openings concave, located at anterolateral base of scape; copulatory ducts longer than the spermatheca diameter, expanded at origin; spermathecae globular, less than half the spermatheca diameter apart.

Distribution.

Known only from type localities (Yunnan, China).

Figures

Figure 5. Araneus bidentatoides sp. nov. A-C, F, G female paratype IZCAS-Ar 43102 D, E male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., posterior view C vulva, posterior view D habitus, dorsal view E ibid., lateral view F ibid., dorsal view G ibid., ventral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A-C); 1 mm (D-G).

Figure 6. Araneus bidentatoides sp. nov. male holotype A male palp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.