Phryganoporus candidus (L. Koch)

Gray, Michael R., 2002, The Taxonomy and Distribution of the Spider Genus Phryganoporus Simon (Araneae: Amaurobioidea: Desidae), Records of the Australian Museum 54 (3), pp. 275-292 : 281-284

Phryganoporus candidus (L. Koch)

Figs. 1a,g , 2a–f , 3a,b , 4a , 5a–i

Amaurobius candidus L. Koch, 1872: 333 , pl.25, fig. 6. Holotype female from Bowen , Queensland, Australia (ZMH, Araneae type catalogue no. 11, Museum Godeffroy, Hamburg, catalogue no. 7852—examined).

Amaurobius gausapatus Simon, 1906: 295 .

Phryganoporus gausapatus .– Simon, 1908: 367. Lehtinen, 1967: 259, fig. 102.

Phryganoporus gausapatus occidentalis Simon, 1908: 367 . Main & Harvey, 1992: 708.

Phryganoporus tubicola Simon, 1908: 367 , fig. 1. Lehtinen, 1967: 259, fig. 109. Main & Harvey, 1992: 708.

Ixeuticus candidus .– Roewer, 1954: 1388. Hickman, 1967: 33, fig.

50, 51 [= P. vandiemeni (Gray) ]. Leech, 1972: 26. Main, 1971: 119. (Not Dondale, 1966: 1188, fig. 9a–e [= Badumna sp. ]).

Phryganoporus candidus .– Lehtinen, 1967: 259.

Badumna gausapata .– Gray, 1983: 254, fig. 12–18. Platnick, 1989: 408; 1997: 629.

Badumna candida .– Gray, 1983: 250, fig. 1–11. Platnick, 1989: 408; 1993: 536; 1997: 629. Colgan & Gray, 1992: 86.

Material examined. NEW SOUTH WALES: 4♀, KS6006, Wee Jasper, on Carey’s Rd, 35°07'S 148°41'E, 30 Oct 1980, MRG; from solitary webs on dead thistle heads. 1♀, KS6088, data as for KS6006. 233, 1♀, 2 j, KS6089, 6.5 km E of Dubbo, 32°14'S 149°10'E, 21 Aug 1980, MRG & CH; communal web. 1♀, KS6936, 21 km E of Parkes, 33°08'S 148°11'E, 8 Apr 1972, MRG; solitary web. 63, 4♀, KS6937, Baradna Downs, Wanaaring, 29°42'S 144°09'E, 28 Mar 1977; on hop bush. 1♀, KS6940, Round Hill, 32°59'S 146°09'E, 1 Aug 1968, MRG. 1♀, KS6979, data as for KS6940, 5 Aug 1968; web on spinifex. 1♀, KS6982, Bourke area , 30°05'S 145°56'E. 1♀, KS7852, Warrumbungle National Park , 31°19'S 148°59'E, 1 Feb 1969, MRG. 3♀, KS15958, Mildura , 34°11'S 142°10'E, 17 Dec 1978, MRG; communal nests on mallee. 213, 8♀, KS16731, Hay-Grenfell area , 34°24'S 146°46'E, 12 May 1986, MRG. 13, 1♀, KS16732, 20 km W of Grenfell, 33°20'S 147°55'E, 13 May 1986, MRG; web on eucalypt. 13, KS16733, 60 km E of Hay, 34°29'S 145°29'E, 10 May 1986, MRG; web on wattle. 13, 1♀, KS17161, 2 km E of Gunbar, 34°04'S 145°25'E, 24 Apr 1987, MRG; 26 spiders in communal nest on eucalypt. 13, 1♀, KS17162 (data as for KS17161); 71 spiders. 13, 1♀, KS17163 (data as for KS17161); 46 spiders. 23, 1♀, KS17164 (data as for KS17161); 100 spiders. 1♀, KS17452, Goonoo State Forest , NW corner near “Ultimo” Station, 32°03'S 148°55'E, 17 Sep 1987, CH & A. Johnson; solitary nest with egg sac. 13, KS17453; 13, 2 j, KS17454; 1♀, KS17455; Goonoo State Forest , NE corner N of junction of Breelong & Denmire Rds, 32°03'S 148°55'E, 18 Sep 1987, CH & A. Johnson. 1♀, KS17457, Goonoo State Forest , SW corner, junction of Freemans & Western Boundary Rds , 32°03'S 148°55'E, 18 Sep 1987, CH & A. Johnson. 74 j, KS17460, south of Neville on Kentucky Rd , “Springerlee” Station gate, 33°45'S 149°12'E, 19 Sep 1987, CH & A. Johnson. 1♀, KS17822, Lake Munmorah State Recreation Reserve , Geebung, 33°13'S 151°34'E, 30 Oct 1987, MRG; from communal web (used for electrophoretic study). 1♀, KS32719, Newtown, 33°37'S 150°48'E, March 1928, F. Plant. 1♀, KS32720, Jenolan Caves, 33°49'S 150°02'E, 28 Nov 1901, V. Wiburd. 1♀, KS43641, 5 km W of Kiacatoo, 33°02'S 146°49'E, 21 Sep 1994, MRG; nest with juveniles on riparian eucalypt. 1♀, KS43642, 7 km W of Parkes, 33°06'S 148°07'E, 21 Sep 1994, MRG; solitary nest on Callitris . 1♀, 1 j, KS43643, 10 km NW of Wagga Wagga on Coolamon Road, 35°03'S 147°22'E, 23 Sep 1994, MRG. 1♀, KS43661, 36 km SW of Bingara on Narrabri Rd , Glacial Area Historical Site , 30°03'S 150°17'E, 5 Oct 1994, JT; from solitary nest in open eucalypt/ Callitris forest. 33, 1♀, KS43662, data as for KS43661; in communal nest. 2♀, N1992202– 3 ( SAM), Broken Hill, 31°58'S 141°27'E, 12 Jul 1980, DH. 13, 2♀, N1992182–4 ( SAM), Menindee Lakes, 32°20'S 142°20'E, 11 Apr 1981, DH. AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: 1♀, KS6087, Black Mountain , Canberra, 35°17'S 149°13'E, 1 Oct 1980, MRG; solitary web, egg sac with 29 eggs. 1♀, KS6090, Black Mountain , Canberra, 35°17'S 149°13'E, 1 Nov 1980, MRG; from communal web. 4♀, KS6086, data as for KS6090; from communal web, 4 egg sacs with 13, 49, 22 and 39 eggs. 53, KS6942, Canberra, 35°17'S 149°13'E, 24 May 1965, M.S. Upton; collected from ANIC light trap. 1♀, 2 j, KS17153, Black Mountain , Canberra, 35°16'S 149°06'E, 25 Apr 1987, MRG; 48 j in nest. VICTORIA: 403, 23♀, 8 j, KS17177, 18 km W of Mildura, 34°14'S 141°58'E, 24 Apr 1987, MRG; part of large communal nest of 558 individuals on mallee eucalypt by roadside. 103, 3♀, 12 j, KS17154 (data as for KS17177); nest with 150 specimens. 23, 2♀, 4 j, KS17155 (data as for KS17177); 106 specimens in nest. 83, 9♀, 8 j, KS17156 (data as for KS17177); 172 specimens in nest. 16♀, KS31601–4, 17 km NE of Euroa, 36°39'S 145°43'E, 25 Oct 1990, MRG; from solitary nests on shrubs. 6♀, KS34441, data as for KS31601–4. 2 ♀, KS31605, 2 km E of Rushworth, on Murchison road, 36°36'S 145°02'E, 13 Feb 1991, CH & JT; web on spiky shrub. 13, ( NMV), 16.2 km SE of Murrayville, 35°22'S 141°19'E, June 1986, A.L. Yen. 13, KS45064, Nunawading, 37°49'S 145°11'E, 10 Jun 1956, A. Neboiss. 2♀, N1992192–3 ( SAM), Harriers Swamp Holey Plains State Park , 38°14'S 146°56'E, 16 Jun 1989, DH. 13, N1992204 ( SAM), Red Cliffs, 1978, DH. NORTHERN TERRITORY: 2♀, KS55828, Watarrka National Park , King’s Canyon, 24°15'S 131°31'E, 16 May 1999, MRG, GAM & HS. 1♀, KS55829, Uluru National Park , Ranger accommodation area, 25°21'16"S 131°04'11"E, 14 May 1999, MRG, GAM & HS; on prickly Acacia . 1♀, KS55830, Watarrka National Park , Kathleen Springs, 24°20'38"S 131°40'54"E, 15 May 1999, MRG, GAM & HS. SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 13, 8♀, 10 j, KS8663, Kimba, Eyre Peninsula, 33°08'S 136°25'E, 30 Mar 1978, B.Y. Main. 93, 6♀, 1 j, KS16925, Acraman Ck, Eyre Peninsula, track E of Smoky Bay, 32°23'S 133°56'E, 7 May 1986, B.Y. Main; communal nest on mallee eucalypt. 13, 1♀, KS17157, 33 km W of Iron Knob, 32°07'S 136°50'E, 24Apr 1987, MRG; 41 specimens in communal web on mallee eucalypt. 23, 1♀, KS17158 (data as for KS17157); 37 specimens in communal web. 23, 1♀, KS17159 (data as for KS17157). 13, 2♀, 3 j, KS17160 (data as for KS17157); 22 specimens in communal web. 1♀, j, KS34473, Nullarbor Plain nr Catacombs Cave (5N), 31°08'S 130°37'E, 10 Jul 1991, MRG; solitary web on Acacia . 5♀, 3 j, KS34474, data as for KS34473; solitary tubular retreat web on samphire. 1♀, KS34475, Nullarbor Plain, grid ref 663.8 6527, 11 Jul 1991, MRG; nest on Acacia shrub in cave doline. 1♀, KS55827, Orroroo, at Giant Red Gum, 32°44'S 138°37'E, 10 May 1999, MRG, GAM & HMS. ♀♀, j, N1991281 ( SAM), 4 km SW of Emu, 28°35'S 132°10'E, 6 Oct 1976, DCL; communal nest on sandhill Acacia . 1♀, j, N1991282 ( SAM), 13 km E of Ooldea, 30°28'S 131°58'E, 30 Sep 1988, DH; on low mallee. 6♀, N1991283–8 ( SAM), 13 km E of Ooldea, 30°28'S 131°58'E, 30 Sep 1988, DH. 1♀, N1991289 ( SAM), Lake Meramangye , near SW corner, 28°29'S 132°08'E, 6 Oct 1976, DCL; in communal web on Acacia . 1♀, N1991290 ( SAM), 5 km E of Gibraltar Rocks, 30°26'S 134°31'E, 2 Oct 1976, DCL; on Melaleuca . 1♀, N1991291 ( SAM), Yardea Homestead, 32°23'S 135°31'E, 25 Sep 1988, DH. 1♀, N1991292 ( SAM), Gawler Ranges, 34°36'S 138°45'E, October 1985, NPWS Survey. 1♀, j, N1991293 ( SAM), Kolay Hut, 32°33'S 135°36'E, 9 Dec 1989, DH. 1♀, N1991294–5 ( SAM), Kulliparu Conservation Park, SW corner (NW cnr Courtabie lease), 33°08'S 134°49'E, Sep 1990, S. Lewer & R. Brundle. 13, 1♀, N1991296–7 ( SAM), Mt Wedge , 1 km NW of summit, 33°29'S 135°09'E, 31 Mar 1987, DCL & DH; in solitary webs on dead mallee. 103, 13♀, N1991298– 320 ( SAM), Mt Wedge summit, Eyre Peninsula, 33°29'S 135°09'E, 31 Mar 1987; communal nest on mallee. 3♀, 54 j, N1991321–3 ( SAM), data as for N1991298–320. 10 ♀, 5 j, N1991324–33 ( SAM), Carrappee Hill Conservation Park, 2 Apr 1987, DCL & DH; in communal web on mallee. 1♀, 8 j, N1991334 ( SAM), Hinks Conservation Park SE Boundary, 25 Mar 1987, DCL & DH; in communal web. 13, N1991335 ( SAM), Lake Gilles Conservation Park , 32°38'S 136°53'E, 2 Apr 1987, DCL & DH; solitary web on dead mallee. 1♀, N1991336 ( SAM), Pinkawillinie Conservation Park, 33°07'S 136°00'E, 18–19 May 1990, DH. 1 3, 1♀, j, N1991337–9 ( SAM), Nacooma Station 35 km N of Port Augusta, 32°13'S 137°52'E, 10 May 1982, G. Traice; web on saltbush. 13, 3♀, 1 j, N1991340–4 ( SAM), 2–3 km W of Lake Frome, 30°44'S 139°46'E, 10 May 1989, J.A. Forrest & DCL. 1♀, N1991345 ( SAM), Melrose camping area, 32°50'S 138°11'E, 18 Apr 1987, DH. 33, 1♀, 6 j, N1991346–9 ( SAM), Bald Hill Beach near Port Wakefield , 34°11'S 138°09'E, 11 Feb 1989, B. McMahon. 1♀, j, N1991352–5 ( SAM), 4 km from Ferries- McDonald National Park on Strathally Rd , 35°13'S 139°09'E, 24 Nov 1980, G. Coombs; communal nest on eucalypt. 7♀, N1992129–136 ( SAM), S of Middleback Station, 32°57'S 137°23'E, June 1984, BG; “web cases” in solitary webs on Callitris, Lignum, Scaevola , myall, Lycium . 13, N1992200 ( SAM), Middleback Station Vagrantin Shearer’s Kitchen, 32°57'S 137°23'E, June 1984, BG. 13, N1992201 ( SAM), South Middleback Ranges , 33°14'S 137°07'E, 6 Jul 1984, BG. 4♀, 1 j, N1992151–5 ( SAM), Hambridge Conservation Park, 33°27'S 135°56'E, April 1984, BG. 14♀, N1992157–70 ( SAM), Nappyalla, 35°26'S 139°07'E, October 1991, J. Eckert. 1♀, N1992171 ( SAM), 13 km N of Keilira Station, 36°37'S 140°11'E, 10 May 1968, DH. 1♀, N1992185 ( SAM), Appreentinna Ck, 27°48'S 134°09'E, 21 May 1981, DH. 1♀, N1992186–9 ( SAM), Port Augusta , 32°30'S 137°46'E, 23–25 Jan 1987, DH; coastal sand dune habitat. QUEENSLAND: 33, 4♀, 2 j, KS42443, 45 km S of Charters Towers, 20°29'S 146°14'E, 24 Apr 1994, M. Moulds & JT; from communal nest in Acacia tree. 1♀, KS43576, Forty Mile Scrub 1 km from Mt Surprise turnoff, 18°05'S 144°53'E, 12 Apr 1994, JT, M. Moulds, F. MacKillop; communal web on spiky dead bush. 2♀, KS43646, McLeod R. crossing beside highway, 16°30'S 145°00'E, 16 Apr 1994, JT, M. Moulds, F. Mackillop. 1♀, KS43647, Annan R. crossing beside highway, 15°41'S 145°12'E, 16 Apr 1994, JT, M. Moulds, F. Mackillop. 1♀, KS43717, 57 km E of Croydon, 18°14'S 142°42'E, 29 Jul 1995, JT, M. Moulds; communal web in bottlebrush shrub. 1♀, KS43930, Mackenzie R., Dingo Road crossing, 23°04'S 149°03'E, 2 Aug 1995, M. Moulds, M. Tio. 23, 10♀, 1 j, KS43974, Mackenzie R., Dingo Rd Crossing, 23°04'S 149°03'E, 2 Aug 1995, M. Moulds, M. Tio. 1♀, KS43975, between Carnarvon Gorge turn-off & Rolleston , on Highway, 24°53'S 148°31'E, 8 Jul 1995, JT, M. Tio, S. Cowan; solitary web, on spiky Acacia . 33, 2♀, 1 j, KS44157, Drummond Range Lookout, 23°39'S 147°12'E, 8 Jul 1995, JT, M. Tio, S. Cowan; communal web. 2♀, KS44160, 95 km S of Rolleston on highway to Injune , 25°14'S 148°37'E, 6 Jul 1995, JT, M. Tio, S. Cowan; web on spiky bushes. 2♀, KS44162, 80 km NW of Winton on (station) road to Cloncurry , 21°56'S 142°32'E, 10 Jul 1995, JT, M. Tio, S. Cowan; in communal web. 2♀, KS44163, NW of Winton on highway, 22°12'S 142°53'E, 10 Jul 1995, JT, M. Tio, S. Cowan; communal web. 1♀, KS44165, Chillagoe National Park outside Royal Arch Cave , 17°11'S 144°29'E, 16 Jul 1995, JT, M. Tio, S. Cowan; in communal web. 1♀, KS44166, Undara National Park , 18°12'S 144°34'E, 29 Jul 1995, JT, M. Tio, S. Cowan; communal web. 1♀, KS44171, 19 km S of Burke & Wills Roadhouse on highway to Normanton , 19°20'S 140°15'E, 12 Jul 1995, JT; in communal webs. 1♀, 2 j, KS44172, 62 km W of Chillagoe , Burke Development Rd , 16°44'S 144°05'E, 15 Jul 1995, JT, S. Cowan; communal web. 1♀, 3 j, KS44173, 5 km S of Normanton, 17°46'S 141°01'E, 12 Jul 1995 JT, S. Cowan; from communal web. 13, KS44174, 30 km S of St. George, beside highway to Mungindi, 28°12'S 148°44'E, 02 Aug 1995, JT; communal web in small Acacia . 1♀, 3 j, KS44190, 95 km S of Injune on highway to Rolleston, 25°14'S 148°37'E, 06 Jul 1995, JT, M.Tio, S. Cowan; web on spiky bushes. 1♀, KS44191, 20 km N of Cloncurry, 20°33'S 140°25'E, 11 Jul 1995, JT; from communal web on dead Acacia tree. 1♀, KS44192, N of Hann R. on highway to Coen, 15°02'S 143°40'E, 18 Jul 1995, JT, J. Olive. 3♀, 2 j, KS44193, Belmore Ck, 10 km W of Croydon, 18°02'S 141°58'E, 29 Jul 1995, JT, M. Moulds; communal webs on Acacia . 1♀, 1 j, KS44194, 25 km NE of the Lynd, 18°42'S 144°40'E, 30 Jul 1995, JT; on Acacia . 1♀, KS44195, Croll Ck N of Coen, 13°40'S 143°04'E, 18 Jul 1995, JT, M. Moulds, M. Tio, F. MacKillop, J. Olive; in communal web. 13, KS44843, on track to Moss Garden, 25°03'S 148°12'E, 07 Jul 1995, JT, M. Moulds; solitary web on dead thistle. 83, 7♀, 6 j, KS45063, JCU Campus, Townsville, 19°16'S 146°49'E, 1986–89, M. Downes; from several nests .

1♀, KS45727, Silver Valley near Herberton, 17°20'S 145°17'E, 24 Sep 1950, J.S. Brookes. 33, 2♀, S141 ( QM), Girraween National Park area, 28°50'S 151°55'E, 7 Apr 1974, R.J. Raven; on heath. 43, 2♀, 23 j, S144 ( QM), Southwood, 30 km W of Moonie, 27°46'S 150°04'E, 24 Aug 1973, R.J. Raven; communal web 35–40 cm diameter on Hakea . 43, 1♀, 3 j, S15942 ( QM), Kenniff Cave area Mt Moffatt, 25°01'S 147°57'E, 27 Sep 1986, M. Bennie. 10♀, 1 j S20199 ( QM), Chillagoe, 17°09'S 144°31'E, 24–27 Apr 1978, R.J. Raven & V.E. Davies. 5 3, 7♀, S20200 ( QM), Eureka Ck, 17°11'S 145°01'E, 11 Feb 1972, N.C. Coleman. 13, 4♀, 1 j, S20201 ( QM), Wolfram, 17°05'S 144°57'E, 13 Feb 1972, N.C. Coleman. 13, 3♀, S20202 , Mt Garnet, 17°41'S 145°06'E, 24 Feb 1972. 1♀, ( QM), Kroombit Tops, 24°22'S 151°01'E. 1♀, ( QM), Endfield (Mulga site), 23°46'S 151°16'E. 1♀, ( QM), Moreton Island near Trench, 27°11'S 153°24'E. 1♀, ( QM), Glenormiston, 22°55'S 138°48'E. 1♀, ( QM), Mt Garnet, 17°41'S 145°07'E. 1♀, 2 j, N1992172 ( SAM), near Tiaro, 25°44'S 152°35'E, 25 May 1979, DH. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 13, Ar.811 ( MNHN), syntype of Phryganoporus tubicola Simon (examined), Denham, (Stat. 65). 2 j, 11/4279, 4279a ( WAM), syntypes of P. tubicola Simon (not seen, other data as for Ar.811). 1 j, 11/4269 ( WAM), syntype of Phryganoporus gausapatus occidentalis Simon , East Cannington (Stat. 125). 1♀, KS6938, Torbay Head, 35°08'S 117°38'E, 10 Oct 1977, MRG. 13, 4♀, KS6939, Brookton, 32°22'S 117°00'E, 5 May 1977, MRG. 1♀, KS6981, Perth, 31°57'S 115°51'E. 1♀, KS9986, Dryandra Forest near Narrogin (site 2(22)), 32°56'S 117°11'E, 29 Mar 1982, K. Brown. 1♀, KS9987, Dryandra Forest (site 2(15)), data as for KS9986. 13, 1♀, KS10252, Brookton, 32°22'S 117°00'E, 5 May 1977; on citrus tree. 1♀, KS17357,Anna Plains Station, 25 km N of Sandfly Flat, 19°15'S 121°29'E, 26 Jul 1987, B.Y. Main. 1♀, KS17358, Shark Bay, Denham, 25°56'S 113°32'E, 5 Jul 1987, B.Y. Main. 1♀, 59 j, KS17447, Canning Stock Route, west of Well 41, 21°34'S 125°51'E, 8 Aug 1987, AEJ. 22 j, KS17448, Canning Stock Route, at cairn approx. 20 km NE of Well 36, 22°00'S 125°07'E, 6Aug 1987, AEJ. 72 j, KS17449, Canning Stock Route, track to Well 37, 22°09'S 125°19'E, 6 Aug 1987, AEJ; on Acacia . 37 j, KS17450, Canning Stock Route, near Well 31, 22°31'S 124°23'E, 4 Aug 1987, AEJ; on Acacia . 1♀, 91/1616 ( WAM), Canning Stock Route, Well 6, 25°14'S 121°05'E, 22 Jul 1987, AEJ; from large nest on Acacia , several spiders seen. 1♀, 91/1617 ( WAM), Canning Stock Route, nr Well 23, 23°05'S 123°12'E, 29 Jul 1987, AEJ. 1♀, 91/1618 ( WAM), Canning Stock Route, nr Well 23, 23°05'S 123°12'E, 30 Jul 1987, AEJ. 4 j, KS19007–10, Cape Bernier, Kimberley area, 15°39'S 128°42'E, 06 Jun 1988, A.R. Main. 1♀, KS19270, South Hedland, 20°26'S 118°36'E, 9 Aug 1988, P. Filmer-Sankey; ex Acacia translucens , communal nest. 4♀, KS23447, Collier Range National Park, 24°32'S 118°50'E, 14 Jul 1990, AEJ. 1♀, KS23449, Mellin Jerrie Well, Kidson Track, 21°01'S 123°20'E, 28 Jul 1990, AEJ. j, AMS (unregistered), Point Spring Nature Reserve, NNE of Kununurra, 15°24'37"S 128°52'58"E, 29 May 1999, MRG, GAM & HMS; communal web. 1♀, j, KS55831, Durack R. Crossing, Gibb R. Road, 15°56'S 127°13'E, 04 Jun 1999, MRG, GAM & HMS; communal web on foliage. 1♀, j, KS55832, data as KS55831. 13, 91/1611 ( WAM), Belmont International Airport, Perth, along N fence off Kalamunda Road, 31°57'S 115°51'E, 20 Jan 1987, W.F. Humphreys; in tubular web. 1♀, 16 j, 91/1620–37 ( WAM), City Beach nr Rifle Range, 31°56'S 115°45'E, 21 Jun 1973, Mercedes College 3rd yr. 2♀, 1 j, 91/1639–41 ( WAM), Darlington, 31°54'S 116°04'E, May 1975 – Mar 1976, G.H. Lowe. 1 3, 1♀, 91/1642–3 ( WAM), Darlington, as for 91/1639–41, May 1977 – Apr 1978. 1♀, J, 91/1647 ( WAM), Durokoppin Nature Reserve, 31°30'S 117°44'E, 1 Mar 1988, D. Mitchell et al., beating. 13, 1♀, 91/1644–46 ( WAM), as for 91/1647, 10 Dec 1987. 1♀, 91/1648 ( WAM), Ferndale (suburb of Perth), 33°49'S 115°57'E, 18 Jan 1978, D. Connop; among grape vine leaves. 1♀, 91/1649 ( WAM), 3.2 km E of Gin Gin, 26 Nov 1968, Hale School. 1♀, 91/1654 ( WAM), Lyons R., 24°28'S 117°14'E, 29 Jul 1989, AEJ. 1♀, 91/1693 ( WAM), Parmelia, 32°15'S 115°47'E, 26 Jan 1991, AEJ. 1♀, 91/1692 ( WAM), 30 Dec 1989, as for 91/1693; on lemon tree. 1♀, 91/1694 ( WAM), Tim Ealey Hill, 21°35'S 118°59'E, 21 Apr 1989, M.S. Harvey. 2♀, 92/108–9 ( WAM), Bold Park, 31°56'S 115°46'E, 4 Feb 1987, W.F. Humphreys. 13, 1♀, 92/111–2 ( WAM), as for 92/108–9, 10 Mar 1987. 1 ♀, N1992173–4 ( SAM), Watheroo, 30°18'S 116°03'E, 29 Sep 1981, DH. TASMANIA: 33, Hickman Collection ( AMS), Hobart, 42°50'S 147°15'E, VVH. NORFOLK ISLAND: 1♀, 3 j, N1981239 ( SAM), 29°05'S 168°00'E, December 1915 to January 1916, A.M. Lea.

Diagnosis. CL female 2.8–4.7, male 2.4–3.5. Cribellum divided. Separated from P. vandiemeni by distal spermathecal lobe usually rounded or transversely ovoid and interlobar duct not recurved distally. Male palp often without an obvious patellar apophysis. Late instar juveniles and adults found in communal and solitary webs.

Description

Male (KS6937). BL 6.25, CL 2.88, CW 2.10, LL 0.46, LW 0.64, SL 1.49, SW 1.32. Shape and colouration similar to female. Spination: leg I, femur d112 0011, tibia v022 p101 r101, metatarsus d002 v221 p011 r0101; leg II, femur d112 p011, tibia v012 p011 r0101, metatarsus d012 v121 p011 r0101; leg III, femur d113, tibia v002 p11 r11, metatarsus d12 v121 p11 r11; leg IV, d112, tibia v012 p101 r101, metatarsus d002 v121 p011 r001. Male palp with central limb of “S” shaped embolus/conductor slanting diagonally across bulb; apical section of “S” narrow, about half as wide as basal section. Palpal patella usually without an apophysis, but a small conical to digitiform apophysis may be present; white, spatulate hairs present or absent.

Female (KS6936). BL 7.80, CL 3.68, CW 2.54, LL 0.37, LW 0.46, SL 1.81, SW 1.46. Carapace colour silvery grey to greyish-brown. Abdomen light grey-brown with brown patterning. Anterior mid-dorsal stripe dark grey-brown, lightened by white hairs centrally, and bordered by white hair patches. Behind the stripe is a row of 4–5 chevrons, as wide or wider than the stripe, each coalescing centrally, the first chevron poorly defined, usually much lighter brown than the rest. Remaining chevrons are brown centrally and variably bordered with darker grey-brown pigment, each limited anteriorly by a line of white hairs that terminate laterally as white tufts. Spination: leg I, femur d1212 p111, tibia v222 p101 r0101, metatarsus d0102 v221 p011 r101; leg II, femur d1202 p111, tibia v122 p101 r101, metatarsus d102 v221 p0101 r101; leg III, femur d133, tibia v122 p11 r11, metatarsus d112 v221 p101 r101; leg IV, femur d113, tibia v112 p11 r11, metatarsus d122 v221 p011 r001. Transverse epigynal ridge broad, often indented anteriorly, sometimes posteriorly also, longitudinal width one-third to one-fifth as wide as epigynal fossa. Fossa as long as wide or anteriorly wider than long. Lateral teeth usually broadly pointed. Female genitalia with short, interlobar ducts curving laterally between the central and distal spermathecal lobes. Distal lobe usually rounded to transversely ovoid; longitudinally ovoid in some populations ( Fig. 5f,i ).

Distribution. Mainland Australia ( Fig. 4a ) and Norfolk Island in open forest to shrubland habitats. A single collection from Hobart, Tasmania (Hickman Collection, AMS) may be anthropogenic.

Variation. Genitalic and palpal variation is particularly evident in southern mainland populations, potentially making difficult the assignment of individuals between the very similar species, P. candidus and P. vandiemeni . Variation is notable in the orientation of the distal spermathecal lobes ( Fig. 5f,i ) and in the development of a male palpal patellar apophysis—vestigial to absent or present ( Fig. 5e,g ). The two character states, “longitudinal” distal spermathecal lobes and well-developed patellar apophyses, are typically associated, as in the Wee Jasper and Black Mountain populations of southeastern Australia. These spiders are found in both small communal and solitary web retreats and were regarded as representatives of P. gausapatus by Gray (1983). However, genetically they are identified with P. candidus and form a group within the B. candida clade” of Colgan & Gray (1992).

Some males from populations in the St George and Drummond Range areas of S.E. Queensland are unusual in lacking most or all abdominal chevron patterning (which is largely retained in females), and in possessing slightly narrowed palpal cymbia. Examination of more material is needed to confirm whether they represent a new candidus group species.

Biology. A detailed study of the biology and behaviour of P. candidus is given by Downes (1993, 1994a,b) (see introductory notes). Communal nests observed by the present author varied from a few centimetres to about 30 cm across ( Fig. 3a ). Most were built on sclerophyllous, often spiky, shrubs and small trees such as mallee eucalypts. The largest P. candidus communal nest observed contained 558 j, subadults and adults—40 3 and 23♀ (KS17177). Small, solitary sheet webs are also common, the retreat consisting of a thick-walled silk tube ( Gray, 1983, fig. 36), usually twisted around the plant stem with the mouth opening downward or to the side. The small, lenticular egg sacs contain from 13– 39 eggs.

Figures

Figure 1. a,g, Phryganoporus candidus. b–f,h–j, Phryganoporus nigrinus. a,b, dorsal tarsi—tarsal organ and trichobothria:a,

Figure 2. a–j, spinnerets (female). a–f, Phryganoporus candidus: a, spinneret field; b, ALS; c, PMS; d, PLS; e, modified PLS and paracribellar spigots; f, cribellum.g–j, Phryganoporus nigrinus: g, spinneret field; h, PMS; i, modified PLS and paracribellar spigots; j, cribellum.

Figure 3. a–d, spiders and webs. a,b, Phryganoporus candidus: a, communal web; b, female. c, Phryganoporus nigrinus: female on solitary web with horn-shaped retreat. d, Phryganoporus melanopygus: female (note partial loss of white setae on carapace).

Figure 4. a,b, species distributions based on material examined: a, • Phryganoporus candidus; b, ' P. nigrinus, O P. davidleei, • P. melanopygus, Δ P. vandiemeni.

Figure 5. a–i, Phryganoporus candidus. a–c, Townsville, Qld, female: a, body, dorsal; b, body, ventral; c, epigynum. d,e, Grenfell, NSW, male palp: d, ventral; e, prolateral. f, Mellin Jerrie Well, WA, female: internal genitalia. g–i, Black Mountain,ACT: g, male palp, retrolateral tibia & patella; h,i, female: h, epigynum; i, internal genitalia. j–l, Phryganoporus vandiemeni, Wilson’s Promontory, Vic.: j,k, female: j, epigynum; k, internal genitalia. l, male palp, retrolateral. Scale lines: a, b: 1 mm; others 0.5 mm.