Anelosimus domingo, : Levi, 1963

Agnarsson, Ingi, 2006, A revision of the New World eximius lineage of Anelosimus (Araneae, Theridiidae) and a phylogenetic analysis using worldwide exemplars, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 146 (4), pp. 453-593 : 471

THE DOMINGO GROUP – CLADE 13

Three species, A. jabaquara , A. domingo and A. dubiosus ( Keyserling, 1891) , belong to this welldefined group. The females are nearly indistinguishable from other Anelosimus externally, but internal female genitalia, and male genitalia, offer easy diagnosis. The clade is supported by four unreversed palpal synapomorphies: finger-like apophysis on the theridiid tegular apophysis (54 -1, Fig. 7A, K ), whiplike embolus spiral (60 -1, Figs 7A, B, E, F, K, L , 9B, C, E ), cup-shaped Eb apophysis (81 -1, Figs 7B, E, L , 9E , 11D , 13E ), and embolus supported by Eb apophysis (79 -2, Fig. 7B, E, F, L ). Having sticky silk in the web (142 -0) may be an additional synapomorphy, but absence of sticky silk in most Anelosimus webs remains doubtful (see below). All three species are social and adult females at least sometimes share webs. Anelosimus domingo is a typical social species with permanent colonies and strongly biased sex ratio.

Figures

Figure 7. The ‘domingo group’. A–D, Anelosimus domingo. A, male palp mesal; B, same ventral; C, epigynum; D, internal epigynum dorsal. E–J, Anelosimus jabaquara. E, male palp submesal; F, same ventral; G, female abdomen; H, male habitus; I, epigynum; J, internal epigynum dorsal. K–P, Anelosimus dubiosus. K, male palp mesal; L, same ventral; M, epigynum; N, internal epigynum dorsal; O, digital photograph of internal epigynum dorsal; P, male first leg.

Figure 9. Anelosimus domingo, male palp from Ecuador. A, dorsomesal; B, subapical; C, mesal; D, ectal; E, details of sclerites, apical view; F, tibia, with three trichobothria (arrows). Scale bars: A–D, 100 µm; E,F, 10 µm.

Figure 11. Anelosimus jabaquara. A–E male palp. A, dorsal; B, ventral; C, apical; D, palpal tip; E, palpal tibia; F, epiandrous gland spigots; G, epigynum. Scale bars: A–E, 100 µm; F, 10 µm; G, 50 µm.

Figure 13. Anelosimus dubiosus, male palp. A, dorsal; B, dorsomesal; C, subventral; D, details of theridiid tegular apophysis and C; E, ventral; F, ectal. Scale bars: 100 µm.