Comprehensive treatise of Hevansia and three new genera Jenniferia, Parahevansia and Polystromomyces on spiders in Cordycipitaceae from Thailand

Collections of pathogenic fungi found on spiders from Thailand were selected for a detailed taxonomic study. Morphological comparison and phylogenetic analyses of the combined ITS, LSU, tef1, rpb1 and rpb2 sequence data indicated that these specimens formed new independent lineages within the Cordycipitaceae, containing two new genera occurring on spiders, i.e. Jenniferia gen. nov. and Polystromomyces gen. nov. Two new species in Jenniferia, J. griseocinerea sp. nov. and J. thomisidarum sp. nov., are described. Two strains, NHJ 03510 and BCC 2191, initially named as Akanthomyces cinereus (Hevansia cinerea), were shown to be part of Jenniferia. By including sequences of putative Hevansia species from GenBank, we also revealed Parahevansia as a new genus with the ex-type strain NHJ 666.01 of Pa. koratensis, accommodating specimens previously named as Akanthomyces koratensis (Hevansia koratensis). One species of Polystromomyces, Po. araneae sp. nov., is described. We established an asexual-sexual morph connection for Hevansia novoguineensis (Cordycipitaceae) with ex-type CBS 610.80 and proposed a new species, H. minuta sp. nov. Based on characteristics of the sexual morph, Hevansia and Polystromomyces share phenotypic traits by producing stipitate ascoma with fertile terminal heads; however, they differ in the shape and colour of the stipes. Meanwhile, Jenniferia produces non-stipitate ascoma with aggregated superficial perithecia forming a cushion. A new morphology of ascospores in Jenniferia is described, illustrated and compared with other species in Cordycipitaceae

An expert-curated global database of online newspaper articles on spiders and spider bites

Mass media plays an important role in the construction and circulation of risk perception associated with animals. Widely feared groups such as spiders frequently end up in the spotlight of traditional and social media. We compiled an expert-curated global database on the online newspaper coverage of human-spider encounters over the past ten years (2010-2020). This database includes information about the location of each human-spider encounter reported in the news article and a quantitative characterisation of the content-location, presence of photographs of spiders and bites, number and type of errors, consultation of experts, and a subjective assessment of sensationalism. In total, we collected 5348 unique news articles from 81 countries in 40 languages. The database refers to 211 identified and unidentified spider species and 2644 unique human-spider encounters (1121 bites and 147 as deadly bites). To facilitate data reuse, we explain the main caveats that need to be made when analysing this database and discuss research ideas and questions that can be explored with it.Peer reviewe

The global spread of misinformation on spiders

Non peer reviewe

An expert-curated global database of online newspaper articles on spiders and spider bites

Mass media plays an important role in the construction and circulation of risk perception associated with animals. Widely feared groups such as spiders frequently end up in the spotlight of traditional and social media. We compiled an expert-curated global database on the online newspaper coverage of human-spider encounters over the past ten years (2010–2020). This database includes information about the location of each human-spider encounter reported in the news article and a quantitative characterisation of the content—location, presence of photographs of spiders and bites, number and type of errors, consultation of experts, and a subjective assessment of sensationalism. In total, we collected 5348 unique news articles from 81 countries in 40 languages. The database refers to 211 identified and unidentified spider species and 2644 unique human-spider encounters (1121 bites and 147 as deadly bites). To facilitate data reuse, we explain the main caveats that need to be made when analysing this database and discuss research ideas and questions that can be explored with it. </p

The global spread of misinformation on spiders

In the internet era, the digital architecture that keeps us connected and informed may also amplify the spread of misinformation. This problem is gaining global attention, as evidence accumulates that misinformation may interfere with democratic processes and undermine collective responses to environmental and health crises. In an increasingly polluted information ecosystem, understanding the factors underlying the generation and spread of misinformation is becoming a pressing scientific and societal challenge. Here, we studied the global spread of (mis-)information on spiders using a high-resolution global database of online newspaper articles on spider–human interactions, covering stories of spider–human encounters and biting events published from 2010–2020. We found that 47% of articles contained errors and 43% were sensationalist. Moreover, we show that the flow of spider-related news occurs within a highly interconnected global network and provide evidence that sensationalism is a key factor underlying the spread of misinformation. </p

New leaf- and litter-dwelling species of the genus &lt;i&gt;Pholcus&lt;/i&gt; from Southeast Asia (Araneae, Pholcidae)

We describe eight new species of the genus Pholcus, and document their microhabitats. Four species are assigned to the previously described Pholcus ethagala group: P. tanahrata Huber sp. nov., P. uludong Huber sp. nov., and P. bukittimah Huber sp. nov. from the Malay Peninsula, and P. barisan Huber sp. nov. from Sumatra. These species are all litter-dwellers that build domed sheet webs on the undersides of large dead leaves on the ground. The other four species are assigned to newly created species groups: the P. tambunan group with two species from northern Borneo: P. tambunan Huber sp. nov. and P. bario Huber sp. nov.; and the P. domingo group with two species from the Philippines, Mindanao: P. domingo Huber sp. nov. and P. matutum Huber sp. nov. These latter four species are leaf-dwellers that build barely visible silk platforms tightly attached to the undersides of live leaves. The main rationale for this paper is to provide part of the taxonomic and natural history background for upcoming phylogenetic and evolutionary (microhabitat shifts) analyses.</p

Revision of the enigmatic Southeast Asian spider genus Savarna (Araneae, Pholcidae)

The genus Savarna Huber, 2005 was previously one of the most poorly known Pholcinae genera. Less than 20 specimens (representing four nominal species) were available worldwide; nothing was known about ultrastructure, natural history, or relationships. We present the first SEM data, supporting the position of the genus in Pholcinae outside the Pholcus group of genera and weakly suggesting a closer relationship with the genera Khorata Huber, 2005, Spermophorides Wunderlich, 1992, and two undescribed species of unknown affinity from Borneo. We provide the first data about microhabitat, web structure, and reaction to disturbance. We clarify the type locality of Savarna tessellata (Simon, 1901) (“Jalor, Biserat”) and describe topotypical material. We describe the previously unknown male of Spermophora miser Bristowe, 1952 and transfer the species (that was previously considered incertae sedis) to Savarna as Savarna miser (Bristowe, 1952) comb. nov. Savarna baso (Roewer, 1963) is newly synonymized with S. miser. We newly describe the most northern species in the genus, Savarna kaeo sp. nov., and provide amendments to the descriptions of all previously described species

Hahnia C. L. Koch 1841

Genus Hahnia C.L. Koch, 1841 Hahnia C.L. Koch, 1841: 61. Type species Hahnia pusilla C.L. Koch, 1841.Published as part of Rivera-Quiroz, Francisco Andrés, Petcharad, Booppa & Miller, Jeremy A., 2020, First records and a new genus of comb-tailed spiders (Araneae: Hahniidae) from Thailand with comments on the six-eyed species of this family, pp. 51-69 in European Journal of Taxonomy 724 on page 59, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.724.1157, http://zenodo.org/record/429807

Supplementary material 1 from: Rivera-Quiroz FA, Petcharad B, Miller JA (2021) First records and three new species of the family Symphytognathidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from Thailand, and the circumscription of the genus Crassignatha Wunderlich, 1995. ZooKeys 1012: 21-53. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1012.57047

List of primers used in our stud

Hahnia saccata Zhang, Li & Zheng 2011

Hahnia saccata Zhang, Li & Zheng, 2011 Figs 5, 6 d–f Hahnia saccata Zhang, Li & Zheng, 2011: 16, figs 14a–e, 15a–h, 16a–g. Material examined THAILAND • 2 &female;&female;; Chiang Mai Province, Doi Suthep National Park; 18º48.780′ N, 98º55.928′ E; 643 m a.s.l.; 25–28 Jul. 2018; Booppa Petcharad, Jeremy Miller and F. Andrés Rivera-Quiroz leg.; Dipterocarpus forest; hand coll.; RMNH.ARA.18412 (four legs of one specimen used for DNA extraction). Description Female Carapace pear-shaped, reddish-brown, slightly darker in cephalic region; texture smooth (Fig. 5c). AME 0.06 mm, ALE 0.11 mm, PME 0.08 mm, PLE 0.05 mm, AME–AME 0.02 mm, AMEALE 0.01 mm, PME–PME 0.06 mm, PME–PLE 0.04 mm (Fig. 5d). Chelicerae with three promarginal and seven retromarginal teeth (Fig. 5e). Legs same color as carapace, darker on proximal and distal part of each segment. Abdomen dark grey with light patches forming five to six chevron bands, oval, longer than wide (Fig. 5c). Tracheal spiracle near middle of abdomen (Fig. 5a). VULVA. Epigynal plate dark. Copulatory openings close together but not forming an atrium (Figs 5g, 6f). Spermatheca sub-speherical with brown coloration (Fig. 5f). Copulatory ducts forming secondary spermatheca (Figs 5f, 6 e–f). MEASUREMENTS (in mm). Total length 3.20, carapace 1.45 long, 1.04 wide; clypeus 0.10; chelicera 0.70 long, 0.33 wide; leg I: femur 1.22, patella 0.46, tibia 1.13, metatarsus 0.92, tarsus 0.63; leg II: femur 1.12, patella 0.45, tibia 0.90, metatarsus 0.81, tarsus 0.61; leg III: femur 0.98, patella 0.41, tibia 0.75, metatarsus 0.80, tarsus 0.49; leg IV: femur 1.31, patella 0.45, tibia 1.12, metatarsus 1.03, tarsus 0.65; leg formula IV-I-II-III; abdomen 1.73 long, 1.20 wide. Distribution Known from the Menglun Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China (type locality), and Doi Suthep National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand (present work) (Fig. 8).Published as part of Rivera-Quiroz, Francisco Andrés, Petcharad, Booppa & Miller, Jeremy A., 2020, First records and a new genus of comb-tailed spiders (Araneae: Hahniidae) from Thailand with comments on the six-eyed species of this family, pp. 51-69 in European Journal of Taxonomy 724 on pages 61-62, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.724.1157, http://zenodo.org/record/429807