On Pardosa schenkell (Araneae, Lycosidae) and its presence in Germany and Poland

The wolf spider Pardosa schenkeli Lessert, 1904 was since long regarded as occurring in Germany and Poland but is excluded from the recent checklist of spiders found in these countries. Re-examination of material collected in Germany and Poland, respectively, verifies its presence in both countries. Characters for distinguishing P. schenkeli and its ally P. bifasciata (C.L. Koch, 1834) are given and illustrated

First record of Aulonia kratochvili (Araneae, Lycosidae) from Europe

The fauna of wolf spiders is rather well-known in certain parts of the Balkan Peninsula, in others less so. While extensive collecting has been undertaken in Bulgaria (summarized in DEL TSHEV & BLAGOEV 1995), other parts, like Greece, still await to be better explored. During a short visit to Greece in 1995, two of my colleagues at the Swedish Museum of Natural History brought back a small collection of spiders. Among the spiders (captured by trapping) were numerous males of tIycosid Aulonia kratochvili DUNIN, BUCHAR et ABSOLON. This species was recently described from both sexes, collected in Azerbaijan (DUNIN et al. 1986) and also found in Turkmenia (SW Kopetdagh: sub "Aulonia sp.n." in FET 1985; MIKHAILOV 1997). Its occurrence in Greece indicates a Pontomediterranean distribution

Pardosa fulvipes (Araneae, Lycosidae) new to Slovakia

During the post-colloquium excursion of the 18th European Colloquium of Arachnology in Slovakia in July 1999, I had the opportunity to collect a small material of wolf spiders at the boundary of the Slovak Paradise National Park c. 20 km south of Poprad. Except for two common species [Pardosa palustris (UNNAEUS) and P. pullata (CLERCK)], numerous females of Pardosa fulvipes (COLLETT) were taken. An additional specimen of the latter was captured at Stara Lesna close to the High Tatras National Park. P. fulvipes was not included in the catalogue of spider species recorded from Slovakia (GAJDOS et al. 1999) though it may previously have been overlooked due to misidentification with some other species in the pullata group

Sitticus inexpectus (Araneae, Salticidae) new to Italy

In spring 1997, while "surfing" on the Internet, I came across the zoological database of "Archivio faunistico delta Laguna di Venezia". Among the species listed was Sitticus rupicola (C. L. KOCH), a species newly studied in connection with the description of the allied species Sitticus inexpectus LOGUNOV & KRONESTEDT (1997). The information in the database caught my interest because it referred to a record from an area close to the sea. While S. rupicola is confined to higher altitudes, S. inexpectus [previously confused with S. rupicola and S. caricis (WESTRING)] has been found in lowland localities, part of them close to the sea

Taxonomic notes on Agroeca (Araneae, Liocranidae)

Agroeca gaunitzi Tullgren, 1952 is stated here to be a junior synonym of A. proxima (O. P.-Cambridge, 1871). The illustrations of the male palp attributed to A. proxima in papers by Tullgren of 1946 and 1952 in fact show A. inopina O. P.-Cambridge, 1886. The record of A. inopina from Finland, quite outside its known distribution range, was based on a misidentification. It is argued that the type species of the genus Agroeca Westring, 1861 should be A. proxima (O. P.-Cambridge, 1871), not A. brunnea (Blackwall, 1833) as currently applied. Protagroeca Lohmander, 1944 is placed as an objective synonym of Agroeca Westring, 1861

Studies on species of Holarctic Pardosa groups (Araneae, Lycosidae). VI. On the identity of Pardosa luciae Tongiorgi with notes on P. trailli (O. P.-Cmbridge) and some other species in the P. nigra-group

The identity of Pardosa luciae Tongiorgi, said to occur in the Swiss Alps, is discussed. It is argued that the description was based on a misplaced male palp of the Nearctic species P. uintana Gertsch. Consequently, P. luciae is removed from current synonymy with the European species P. trailli (O. P.-Cambridge) which is known from Britain and Scandinavia (distribution meapped). Within the P. nigra group of species, P. trailli (with Lycosa carnifex Collett here placed as junior synonym), P. eiseni (Thorell) and P. uintana constitute a close group of species sharing a helical configuraton of the apical part of the embolus. Characteristics of these species and of P. giebeli (Pavesi), endemic to the Central European Alps, are illustrated

Wadicosa ghatica Kronestedt 2017, sp. nov.

<i>Wadicosa ghatica</i> sp. nov. <p>Figs 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15–16</p> <p> <b> Type material. <i>Holotype</i></b> ♂ from INDIA. <i>Karnataka</i>: Jog Falls (14°14’N 74°50’E), 20–22 January 1990 (V. & B. Roth, CASENT 9071571).— <i>Paratypes.</i> INDIA, same collection data as holotype (CASENT 9043828), 1♂ 1♀. <i>Kerala</i>: Pathanamthitta District, Pamba River drainage, Pedenada River, Lahai Estate (9°22’N 76°54E), on river bank, 27 March 1990 (B. Gustafsson, NHRS), 1♂.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The epithet <i>ghatica</i> refers to the occurrence of this species in the Western Ghats.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Male differs from other <i>Wadicosa</i> species except <i>W. quadrifera</i> by having a corkscrew-shaped embolus. It differs from <i>W. quadrifera</i> by lacking a ridge-formed projection (Figs 5, 13, cf. <i>rf.pr</i> in Figs 6, 14) retrolaterally on the tegulum and by having an embolus without a curved acute tip (Figs 3, 11); female differs from that of <i>W. quadrifera</i> (1) by proportions in the epigyne, e. g., plate-formed median depression wider than long in <i>W. ghatica,</i> (2) by lacking the unsclerotized lateral elevations (<i>arrow</i> in Fig. 17) present in <i>W. quadrifera</i> (compare Figs 7, 15 to 8, 17), and (3) by shape of the receptacular complex (compare Fig. 16 to 18).</p> <p> <b> Description. <i>Male</i></b> (Kerala). Total length 5.1; carapace 2.80 long, 2.20 wide.</p> <p> <i>Cephalothorax.</i> Carapace greyish brown with wide, lighter brown indistinct field around fovea. Lateral bands broken into lighter spots, posterior one elongated. Thoracic part furnished with short dark and recumbent whitish hairs, the latter numerous in median field and lateral spots. Clypeus yellowish brown, medially greyish. Chelicerae greyish brown, inner sides distally yellowish. Sternum yellowish grey.</p> <p> <i>Eyes.</i> Width of row I 54 (slightly procurved as seen from in front), row II 70, row III 88, row II–III 68. Diameter of AME 13, ALE 9, PME 26 and PLE 24. Distance between AME 8, between AME and ALE 2.</p> <p> <i>Abdomen.</i> Dorsum blackish, mottled with yellowish dots and with a pattern of yellowish blotches and spots, median spots posterior to lanceolate stripe with blackish dot medially. Lanceolate stripe dark greyish. Venter yellowish grey with recumbent light pubescence and scattered dark hairs.</p> <p> <i>Legs</i> (Table 1). Yellowish with dark greyish annulation. Ti I with two retrolateral spines.</p> <p> <i>Palp</i> (Figs 1, 9, 13). Pt 1.10, Ti 1.05, Cy 2.50. Fe sooty with yellowish patches medially and apically. Pt and Ti yellowish, proximally more sooty. Cy sooty, distally yellowish. Fe apically, Pt, Ti, and Cy proximally with white hairs, otherwise dark and thin lighter hairs. Tegular apophysis with curved main branch (in frontal view) having sclerotized tip pointing obliquely ventrad, and with short, partly sclerotized basal branch (Figs 1, 9). Anterior part of tegulum gives off a conspicuous wide retrolateral process pointing ventrad (Fig. 13, <i>rl.p</i>). No ridge-formed projection as in <i>W. quadrifera</i> (cf. <i>rf.pr</i> in Fig. 14). Terminal part with curved, sclerotized conductor (Figs 11, 13). Embolus shaped as a corkscrew (Figs 1, 3, 9) with tip as in Fig. 11 (cf. tip in <i>W. quadrifera</i>: Fig. 12).</p> <p> <i>Female</i> (paratype). Total length not available (abdomen in bad condition); carapace 3.30 long, 2.80 wide.</p> <p> <i>Cephalothorax and abdomen.</i> Carapace lighter than in male; lateral bands broken into yellowish spots. Chelicerae lighter than in male. Dorsum of abdomen greyish, lighter than in male, venter light brownish.</p> <p> <i>Eyes.</i> Width of row I 60 (slightly procurved as seen from front), row II 78, row III 103, row II–III 78. Diameter of AME 13, ALE 10, PME 27, PLE 25. Distance between AME 10, between AME and ALE 2.</p> <p> <i>Legs</i> (Table 1). Light yellowish brown with dark greyish annulation.</p> <p> <i>Epigyne</i> (Figs 7, 15, 16). Posteriorly with a median quadrangular depression, slightly wider than long, and anteriorly with two close, almost confluent foveolae. Fused rim of foveolae evenly arched (in <i>W. quadrifera</i> this rim is medially slightly protruding). Receptacula bulbous (Fig. 16).</p> <p> <b>Size variation.</b> Carapace lengths of material measured: males 2.80–3.00 (N=3).</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> India (Karnataka and Kerala) (Fig. 19).</p>Published as part of <i>Kronestedt, Torbjörn, 2017, Species of Wadicosa (Araneae, Lycosidae): a new species close to W. quadrifera (Gravely) from the Western Ghats, India, pp. 295-300 in Zootaxa 4300 (2)</i> on pages 296-299, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4300.2.11, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/838087">http://zenodo.org/record/838087</a&gt

Fig. 5 in Species of Wadicosa (Araneae, Lycosidae): transfer of two species from Pardosa and description of three new species from Africa

Fig. 5. Terminal part of left male palp with embolus (em) and conductor (co). — A. Wadicosa cognata sp. nov., from Kenya, Lake Magadi, ventral view. — B. W. Fdelis (Pickard-Cambridge), from Spain, ventral view. — C–D. W. benadira (Caporiacco), from Kenya, WNW of Mombasa. C. Ventral view. D. More frontal view. — E. W. jocquei sp. nov., from Comoros, Moheli, frontal view. Scale bars: A–B = 200 µm, C–E = 200 µm

First record of Aulonia kratochvili (Araneae, Lycosidae) from Europe

First record of Aulonia kratochvili (Araneae, Lycosidae) from Europ

Draposa subhadrae Patel & Reddy 1993, comb. nov.

<i>Draposa subhadrae</i> (Patel & Reddy, 1993) comb. nov. <p>Figs 7, 27, 32, 42, 43, 53</p> <p> <i>Pardosa subhadrae</i> Patel & Reddy, 1993: 128 fig. 5 (3).</p> <p> <b> Type material. <i>Holotype</i></b> : Ƥ, India, Andhra Pradesh, Prakasam District, Chirala (15°46'30''N 80°23'10''E) (T. S. Reddy, National Zoological Collection, Kolkata), not examined. Patel & Reddy (1993) mentioned 33 7Ƥ paratypes and a second, but not precise, locality in Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh.</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> SRI LANKA. <i>Eastern:</i> Kuchchaveli, 20 mi NW Trincomalee (8°49'N 81°06'E), sandy ground, 9–10 February 1962 (loc. 60, Lund University Ceylon Expedition, MZLU, NHRS), 5Ƥ.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Female most closely related to <i>D. lyrivulva</i> and can be distinguished by the shape of the epigyne (Fig. 53): lateral elevations posteriorly being considerably apart and connected by sclerotised crest, and septal tongue relatively narrow (Figs 27, 42, 53), as well as by configuration of epigynal cavity bottom as seen from inside (dorsal view: Fig. 43).</p> <p> <b>Description. Female</b> (from Kuchchaveli, Sri Lanka). Total length 6.4 (carried egg sac). Carapace 3.35 long, 2.55 wide.</p> <p> <i>Prosoma</i> (Fig. 7). Dorsum very light yellowish. Each side, between wide median and wide lateral band, with an irregular brownish area (dark-veined), in some specimens more or less dissolved into patches. Margins light yellow with small blackish spots (with a few dark hairs) above each leg coxa. Dark hairs in brownish parts, white hairs in light areas. Clypeus yellowish with two dark spots below first eye row. Chelicerae light brownish, frontally darker. Sternum whitish-yellow.</p> <p> <i>Eyes.</i> Width of row I 56, row II 82, row III 98, row II–III 81. Diameter of AME, 14, ALE 10, PME 32, PLE 26. Distance between AME 6, between AME and ALE 2.</p> <p> <i>Opisthosoma</i> (Fig. 7). Dorsally mostly whitish (due to guanocytes); in front with yellowish brown lanceolate stripe at about half length flanked by conspicuous blackish spot at each side. (One of the females less whitish, with fewer guanocytes visible and larger spots patterned in reticulated blackish.) Dorsum with short white pubescence and stout erect, rather short dark (brownish) hairs (numerous in lanceolate stripe). Sides whitish, with or without blackish markings. Venter whitish to light yellowish with white pubescence and scattered slender, erect dark hairs.</p> <p> <i>Legs</i> (Table 1). Very light yellowish-brown. Femora with blackish spots, in distal half with incomplete blackish ring; patellae basally dark; tibiae with wide dark basal ring and another one in distal half; metatarsi with dark basal ring and faint darkenings at the middle and distally.</p> <p>Fe Pt Ti Mt Ta Total Fe Pt Ti Mt Ta Total III 1.60 0.75 1.15 1.50 0.80 5.80 IV 2.20 0.90 1.70 2.50 1.15 8.45</p> <p>Female</p> <p>I 1.65 0.85 1.30 1.25 0.90 5.95 II 1.65 0.80 1.20 1.25 0.85 5.75 III 1.60 0.75 1.20 1.50 0.80 5.85 IV 2.25 0.90 1.90 2.70 1.20 8.95</p> <p> <i>Draposa subhadrae</i></p> <p>Female</p> <p>I 2.60 1.20 2.25 2.10 1.40 9.55 II 2.60 1.20 2.10 2.15 1.35 9.40 III 2.55 1.15 2.10 2.45 1.25 9.50 IV 3.50 1.35 3.10 4.35 1.70 14.00</p> <p> <i>Draposa tenasserimensis</i></p> <p>Male</p> <p>I 2.95 1.40 2.55 2.50 1.55 10.95 II 2.90 1.35 2.40 2.45 1.50 10.60 III 2.75 1.25 2.20 2.60 1.30 10.10 IV 3.60 1.50 3.10 4.40 1.85 14.45</p> <p>Female</p> <p>I 2.45 1.15 2.00 1.85 1.20 8.65 II 2.35 1.10 1.85 1.85 1.15 8.30 III 2.25 1.05 1.70 2.05 1.05 8.10 IV 3.10 1.20 2.60 3.60 1.50 12.00</p> <p> <i>Epigyne</i> (Figs 27, 32, 42, 43, 53). Conspicuous deep median cavity divided in front by a septum. Rims of lateral elevations posteriorly apart, with a wider sclerotized crest in between them (cf. <i>P. lyrivulva</i>). Cavity bottom corrugated, of characteristic shape in dorsal view. Spermathecal stalks long, anteriorly terminating in head of spermatheca bent outwards (Fig. 32).</p> <p> <b>Size variation.</b> Carapace length 2.85–3.35 (n=5).</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> This species was described from both sexes. The description and illustrations of the male, however, do not show enough specific details.</p> <p> From the original description of the female sex, notably the shape of the epigyne and the annulation of the legs, I ascribe the material at hand from Sri Lanka to <i>D</i>. <i>subhadrae</i> rather than to an undescribed species.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> India, Sri Lanka.</p>Published as part of <i>Kronestedt, Torbjörn, 2010, Draposa, a new wolf spider genus from South and Southeast Asia (Araneae: Lycosidae), pp. 31-54 in Zootaxa 2637</i> on pages 49-51, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/198469">10.5281/zenodo.198469</a&gt