A new ladybird spider from Hungary (Araneae, Eresidae).

According to the most recent taxonomic literature, three species of the genus Eresus are known in Central Europe, Eresuskollari, Eresussandaliatus and Eresusmoravicus. We recognized a fourth distinctive species from Hungary, which is described as Eresushermani sp. n. Eresushermani has an early spring copulation period, females have a light grey (grizzled) cephalothorax due to a heavy cover of lightly colored setae, and an epigyne with large flat areas posterior to the epigynal pit, while males are distinguished by a broad and blunt terminal tooth of the conductor. An updated and modified comparative table of Řezáč et al. (2008) to include all four Central European Eresus species, and a simple key to the species group's species are given. Habitus, epigyne, vulva and conductor of Eresuskollari, Eresusmoravicus and Eresussandaliatus are also illustrated. An annotated list of papers illustrating Eresushermani due to misidentifications is presented.

Introduction

The velvet spiders (family ) are among the most attractive spiders in Europe. The family contains nine genera and 96 described species worldwide. The genus PageBreak Walckenaer, 1805 contains 15 valid species from Europe, Africa and Asia, of which nine occur in Europe (World Spider Catalog 2015).

According to the latest studies (Řezač et al. 2008, Miller et al. 2012) three species of the group, Rossi, 1846, Martini & Goeze, 1778 and Řezáč, 2008, occur in Central Europe.

The long and complicated scientific history of the group sensu Miller et al. (2012) is discussed in detail in Řezač et al. (2008), so only the Hungarian perspective is described here. The nomenclatural chaos is well illustrated by the fact that might become valid, possibly as a senior synonym of (Azarkina and Trilikauskas 2012).

The Hungarian spider fauna was first studied in detail by Ottó Herman, who also gave a detailed description of the genus (Herman 1879). Herman indicated the presence of two species, C. L. Koch, 1846 (regarded as misidentification of by Řezač et al. 2008 due the “reddish-yellowish hairs on the female”) and (as Olivier), distinguishing α, β, and γ color variants, the latter corresponding to .

However, subsequent authors (e. g. Chyzer and Kulczynski 1918, Samu and Szinetár 1999) recognized only one species, , with adults during the autumn.

Loksa (1969) mentioned a color form of female ( C.L. Koch) from the Mecsek hills and from the vicinity of lake Balaton, which has yellowish hairs on the carapace front, later identified as by Řezač et al. (2008).

Recently, Řezáč et al. (2008) considered as nomen dubium [but see personal communication of Řezáč referred to in Azarkina and Trilikauskas (2012) as it might not] and proposed the name Rossi, 1846 as valid. In this revision a distinct new species, was described (Řezač et al. 2008).

γ-color variant of Herman (1879), C.L. Koch and (in Loksa 1969) were all identified as by Řezač et al. (2008). This means two Hungarian species, with a late spring–early summer copulation period, and with populations mating in autumn (Kovács et al. 2010).

During an ongoing project aimed at mapping the distribution of in Hungary, the presence of an species was observed with an early spring copulation period, which has unique morphological characters, and is described here as new to science.

Materials and methods

Specimens were either collected individually or by using pitfall traps, and stored in 70% ethyl-alcohol.

We studied 31 males, 15 females and 6 juveniles of ; 20 males, 25 females and 4 juveniles of sp. n., and 19 males, 11 females and 3 juveniles of , and 2 males, 3 females and 2 juveniles of . All the measurements are given in millimeters (mm).

All specimens of the new species examined, including holotype and four paratypes, have been deposited in the Soil Zoological Collection (former Collection) of the Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum (HNHM) Budapest (curator Dr. László Dányi).

Specimens and copulatory organs were studied using a Leica MZ FL III stereomicroscope and photographed by Canon Q Imaging Micro 5.0 RTV at the Institute of Genetics, BRC. Scanning electron micrographs were taken with a Hitachi S-4700 microscope at the Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, University of Szeged, Hungary.

Abbreviations

Standard abbreviations of morphological terms follow Miller et al. (2012). Further abbreviations: PME, PLE, Fe, Pt, Ti, Ta, Mt, ML, L, juv..

= posterior median eyes

= posterior lateral eyes

= femur

= patella

= tibia

= tarsus

= metatarsus

= median lobe of epigyne

= leg

= juvenile

HNHM

Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest;

NHMW

Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien;

PPI

Plant Protection Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest;

JLPC

private collection of Jørgen Lissner;

WPPC

private collection of Walter Pfliegler.

Translation of Hungarian geographical names in the description of collection material is -hegy: hill; -völgy: valley.

Results

Taxonomy

sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/CE9C2B06-FBAC-4246-BD75-EC716F94C34F

Figs 1A–B , 3A–C , 4A–B , 5A–B , 6A–B , 7A

Figure 1.

A–H Habitus of living species, photographs: A–B A female (Remete-hegy, Budapest, Hungary) B male (Farkas-hegy, Budaörs, Hungary) C–D C female (Misina-hegy, Pécs, Hungary) D male (Dürnstein, Austria) E–F E female (Paloznak, Hungary) F male (Kéleshalom, Hungary) G–H G subadult female (near to Silkeborg Langsø, Enebærbakken, Denmark) H male (Nørlund, Hallundbæk Stream, Denmark) (D courtesy of Walter Pfliegler G–H courtesy of Jørgen Lissner).

Figure 3.

A–L Scanning electron micrographs of male palps: A–C (Sas-hegy, Budapest, Hungary) D–F (Örkény-Táborfalva-Tatárszentgyörgy, Hungary) G–I (Farkas-hegy, Budaörs, Hungary) J–L (Aulum, Denmark) A, D, G, J ventral B, E, H, K lateral and C, F, I, L apical view; inset in B: a variant of conductor tip with unusually wide groove (Sas-hegy, Budapest, Hungary).

Figure 4.

A–L Copulatory organs of adult females: A–C (Sas-hegy, Budapest, Hungary) D–F (D Misina-hegy, Pécs, Hungary E–F Dürnstein, Austria) G–I (Farkas-hegy, Budaörs, Hungary) J–L (near to Tranemose moor Northwest Jutland, Denmark) A, D, G, J epigyna B, E, H, K epigyna* C, F, I, L vulvae* (*: macerated).

Figure 5.

A–H Schematic drawings of female copulatory organs: A–B (Sas-hegy, Budapest, Hungary) C–D (Dürnstein, Austria) E–F (Farkas-hegy, Hungary) G–H (near Tranemose moor, Northwest Jutland, Denmark) A, C, E, G epigyna B, D, F, H vulvae.

Figure 6.

Drawings of female copulatory organ, rare variant (Fundoklia-völgy, Érd, Hungary): A epigyne B vulva. Note the rounded anterior edge of the plateaus lateral to the median lobe in A and the elongated copulatory duct in B.

Figure 7.

Outline of male prosomas of spp. belonging to the group, in lateral view A B C D (B, C, D after Fig. 4. of Řezáč et al. 2008).

Material examined.

Holotype: Female – HUNGARY, Budapest, Remete-hegy, N 47°32'26.3", E 19°00'24.1", singled, 23.04.2011., G. Kovács (HNHM, collection number: HNHM 7612).

Paratypes: 2 females – HUNGARY, Budapest, Sas-hegy, N 47°28'47.2", E 19°01'04.4", singled, 02.10.2013., G. Kovács, H. Gyurkovics, G., Vári, A. Rákóczi (HNHM, collection number: HNHM -7630-31). – 2 males HUNGARY, Budapest, Remete-hegy, N 47°32'26.3", E 19°00'24.1", singled, 23.04.2011., G. Kovács, (HNHM, collection number: HNHM : 7632–33).

Remark.

The genus in Central Europe has a long and difficult nomenclatural history. Some available “old names” were examined, such as (presently considered nomen dubium, specimens are irretraceable), which is marked as possibly Hungarian (despite the fact Koch himself wrote “Vaterland: Unbekannt” [trans. Locality: Unknown]), but discarded it on the basis of the description and color image (Koch 1838, fig. 317), where the male has six black dots on the opisthosoma and only the dorsal side of hind femora as red, whereas males have only four dots and clearly red hind legs patellae and tibiae, without any black, and tarsi and metatarsi are brownish grey (Fig. 1B). The female of is unknown. The other possible candidate, Rossi 1846 (type specimens can no longer be found in NHMW), described by female specimens only, can also be excluded as a potential synonym, since they all have a large area covered by yellow/orange setae on the cephalothorax [“nitide fulvus” in the description of Rossi (1846)], whereas females have no truly yellow setae on the prosoma at all; instead, its dorsal cephalothorax is light brownish-grey overall. According to Řezáč et al. 2008 (page 275.) Rossi differs from by “having spermatheca that are less lobed, and having copulatory ducts that are almost horizontal in the centre of the vulva.” By contrast, spermathecae of are rather conspicuously lobed, at least as much as in (Figs 4C, F and 5B, D).

Etymology.

Dedicated to Ottó Herman (1835–1914), the Hungarian arachnologist and polymath, who first recognized color variants within Hungarian forms, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his passing.

Diagnosis.

Females of this species differ from all other females by the carapace’s short, off-white to light brown hairs, intermingled with small clumps of long, black hairs, giving a light, grizzled appearance to the prosoma, and by an epigyne with a pair of flat plateaus adjoining the sides of the broad median lobe laterally. Males are characterized by the narrow groove and blunt, broad terminal tooth of the conductor, and distinguished from other species, except , by having almost entirely red hind legs. They differ from males by having red color on the thoracic dorsum only laterally, having a less prominent cephalic region with an almost flat area between PLE and PME, and by narrower strips of white setae on L I. This species has an early spring copulation period, and exhibits a marked difference in the sizes of the sexes: males are relatively small, while females are comparatively large among Central European spp. (Table 1).

Table 1.

Distinguishing morphological characters of species belonging to group (in part after Řezáč et al. 2008).

	Eresus kollari Rossi, 1846 morphotype	Eresus sandaliatus Martini & Goeze, 1778
Females
Prosoma length	3.6–6.1 (mean 4.7)	4.2–7.2 (mean 5.4)
Color of prosoma	black, sparsely sprinkled with off-white to light brown setae, more heavily anteriorly (Fig. 1E)	black, sparsely sprinkled with off-white to light brown setae, more heavily anteriorly (Fig. 1G)
Epigyne	(i) epigynal pit extending all the way to posterior epigyne (Figs 4G, H, 5E)	(i) epigynal pit extending all the way to posterior epigyne (Figs 4J, K, 5G)
	(ii) anterior 1/3 of fissures markedly incurvated sidewards, anterior tip usually not incurvated (Figs 4G,H, 5E)	(ii) anterior 1/3 of fissures slightly inclined sideways, anterior tip weakly bent (Figs 4J, K, 5G)
Vulva	(i) anterior section of copulatory ducts strongly sclerotized, usually elongated (Figs 4I, 5F)	(i) anterior section of copulatory ducts weakly sclerotized, usually globular Figs 4L, 5H)
	(ii) spermathecae distinctly lobed (Figs 4I, 5F)	(ii) spermathecae indistinctly lobed (Figs 4L, 5H)
Approximate ratio between greatest width of ML and that of epigyne	4:10	5:10
Males
Prosoma length	2.6–4.2 (mean 3.6)	2.9–4.1 (mean 3.6)
Number of black spots on opisthosoma	usually 4	usually 6
White hairs on opisthosoma	usually present	usually absent
Color of hind legs	proximally red, distally black (Fig. 1F)	black, exceptionally with some red on femur (Fig. 1H)
White transverse stripes on Leg I–II	narrow, covering only the distal edge of segments (Fig. 1 F)	very broad at the distal part of segments, widely extending into the proximal part of next segment (Fig. 1H)
Red color on thoracic dorsum	only on flanks, at most a few red hairs posteriorly (Fig. 1F)	only on flanks, at most a few red hairs posteriorly (Fig. 1H)
Conductor in lateral view	moderately wrinkled, much longer than wide (Fig. 3 H)	almost smooth, about as long as wide (Fig. 3K)
Terminal tooth of conductor	small, almost straight, pointed (Figs 3G, H, I)	strong, long, almost straight, tip cropped (Fig. 3J, K, L)
Groove of conductor in lateral view	shallow, V-shaped (Fig. 3 H.)	deep, U-shaped (Fig. 3K.)

Note: Without exception, the epigyne of specimens that we studied match those in Fig. 2L–P in Řezáč et al. (2008), but differ slightly from that shown in Fig. 2K (Řezáč et al. 2008), which seems to be depicted also as a drawing in Fig. 4H (Řezáč et al. 2008). The main difference is the direction of the anterior portion of fissures, which are typically directed slightly laterally, instead of medially. To aid differentiation of , we provide comparative photographs and a drawing of epigyne in Fig. 4D–E and Fig. 5C, which we believe to be typical of the species.

Description.

Male. Prosoma (Fig. 1B): Length 2.9–4.1 (mean 3.4, N = 15) Prominent, color dark ferruginous brown, covered by long, black hairs intermingled with scattered, short, white ones. Cephalic region barely broader than thoracic part, weakly broadening towards the front, steeply raised posteriorly, but area between PME PageBreakPageBreakPageBreakand PLE nearly flat. Thoracic part bordered laterally by narrow red stripes, never extending to posterior dorsum.

Chelicerae: Blackish-brown, covered by long, nearly adpressed black hairs; basal half with scattered white hairs on the front.

Legs: Legs I–II dark orange-brown with black hairs; Fe II and Pt II orange with red hairs, Ti II often with a dorsal patch of red hairs. Distal edges of Fe, Pt, Ti and Ta with narrow, white stripe dorsally, usually not extending to the proximal part of the next distal segment. Legs III and IV largely orange, covered with red hairs, Ta and Mt dull grayish-brown due to a mixture of reddish and black hairs, except for a proximo-dorsal patch of red on Mt.

Opisthosoma (Fig. 1B): Dorsally red with scattered white hairs except for two pairs of black spots. Red area and black spots seamed by a more-or less continuous line of white hairs. Ventral side of opisthosoma black with the exception of some red hairs on the branchial opercula.

Palps (Fig. 3A–C): Conductor broad, strongly wrinkled. Terminal tooth broad and blunt, somewhat longer than the lamella, with a strong, sudden bend at the base or somewhat more distally. Groove deep, narrow, ν (Greek nu) or narrow U shaped at the base in lateral view. Inner, spiny lamella high, about as high as terminal tooth.

Female. Prosoma (Fig. 1A): Length 6.6–9.9 (mean 8.2, n = 21), prominent, especially the cephalic region, dark orange-brown with a heavy cover of short, off-white to light brown hairs and with scattered, small clumps of long, black hairs giving a grizzled appearance.

Chelicerae: Dark orange brown, front of basal 1/3–3/4 same color as prosoma.

Legs: Rusty red, Fe, Pt, Ti and Mt of all legs covered by black hairs with pale brown hairs scattered among them, the latter gradually decreasing in number from L I to L IV, usually clustering to form indistinct cross bands dorsally at the distal edge of each segments. Ta usually black, except for a small cluster of pale hairs basally.

Palps: Similar in color to L I.

Opisthosoma (Fig. 1A): Brownish-black, covered by long black hairs with a scattering of short pale hairs at its anterior.

Epigyne (Figs 4A, 5A, 6A): Moderately deep, median lobe broad (ratio between the greatest width of ML to the greatest width of epigyne: 6:10), considerably flared posteriorly, reaching well over the posterior margin of the epigynal pit. Posterior edge of the epigynal depression not reaching posterior epigyne, but followed by a pair of flat, somewhat wrinkled plateaus adjoining the fissures laterally. Posterior part of fissures inclined towards the midline, turning parallel to the longitudinal axis before the short, incurved anterior tips.

Vulva (Figs 4B, 5B, 6B): Spermathecae distinctly lobed, reaching further laterally than copulatory ducts. Anterior part of copulatory ducts weakly sclerotized, usually circular, exceptionally elongated in outline.

Simplified key to the species of the group

Females

Males

Distribution.

Known from seven localities (Fig. 2): Budapest: Remete-hegy (locus typicus), Mátyás-hegy, Sas-hegy, Budaörs: Farkas-hegy, Érd: Fundoklia-völgy and Várpalota-Inota: Víztározó, Baglyas-hegy. With the exception of Érd: Fundoklia-völgy, proved to be syntopic with , whereas all three sp. occurring in Hungary, , and are syntopic at Várpalota-Inota: Baglyas-hegy.

Figure 2.

Known localities of all three species occurring in Hungary.

Habitat.

Edges of a local variety of downy oak scrub woodland () and the interim zone between calcareous open rocky grasslands () and degraded scrubland.

Phenology.

matures in August-September, wandering males can be found from the end of March to the end of April (inferred copulation period) and females lay eggs in June. This phenology clearly sets apart from the other Hungarian species: matures in late spring and mates in early summer, while matures in late summer – early autumn, immediately followed by a copulation period in autumn. The phenology of is essentially the same as that of (Řezač et al. 2008), which, however, does not occur in Hungary or within the Carpathian Basin.

Additional material examined.

Hungary: Remete-hegy, Budapest (1 ♀, 01.11.2008., G. Kovács, HNHM -7669); Remete-hegy, Budapest (1 ♀, 02.09.2008., G. Kovács, HNHM -7670); Remete-hegy, Budapest (3 ♀, 2 ♂, 05.04.2008., G. Kovács, HNHM -7671); Remete-hegy, Budapest (1 ♀, 1 juv., 18.04.2008., G. Kovács, HNHM -7672); Farkas-hegy, Budaörs (1 ♀, 22.09.2013., G. Kovács, H. Gyurkovics, G. Vári, D. V. Nagy, HNHM -7673); Farkas-hegy, Budaörs (2 ♂, 14.04.2013., H. Gyurkovics, G. Vári, HNHM -7674; Sas-hegy, Budapest (4 ♂, 07.04.2012., A. Rákóczi, HNHM -7675); Sas-hegy, Budapest (4 ♂, 25.03.2012., A. Rákóczi, HNHM -7676); Remete-hegy, Budapest (1 ♂, 16.04.2005., G. Kovács, HNHM -7677; Farkas-hegy, Budaörs (1 ♂, 13.04.2012., G. Kovács, HNHM -7678); Farkas-hegy, Budaörs (1 ♂, 21.04.2010., J. Bodor, HNHM -7679); Remete-hegy, Budapest (5 ♀, 16.09.2012., G. Kovács, HNHM -7680); Remete-hegy, BuPageBreakPageBreakdapest (1 ♀, 28.09.2008., G. Kovács, HNHM -7681); Remete-hegy, Budapest (3 ♀, 23.04.2011., G. Kovács, HNHM -7682); Remete-hegy, Budapest (1 ♀, 31.03.2011., G. Kovács, HNHM -7683); Sas-hegy, Budapest (6 ♀, 02.10.2013. H. Gyurkovics, A. Rákóczi, G. Vári, HNHM -7684); Érd, Fundoklia-völgy (1 ♀, 02.10.2013. G. Vári, HNHM -7685-86); Érd, Fundoklia-völgy, (1 ♀, 02.10.2013., G. Kovács, HNHM -7687); Várpalota-Inota (2 juv., 06.07.2014., G. Kovács, G. Vári, HNHM -7688), Mátyás-hegy, Budapest (5 ♂, 1933, G. Kolosváry, HNHM -2943).

Remarks on misidentifications.

Cs. Szinetár (2006): p. 23. Fig. 3

The caption of this figure says "Female

Kovács et al. (2010): figure 1C–F figure 2D

According to captions, fig. 1C–F of this paper depict the genital organs of female

Miller et al. (2012): figure 2A

Figure 2. A. of this paper is mislabeled as

Szinetár et al. (2012): table 2, figure 6

In this paper, figure 6. shows a female

1	Anterior of cephalic region covered by bright yellow/orange setae	Eresus moravicus
–	No bright yellow/orange setae on prosoma	2
2	Entire prosoma covered heavily by off-white to light brown setae; large	Eresus hermani sp. n.
–	Prosoma sparsely sprinkled with lightly colored setae, somewhat more heavily on the front; smaller	3
3	Anterior of fissures only slightly inclined sideways, as in Fig. 5G, spermathecae indistinctly lobed, anterior of copulatory ducts nearly round in outline, weakly sclerotized	Eresus sandaliatus
–	Anterior of fissures markedly incurvated sideways, as in Fig. 5F, spermathecae distinctly lobed, anterior of copulatory ducts elliptical, strongly sclerotized.	Eresus kollari

1	Terminal tooth of conductor strongly incurvated, hind legs almost entirely red	2
–	Terminal tooth of conductor nearly straight, at most weakly bent, red areas on hind legs not so extensive or entirely absent	3
2	Conductor with a blunt terminal tooth and a narrow groove, prosoma barely broadens towards front	Eresus hermani sp. n.
–	Conductor with a pointed terminal tooth and a round groove, prosoma strongly broadens towards front	Eresus moravicus
3	Conductor with a strong, long and slightly bent terminal tooth and a U-shaped (in lateral view) groove, hind legs nearly devoid of red setae	Eresus sandaliatus
–	Conductor with a short, straight terminal tooth and a V-shaped (in lateral view) groove, hind legs with extensive areas of red color	Eresus kollari