Spiders collected by Antoine Senglet on Corsica include 26 linyphiid species, one of which, Bolyphantes subtiliseta sp. nov., is described as new from a male and a female. The male of Trichoncus hirtusDenis, 1965 is described for the first time. Three new combinations are proposed: Improphantes huberti (Wunderlich, 1980) comb. nov. and Palliduphantes corsicos (Wunderlich, 1980) comb. nov., both ex LepthyphantesMenge, 1866; P. gladiola (Simon, 1884) comb. nov. ex MansuphantesSaaristo & Tanasevitch, 1996. Agyneta mollis (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871), Entelecara acuminata (Wider, 1834), Minicia marginella (Wider, 1834) and Trichoncus hackmaniMillidge, 1955 are reported as new for the Corsican fauna; Agyneta mesasiaticaTanasevitch, 2000 is new for the Corsican and for the French fauna. In addition, a new locality of A. mesasiatica from Italy (Toscana) is given. The type of distribution is given for each species. The linyphiid fauna of Corsica is rich, containing at least 94 species, and can be characterized as Mediterranean, with a high proportion of presumed endemics (14%).
INTRODUCTION
The spider fauna of Corsica is quite well known and currently includes 557 species, 88 of which are linyphiids (Canard, 1989; Lissner, 2016; Helsdingen, 2018; etc.). The large number of linyphiid species is a surprise for this small and rather arid island, nevertheless, spiders collected by Antoine Senglet in 1971 revealed another five linyphiid species new for Corsica, and one new for science.
The aim of the present paper is to list the linyphiid spiders collected by A. Senglet at different localities on Corsica, and to describe a new species and the previously unknown male of Trichoncus hirtus Denis, 1965.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This paper is based on material kept at the Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Genève, Switzerland (MHNG), unless indicated otherwise. Specimens preserved in 70% ethanol were studied using a MBS-9 stereomicroscope. A Levenhuk C-800 digital camera was used for taking photos. The terminology of copulatory organs mainly follows that of Merrett (1963), Helsdingen (1965), Hormiga (2000) and Saaristo & Tanasevitch (1996). The chaetotaxy of Erigoninae is given in a formula, e.g. 1.1.1.1, which refers to the number of dorsal spines on tibiae I-IV. In Micronetinae the chaetotaxy is given in a different formula, e.g., Ti I: 2-1-1-0, which means that tibia I has two dorsal spines, one pro-, one retrolateral spine, and no ventral spines (the apical spines are disregarded). The sequence of leg segment measurements is as follows: femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus. All measurements are given in mm. All scale bars in the figures correspond to 0.1 mm, unless indicated otherwise. Figure numbers are given above the scale lines, the corresponding distance below. The range for each species is given based on its distribution records taken mostly from Helsdingen (2018) and from the World Spider Catalogue (2018).
Abbreviations
ARA
anterior radical apophysis
DSA
distal suprategular apophysis
E
embolus
EP
embolus proper
L
lamella characteristica
LL
lateral lobes
MD
median denticle
MM
median membrane
PH
pit hook
PMP
posterior median plate
PO
prolateral outgrowth
R
radix
RO
retrolateral outgrowth
S
stretcher
TA
terminal apophysis
TmI
position of trichobothrium on metatarsus I
WH
hook on lateral walls
ZMMU
Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
RESULTS
Agyneta mesasiatica Tanasevitch, 2000
Material from Corsica examined: 1 male; FRANCE, Corsica, Prunelli di Casacconi; 22.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male; Porte Leccia; 2.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 2 males, 3 females; Porto; 4.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Additional material examined: 1 male; ITALY, Toscana, Mt Argentato, 280–400 m a.s.l.; 13.-14.II.1980; leg. A. Focarile.
Type material examined: ZMMU; 1 male paratype of Agyneta mesasiatica; AZERBAIJAN, Caucasus Mts, Talysh Mts, Amburdara near Gosmalian, Populus and Salix forest along stream, litter, under stones; 10.X.1983; leg. S. Golovatch. – ZMMU; 1 male paratype of A. mesasiatica; Baku, Musabekov; 24.VI.1976; leg. P. Dunin.
Remarks: Agyneta mesasiatica was hitherto known from the Caucasus (Azerbaijan; North Osetiya, Russia), W-Kopetdagh Mts (Turkmenistan) (Tanasevitch, 2000), and from throughout Iran (Tanasevitch, 2008, 2009). The species is new for the Corsican, French and Italian faunas (see Helsdingen, 2018). Porto on Corsica is the westernmost known locality of this species. The discovery of this species in the western Mediterranean region is surprising, but a thorough comparison of the new material with type specimens and with specimens from the Near East clearly show that all are conspecific.
Range: Ancient Mediterranean.
Agyneta mollis (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871)
Material examined: 1 male, 2 females; FRANCE, Corsica, Chiavari; 31.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male, 4 females; Ste Trinité - Porto-Vecchio; 25.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male; Ajaccio; 1.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Remarks: The species is new for the Corsican fauna.
Range: Palaearctic-West Nearctic.
Agyneta pseudorurestris Wunderlich, 1980
Material examined: 1 male, 2 females; FRANCE, Corsica, Olmo; 5.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male; Casalabriva; 29.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: Mediterranean.
Alioranus pauper (Simon, 1881)
Material examined: 1 female; FRANCE, Corsica, Corte; 2.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: Mediterranean.
Araeoncus humilis (Blackwall, 1841)
Material examined: 3 males; FRANCE, Corsica, Olmo; 5.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 2 females; Prunellidi-Casacconi; 22.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 2 males, 4 females; Filitosa, Olmeto, bank of river; 16.VI.1999; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: West Palaearctic.
Bathyphantes gracilis (Blackwall, 1841)
Material examined: 2 females; FRANCE, Corsica, Porto; 4.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 female; Olmo; 5.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: Holarctic.
Bolyphantes subtiliseta
sp. nov.
Figs 1–9
Holotype: Male; FRANCE, Corsica, Haut Asco, 1500–1700 m a.s.l.; 3.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Paratype: 1 female; collected together with the holotype.
Diagnosis: Bolyphantes subtiliseta sp. nov. clearly differs from all known congeners by the unarmed paracymbium and the reduced thumb on the embolus. The new species can be easily distinguished from the European representatives of the genus by a thin special seta (sensu Saaristo & Tanasevitch, 1996) on the palpal patella (vs. thick and serrate), by the narrow and relatively long lamella characteristica in the male, by the widely open epigynal cavity, as well as by the shape of the relatively large proscape.
Etymology: The specific epithet, a noun in apposition, is a combination of two words: “subtilis” and “seta”, referring to the shape of the special seta on the male palpal patella.
Description
Male holotype: Total length 2.30. Carapace unmodified, 1.10 long, 0.85 wide, pale brown. Chelicerae 0.45 long. Legs (most of them lost) pale brown. Leg I 6.58 long (1.75+0.35+1.78+1.70+1.00), IV: most segments lost, Fe 1.70 long. Chaetotaxy: most spines lost, see below, under description of female. TmI 0.18. Palp (Figs 1–6): Patella with a thin, slightly curved special seta raised on a small tubercle. Tibia short, unmodified. Cymbium with almost transparent, small, posterodorsal outgrowth and claw-shaped posteroventral outgrowth with a denticle at its base. Paracymbium relatively large, toothless; all pockets strongly reduced. Lamella characteristica narrow, gradually narrowing towards tip, with a small denticle apically. Terminal apophysis complex, massive, strongly sclerotized. Embolus narrow, elongated, slightly curved; embolus proper very short, bifid; its thumb reduced. Abdomen 1.25 long, 0.90 wide, dorsal colour pattern faded, indistinct.
Female paratype: Total length 2.70. Carapace 1.00 long, 0.75 wide. Chelicerae 0.45 long. Spines of legs mostly lost, but based on spine pores chaetotaxy formula probably TiI: 2-1-1-0, TiII: 2-0-1-0. Mt I-II: 1-0-0-0. Leg I 6.01 long (1.63+0.38+1.60+1.50+0.90), IV: most segments lost, Fe 1.63 long. TmI 0.14. Abdomen 1.88 long, 0.63 wide, dorsal colour pattern faded, indistinct. Epigyne (Figs 7–9): Lateral walls each with a hook. Proscape slightly narrowed at base, its length almost equal to its maximal width. Distal part of scape massive, lateral lobes short and wide. Stretcher strongly reduced. Posterior median plate narrow, V-shaped in ventral view. Body and leg colouration as in male.
Distribution: Known from the type locality in Corsica only.
Range: Central Mediterranean, probably endemic to the island.
Figs 1–9.
Bolyphantes subtiliseta sp. nov., male holotype (1–6) and female paratype (7–9). (1) Right palp, retrolateral view. (2) Cymbium, dorsal view. (3) Paracymbium, lateral view. (4) Embolic division. (5) Embolus and apex of radix. (6) Embolus. (7–9) Epigyne, ventral, dorsal and lateral view, respectively.
Bolyphantes nigropictus Simon, 1884
Material examined: 1 female; FRANCE, Corsica, Gorges de l'Ascol; 3.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: West Mediterranean.
Entelecara acuminata (Wider, 1834)
Material examined: 1 male, 1 female; FRANCE, Corsica, Lonza; 28.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male, 2 females; Pont de Zipitoli, Bastelica; 30.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male, 1 female; Prunelli di Casacconi; 22.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Remarks: The species is new for the Corsican fauna.
Range: West Palaearctic.
Erigone dentipalpis (Wider, 1834)
Material examined: 2 females; FRANCE, Corsica, Olmo; 5.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male, 1 female; Sotta; 27.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 female; Chiavari; 31.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: Holarctic.
Gnathonarium dentatum (Wider, 1834)
Material examined: 4 females; FRANCE, Corsica, Ste Trinité - Porto-Vecchio; 25.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: Palaearctic.
Gongylidiellum murcidum Simon, 1884
Material examined: 1 male, 1 female; FRANCE, Corsica, Ste Trinité - Porto-Vecchio; 25.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: Palaearctic.
Gongylidiellum vivum (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1875)
Material examined: 5 females; FRANCE, Corsica, Solenzara; 24.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 female; Ajaccio; 1.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: Disjunct West Palaearctic - Far Eastern.
Maso gallicus Simon, 1894
Material examined: 3 females; FRANCE, Corsica, Chiavari; 31.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male; Ste Trinité - Porto-Vecchio; 25.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: West Palaearctic.
Microctenonyx subitaneus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1875)
Material examined: 2 females; FRANCE, Corsica, Porto; 4.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 female; Corsica, Olmo; 5.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: European-Ancient Mediterranean.
Minicia marginella (Wider, 1834)
Material examined: 1 male; FRANCE, Corsica, Pont de Zipitoli, Bastelica; 30.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Remarks: The species is new for the Corsican fauna.
Range: Palaearctic.
Palliduphantes angustiformis (Simon, 1884)
Material examined: 1 male; FRANCE, Corsica, Satta; 27.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male; Col de la Testa; 27.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male; Pont d'Acorane, Sartène; 28.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 2 females; Propriano; 29.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male, 1 female; Pont de Zipitoli, Bastelica; 30.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 female; Gorges de l'Asco; 3.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 2 males, 4 females; Ajaccio; 1.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: Central Mediterranean.
Palliduphantes gladiola (Simon, 1884) comb. nov.
Lepthyphantes gladiola Simon, 1884: 298.
Mansuphantes gladiola. – Saaristo & Tanasevitch, 1996: 178.
Material examined: 3 females; FRANCE, Corsica, Prunelli-di-Casacconi; 22.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 female; L'Ospédale; 27.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 female; Zonza; 28.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 female; Pont de Zipitoli, Bastelica; 30.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Comparative material examined: SMF #59758; 1 male, 4 females; labeled as “Mansuphantes gladiola; Europa: Frankreich: Corse; August [no year given]; leg. J. Wunderlich”.
Taxonomic remarks: According to the structure of the epigyne, namely, the thin and long proscape surrounded by elongated lateral walls, the strongly reduced distal part of the scape including the lateral lobes and the stretcher, this species clearly belongs to Palliduphantes Saaristo & Tanasevitch, 2001. Details of the male palp also support its placement in Palliduphantes, i.e., the shape of the embolus and of the paracymbium (see Saaristo & Tanasevitch, 2001). Thus, the allocation of Lepthyphantes gladiola in Mansuphantes Saaristo & Tanasevitch, 1996 by Saaristo & Tanasevitch (1996) should be considered as erroneous.
Range: Central Mediterranean.
Palliduphantes longiseta (Simon, 1884)
Material examined: 7 males, 3 females; FRANCE, Corsica, Siaco; 20.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 2 females; Propriano; 29.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male; Chiavari; 31.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male, 8 females; Haut Asco,1500–1700 m a.s.l.; 3.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 female; Porto; 4.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: Central Mediterranean.
Pelecopsis inedita (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1875)
Material examined: 1 male; FRANCE, Corsica, Chiavari; 31.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male; 2 females; Ajaccio; 1.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: Mediterranean.
Prinerigone vagans (Audouin, 1826)
Material examined: 3 females; FRANCE, Corsica, Olmo; 5.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: Cosmopolitan.
Styloctetor romanus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872)
Material examined: 1 male, 1 female; FRANCE, Corsica, Ciaco; 26.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: Palaearctic.
Tenuiphantes tenuis (Blackwall, 1852)
Material examined: 1 male; FRANCE, Corsica, Ste Trinité - Porto-Vecchio; 25.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 5 males, 2 females; Propriano; 29.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 2 females; Pont de Zipitoli, Bastelica; 30.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 2 females; Chiavari; 31.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 3 females; Ajaccio; 1.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 2 males, 2 females; Porto; 4.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 3 males, 6 females; Olmo; 5.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: European-Ancient Mediterranean.
Trichoncus hackmani Millidge, 1955
Material examined: 1 female; FRANCE, Corsica, Ste Trinité - Porto-Vecchio; 25.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Remarks: The species is new for the Corsican fauna.
Range: European-South Siberian.
Trichoncus hirtus
Denis, 1965
Figs 10–16
Trichoncus hirtus Denis, 1965: 436, figs 15–18 (description of female only).
Material: 1 male; FRANCE, Corsica, Sotta; 27.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male, 3 female; Patrimonio; 21.V.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Remarks: This species was originally described on the basis of a single female from Bonifacio, Corsica (Denis, 1965).
Description
Male from Patrimonio: Total length 1.75. Carapace 0.80 long, 0.63 wide, unmodified, pale brown; eyes normal. Chelicerae 0.35 long, unmodified; mastidion absent. Legs pale yellow. Leg I 2.71 long (0.70+0.20+0.68+0.63+0.50), IV 2.60 long (0.75+0.22+0.63+0.60+0.40). Chaetotaxy: 1.1.1.1, length of spines about 1.5–2.5 diameters of leg segment. Metatarsi I-III with a trichobothrium. TmI 0.35. Palp (Figs 10–12): Tibia with a very long, narrow, falcate prolateral outgrowth gradually tapering towards the tip; retrolateral outgrowth conical. Cymbium with a dorsoproximal depression as typical for the genus. Distal suprategular apophysis short, tapered. Median membrane relatively wide, covering anterior apophysis of radix. Radix thin and long, its proximal part widely rounded, its distal part claw-shaped. Embolus long, forming a loop. Abdomen 0.88 long, 0.58 wide, pale grey, sparsely covered with strong hairs dorsally.
Females from Patrimonio: Somewhat bigger than male: total length 1.80–1.91 mm. Body and leg colouration, chaetotaxy, as in male. TmI 0.36–0.37. Posterior median plate of epigyne (= dorsal plate) bent to ventral side and forming a transverse plate. Shape of this plate variable, see Figs 13–16. See also superb description of female by Denis (1965).
Taxonomic remarks: Trichoncus hirtus is most similar to the Eastern European T. sordidus Simon, 1884 and to the Western Mediterranean T. aurantiipes Simon, 1884, distinguished by a smaller median denticle (MD) and a pointed prolateral outgrowth on the palpal tibia, as well as by a larger, claw-shaped anterior apophysis of the radix. The main differences lie in the shape of the posterior median plate of the epigyne: large and rectangular in T. hirtus, almost hidden by the lateral walls in T. sordidus, pyramidal in T. aurantiipes.
Distribution: Known from Corsica only.
Range: Central Mediterranean, presumed endemic to the island.
Figs 10–12.
Trichoncus hirtus Denis, 1965, male from Patrimonio. (10–11) Right palp, retrolateral and prolateral view, respectively. (12) Palpal tibia, dorsal view.
Walckenaeria stylifrons (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1875)
Material examined: 1 female; FRANCE, Corsica, Prunelli-di-Casacconi; 22.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Range: European.
NOTES ON NOMENCLATURE
Improphantes huberti (Wunderlich, 1980) comb. nov.
Lepthyphantes huberti Wunderlich, 1980: 327, figs 25–31 (description of male and female).
Type material examined: SMF #29194; 3 male and 3 female paratypes labeled as “Lepthyphantes huberti Wunderlich; Korsika: Lac de Melo; 1976; det. und ded. Wunderlich”. – SMF #34609; 1 male and 2 female paratypes labeled as “Lepthyphantes huberti Wunderlich; Korsika, Lac de Melo + Lac de Capitello; VII.1986; leg. und det. Wunderlich”.
Taxonomic remarks: The species was original described under Lepthyphantes Menge, 1866 from Corsica (Wunderlich, 1980). Examining the genitalia of paratypes of both sexes showed that this species belongs to Improphantes Saaristo & Tanasevitch, 1996, and in its slender embolus is similar to I. turok Tanasevitch, 2011 (from Turkey) and to I. cypriot Tanasevitch, 2011 (from Cyprus).
Range: Central Mediterranean, presumed endemic to the island.
Palliduphantes corsicos (Wunderlich, 1980) comb. nov.
Lepthyphantes corsicos Wunderlich, 1980: 325, figs 18–19 (description of male only).
Type material examined: SMF #29215; male holotype labeled as “Lepthyphantes corsicos Wunderlich; Korsika: Lucciana; 1976; leg. Kahmann; det. Wunderlich”.
Taxonomic remarks: The species was originally described under Lepthyphantes from a male collected on Corsica. My re-examination of the holotype clearly showed that the species is extremely similar to P. gladiola comb. nov., and like the latter, needs to be placed in Palliduphantes.
Range: Central Mediterranean, presumed endemic to the island of Corsica.
Figs 13–16.
Trichoncus hirtus Denis, 1965, females from Patrimonio. (13) Body, ventral view. (14–16) Epigyne of three different specimens, ventral view.
CONCLUSION
The Corsican linyphiid spider fauna is rich and currently known to contain at least 94 species mainly in the subfamilies Erigoninae (49 species) and Micronetinae (30 species) (Helsdingen, 2018). According to the distribution types of the species, the linyphiid fauna is typical Mediterranean and seemingly has a high level of endemism. At present there are 13 linyphiid species that are presumed to be endemic to Corsica: Bolyphantes subtiliseta sp. nov., Centromerus corsicus (Simon, 1910), Erigonoplus inclarus (Simon, 1881), Hypsocephalus huberti (Millidge, 1975), H. nesiotes (Simon, 1915), Improphantes huberti (Wunderlich, 1980) comb. nov., Palliduphantes corsicos (Wunderlich, 1980) comb. nov., P. gladiola (Simon, 1884) comb. nov., Piniphantes cirratus (Thaler, 1986), Syedra nigrotibialis Simon, 1884, Tapinocyba corsica (Simon, 1884), Trichoncus hirtus Denis, 1965 and Typhochrestus pekkai Bosmans & Oger, 2014. The rather high percentage of endemics (14%) clearly points out the insular character of the Corsican linyphiid fauna.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am deeply grateful to Peter Schwendinger (MHNG) for the opportunity to work on the MHNG spider collections and for editing this paper. Thanks also go to Peter Jäger and Julia Altmann (SMF), and to Kirill Mikhailov (ZMMU), who all provided type specimens and comparative material under their care, as well as to Theo Blick (Hummeltal, Germany) who kindly reviewed the manuscript.
