Clubiona comta C. L. Koch, 1839

Bosmans, Robert, Henrard, Arnaud, Benhalima, Souâd & Kherbouche-Abrous, Ourida, 2017, The genus Clubiona Latreille, 1904 (Araneae: Clubionidae) in the Maghreb, with notes on the genevensis group and new records from the Mediterranean Region, Zootaxa 4353 (1), pp. 1-28 : 18-19

Clubiona comta C. L. Koch, 1839

( Figs 80–87 ; Map 4)

Clubiona comta C. L. Koch 1939: 16 , fig. 440 (♀ syntypes from Germany, not examined, depository unknown).

Clubiona pallipes Lucas, 1846: 212 (♀ holotype from Algeria, Philippeville (= Skikda) (MNHNP, Coll. Lucas; examined); Simon 1878: 237 (Syn.).

Diagnosis. C. comta is easily recognized by the series of pale chevrons occupying the posterior end of abdomen ( Figs 80, 81 ). The male is recognized by the bifid RTA bearing a long, thin and curved ventral apophysis and a shorter, rounded dorsal lobe ( Figs 83, 84 ). The female is characterized by the epigyne with heavily sclerotized basal bar with median notch (corresponding to the copulatory opening), and by the vulva with median, parallel copulatory ducts coiling to the median part of the secondary spermathecae ( Figs 85–87 ).

Description. Relevant previous description in Almquist (2006).

Previous citations in the Maghreb. ALGERIA: Skikda: Philippeville (= Skikda; Lucas 1846).

MAP 4. Records of Clubiona comta C. L. Koch, 1839 and C. pseudoneglecta Wunderlich, 1994 in the Maghreb.

New records. AFRICA: ALGERIA: Boumerdes: Réghaia, estuary of Oued Réghaia , 10m, 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀, pitfalls in Olea europaea maquis, 13.VI.1988, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) . Tizi Ouzou: Yakouren , 800m, 1 ♂, pitfalls in riverine Alnus forest, 3.III.1990, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB). EUROPE : BELGIUM: Wallonia: Bois de On , 1 ♂, sieving litter, 02.IV.2011, P. Oger leg. (CPO); Réserve de Plombières , 1 ♀, sieving litter, 24.X.2011, P. Oger leg. (CPO). PORTUGAL : Beja: Vila Nova de Milfontes, 1 ♀, shrubs bordering salt marsh of Rio Mira , 16.IV.2013, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) . Faro: Marmelete E., 1 ♀, litter in Quercus suber forest, 16.IV.2013, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB). FRANCE : Alpes-Maritimes: Préalpes , 1 ♂, V.1975, P. Hillyard leg. ( NHML) ; Var: Estérel P.N., L'Escaillon W., 260m, 1 ♀, 6.IV.2017, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB). ITALY : Campania: Napoli , Vesuvius, E. slope, 5 ♀♀, beating in deciduous forest, 12.VI.2002, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB). Molisse: Bojano , 1 ♀, beating branches in deciduous forest, 27.VI.2002, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB). Sardinia: Cagliari, Sadali S., 510m, 1 ♀, litter in small Populus forest near spring, 16.IV.2014, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB); Sassari, Alghero W., Stana de Calich , 1 ♂, pitfalls along a creek, 12- 19.IV.2014, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB). GREECE : Epiro: Monodendri, Vikos gorge, 690m, 4 ♀♀, beating in deciduous forest, 1.V.2007, B. Vandenberghe leg. (CRB).

Ecology. In the Maghreb, C. comta was once collected in an estuary and also in an Alnus forest at a height of 800m. This points to a preference of wet habitats, whereas in Europe it occurs also in drier areas. Males were found in March and June, females only in June.

Distribution. C. comta is rare in the Maghreb and was only found in Algeria. It is much more common in South, Central and North Europe and occurs also in Russia.

Figures

FIGURES 80–87. Clubiona comta C. L. Koch, 1839, male and female (from Belgium): 80 male habitus, dorsal view; 81 female habitus, dorsal view; 82 same, ventral view; 83 male palp, retrolateral view; 84 same, ventral view; 85 female epigyne, ventral view; 86 vulva, ventral view; 87 same, dorsal view.Scale bars: 80–82 = 1mm; 83–87 = 0.2 mm.