Habronestes driscolli, Baehr, 2003

Baehr, Barbara, 2003, Revision of the Australian Spider Genus Habronestes (Araneae: Zodariidae). Species of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Records of the Australian Museum 55 (3), pp. 343-376 : 347

Habronestes driscolli n.sp.

Figs. 21, 22 , 25, 26 , 138

Type material. HOLOTYPE 3: NSW, Pulletop, 33°58'46"S 146°30'28"E, 24.ii.1999, DD, QM S58544 . PARATYPES: 1♀ QM S51499 , 13 QM S51540 , both same data as holotype .

Diagnosis. Carapace yellow orange. Abdomen with 2 pairs of white patches on anterior part and 2–3 patches in front of spinnerets. Cymbium extremely bent, RCF reaching tip. Epigyne with very small central opening.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 5.52; carapace 2.32 long, 1.80 wide; 1.16 high; cl/cw 1.29; sternum 1.00 long, 1.00 wide; sl/sw 1.00. Abdomen 3.20 long, 2.40 wide. Colour. Carapace yellow orange, with dark margin; sternum & chelicerae yellow, orange; maxillae & labium yellowish orange, distally white.Abdomen medium brown with 2 pairs of white patches on anterior part and 2–3 patches in front of spinnerets; laterally pale brown with 1 long horizontal white stripe reaching front; ventrally pale brown; legs orange brown to yellow. Carapace. Raised at front. Eyes. In 3 rows, 2 4 2. PLE largest. Eye group width 0.76 of headwidth; AME 0.10; ALE 0.10; PME 0.18; PLE 0.30; AME–AME 0.08; AME–ALE 0.18; ALE–PLE 0.10; PME– PME 0.14; PME–PLE 0.16. MOQ:AME–PME 0.46; AME– AME 0.28; PME–PME 0.50. Clypeus & chilum. Clypeus 0.56 high; chilum divided. Legs. Length formula 4312; femora I–III with 1 row, femur IV with 2 rows of long thin setae ventrally; paired claws with 15 or more teeth. Male palp ( Figs. 21, 22 ). RCF deep, running entire length of cymbium, RCF and cymbium strongly bent; cymbium with 4 strong spines apically; DTA with a flattened stalk; VTA with sharp tip; embolus originates retrolaterally. Tibiae short with 2 long prolateral setae, and with a group of bent spines retrolaterally; DTiA as long as ventrolateral apophysis; VTiA short ( Fig. 22 ).

Female (paratype QM S51499 ). Total length 4.40; carapace 2.20 long, 1.76 wide; 1.12 high; cl/cw 1.25; sternum 0.96 long, 0.96 wide; sl/sw 1.00. Abdomen 2.20 long, 1.48 wide.

Colour. As in male. Eyes. Pattern as in male. Eye group width 0.84 of headwidth; AME 0.10; ALE 0.10; PME 0.18; PLE 0.30; AME–AME 0.08; AME–ALE 0.18; ALE–PLE 0.10; PME–PME 0.14; PME–PLE 0.16. MOQ: AME–PME 0.46; AME–AME 0.28; PME–PME 0.50. Clypeus 0.56 high. Epigyne ( Figs. 25, 26 ). With small posterior oval to semicircular opening. Vulva with extremely long, spiralled copulatory ducts ending in almost touching spermathecae.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in western New South Wales ( Fig. 138 ).

Etymology. Species name is a patronym in honour Dr Don Driscoll, the collector of the type.

Figures

Figs. 17–22. Habronestes australiensis species-group male palps, ventral view (above), lateral view (below): (17– 18) Habronestes pseudoaustraliensis n.sp.; (19–20) Habronestes hamatus n.sp.; (21–22) Habronestes driscolli n.sp. Scale 0.5 mm. DTA = dorsal tegular apophysis; DTiA = dorsolateral tibial apophysis; LTA = lateral tegular apophysis; RCF = retrolateral cymbial fold; VTA = ventral tegular apophysis; VTiA = ventral tibial apophysis.

Figs. 23–26. Habronestes australiensis species-group epigynes, ventral view (above), vulvae, dorsal view (below): (23–24) Habronestes pseudoaustraliensis n.sp.; (25–26) Habronestes driscolli n.sp. Scales 0.5 mm.

Figs. 138–143. New South Wales, showing collection localities: (138) species of Habronestes australiensis species-group; (139) species of Habronestes macedonensis species-group; (140–143) species of Habronestes pictus species-group.