Habronestes helenae, 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 : 364

Habronestes helenae n.sp.

Figs. 59 , 86, 87 , 104 , 127, 128 , 141

Type material. HOLOTYPE 3: NSW, Dipper Rd , Pilliga Nature Reserve, 30°40'S 148°50'E, 26.iii.1997, H. Smith & R. Harris, AM KS83935 . PARATYPES: 1♀ same data as holotype, AM KS55696 ; 13 Munmorah Recreation Reserve , Geebung camping area, 33°13'S 151°34'E, 3.iv.1987, M. R . Gray , AM KS17134 .

Diagnosis. Eyes in 2 rows, both rows procurved, AME smallest, other eyes subequal. Abdomen with 4 pairs of white patches and 1 long patch in front of spinnerets. LTA massive. Epigyne with paired circular openings.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 5.24; carapace 2.72 long, 2.00 wide; 1.32 high; cl/cw 1.36; sternum 1.24 long, 1.12 wide; sl/sw 1.11. Abdomen 2.52 long, 1.76 wide. Colour. Carapace chestnut brown; sternum pale yellow brown; chelicerae medium brown; maxillae and labium pale brown, distally white. Abdomen sepia brown, iridescent; with 4 pairs of white patches on top and 1 long patch in front of spinnerets; laterally pink brown with 2–3 long and broad white patches; ventrally pale pink brown. Legs yellow brown; clearly annulated; leg I with white coxa, distal angles sepia brown, sepia brown trochanter, sepia brown femur, darker brown lateral stripes on patella and tibia, proximal half of tibiae white. Legs II–IV same except proximal 1 3 of femora II white and distal 2 3 sepia brown with proximal ½ of femora III, IV white and distal ½ sepia brown. Eyes. In 2 rows each with 4 eyes, both rows procurved. AME smallest, other eyes subequal. Eye group width 0.52 of headwidth; AME 0.12; ALE 0.14; PME 0.14; PLE 0.14; AME–AME 0.04; AME–ALE 0.04; ALE–PLE 0.06; PME– PME 0.08; PME–PLE 0.10. MOQ:AME–PME 0.40; AME– AME 0.28; PME–PME 0.34. Clypeus & chilum. Clypeus 0.6 high; chilum undivided, short. Legs. Length formula 4123; femora I, II with 1 row II, IV with 2 rows of long, thin setae ventrally. Male palp ( Figs. 86, 87 , 104 ). RCF deep ¾ of the cymbium length; cymbium with a few strong spines apically; LTA with a thick, short vertical stalk, and an irregular horizontal plate. DTA with a thin, long stalk. VTA long, with sharp tip. Tibiae short; with 2 long prolateral setae; DTiA short rounded; VTiA ( Fig. 87 ).

Female (paratype AM KS55696). Total length 6.48; carapace 2.88 long, 1.96 wide; 1.04 high; cl/cw 1.46; sternum 1.36 long, 1.28 wide; sl/sw 1.06. Abdomen 2.52 long, 1.76 wide. Colour. Same as male. Eyes. Eye group width 0.5 of headwidth; AME 0.12; ALE 0.16; PME 0.16; PLE 0.16; AME–AME 0.04; AME–ALE 0.04; ALE–PLE 0.06; PME–PME 0.08; PME–PLE 0.14. MOQ: AME–PME 0.44; AME–AME 0.28; PME–PME 0.40. Clypeus 0.64 high. Epigyne ( Figs. 127, 128 ). With paired circular openings. Copulatory ducts anteriorly visible through the tegument. Vulva with long, spiralled copulatory ducts ending in large, oval touching spermathecae.

Distribution. Near coastal to western New South Wales ( Fig. 141 ).

Etymology. Species name is a patronym in honour of Ms Helen Smith of the Australian Museum, one of the collectors of the holotype.

Figures

Figs. 59–63. Habronestes pictus species-group body, dorsal view: (59) Habronestes helenae n.sp.; (60) Habronestes grayi n.sp.; (61) Habronestes longiconductor n.sp.; (62) Habronestes minor n.sp.; (63) Habronestes wilkiei n.sp. Scales 1 mm.

Figs. 86–91. Habronestes pictus species-group male palps, ventral view (above), lateral view (below): (86, 87) Habronestes helenae n.sp.; (88, 89) Habronestes grahami n.sp.; (90, 91) Habronestes grayi n.sp. Scales 0.5 mm.

Figs. 98–110. Habronestes pictus species-group male palps, LTA ventral view: (98) Habronestes bradleyi (Pickard-Cambridge); (99) Habronestes grayi n.sp.; (100) Habronestes piccolo n.sp.; (101) Habronestes jocquei n.sp.; (102) Habronestes grahami n.sp.; (103) Habronestes minor n.sp.; (104) Habronestes helenae n.sp.; (105) Habronestes wilkiei n.sp.; (106) Habronestes giganteus n.sp.; (107) Habronestes longiconductor n.sp.; (108) Habronestes pictus (Koch); (109) Habronestes raveni n.sp.; (110) Habronestes hunti n.sp. Scales 0.25 mm.

Figs. 127–132. Habronestes pictus species-group epigynes, ventral view (above), vulvae, dorsal view (below): (127, 128) Habronestes helenae n.sp.; (129, 130) Habronestes grahami n.sp.; (131, 132) Habronestes grayi n.sp. Scales 0.25 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.