Porrhomma microcavense Wunderlich, 1990

Růžička, Vlastimil, 2018, A review of the spider genus Porrhomma (Araneae, Linyphiidae), Zootaxa 4481 (1), pp. 1-75 : 35-37

Porrhomma microcavense Wunderlich, 1990

Figs. 29A–F .

Porrhomma microcavense Wunderlich, 1990 — Wunderlich (1990): p. 164, Figs. 1–5 (descr. ♂ ♀). P. microcavense — Helsdingen & IJland (2011): p. 23, Figs. 4 , 6–8 (♂); ♀ ( Figs. 1–3 , 5 ) is misidentified, it refers to P. microps .

Material examined. Holotype ♂, GERMANY: Bielefeld , 2–5 Aug 1989, leg. S.T. Zähle ( SMF no. 37173-124) ; paratype ♀, Bielefeld , 25–28 May 1989, leg. S.T. Zähle ( SMF no. 37174-124).

Other material examined. CZECHIA: Střemy-Lhotka, 10 Apr –1 Jun 2000, 1 ♀, leg. L. Beran ( NMP). Jablonec nad Nisou , Lukášov, 8 Jul–8 Aug 2016, 1 ♀, leg. P. Vonička (CAK). Mladečské Caves, 1 Apr 2009, 1 ♀, leg. R. Mlejnek. Hranice-Drahotuše, 12 Jun 2005, 1 ♀, leg. J. Bezděk ( IECA) . SLOVAKIA: Nitra-Báb , 3 Aug 1995, 1 Ƌ, 26 Jun 1996, 1 ♀, leg. O. Žitňanská ( WSM) . POLAND: Klucze , 19 Jun 2000, 1 ♀, leg. E. Kula ( IECA) . RUSSIA: Perm Area, Kungur env., Spasskaya Gora Nature Reserve , 15 Sep 1988, 1 Ƌ 2 ♀, leg. S.L. Esyunin ( PSU, No. 4071).

Diagnosis. Males of P. microcavense ( Fig. 29B ) and P. cavernicola are easily identified by the sickle-shaped and extremely thick AP. P. microcavense in native in Europe, P. cavernicola in North America. Female of P. microcavense can be recognised by epigynum with translucent typically curved copulatory ducts ( Fig. 29C ) and spermathecae reaching deep into the abdomen ( Figs. 5B , 29E ).

Description. ♀ (from Nitra, Báb, Slovakia, 26 Jun 1996). Carapace brown, 0.75 mm wide, eyes reduced, PME–PME = 1.7 ( Fig. 29A ). Abdomen grey. Fe I–II with one dorsal spine, Fe I with one prolateral spine. Ti I with one prolateral spine, Ti I–II with one retrolateral spine. Tm Mt I = 0.27, Mt I/CW = 1.04.

Epigynum with translucent typically curved copulatory ducts ( Fig. 29C ). Spermathecae reach deep into the abdomen ( Figs. 5B , 29D–F ).

Ƌ (from Nitra-Báb, Slovakia, 3 Aug 1995). Embolus of middle length with a narrow velum. The sickle-shaped AP is extremely thick ( Fig. 29B ).

Variation. ♂ ♀. Carapace 0.59–0.87 mm wide; the female from Mladečské Caves is the smallest. Fe I–II, and sometimes also III–IV with one dorsal spine. Tm Mt I = 0.27–0.32, Mt I/CW = 0.90–1.16 (n = 5).

Ecology. Only single specimens have been recorded, e.g. in heathland, among shrubs, on forest margins, in alluvial habitats. Has not been recorded in shallow subterranean habitats; only one has been collected in a karst cave.

Global distribution. Europe after Thaler et al. (2003), Esyunin (2007), Helsdingen & IJland (2011), Arachnologische Gesellschaft (2017), Hajdamowicz (in litt.) and this paper. See Fig. 30 .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Porrhomma cambridgei from Jenišovice-Zalažany, Mravín, Czechia. Female habitus. Scale bar, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 2. A–B, Porrhomma pygmaeum, male palp. A, retrolateral view. B, prolateral view. Abbreviations: AP, anterior process of the embolic plate; DSA, distal suprategular apophysis; E, embolus; EM, embolic membrane; EP, embolic plate; PA, posterior apex of the embolic plate; PT-OP, protegulum, outer process; PT-IM, protegulum, inner membrane; ST, subtegulum; T, tegulum. Scale bar, 50 µm.

FIGURE 3. A–B, Porrhomma microphthalmum, male palp. A, retrolateral view. B, prolateral view. Abbreviations as in Fig. 2. V, velum. Scale bar, 50 µm.

FIGURE 4. Porrhomma microps. Female vulva coloured by chlorazol black, dorsal view. Abbreviations: A, appendix; MS, main sack; SL, side loop of the copulatory duct. Scale bar, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 5. A–C, female vulva, lateral view. A, Porrhomma pygmaeum. B, Porrhomma microcavense. C, Porrhomma microps. Scale bars, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 6. A–F, Porrhomma altaica new species from Altai Mts., Azutau Ridge. A, ♂ carapace, frontal view. B, embolic section. C, epigynum. D–F, vulva, ventral, caudal and dorsal. Abbreviations: A, appendix; AP, anterior process of the embolic plate; E, embolus; MS, main sack; PA, posterior apex of the embolic plate; V, velum. Scale bars, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 7. Porrhomma altaica new species from Altai Mts., Gor’ky Belok Mt. Ridge, male palp. Scale bar, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 8. Global distribution of Porrhomma altaica new species.

FIGURE 29. A–F, Porrhomma microcavense from Nitra-Báb, Slovakia. A, ♀ carapace, frontal view. B, embolic section. C, epigynum. D–F, vulva, ventral, caudal and dorsal. Scale bars, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 30. Global distribution of Porrhomma microcavense.