Tasmanicosa semicincta (L. Koch, 1877) comb. nov.

Half-banded Wolf Spider

(Figs 1H, 3B, 6G, 7C, 24A–K, 25)

Lycosa semi-cincta L. Koch 1877: 908 –910, pl. 78, figs 5, 5A–B; Rainbow 1911: 272. Lycosa semicincta Koch. — McKay 1985: 82.

Orthocosa semicincta (L. Koch) .— Roewer 1955: 282 (type species of Orthocosa Roewer, 1955); Rack 1961: 39. Arkalosula semicincta L. Koch. — McKay 1973: 380.

Type data. Syntypes. Female, Rockhampton [23°22'S, 150°30'E, Queensland, AUSTRALIA], ‘ Daemel 127’ (ZMH, Rack (1961) -catalogue 478, Museum Godeffroy 14567) (examined); immature (penultimate) female, Gayndah [25°37'S, 151°37'E, Queensland, AUSTRALIA] (NHM 1919.9.18.950) (examined).

Other material examined. 46 males and 66 females (1 with eggsac and one with spiderlings), and 17 juveniles from 78 records (Appendix A).

Diagnosis. Tasmanicosa semicincta is the only representative of the genus in which the black pattern on the ventral opisthosoma is restricted to a narrow transverse band behind the epigastric furrow (Figs 24C–D). Male and female genital morphology resembles that of T. ramosa in having an extremely long ridge of the tegular apophysis (Fig. 24J) and corresponding long epigyne (Fig. 24G), but they can be distinguished, in addition to the ventral pattern by the more pointed processes of the tegular apophysis and smoother anterior parts of the median septum.

Description. Male (based on QM S71191).

Total length 14.2.

Prosoma. Length 8.9, width 6.7; carapace reddish-brown with genus-specific Union-Jack pattern; median light band largely restricted to around fovea, marginal light bands narrow (Fig. 24A); sternum light brown, covered with whitish setae (Fig. 24C).

Eyes. Diameter of AME 0.34, ALE 0.27, PME 0.70, PLE 0.65.

Chelicerae. Brown with an elongated patch of silvery setae frontally.

Labium. Brown, with lighter anterior half (Fig. 24A).

Endites. Brown, with light setae in particular laterally (Fig. 24A).

Legs. Light brown, covered with silvery setae; venter of coxae light brown (Fig. 24A).

Opisthosoma. Length 6.7, width 4.7; dorsally with folium pattern bordered by narrow light bands in anterior half (Fig. 24A); venter light brown with dark transverse band behind epigastric furrow (Fig. 24C).

Pedipalps. Cymbium dorsally with dense layer of silvery setae; tip with approximately five macrosetae (Figs 24E–F); ridge of tegular apophysis laterally exceeding cymbium edge and with very long ventral spur (Figs 6G, 24J–K); embolus long and thin; terminal apophysis sickle-shaped, broad and flat with acute tip (Figs 7C, 24I).

Female (based on QM S71174).

Total length 15.6.

Prosoma. Length 9.3, width 6.9; carapace and sternum colouration as male (Figs 24B, D).

Eyes. Diameter of AME 0.37, ALE 0.36, PME 0.83, PLE 0.83.

Chelicerae, labium, endites, legs and opisthosoma. Opisthosoma length 6.6, width 4.7; otherwise as male, but opisthosoma dorsally with more distinct light patches in anterior half (Figs 24B, D).

Epigyne. Approximately two and a half times as long as wide; median septum inverted T-shaped and slightly curved anteriorly (Fig. 24G); spermathecal heads spherical and small, situated around one third along epigyne from base; spermathecal stalks S-shaped (Fig. 24H).

Remarks. Koch (1877) described his Lycosa semi-cincta from syntypes found in Rockhampton and Gayndah lodged in the Museum Godeffroy and (p. 910) found by ‘ Mr Daemel under rocks ’. Rack (1961) states that the female syntypes are missing, but the ZMH holds a female from Sydney (Museum Godeffroy 14567, Rack (1961) - catalogue 478). This female is accompanied with a label by L. Koch naming ‘Daemel 127’ as collector. A second label reads ‘ Sidney’ and ‘ Rock’ suggesting that it may have been found in Rockhampton. Therefore, the female from Hamburg is here considered one of the syntypes in addition to a juvenile from Gayndah lodged in the NHM. Lycosa semicincta is the type species of the genus Orthocosa Roewer, 1955 . Transferring the species to Tasmanicosa places Orthocosa in synonymy with Tasmanicosa, which places all other species currently listed in Orthocosa, all non-Australian of very diverse morphology, in Tasmanicosa . We do not agree with this placement and propose different generic placements for all these species based on a critical evaluation of available descriptions and illustrations of these species (Appendix A).

Life history and habitat preferences. Few records of T. semicincta encompassed information on habitat, including Eucalyptus microtheca, E. largiflorens and Belah/rosewood woodlands. The species has also been found near human habitation (in house, open grass around pub on clayey, loamy soil). Males and females of T. semicincta have been found all year round but in slightly higher numbers in the spring and summer months (September– February). The single female with eggsac in collections was found in October, the single female with spiderlings in February.

Distribution. South-eastern Queensland and New South Wales (Fig. 25).