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

Banded Union-Jack wolf spider

(Figs 3T, 4J, 6H, 7A, 21A–K, 22)

Lycosa ramosa L. Koch 1877: 910 –912, pl. 78, figs 6, 6A; Hogg 1900: 77; Rainbow 1911: 272; McKay 1985: 82. Cynosa ramosa (L. Koch) .— Roewer 1955: 239; McKay 1973: 380.

Type data. Syntypes. 4 immature spiders (possibly females), ‘ New Holland’ [= Australia], no exact locality (SMNS) (presumably destroyed in WWII; Renner (1988)) (not examined).

Other material examined. 52 males, 62 females (1 with eggsac and two with spiderlings), and ten juveniles in 83 records (Appendix B).

Diagnosis. Tasmanicosa ramosa is very distinctive within the genus due to its opisthosoma pattern, dorsally with light transverse, wavy lines (Fig. 21B) and ventrally with a triangular black patch narrowing towards the spinnerets (Fig. 21D). Genital morphology of males and females resemble that of T. semicincta (Figs 21J, 24J) in having a very long ventral process of the tegular apophysis corresponding to a very long epigyne (Figs 24G, 24G); however, the T. semicincta ventral pattern is different consisting of a very restricted dark transverse band behind the epigastric furrow. In addition, the anterior half of the median septum in T. ramosa has a very irregular outline unlike that of T. semicincta .

Description. Male (based on QM S71125).

Total length 16.7.

Prosoma. Length 8.2, width 5.9; carapace reddish-brown with genus-specific Union-Jack pattern and distinct median and marginal light bands (Fig 21A); sternum black with grey setae (Fig. 21C).

Eyes. Diameter of AME 0.38, ALE 0.23, PME 0.68, PLE 0.64.

Chelicerae. Dark brown with an elongated patch of white setae frontally.

Labium. Black, slightly lighter anteriorly (Fig. 21C).

Endites. Black (Fig. 21C).

Legs. Reddish-brown, covered with silvery setae, venter of coxae black (Fig. 21C).

Opisthosoma. Length 7.1, width 4.6; dorsally with dark triangle in anterior half and transverse white, wavy lines in posterior half (Fig. 21A); venter with triangular black patch narrowing posteriorly (Fig. 21C).

Pedipalps. Cymbium dorsally with dense layer of silvery setae; tip with about five macrosetae (Figs 21E–F); ridge of tegular apophysis exceeding width of tegular apophysis with long ventral spur (Figs 6H, 21J–K); embolus sickle-shaped with apically bent tip; terminal apophysis straight, broad and flat (Fig. 21I).

Female (based on QM S71125).

Total length 15.6.

Prosoma. Length 10.4, width 7.3; carapace and sternum colouration as male (Figs 21B, D).

Eyes. Diameter of AME 0.40, ALE 0.28, PME 0.86, PLE 0.88.

Chelicerae, labium, endites, legs and opisthosoma. Opisthosoma length 8.4, width 5.9; otherwise as male, but triangle on dorsum of opisthosoma less distinct (Figs 21B, D).

Epigyne. Approximately 2.5 times as long as wide; median septum inverted T-shaped with short posterior transverse part and irregular borders anteriorly (Fig. 21G); spermathecal head small situated approximately at one third of epigyne length, spermathecal stalks S-shaped (Fig. 21H).

Remarks. Koch (1877: 912) listed as syntypes of Lycosa ramosa (translated from German) ‘four specimens of these beautiful species in the Kgl. Naturalien Sammlung zu Stuttgart [today State Museum of Natural History, Stuttgart] from New Holland without exact locality.’ This collection was destroyed during the night of 12th/ 13th September 1944 during WWII, but a catalogue of its types is available (Renner 1988). This catalogue does not list the Lycosa ramosa types, as it apparently only includes L. Koch types of species described earlier (L. Koch, 1867; 1871, 1872, 1875) (as listed in Renner 1988). Notwithstanding, we consider the type material of Lycosa ramosa destroyed during WWII. Due to Koch’s (1877) accurate original description and illustrations and the unique opisthosoma colouration of this species within the genus Tasmanicosa, it is possible to associate current material with this species and it is not necessary to designate a neotype .

Examination of reference material of spiders (SAM NN14962–3, NN14965–73) of a study on the occupancy of spider burrows by the Adelaide Pygmy Blue-tongued Lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis (Peters, 1863) (McCullough 2000), revealed that the species he referred to Lycosa stirlingae was actually T. ramosa .

Life history and habitat references. Habitat descriptions with records of T. ramosa include chenopod scrubland, semi-arid grassland, Stipa grassland and paddock, suggesting a preference for open areas. Most males of T. ramosa were collected between October and December, with some records from September and January. Females can be found throughout the year, with a peak in December and January. The single female with eggsac was found in April, the two females with spiderlings on their back in November and February.

Distribution. Tasmanicosa ramosa has been found in a belt from south-eastern Western Australia to central New South Wales (Fig. 22). Two areas outside this clearly defined range are southern central Northern Territory and costal Victoria south of Melbourne and it is possible that these records are based on human mediated dispersal (i.e. transport/hitch-king on caravans).