Nemesia hastensis, Decae, Arthur, Pantini, Paolo & Isaia, Marco, 2015

Decae, Arthur, Pantini, Paolo & Isaia, Marco, 2015, A new species-complex within the trapdoor spider genus Nemesia Audouin 1826 distributed in northern and central Italy, with descriptions of three new species (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Nemesiidae), Zootaxa 4059 (3), pp. 525-540 : 532-533

Nemesia hastensis n. sp.

( Figs 2 , 3 , 4 C, D, 6, 9, 10)

Type material. ITALY: Piemonte: Holotype: nr. NHMB.174, 1(m), Province of Asti, loc. Montafia, 44.98°N, 8.01°E, alt. 210m, mixed deciduous forest, leg. Caprio, 1–15.X.2007 (pt); MCSNB.

Paratypes: ITALY: nr. NHMB.138, 1(f), Piemonte: Province of Asti, loc. Montafia, 44.98°N, 8.17°E, alt. 200 m, oak wood, leg. Caprio, Chiarle, Isaia, Pantini, Paschetta & Tomasinelli, 23.II.2009; nr. NHMB.153.13, 1(m), loc. Tigliole, 44.89°N, 8.08°E, alt. 250m, Robinia wood, leg. Caprio, 113. X.2007 (pt); nr. NHMB.205 1(f), loc. Canale, 44.80°N, 7.99°E, alt. 264m, mixed deciduous forest, leg. Chiarle, Franco, 30.X.2011; nr. NHMB.153.01, 1(m), loc. Capriglio, 45.00°N, 8.01°E, alt. 202 m, wood, leg. Caprio, 8.X.2007 (pt); nr. NHMB.153.07, 1(m), loc. Montemagno, 44.98°N, 8.32°E, wood, leg. Caprio, 30.IX.2007 (pt); nr. NHMB.201, 1(f), loc. Montafia, 44.98°N, 8.01°E, alt. 210 m, mixed deciduous forest, leg. Caprio, 8.X.2007 (pt); nr. NHMB.157, 1(f), loc. Cassinelle, 44.60°N, 8.56°E, alt. 402 m, wood, leg. Isaia, Paschetta, 10.X.2011. All deposited in MCSNB.

Other material examined. ITALY: Piemonte: Province of Alessandria, Cassinelle, 44.60°N, 8.56°E, alt. 402 m, wood, Isaia, Paschetta leg. 1(m)1(f), 10.X.2011, rep. CI; Serralunga di Crea, 44.09°N, 8.28°E, alt. 186 m, wood, leg. Isaia M, Paschetta, 3(m) 5(f) 2(j), 15.X.2011, rep. CI. Province of Asti: Capriglio, 45.00°N, 8.01°E, alt. 202 m, wood, leg. Caprio, 1(m), 8.X.2007 (pt), rep. CI; Dusino San Michele 44.91°N, 7.98°E, alt. 253m, wood, leg. Isaia, Paschetta & Franco, 1(f), 28.XI.2011, rep. NHMR; Montafia, 44.98°N, 8.01°E, alt. 210 m, mixed deciduous forest, leg. Caprio, 7(m), 15(f), 8.X.2007 (pt), rep. CI; Province of Torino: Baldissero Torinese, 45.06°N, 7.81°E, alt. 267 m, wood, leg. Isaia, Paschetta, Giuliano, 1(f), 30.X.2011, rep. CI.

Diagnosis ( Fig. 6 ). Males differ from other species in the N. apenninica group by the twisting of the embolus which starts in the distal half of the segment, best seen in ventral view ( Fig. 6 A), the abruptly narrowing embolus tip, the small tooth proximal of the tip of the embolus, best seen in dorsal and ventral ( Fig. 6 A, B), the short, dorsally regularly curved embolus ( Fig. 6 B), the downward curved narrow embolus tip, best seen in retrolateral view ( Fig. 6 C), and the embolus not clearly separated from the central globular part, best seen in prolateral view ( Fig. 6 D). The spermathecae are composed of two broad, centrally twisted receptacles, more compactly built and with a more globular distal part than in N. apenninica ( Fig. 6 E).

Description. Male holotype ( Fig. 3 left). Measurements: BL=13.6, CL=4.7, CW=3.6, Ca=2.8, Pa=5.8, L1=12.7, L2=11.9, L3=11.7, L4=17.0. Similar to N. appenninica except as noted. Carapace: slightly more elongate. (CL/CW=1.3, CL/Ca=1.7). Color pattern indistinct ( Fig. 4 D), fovea deep recurved crescent distally curved outwardly, central groove separated from crescent, clypeus, bristle pattern: thorax group less developed, pubescence cover absent, eyes compactly grouped on and around a steep process (l/w=1.3), lateral eyes larger than median eyes, ALEs largest (ALE/PLE=1.1), AER slightly shorter than PER (AER/PER=0.9), distinct light patch between ALEs, POP not uniform black. Chelicerae: dorsal uniform brown, slightly darker than carapace but not strongly contrasting. Maxillae: (l/w=1.6), warmer and darker brown than ventral leg coxae, few spiky cuspules along anterior proximal edge. Sternum: (l/w=1.3) light brown. Palp-organ: see Fig. 6 AD. Abdomen: more uniform colored.

Female paratype ( Fig. 3 right). Measurements: BL=17.7, CL=5.3, CW=4.1, Ca=3.2, Pa=7.7, L1=11.1, L2=10.2, L3=9.7, L4=15.2. Similar to N. appenninica except as noted. Carapace: shape slightly more elongate (CL/CW=1.3, CL/Ca=1.6). Color pattern ( Fig. 4 C) with vague mottle pattern in darker zones. Eyes: grouped somewhat more compact (l/w=1.3), lateral eyes are larger than median eyes, POP unbroken between lateral and median eyes, PLE largest (ALE/PLE=0.9), AER slightly shorter than PER (AER/PER=0.98). Chelicerae: less colored. Maxillae: (l/w=1,7): cuspules more spiky. Legs and Palps: with distinctly darker colored distal segments. Abdomen: light and dark blotches in dorsal pattern less contrasting. Spinnerets: darker colored than ventral abdomen. Spermathecae ( Fig. 6 E): general three-partite composition and distribution of glandular tissue.

Variation in type sample. Males (n=4): BL=12.7–14.1, CL=4.7–5.1, Pa=5.8–6.1, L1=12.7–13.5, L2=11.9– 13.1, L3=11.7–12.6, L4=17.0–17.9. Ratio ranges CL/CW=1.2–1.3, CL/Ca=1.6–1.8, Eye-group l/w=1.5–1.8, ALE/ PLE=1.1–1.3, AER/PER=1.0.

Females (n=4): BL=17.5–23.8, CL=5. 7.3, Pa=7.7–10.7, L1=10.6–16.1, L2=10.0–14.1, L3=9.5–13.9, L4=14.9–20.9. Ratio ranges CL/CW=1.2–1.3, CL/Ca=1.5–1.6, Eye-group l/w=1.3–1.6, ALE/PLE=0.8–1.5, AER/ PER=1.0.

Etymology. The species name is an adjective referring to “ Hasta ”, the ancient name of the city of Asti in classical Roman spelling.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Dorsal view of living adult female N. hastensis n. sp. (BL » 18 mm) showing general appearance of Nemesia species included in apenninica group. Note: difference in color intensity between living and preserved specimen (Fig. 3).

FIGURE 3. General appearance of 70 % ethanol preserved N. hastensis n. sp. of apenninica group. Left, male BL = 13.6 mm; right, female BL = 17.7 mm.

FIGURE 4. Broadly similar appearance of three Nemesia new species, described below, of the apenninica group: A, N. apenninica (f), CL = 5.4 mm; B, N. apenninica (m), CL = 5.3 mm; C, N. hastensis (f) CL = 5.3 mm; C, N. hastensis (m), CL = 4.7 mm; D, N. pedemontana (f), CL = 5.8 mm; E, N. pedemontana (m), CL = 4.3 mm. Variations in pigment patterns (although generally slightly darker in N. pedemontana), carapace shape seen here have only weak diagnostic value in Nemesia species level taxonomy.

FIGURE 6. Nemesia hastensis n. sp., camera lucida drawings (as in Fig. 5) of right male palpal organ (A – D) and female spermathecae (E). Distribution of glandular tissue as in N. apenninica.