The carapace is short and broad; its length exceeds the width only in some genera (Tibellus, Thanatus). In the other genera, the carapace is as long as wide. It bears cut-out radial depressions; the anterior edge of the carapace is cut o or somewhat rounded. The eight day eyes are of almost uniform size and arranged in two transversal rows. The chelicerae are arranged vertically;
the edge of the cheliceral furrow is without teeth or with 1-2 small teeth, and a short and thick claw. The poison gland is large. The labium is plane and elongated. The gnathocoxae are long, wide and laterally cut o at the basis.
The oval sternum is heart-shaped or triangular.
The female palpus has one claw; in males it is developed as a copulatory organ formed like a bowl and bearing a comparatively simple bulbus with a long embolus. The tibia bears 13 appendages, in some taxa four appendages (Oxyptila) but Tibellus maritimus and T. oblongus lack any appendages.
The legs are long and directed sidewards. Legs I and II are very long. In the Philodromidae, all legs are of comparable length. The tarsus is armed with two dentate claws.
The form of the abdomen is variable, round or oval; its posterior part is round (Thomisinae), or wedge-like pointed (Philodrominae). Sometimes the abdomen is strongly elongated. Six spinnerets are situated on the venter. A colulus is developed. The body is covered with silky and thick setae. The genus Oxyptila is characterized by pinhead-formed spines, which cover the whole body and the sides. The coloration is strongly variable, depending on the substrate: on grasses green and on owers taking on the ower's color.
The sexual dimorphism is well developed. During most years they have only one reproductive period (stenochronous forms), but sometimes two pe-riods (diplochronous forms). In some species the females are eurychronous with stenochronous males (Philodromus histrio). The egg sac is lentiform, sometimes bright and attached to coiled-up leaves (Xysticus). Philodromus
7.16. THOMISIDAE (INCL. PHILODROMIDAE) 149 species attach their egg sac to grass, rocks and plant stipes. The egg sac of some representatives is characterized by a scarcity of eggs (3080).
The spiders in this family do not weave webs to catch prey; they are characterized by their vagabond lifestyle. The spiders catch their prey using the long and thick anterior extremities. They feed on aphids, ies, bark beetles, bugs, bees, sawies and others. It is true, these spiders move slowly, but their camouaging coloration helps them in catching prey (especially on owers). Some acrobatically jump onto the prey.
They live in the forest steppe, on owers, in grass, on bushes, below tree bark, below rocks, on the spikes of cereals and others. Many thomisids are eurybiontic and can be found in dierent types of biotopes. Some species are adapted to only one type of habitat, e. g. Xysticus sabulosus lives only in very dry elds with low herbaceous vegetation, Xysticus horticola lives below rocks in spruce forests, others dwell in articial phytocenoses like agrobiocenoses and play an important role in the reduction of pest insects.
There, they quickly establish populations on freshly prepared agricultural elds from adjoining places. This is mainly true for species of this family (Charitonov 1950).
They are widely distributed in the North and the temperate belt but are rare in the tropics. They are distributed in all regions of the former USSR from the lowlands to the snowy mountains of the Pamir and Tian Shan. A total of 1600 species is known, of which 80 are registered in the European part of the former USSR. Currently, 14 genera with 62 species are recorded in Georgia.
Within the family Thomisidae, the representatives of the genus Xysticus, represented with 45 species in the USSR, are of most practical signicance.
Only ve of these species had been reported from Georgia (Ymorkun 1968).
Currently, 27 species of Xysticus are known in Georgia (Mcheidze 1971, 1972).
Key to genera.
Note: Xysticus tristrami (p. 205) and Xysticus nubilus (p. 205) are not keyed.
1(6) Legs III and IV almost or indeed as long as legs I and II. Habitus like Fig. 180. Metatarsus tip with a broad thick brush. Tarsi always armed with an apical scopula. Outer edge of cheliceral furrow with a small tooth. . . subfamily Philodrominae 2(3) PER weakly curved (PME situated in front of posterior edge of the PLE). If PER strongly curved, then tibia I with more than three pairs of ventral spines (not counting apical spines). . . 1. Philodromus (p. 151)
150 CHAPTER 7. KEYS AND DESCRIPTIONS 3(2) PER strongly curved (PME situated behind posterior edge of LE).
Tibia I with a maximum of three pairs of ventral spines (not count-ing apical spines). . . 4 4(5) Carapace not longer than wide and not broader than abdomen (Fig. 189). . . 2. Thanatus (p. 156) 5(4) Carapace markedly longer than wide and wider than abdomen.
Abdomen length 2.53.5 mm, longer than wide (Fig. 201). PME strongly approximated; distance between PME shorter than dis-tance between PME and PLE. . . 3. Tibellus (p. 161) 6(1) Legs III and IV markedly shorter than legs I and II. Habitus like Fig. 204. Metatarsus below the claw without a broad thick brush.
All tarsi without scopula. Outer edge of the cheliceral furrow with-out a tooth . . . subfamily Thomisinae 7(10) Clypeus steep and wide. Distance between AME and PME not exceeding clypeus height. . . 8 8(9) All eyes of similar size. Abdomen not elongated. Posterior part of abdomen with angular apophyses (Fig. 204). . . .
. . . 4. Thomisus (p. 164) 9(8) ALE and PLE larger than the oval ME. Abdomen usually elon-gated and with one posterior median apophysis (Fig. 210). . . .
. . . 5. Tmarus (p. 164) 10(7) Clypeus vertical and narrow. Distance between PME markedly exceeding clypeus width (Fig. 235). . . 11 11(18) Height of the ME rectangle exceeding its base width. . . 12 12(13) Metatarsus I with 46 ventral pairs of spines, without lateral spines or with only one. ALE and PLE on the same protu-berance. Abdomen with posterior and lateral angular apophy-ses. . . 6. Pistius (p. 165) 13(12) Metatarsus I with some lateral spines in addition to the ventral spine pairs. ALE and PLE situated on separate protuberances.
Abdomen rounded, oval or rounded oval, without angular apophy-ses. . . 14 14(15) Body covered with thick and very long setae. AER weakly curved, compared to PER (rarely both rows curved to the same ex-tend) . . . 7. Heriaeus (p. 166) 15(14) Body almost naked, rarely with single short or apically enlarged (ask-like) setae. AER curved stronger than PER. . . 16 16(17) PE of the ME rectangle spaced farther apart than its AE. Body covered only with single, simple setae. . . 8. Diaea (p. 167) 17(16) PE of the ME rectangle not spached farther apart than its AE. Body setae with dierent kinds of (ask-like) tips. . . 9. Oxyptila (p. 168) 18(11) ME rectangle shorter than or equal to its width. . . 19
7.16. THOMISIDAE (INCL. PHILODROMIDAE) 151 19(20) Between both eye rows a sharp transversal ridge. AME
approxi-mated; the distance between them shorter than between AME and ALE. . . 10. Runcinia (p. 174) 20(19) Without ridge between both eye rows. AME distant from one an-other: the distance between them not shorter than between AME and ALE (Figs. 235, 236). . . 21 21(24) Metatarsus I with 57 thin ventral spines and entirely lacking lat-eral spines or with only one. ALE and PLE situated together on one protuberance. . . 22 22(23) Male femur with few spines (on femur I usually two but femur IV with one spine). AME and PME at the same distance from one another. Eyes in AER of the same size. 11. Misumena (p. 174) 23(22) Male femur with numerous spines. In the females, the distance betweeen AME shorter than between PME. ALE somewhat larger than ME. . . 12. Misumenops (p. 175) 24(21) Besides the paired ventral spines, metatarsus I with a number of lateral spines. ALE and PLE situated on dierent protuber-ances. . . 25 25(26) Distance between PME larger than between AME. All eyes of AER of equal distance from one another. Dorsum yellow or white, with star-like markings. . . 13. Synema (p. 175) 26(25) AME and PME at equal distances from one another or AME farther apart from one another than PME. In most cases, distance between AME greater than between AME and ALE. Abdominal markings variable. Abdomen shape like Fig.
274. . . 14. Xysticus (p. 179)
7.16.1 Philodromus Walckenaer, 182653 Key to species
1(14) Males. . . 2 2(3) Carapace and abdomen gray-white. Legs with few black sprinkles.
Body with a dorsal median band. . . 1. Ph. dilutus (p. 153) 3(2) Carapace and abdomen not like this. . . 4 4(5) Palpus tibia with only one apophysis (Fig. 179). Carapace brown, its central area comparatively light but on the sides mixed with lines. Abdomen light brown, edges darker, its anterior part with a longitudinal band. Body length 4.55 mm (Fig.
180). . . 2. Ph. histrio (p. 153) 5(4) Palpus tibia with 23 apophyses. . . 6
53Mcheidze (1997) lists Artanes Thorell, 1869 as synonym.
152 CHAPTER 7. KEYS AND DESCRIPTIONS 6(9) Palpus tibia with three apophyses of roughly the same size. Body length 57 mm. . . 7 7(8) Carapace and abdomen grayish-white, without black spots. . . 3. Ph. margaritatus (p. 153) 8(7) Carapace and abdomen not like this. . . 9 9(6) Palpus tibia with two apophyses; sometimes with a small protu-berance between them. . . 10 10(11) Lateral apophysis of the palpal tibia very short; its length shorter than the length of the ventral apophysis (Fig. 181). Cara-pace and abdomen dark brown, sides white. Body length 3.55 mm. . . 4. Ph. dispar (p. 154) 11(10) Lateral palpus tibia apophysis longer than ventral apophysis. 12 12(13) Ventral apophysis base of the palpus tibia narrower than its distal part. Palpus with a pointed protuberance between the apophyses (Fig. 184). Light brown carapace and abdomen with small brown marks. Body length 35 mm. . . 5. Ph. rufus (p. 155) 13(12) Base and tip of ventral palpus tibia apophysis of almost equal size.
A protuberance is not visible (Fig. 182). Carapace brown and with a light median band. Abdomen yellow, in its anterior part with a dark median band and two medio-lateral bands of the same color (cupreous-golden). . . 6. Ph. aureolus (p. 155) 14(1) Females. . . 15 15(16) Distance between PME and PLE exceeding twice the length of the distance between PME and ALE. Body length 57 mm. . . 4. Ph. dispar (p. 154) 16(15) Distance between PME and PLE not exceeding double distance between PME and ALE. . . 17 17(18) Distance between PME not exceeding distance between the PME and AME. . . 2. Ph. histrio (p. 153) 18(17) Distance between PME exceeding distance between PME and AME. . . 19 19(20) Anterior part of epigyne with a pit (Fig. 185). . . .
. . . 3. Ph. margaritatus (p. 153) 20(19) Anterior part of epigyne without pit. . . 21 21(22) Median epigynal septum with S-shaped lateral edges (Fig. 184 a).
Body length 4.55 mm. . . 5. Ph. rufus (p. 155) 22(21) Median epigynal septum not with such an edge. . . 23 23(24) Eyes of AER not of uniform size. Epigyne like Fig. 183. Body length 68 mm. . . 6. Ph. aureolus (p. 155) 24(23) Eyes of AER of uniform size. Body length 4.55 mm. . . .
. . . 1. Ph. dilutus (p. 153) A. Kulczy«ski (1895) reports Ph. aureolus caespiticola from Gelati, which diers from the nominal form in some characteristics (p. 156).
7.16. THOMISIDAE (INCL. PHILODROMIDAE) 153 1. Philodromus dilutus Thorell, 187554
Description: Carapace length 2.33 mm and somewhat broader; abdomen length 4 mm, width 3.25 mm. The carapace is shingle-colored white; its band in both parts wide. The carapace sides bear an irregular line of shingle-colored whitish marks. The cephalic region is broad, with two curved lines, which almost unite in the posterior part. The sternum is whitish.
Chelicerae, gnathocoxae, labium, palps and legs are light shingle-colored.
The legs bear numerous ne blackish spots, especially on femur, patella and tibia.
The dorsum is shingle-colored whitish, its center bears four blackish spots, forming a trapezoid in the rear part. The anterior part of the dark, spear-shaped band is fringed, with whitish marks behind it. The posterior part of the abdomen sides bears an irregular blackish brown band, some-times with some ne marks. The venter or the entire abdomen is ashcolored whitish, with ne, weakly dark spots, arranged in four longitudinal rows, or medially dark.
Habitat: In grass and bushes.
Distribution: Moscow, Dnepropetrovsk (Ekaterinoslav), Transcaucasus.
In Georgia: Tbilisi (Kulczy«ski 1895), Lagodekhi, Kaspi, Surami (Mchei-dze 1969).
Taxonomy: Platnick (2013): Philodromus dilutus Thorell, 1875.
2. Philodromus histrio (Latreille, 1819)
Description: Female body length 58 mm; male 4.55 mm. The anterior part of the carapace is yellowish-white with a longitudinal brown line; on the sides lined by a marmorated brown fringe. The sternum bears a longitudinal light-gray to white line.
The abdomen is egg-shaped, light gray, with brown lanceolate marks in the anterior half as well as white and brown lines arranged at acute angles (Fig. 180). Epigyne like Fig. 180 a. Male palpus like Fig. 179.
Habitat: In short grass and shrubs. Steppe species.
Distribution: Central and Northern Europe, southern European part of the former USSR, West Siberia. In Georgia: Lagodekhi, Telavi, Betania (Mcheidze 1962). First record for the Transcaucasus.
Taxonomy: Platnick (2013): Philodromus histrio (Latreille, 1819). Mchei-dze (1997) also lists the synonym Ph. elegans Blackwall, 1859.
3. Philodromus margaritatus (Clerck, 1757)
Description: Female carapace length 3 mm, width 3.4 mm; abdomen length 6.3 mm, width 5.4 mm. Male carapace length 3.4 mm, width 3.3 mm.
54In Mcheidze (1997) with brackets.
154 CHAPTER 7. KEYS AND DESCRIPTIONS
„ The carapace is wider than long. The AE form a curved line.
The anterior part of the attened abdomen is cut o and towards the posterior third gradually widening, and in its posterior part tapering and rounded. The dorsum is of dull gray-white bluish color; sometimes the whole surface bears irregularly arranged marks and a black venation. Sometimes the anterior part bears a longitudinal band, but with small inclined black lines. The epigyne is longer than wide (Fig. 185).
ƒ The carapace is cinereous-white; its sides bear black spots. The eye region bears black bands. The ME form a trapezoid, which is as long as wide. The AE are almost uniform and (in anterior view) form a curved line.
The abdomen is similar to the abdomen of the female. The chelicerae are not large, in anterior view at, black with wide brown bands. The legs are very long, with brown marks forming rings.
Habitat: On plant twigs and stipes, during the winter under roots.
Distribution: Japan, USSR, western Siberia, Lake Baikal, Kazakhstan.
In Georgia: Aspindza, Zekari Pass (Mcheidze 1954). First record in the Transcaucasus.
Taxonomy: Platnick (2013): Philodromus margaritatus (Clerck, 1757)55. She also lists the synonym Ph. levipes (L. Koch, 1758) [sic].
4. Philodromus dispar Walckenaer, 1826
Description: Female carapace length 2.3 mm, width 2.2 mm; abdomen length 3.8 mm, width 2.7 mm. Male carapace length 2.3 mm.
„ The broad carapace is brown with a testaceous band, which is some-what narrowed in its posterior part. A V -shaped mark is situated in the center; the hind part often bears a brown median band. The carapace is covered with white setae.
The PME are small and spaced at a greater distance than towards the LE. The AER is strongly curved. The AME are larger than the PME and of the same size as the LE.
The posterior part of the oval abdomen is somewhat broad; the venter is brown with a weakly recognizable broad white fringe. Its anterior part bears an elongated lanceolate dark band; its posterior part bears some transversal bands of the same color. The legs are very similar to the legs of the male.
The large epigynal plate is somewhat protuberant.
ƒThe carapace is brown with dark sides (almost black) and covered with patches of brown setae, forming a thin marginal line. The PE are spaced at almost uniform distances; the ME are somewhat smaller. The AME are larger than the PME but smaller than the lateral eyes.
The legs are rather long and thick, for the most part light yellow and with black spines. The palpus is longer than carapace and femur I.
55In Mcheidze (1997) sic: 'Thilodromus margaritatus', lapsus.
7.16. THOMISIDAE (INCL. PHILODROMIDAE) 155