297
Entomol.rom., 13: 297-299, 2008 ISSN 1224 - 2594
Theridion uhligi Martin, 1974 (Araneae: Theridiidae) new to Romania Ioan d
umAAbstract
In this paper is presented and illustrated for the first time in Romanian fauna Theridion uhligi martin, 1974. Till present paper this species was cited just from Holland, Belgium, Germany and Po- land. This new finding extends further to the South-East the distribution of this rare species.
Key words: Theridion uhligi, Theridiidae, Romania.
Introduction
Theridion uhligi martin, 1974 is a species with European distribution, according to Platnick’s spider catalog (plAtnick 2007). However the spe- cies was found just in a few countries of the old continent. more precisely it is mentioned from:
Belgium (JocQué 1977, BosmAns 1982), Holland (helsdinGen 1966, pRinsen 1996, RoBeRts 1998, lAmBRechts 2003, tutelAeRs 2000, 2003), Ger- many (mARtin 1974) and Poland (stARęGA 1978, pRoszynski & stAReGA 2004). In all this countries
the number of specimens captured from this species was low and it is considered as a rare spider.
Results
We have collected one adult male of Therid- ion uhligi on 9 July 2004, at the Natural Reserve of marine Dunes from Agigea locality in the Constanta County (fig. 1) The geographical coordinates for the collection place are: 44º 05’ 13’’ N and 28º 38’ 33’’
E (the coordinates were obtained from topographic maps). The region where we found our specimen
Fig. 1. The collection place of Theridion uhligi martin, 1974.
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has Pontic influences and is one of the driest and hottest in Romania getting less than 400 mm of rain per year and having a medium annual temperature of 11,5ºC.
Our individual was trapped in a grassy area dominated by the Ephedra distachya. At the collec- tion point the soil was sandy and the vegetation cov- erage in the area ranged from 95 to 60 %. The height of the vegetation was about 30 cm.
The specimen was captured with an entomo-
logical net by sweeping method and preserved in alcohol 75%.
For the identification of the specimens we used the papers of Jocqué (JocQué 1977) and Blick’s Spinnen mitteleuropas – Bestimmungsschlüssel available at: www.araneae.unibe.ch.
The description of the Romanian specimen is made on alcohol material. All measurements refer to the specified individual and are given in mm.
Material Deposition.
The material is stored at West University of Timişoara, Faculty of Chemistry-Biology-Geogra- phy, Department of Biology.
Description
Dimensions. Total length: 2,65 mm; carapace 1,1 mm long and 0,8 mm wide.
Carapace is yellowish with rare black hairs especially on the medio-dorsal part and around the
eyes. The thoracic part has a black narrow median line dorsally. Sides of thoracic part of the prosoma are grayish. The eyes are bordered by black fine lines. The clypeus is greysh-yelow. Chelicerae are yellowish. Sternum has triangular shape, yellow- ish color and both lateral sides bordered by a black- grayish wide line.
Abdomen is white on the dorsal part and cov- ered with rare white hairs. The ventral part of the abdomen is also white with one large black spot present in front of the spinnerets. The epigastric re-
Table 1.
measurements of legs segments.
Legs Femora Patella Tibia Metatarsus Tarsus Total
I 3,05 0,40 2,90 1,75 0,75 8,85
II 1,40 0,40 0,95 0,95 0,50 4,20
III 0,95 0,25 0,45 0,65 0,40 2,70
IV 1,25 0,30 0,85 1,05 0,45 3,90
Fig. 2. A - right palp retro-lateral view;
B - palp ventral view;
C - male’s dorsal habitus;
A B C
299 gion has a pale yellow color that gets darker (almost
black) towards the epigastric furrow.
Legs completely yellow do not show any an- nulations. The measurements of the legs segments are shown in the table 1.
Palp. Patella 0,3 mm, tibia 0,25 mm, cymbium 0,6 mm. Femur, patella and tibia yellowish, with rare black hairs. On the ventral part of the tibia are present 6 black long hairs. Shape and morphology of the palp’s structures have the characteristics men- tioned by Jocqué in 1977. The only difference is in the size of the cymbium. The Romanian specimen has a 0,6 mm long cymbium, therefore shorter by 0,3 mm then the Belgian specimens.
Discussions.
Our finding extends considerably to the South-East the distribution area of Theridion uhligi and also brings new data on the ecological prefer- ences of this rare species.
The new drawings (fig. 2. A, B, C) of the spe- cies will be a contribution to the taxonomic charac- teristics of Theridion uhligi.
The specimen from Romania differs from those found in northern Europe by the smaller length of the cymbium and by the coloration of the abdomen and legs.
Acknowledgements
I am indebted to the following persons: Her- rmann Andreas, Christo Deltshev, Barbara Kno- flach-Thaler and Theo Blick for the papers provided and for their precious advices on this species.
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