Holocnemus pluchei (Scopoli, 1763)

Zarikian, Noushig A., Propistsova, Evgenia A. & Marusik, Yuri M., 2021, On spider families (Arachnida: Araneae) new to Armenia, Israel Journal of Entomology (Oxford, England) 51 (1), pp. 103-117 : 113

Holocnemus pluchei (Scopoli, 1763)

( Fig. 8)

Material examined: Ararat Province: 1♂, env. of Urtsadzor, 39°55'26"N 44°48'53"E, 1040 m, clay canyons, 6.v.2021 . Vayot Dzor Province: 1♀ Gnishik River canyon, road to Noravank Monastery, 39°41'14"N 45°13'21"E, 1400 m, 10.v.2021 . Yerevan: 2♂ 1 juv., suburb of Yerevan, Nubarashen , ca. 40°05'32"N 44°32'13"E, 1100 m, 12.v.2021 ; 2♀ 2 juv., city, indoors, v.2021.

Comments: Holocnemus pluchei is the only species of its genus with a wide distribution (almost cosmopolitan). Females and even juveniles of this species can be recognized due to their swollen palps ( Fig. 8A–E). This species can be also recognized by the characteristic abdominal pattern, longitudinal spots on legs ( Fig. 8C, D) and annulations ( Fig. 8D). Furthermore, this species has a very deep and large thoracic fovea unknown in other pholcids occurring in the region ( Fig. 8C, E).