Microneta acutalis Irfan, Zhang & Peng

Irfan, Muhammad, Zhou, Gu-Chun, Peng, Xian-Jin & Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, 2025, Survey of Linyphiidae spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from some Oriental Regions of China, Megataxa 15 (1), pp. 1-248 : 106-110

Microneta acutalis Irfan, Zhang & Peng , sp. n.

(尖ạe)

Figures 139–141 , 315

Types. Holotype ♂ ( HNU–HN– IV–1759 ), CHINA, Hunan Prov.: Shaoyang City, Suining Co., Zhaishi Town , Tieshanlin Vill. , Huangshan National Nature Reserve , 26.37646°N, 110.10573°E, 1129 m, 26.X.2017, G.C. Zhou leg. Paratypes: 2♀, with same data as for holotype female ( HNU–HN– IV–1759 ) .

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin adjective “acutalis ” meaning “pointed” and referring to pointed pit hook in male palp.

Diagnosis. Microneta acutalis sp. n. resembles M. circumacta sp. n. and M. viaria in having the similar paracymbium ( Figs 139A–D ; Figs 142A–D ; Wiehle 1956, figs 217–222, Zhang et al. 2022, figs 43E–G), but can be distinguished by the proximal cymbial apophysis almost as wide as proximal end of tibia in M. acutalis sp. n. ( Fig. 139D ; vs. about half the width of proximal end of tibia in M. circumacta sp. n. and about more than half the width of proximal end of tibia in M. viaria ); the tip of embolus almost touches the tegulum, parallel to the distal arm of paracymbium in prolateral view in M. acutalis sp. n. ( Figs 139A, B ), vs. away from tip of tegulum, perpendicular to the distal arm of paracymbium in M. circumacta sp. n. and touches both the tip of tegulum and the distal arm of paracymbium in prolateral view in M. viaria ). The female of M. circumacta sp. n. resembles those of M. maliuxiensis sp. n. and M. viaria in having the similar proximal part of scape in epigyne ( Figs 140A–D ; Figs 144A–C ; Zhang et al. 2022, figs 43C, D), and can be distinguished by the spermathecae round in M. acutalis sp. n. ( Fig. 140D ; vs. oval both in M. maliuxiensis sp. n. and M. viaria ); anterior part of the scape one and half times longer than the width of posterior median plate in M. acutalis sp. n. ( Figs 140B, D ; vs. three times longer than the width of posterior median plate in M. maliuxiensis sp. n. and almost as long as the width of posterior median plate in M. viaria ).

Description: Male (holotype, Figs 141A, B ): Total length: 2.41; carapace 1.02 long, 0.91 wide, yellowish, fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.26 high. Chelicerae with two promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. Sternum longer than wide, pale with microsetae. Eyes: AER recurved, PER straight and slightly wider than AER. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.08, PME 0.07, PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE, 0.05, AME–PME, 0.07, PME–PME 0.06, PME–PLE 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.32, PLE–PLE 0.35, ALE–PLE 0.02. Length of legs: I 3.25 (0.91, 1.07, 0.76, 0.51), II 2.99 (0.88, 0.94, 0.68, 0.49), III 2.70 (0.76, 0.91, 0.57, 0.46), IV 3.65 (0.99, 1.29, 0.88, 0.49). TmI and TmIV present. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Opisthosoma 1.39 long, 0.84 wide, oval, brown.

Palp ( Figs 139A–D ): Femur unmodified, almost longer than both patella and tibia. Patella as long as tibia, ventrally grooved. Tibia conic with one retrolateral and one dorsal trichobothria; cymbium truncated, retrolateral margin with a shallow depression at the base, proximal cymbial apophysis (PCA) somewhat rectangular with round margin; paracymbium (PC) apical pocket (appo) long, the basal part with spines. Pit hook ( PH) longer than wide with pointed end. Radix (R) with a small projection at the base of embolus, with sclerotized curved tip; median membrane (MM) well-developed with serrated margin, lamella characteristica (LC) with 2 spikes and ending in a large prong; terminal apophysis (TA) flap-like, widened at distal end, tip with several teeth. Embolus (E) crescent shaped with finger-like tip; thumb protruding above to the embolus in prolateral view.

Female (paratype, Figs 141C, D ): Total length: 1.92. Carapace 0.76 long, 0.66 wide, yellowish. Clypeus 0.16 high. Chelicerae with five promarginal and six retromarginal teeth. Sternum longer than wide, pale with microsetae. Eyes: AER recurved, PER procurved slightly wider. Eye sizes and interdistances:AME 0.04, ALE 0.07, PME 0.06, PLE 0.05, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.04, AME–ALE, 0.02, PME–PLE 0.04, AME–PME 0.07, ALE–ALE 0.24, PLE–PLE 0.26, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 2.94 (0.84, 1.03, 0.59, 0.48), II 2.65 (0.75, 0.89, 0.58, 0.43), III 2.36 (0.66, 0.77, 0.54, 0.39), IV 3.23 (0.89, 1.12, 0.71, 0.51). TmI and TmIV present. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Opisthosoma 1.16 long, 0.61 wide, oval, brown to dusky grey.

Epigyne ( Figs 140A–D ): Protruding; posterior part of scape (PPS) wider than long in ventral view with well-developed stretcher (ST);entrance groove(EG)inside lateral pockets; lateral pockets (LP) ear lobe shaped expanding laterally; posterior median plate (PMP) almost rectangular; spermathecae (S) globular, present anterolaterally.

Distribution: Known only from the type locality (Hunan Province, Fig. 315 ).

Figures

FIGURE 139. Microneta acutalis sp. n., male holotype. A Palp, prolateral view; B Palp, retrolateral view; C Palp, ventral view; D Palp, dorsal view. Abbreviations: apo—anterior pocket of paracymbium; appo—apical pocket of paracymbium; E—embolus; LC—lamella characteristica; MM—median membrane; PC—paracymbium; PCA—proximal cymbial apophysis; PH—pit hook; R—radix; ST—subtegulum; T—tegulum; TA—terminal apophysis.

FIGURE 140. Microneta acutalis sp. n., female paratype. A, C Epigyne, ventral view; B Epigyne, lateral view; D Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: EG—entrance groove; FD—fertilization duct; LP—lateral pocket; PMP—posterior median plate; PPS— proximal part of scape; S—spermatheca; ST—stretcher.

FIGURE 141. Microneta acutalis sp. n., male holotype (A, B) and female paratype (C, D). A, C Habitus, dorsal view; B, D Habitus, ventral view.

FIGURE 142. Microneta circumacta sp. n., male holotype. A Palp, prolateral view; B Palp, retrolateral view; C Palp, ventral view; D Palp, dorsal view. Abbreviations: apo—anterior pocket of paracymbium; appo—apical pocket of paracymbium; E—embolus; LC—lamella characteristica; MM—median membrane; PC—paracymbium; PCA—proximal cymbial apophysis; PH—pit hook; R—radix; ST—subtegulum; T—tegulum; TA—terminal apophysis.

FIGURE 144. Microneta maliuxiensis sp. n., female holotype. A Epigyne, ventral view; B Epigyne, lateral view; C Vulva, dorsal view.Abbreviations: EG—entrance groove; FD—fertilization duct; LL—lateral lobe; LP—lateral pocket; PMP—posterior median plate; PPS—proximal part of scape; S—spermatheca; ST—stretcher.

FIGURE 315. Distribution of Linyphiidae species in Hunan Prov.: 1. Acanoides cornutus sp. n.; 2. Acanoides ningxiangensis sp. n.; 4. Auriculaiana yongshunensis sp. n.; 5. Baryphyma xiaoxiense sp. n.; 6. Bathyphantes paracymbialis Tanasevitch, 2014; 7. Bathyphantes pseudogracilis sp. n.; 8. Bifurcia ramosa (Li & Zhu, 1987); 9. Bolyphantes arcuatus sp. n; 10. Bolyphantes gladius sp. n.; 11. Capsulia tianmushana (Chen & Song, 1987); 12. Dicristatus cordatus sp. n.; 13. Diplocephalus circularis sp. n.; 14. Drapetisca boletus sp. n.; 15. Drapetisca nanpingensis sp. n.; 16. Drapetisca yuelushanensis sp. n.; 17. Erigone prominens Bösenberg & Strand, 1906; 18. Frontinella zhui Li & Song, 1993; 19. Gnathonarium dentatum (Wider, 1834); 20. Gnathonarium gibberum Oi, 1960; 21. Oedothorax fortis sp. n.; 22. Tapinocyba sulcata sp. n.; 23. Himalaphantes azumiensis (Oi, 1979); 24. Hylyphantes graminicola (Sundevall, 1830); 25. Kaestneria bicultrata Chen & Yin, 2000; 26. Lepthyphantes frondeus sp. n.; 27. Microlinyphia zhejiangensis (Chen, 1991); 3. Microneta acutalis sp. n.; 28. Nematogmus sanguinolentus (Walckenaer, 1841); 29. Nippononeta alpina (Li & Zhu, 1993); 30. Nippononeta coreana (Paik, 1991); 31. Oia baiyunensis sp. n.; 32. Oia lata sp. n.; 33. Oia yinae sp. n.; 34. Oilinyphioides triangularis sp. n.; 35. Paikiniana lurida (Seo, 1991); 36. Parameioneta bilobata Li & Zhu, 1993; 37. Prosoponoides sinensis (Chen, 1991); 38. Ryojius lianghekouensis sp. n.; 39. Ryojius nanyuensis (Chen & Yin, 2000); 40. Scotinotylus longiprojectus sp. n.; 41. Shaanxinus insectus sp. n.; 42. Shaanxinus longiembolus sp. n.; 43. Sinolinyphia henanensis (Hu, Wang & Wang, 1991); 44. Syedra yuelushanensis sp. n.; 45. Tenuiphantes taipingensis sp. n.; 46. Ummeliata feminea (Bösenberg & Strand, 1906); 47. Ummeliata insecticeps (Bösenberg & Strand, 1906); 48. Walckenaeria xingdouensis sp. n.; 49. Walckenaeria extenuata sp. n.; 50. Walckenaeria yanglinensis sp. n.; 51. Wuliphantes tongluensis (Chen & Song, 1988); 52. Yuelushannus diaotangensis sp. n.; 53. Yuelushannus jinyuanensis sp. n.; 54. Yuelushannus wenfengensis sp. n..