Zodarion italicum (Canestrini)

Shafaie, Sepideh, Pekár, Stano & Ortiz, David, 2025, Zodarion spiders (Araneae: Zodariidae): morphology, molecular characterisation and reassessment of the elegans, italicum, and pusio groups from Iberia and the Canary Islands, Journal of Natural History 59 (25 - 28), pp. 1825-1875 : 1846-1851

Zodarion italicum (Canestrini)

( Figures 16 , 24D–F , 25M , 26M , 27J )

Enyo italica Canestrini, 1868: 196 (♂ ♀).

Zodarion italicum – Simon 1914: 230, 234, fig. 484 (♀).

See World Spider Catalog 2025.

Material examined

FRANCE: 54 ♂, 76 ♀; separated from the type series of Zodarion gallicum ( Simon, 1873) ; labelled as ‘ Corsica, Gallia’ ; MNHN-AR2866 . 1 ♂, 1 ♀; together with type series of Zodarion ludibundum Simon, 1914 ; Corsica; MNHN-AR9916 .

Diagnosis

Zodarion italicum can be distinguished from other species in the italicum group by the broad distal part of the median apophysis ( Figure 24E ), the recurved tip of the embolus ( Figure 24E ), and a trapezoidal epigynal plate ( Figures 25M , 27J ).

Description

For a detailed description of the habitus and male palp, refer to Bosmans (1997). Epigyne. ( Figure 27J ) Epigynal plate triangular, ~3.7 times wider at the base than long. Copulatory openings located at the postero-lateral edges of the epigynal plate.

Molecular data

No molecular data from Iberian populations is available.

Distribution

Europe, Russia.

Figures

Figure 16. Habitus of Z. italicum (Canestrini, 1868). A–B, male (MNHN-AR2866). C–D, female (MNHN- AR2866). A, C, dorsal view. B, D, ventral view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Figure 24. Comparison of palp shape among males belonging to the italicum and pusio groups. A–O, italicum group members. A–C, Z. isabellinum (MNHN-AR1522). D–F, Z. italicum (MNHN-AR2866). G–I, Z. modestum (MNHN-AR1519). J–L, Z. nesiotes (CMU). M–O, pusio group member, Z. cesari (CMU). A, D, G, J, M, P, prolateral view. B, E, H, K, N, Q, ventral view. C, F, I, L, O, R, retrolateral view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm. Abbreviation: B = base of embolus. Arrow indicates the tooth at the base of the tibial apophysis.

Figure 25. Comparison of epigyne shape among females of the elegans, italicum, and pusio groups in ventral view. A–K elegans group members. A, Z. affine (MNHN-AR1523). B, Z. valentii (CMU). C, Z. marginiceps (MNHN-AR9900, 22549). D, Z. mallorca (CJFM-4583, G7572.2929). E, Z. pseudoelegans (MNHN-AR9910). F, Z. beticum (MNHN-AR9950). G, Z. diatretum (MNHN-AR1513). H, Z. maculatum (MNHN-AR1512). I, Z. murphyorum (CJFM-18452, G7572.14697). J, Z. vanimpei (CJFM-18557, G7572.15251). K, Z. elegans (MNHN-AR2853). L–O italicum group members. L, Z. isabellinum (MNHN- AR1522). M, Z. italicum (MNHN-AR2866). N, Z. modestum (CMU). O, Z. nesiotes (MNHN-AR9949, 22556). P, pusio group member, Z. cesari (CMU). Scale bar = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: Ep = Epigynal plate; Ms = median septum.

Figure 26. Comparison of endogyne shape among females of the elegans, italicum, and pusio groups in ventral view. A–K elegans group members. A, Z. affine (MNHN-AR1523). B, Z. valentii (CMU). C, Z. marginiceps (MNHN-AR9900, 22549). D, Z. mallorca (CJFM-4583, G7572.2929). E, Z. pseudoelegans (MNHN-AR9910). F, Z. beticum (MNHN-AR9950). G, Z. diatretum (MNHN-AR1513). H, Z. maculatum (MNHN-AR1512). I, Z. murphyorum (CJFM-18452, G7572.14697). J, Z. vanimpei (CJFM-18557, G7572.15251). K, Z. elegans (MNHN-AR2853). L–O italicum group members. L, Z. isabellinum (MNHN- AR1522). M, Z. italicum (MNHN-AR2866). N, Z. modestum (CMU). O, Z. nesiotes (MNHN-AR9949, 22556). P, pusio group member, Z. cesari (CMU). Scale bar = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: A = atrium; Sp = spermatheca.

Figure 27. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the epigyne among females of the elegans, italicum, and pusio groups, in ventral view. A–H elegans group members. A, Z. affine (CMU). B, Z. valentii (CMU). C, Z. marginiceps (CMU).D, Z. pseudoelegans (CMU).E, Z. beticum (CMU).F, Z.maculatum (CMU). G, Z. murphyorum (CMU). H, Z. elegans (MNHN-AR2853). I–K italicum group members. I, Z. isabellinum (CMU). J, Z. italicum (CMU). K, Z. modestum (CMU). L, pusio group member, Z. cesari (CMU). Scale bar = 40 µm. Abbreviations: CO = copulatory opening; Ei = incision of the epigynal plate; Ep = epigynal plate; Ml = midline suture of the septum; P = pit; Pb = posterior borders of the copulatory openings; Se = septum; Si = incision of the septum.