Episinus papilionaceous Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022

Hu, Changhao, Wei, Mian, Liu, Jie & Xu, Xiang, 2025, Asiopisinus gen. nov., a new genus of the family Theridiidae Sundevall, 1833 (Araneae, Theridiidae) from eastern Asia, Zootaxa 5660 (4), pp. 475-504 : 485-486

Episinus papilionaceous Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022

Figs 5C , 19 , 21C, G, K

Episinus xiushanicus Jin, 2018: 22 , fig. 4‒12.B‒D (♀, misidentified).

Episinus papilionaceous Liu et al., 2022: 39 , fig. 4A‒D (♀).

Type material examined. Holotype ♀: CHINA, Hunan Province: Zhangjiajie City, Badagong Mountain National Nature Reserve ; 29.7864°N, 110.0950°E; elev. 1400 m; 2 June 2018; F.X. Liu & Z.C. Li leg. ( LJ 2018.6.2.001, in CBEE).

Additional material examined. 3♀, CHINA, Hubei Province: Enshi Tujia and Miao Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture , Xuan’en County, Qizimeishan National Nature Reserve ; 29.7472 ‒30.0242 °N , 109.7454‒ 109.7565°E; 1300‒1900 m; 13‒31 July 2023; C.H. Hu & M. Wei leg.

Diagnosis and description. See Liu et al. (2022).

Remarks. This species shares the same somatic characteristics with the male of Episinus xiushanicus Zhu, 1998 , including yellow carapace with broad brown longitudinal marking, 2 brown lateral lines, and black lateral margins, yellow clypeus with a black longitudinal line, brown markings on legs, and 3 pairs of black transverse lines on posterior part of opisthosoma ( Fig. 21C, D, G, H, K, L ). Jin (2018) reported an Episinus species and identified it as E. xiushanicus , which exhibits the same epigynal characteristics with E. papilionaceous ( Jin 2018: fig. 4‒12.B‒ D). However, the photos provided by Jin (2018) are different from original illustrations of E. xiushanicus ( Zhu 1998: fig. 174C, D). Unfortunately, the types of E. xiushanicus are unavailable for examination. Further research is needed to conclusively resolve this question.

Distribution. China (Hubei, Hunan, Zhejiang).

Figures

FIGURES 5A‒D. Chelicerae of Episinis spp., anterior view, arrows point to the tooth on cheliceral margin A E. longabdomenus Zhu, 1998 B E. nanyue Yin, 2012 C E. papilionaceous Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022 D E. xiushanicus Zhu, 1998 (A, D male B, C female). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 19A‒B. Epigyne of Episinus papilionaceous Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022 A ventral view B dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD—copulatory ducts; FD—fertilization ducts; S—spermathecae. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 21A‒L. Habitus of Episinus spp. A, E, I male E. longabdomenus Zhu, 1998 B, F, J female E. nanyue Yin, 2012 C, G, K female E. papilionaceous Liu, Agnarsson, Liu & Zhu, 2022 D, H, L male E. xiushanicus Zhu, 1998 (A‒D dorsal view E‒H ventral view I‒L lateral view). Scale bars: 1 mm.