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Theridion hemerobium Simon, 1914 Figs 57-58 Material examined. Greece: Peloponnesos, Nafplio, Argos, brookside, 1 ♂ (CTh), 22.6.2000, leg. J. Buchar. Description, identification. Differentiation from the closely related, larger T. pictum see Levi (1957a, sub T. berkeleyi), Blick et al. (1993), Bosmans et al. (1994), Roberts (1995), Nentwig et al. (2003), Almquist (2005). For additional citations and synonyms see Platnick (2008). Male palp (Figs 57-58). Palp less elongated and considerably smaller than in T. pictum, length of tibia and tarsus ca. 0.4 mm (versus ca. 0.7 in T. pictum). Tibia rather broad at base as compared with distal rim, about 0.7 of distal width in ventral view, thus little constricted. Shape of conductor and median apophysis diagnostic. Prolateral tip of median apophysis closer to tip of conductor than in T. pictum. Embolus short, distal part 0.12 mm long (T. pictum 0.3 mm, see Knoflach 1998). Distribution. Theridion hemerobium is widespread in North America (Levi 1957a) and Europe (Bosmans et al. 1994; Anthes 2000). From Greece it was hitherto not known (Bosmans et al. 1994; Anthes 2000; Bosmans and Chatzaki 2005). The present finding bridges a distribution gap in southeast Europe, though its occurrence is not surprising. A further record comes from Bulgaria (Deltshev 1992); the easternmost one from Israel (Levy 1998). Interestingly, the species has so far not been mentioned from Russia (Mikhailov 1997, 1998). T. hemerobium occurs stenotopically on the vegetation in wetlands and on banks of lakes, ponds and running water (Anthes 2000) and also colonises human-made structures in these habitats, e.g. bridges and fences (Jones 1994; Daws 2003)., Published as part of Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) ��� II, pp. 227-264 in ZooKeys 16 (16) on page 249, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.16.237, http://zenodo.org/record/576484, {"references":["Simon E (1914) Les Arachnides de France 6 (1). Roret, Paris, 308 pp.","Levi HW (1957 a) The spider genera Enoplognatha, Theridion, and Paidisca in America north of Mexico (Araneae, Theridiidae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 112: 1 - 124.","Blick T, Sammorey T, Martin D (1993) Spinnenaufsammlungen im NSG \" Grosser Schwerin mit Steinhorn \" (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), mit Anmerkungen zu Tetragnatha reimoseri (syn. Eucta kaestneri), Theridion hemerobius und Philodromus praedatus (Araneae). Arachnologische Mitteilungen 6: 26 - 33.","Bosmans R, Vanuytven H, van Keer J (1994) On two poorly known Theridion species, recently collected in Belgium for the first time (Araneae: Theridiidae). Bulletin of the British arachnological Society 9: 236 - 240.","Roberts MJ (1995) Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe. Collins Field Guide. HarperCollins Publishers, Bath, 383 pp.","Nentwig W, Hanggi A, Kropf C, Blick T (2003) Spinnen Mittteleuropas - Bestimmungsschlussel. Version 8.12. 2003. Online: http: // www. araneae. unibe. ch /","Almquist S (2005) Swedish Araneae, part 1 - families Atypidae to Hahniidae (Linyphiidae excluded). Insect Systematics and Evolution, Supplement 62: 1 - 284.","Platnick NI (2008) The world spider catalogue, Version 9.5, American Museum of Natural History. - online at: http: // research. amnh. org / entomology / spiders / catalog / INTRO 1. html (Theridiidae updated 13. Dec. 2008).","Knoflach B (1998) Mating in Theridion varians Hahn and related species (Araneae: Theridiidae). Journal of Natural History 32: 545 - 604.","Anthes N (2000) Verbreitung und okologische Charakterisierung der Kugelspinne Theridion hemerobium Simon, 1914 (Araneae: Theridiidae) in Europa. Arachnologische Mitteilungen 20: 43 - 55.","Bosmans R, Chatzaki M (2005) A catalogue of the spiders of Greece. A critical review of all spider species cited from Greece with their localities. Arachnological Contributions, Newsletter of the Belgian Arachnological Society 20 (2, supplement): 1 - 124.","Deltshev C (1992) A critical review of family Theridiidae (Araneae) in Bulgaria. Acta zoologica bulgarica 43: 13 - 21.","Levy G (1998) Fauna Palaestina. Arachnida III. Araneae: Theridiidae. Jerusalem: The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 227 pp.","Mikhailov KG (1997) Catalogue of the spiders of the territories of the former Soviet Union (Arachnida, Aranei). Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University, Moscow, 1 - 416.","Mikhailov KG (1998) Catalogue of the spiders (Arachnida, Aranei) of the territories of the former Soviet Union. Addendum 1. Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University, Moscow, 1 - 48.","Jones D (1994) Theridion hemerobius Simon, 1914: New to Britain. Newsletter of the British Arachnological Society 71: 5.","Daws J (2003) Theridion hemerobium Simon, 1914: Are you looking in the right places? Newsletterof the British Arachnological Society 98 (S. R. S. News 47): 10."]}

Heterotheridion nigrovariegatum (Simon, 1873) Figs 32-33, 44, 59 Achaearanea xinjiangensis Hu & Wu, 1989: 119, male, female, figs 92.1-5, type region: China, Xinjiang, syn. n. Theridion xinjiangensis: ��� Zhu 1998: 187, figs 121A-F, male, female. Theridion xinjiangensis: ��� Song et al. 1999: 148, figs 82E-F, I-J, male, female. Heterotheridion nigrovariegatum: ��� Wunderlich 2008: 388, 460, figs 510-516, male, female, transfer from Theridion. For additional synonyms see Platnick (2008). Material examined. Uzbekistan: Vil. Tashkent, T. Bostanlyk, Tschatkal mountains, Mt. Surenatra, 1550-1700 m, SSE Karamosov, 2 ♂, 15.6.- 17.6.1997, leg. H. and R. Rausch [97-23] . Vil. Kashka Darja, Hissar mountains W, Kukbulok surroundings, 1500 m, 1 ♂, 6.6.1997, leg. H. and R. Rausch [97-15]. Ibidem, 2000-2100 m, 1 ♂, 6.6.1997, leg. H. and R. Rausch [97-16]. Vil. Surchan Darja, 4 km SW Shurob, 14-1500 m, 2 ♂, 26.5.- 27.5.1997, leg. H. and R. Rausch [97-8]. Vil. Dzhizak, T. Farish, Nuratau mountains, Hayat-Saj, S Hayat, 950-1100 m, 1 ♂ 1 subadult ♂, leg. H. and R. Rausch [97-4]. Iran: Prov. Golestan, Tangegol, E Gonbad-e Qabus, 37��22���N / 55��56���E, 800 m, 1 ♂, 22.5.- 24.5.2001, leg. E. Heiss. Turkey: Adapazari 12 km SSW, branch-off to Sapanca, ca. 100 m, beating at edge of oak forest, 1 male (NMW), 14.6.1967, leg. J. Gruber. Greece: Corfu, W of Spartilas, above Pirgi, in olive grove and scrub, beat catches, 1 ♂, 29.5.1996, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [TH260 Ko96-5]. Corfu, Pantokrator, above Spartilas-Taxiarkhis, 650 m, beat catches around chapel, 1 ♀, 31.5.1996, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [TH-263 Ko96- 8]. Italy: Calabria, Catanzaro, Bosco di Stilo, S Paso d. Pietra Spada, 38��29���40������N, 16��21���06������E, 1300 m, 4 ♂, 16.6.2003, leg. H. and R. Rausch [2003-19]. Toscana, Le Regine, Popiglio 800 m, 1 ♀, 15.10.1975, leg. K. Thaler. Molise, Matese, Campitello, 1500-1900 m, 1 ♂, 10.8.1989, leg. G. Osella. Friuli, Trieste, Aurisina, beating from Juniperus, 1 ♀, 13.7.1993, leg. F. Bertrandi. Ibidem, 1 ♂, 4.5.1994, 1 ♀, 2.6.1994, 1 ♂ 7 ♀, 17.6.1994, leg. F. Bertrandi. Lombardia, Lago di Garda, Rocca die Manerba, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, 16.6.1964, leg. K. Thaler. Lago di Garda, Riva, Monte Brione, 7 ♂ 1 ♀, 13.6.1964, leg. K. Thaler. South Tyrol / Alto Adige, Klausen, S��ben, beat catches, 2 ♂ 4 ♀, 19.6.2004, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler. Austria: Northern Tyrol, Oetz, 850-900 m, 2 ♂ 6 ♀, 9.6.2007, leg. Knoflach. Innsbruck surroundings, 700 m, from rolled leaf of Corylus avellana, 1 ♀, 27.7.2008, leg. B. Knoflach. Voucher specimens deposited in CTh, MHNG, MHNP, NHMB, NMW if not specifically indicated. Description, identification. Wiehle (1937), Miller (1971), Zhu (1998; sub Theridion xinjiangensis), J��ger et al. (2000), Deltshev (2003), Nentwig et al. (2003), Wunderlich (2008), for additional citations see Platnick (2008). Generic placement. Wunderlich (2008) established a new monotypic genus Heterotheridion for this strikingly coloured species (Figs 32-33) owing to its genital characters, such as the palpal tibia being elongated into a slender outgrowth, the cymbium with an apical, scaly bulge and a distal embolus directed clockwise (Fig. 59). Furthermore, the anterior median eyes are smaller than the posterior medians, the posterior eye row is procurved and the legs are rather long (Wunderlich 2008). According to its mating behaviour, H. nigrovariegatum does not correspond to representatives of the genus Theridion (Knoflach 2004). Time and duration of sperm induction and number of insertions are clearly different. Sperm induction takes place independently of copulation and lasts correspondingly longer. Copulation usually consists of two insertions only (Knoflach 2004). Synonymy. Theridion xinjiangensis (Hu & Wu, 1989) is synonymised with H. nigrovariegatum from the literature (figs 121 in Zhu 1998) because of the following distinct characters: Conformation of male palp and epigynum very similar (Figs 44, 59). Tibial and cymbial outgrowth typical, bulbus genitalis fully corresponding; conductor characteristically pointed, embolus clockwise, sperm duct highly convoluted within voluminous subtegulum and tegulum, median apophysis inconspicuous and hidden by cymbium (Fig. 59). Epigynum and vulva of Theridion xinjiangensis largely resemble those of H. nigrovariegatum in shape of copulatory orifices, coiled course of copulatory ducts and relatively large receptacula (Fig. 44). The only apparent morphological difference concerns the opisthosoma, which ends in a small tubercle in T. xinjiangensis (see fig. 121B in Zhu 1998). Specimens examined from Uzbekistan strengthen this synonymy. Also the type province Xinjiang is not so far distant from the hitherto known eastern records in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Distribution. Heterotheridion nigrovariegatum shows a wide distribution range within the Palaearctic, reaching its easternmost limits in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan (Mikhailov 1997), W-China (Zhu 1998, Song et al. 1999, sub T. xinjiangensis) and Siberia (Simon 1914: 294, without exact locality), and northernmost in the Russian plain (Mikhailov 1997). This distinctive species has also been reported from a few localities in North Africa, Algeria (Denis 1937) and Libya (Bonnet 1959: 4495; Caporiacco 1936a, Ghat). In Europe it has been assigned as Mediterranean-expansive (Thaler 1981; Knoflach and Thaler 1998). Further records come from several districts in Turkey (T��rkeş and Mergen 2007). In Central Europe a preference for xerothermic habitats is evident (Buchar 1975; Thaler 1981; J��ger et al. 2000). H. nigrovariegatum lives on vegetation. Females hide in rolled leaves where they guard their egg sacs (Kubcov�� and Buchar 2005)., Published as part of Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) ��� II, pp. 227-264 in ZooKeys 16 (16) on pages 238-240, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.16.237, http://zenodo.org/record/576484, {"references":["Simon E (1873 a) Araneides nouveaux ou peu connus du midi de l'Europe (2 e memoire). Memoires de la Societe royale des sciences de Liege (2) 5: 1 - 174, 3 pl.","Hu JL & Wu WG (1989) Spiders from agricultural regions of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Shandong Univ. Publ. House, Jinan, 435 pp.","Zhu M (1998) Fauna Sinica. Arachnida, Araneae, Theridiidae. Academia Sinica, Science Press, Beijing, 11 + 436 pp, 2 photos.","Song D, Zhu M, Chen J (1999) The spiders of China. Hebei Science and Technology Publishing House, Shijiazhuang, 640 pp, 4 pl.","Wunderlich J (2008) Fossil and extant spiders (Araneae). Fossile und heutige Spinnen. Beitraege zur Araneologie 5: 1 - 870.","Platnick NI (2008) The world spider catalogue, Version 9.5, American Museum of Natural History. - online at: http: // research. amnh. org / entomology / spiders / catalog / INTRO 1. html (Theridiidae updated 13. Dec. 2008).","Wiehle H (1937) 26. Familie: Theridiidae oder Haubennetzspinnen (Kugelspinnen). Tierwelt Deutschlands (Fischer, Jena) 33: 119 - 222.","Miller F (1971) Rad Pavouci-Araneida. In: Daniel M, Cerny V (ed.), Klic Zvireny CSSR, Academia, Praha 4: 51 - 306.","Jager P, Staudt A, Schwarz B, Busse C (2000) Spinnen (Arachnida: Araneae) von Weinbergen und Weinbergsbrachen am Mittelrhein (Rheinland-Pfalz: Boppard, Oberwesel). Arachnologische Mitteilungen 19: 28 - 40.","Deltshev C (2003) A critical review of the spider species (Araneae) described by P. Drensky in the period 1915 - 1942 from the Balkans. Berichte des naturwissenschaftlich-medizinischen Vereins in Innsbruck 90: 135 - 150.","Nentwig W, Hanggi A, Kropf C, Blick T (2003) Spinnen Mittteleuropas - Bestimmungsschlussel. Version 8.12. 2003. Online: http: // www. araneae. unibe. ch /","Knoflach B (2004) Diversity in the copulatory behaviour of comb-footed spiders (Araneae, Theridiidae). Denisia (Linz) 12: 161 - 256.","Mikhailov KG (1997) Catalogue of the spiders of the territories of the former Soviet Union (Arachnida, Aranei). Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University, Moscow, 1 - 416.","Simon E (1914) Les Arachnides de France 6 (1). Roret, Paris, 308 pp.","Denis J (1937) On a collection of spiders from Algeria. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 4, 1936: 1027 - 1060, pl. I-V.","Bonnet P (1959) Bibliographia araneorum, Douladoure, Toulouse 2 (5): 4231 - 5058.","Caporiacco L di (1936 a) Aracnidi fezzanesi raccolti dal prof. G. Scortecci nel 1934 - XII (Missione della Reale Societa Geografica). Atti della Societa Italiana die Scienze Naturali 75: 67 - 93.","Thaler K (1981) Bemerkenswerte Spinnenfunde in Nordtirol (Osterreich) (Arachnida: Aranei). Veroffentlichungen des Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum (Innsbruck) 61: 105 - 150.","Knoflach B, Thaler K (1998) Kugelspinnen und verwandte Familien von Osterreich: Okofaunistische Ubersicht (Araneae: Theridiidae, Anapidae, Mysmenidae, Nesticidae). Stapfia (Linz) 53: 667 - 712.","Turkes T, Mergen O (2007) The comb-footed spiders fauna of the central Anatolia region and new records for the Turkish fauna (Araneae: Theridiidae). Serket 10 (4): 112 - 119.","Buchar J (1975) Arachnofauna Bohmens und ihr thermophiler Bestandteil. Vestnik Ceskoslovenske Spolecnosti Zoologicke 39 (4): 241 - 250.","Kubcova L, Buchar J (2005) Biologische Beobachtungen an Spinnen der Waldsteppe. Linzer biologische Beitrage 37 (2): 1325 - 1352."]}

Episinus algiricus Lucas, 1846 Figs 10-13, 15-17, 22, 25-26 Episinus algiricus Lucas, 1846: 269, fig. 11, pl. 17, subadult male, type region: Algeria, not examined. Episinus albescens Denis, 1965: 611, figs 1-3, female, holotype from Landes, France, in MHNP, examined, syn. n. Description, identification. Kulczyński (1905), Denis (1965; sub E. albescens, female), Knoflach and Thaler (2000, female). Species name algiricus as in original description (see Lucas 1846: 269). Synonymy. The type specimen (female) of Episinus albescens, which is in rather poor condition, allows a clear synonymisation according to the epigynal/vulval characters (Figs 15-16). Shape and size of epigynal cavity and receptacula agree well with E. algiricus. Also colour pattern and the abdominal shape figured by Denis (1965) support this interpretation. E. albescens has not been recorded since its description. The type locality in Landes lies within the distribution area of E. algiricus. Material examined. France: Var, Cavalaire, 1 ♂ (MHNP AR 2198, sub Episinus truncatus). Menton, 1 ♂ (MHNP AR 2184), 22.5.1915, E. Simon. ��� Gallia ��� without exact locality, 2 ♂, 6 ♀ 1 juvenile (MHNP AR 2196). Landes, surroundings of Dax, 1 ♀, August 1962, leg. Schilt (Denis 1965; type of E. albescens; faded and shrivelled; MHNP). Corse, Evisa, 1 ♀ (MHNP AR 2206 sub E. angulatus). Italy: Sardinia, Ogliastra, W Baunei, 718 m, 40��06.319��� N, 09��34.867��� E, 1 ♂ (CTh), 2.6.2003, beating from Quercus, leg. B. Knoflach & K. Thaler [Th-443 Sa03/2]. Baunei / Dorgali, close to branch-off to Codula di Luna, 635 m, 40��05.791��� N, 09��33.158��� E, 1 ♀ (CTh), 5.6.2003, pasture plateau, beating from Cistus, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-455 Sa03/14]. E Dorgali, above Cala Gonone, 220 m, 40��16.290��� N, 09��36.641��� E, 1 ♀ (CTh), 5.6.2003, beating in oak forest with rocky, bare ground, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-458 Sa03/17]. Tunisia: Monastir, salt marsh near airport, 35��45���N 10��47���E, 1 ♂ (CM), 27.4.2007, from scrub, leg. C. Muster. Algeria: ��� For��t de Zonagha ���, 1 ♀, 1 juvenile (MHNP). Measurements. Males (n=5, min-max): Total length 2.9-4.2, carapace length 1.2- 1.6, width 1.0-1.4, length femur I 3.4-4.2, tibia I 2.8-3.9 mm. Females (n=5, minmax): Total length 4.2-5.0, carapace length 1.5-1.6, width 1.2-1.4, length femur I 2.5-2.8, tibia I 2.1-2.4 mm. Prosoma smaller than in E. maculipes (see also Kulczyński 1905), but male legs comparatively longer (Fig. 22). Somatic features, colouration (Figs 22, 25-26). Habitus, colour and pattern similar to E. maculipes. Sternum dark, its light median stripe narrower than in E. maculipes, sometimes even missing. Carapace with brown median band and reticulate pattern at margins. These and leg markings more diffuse than in E. maculipes. Venter and epigaster usually dark or greyish. Male palp (Figs 10-12). Theridiid tegular apophysis (= TA 2 in Knoflach and Thaler 2000) of characteristic shape, markedly projecting beyond conductor and cymbium (TTA in Figs 10-12). Conductor forming two small tips, retrolateral one tooth-like (Fig. 11). Palp morphology as in other congeners: embolus well developed, containing numerous loops of sperm duct, partially guided by a large conductor, three apophyses present (nomenclature of median apophysis, theridiid tegular apophysis and extra tegular apophysis according to Agnarsson et al. 2007), tibia with one dorsal and two retrolateral trichobothria, cymbium with two distal groups of setae. Palp altogether smaller than in E. maculipes (Figs 22 vs. 21; see also Kulczyński 1905), in ventral view 0.4-0.5 mm broad, 0.7-0.8 mm long (distance between distal rim of tibia and tip of cymbium). Tibia as wide as long (Fig. 11), see also Simon (1914). Epigynum /vulva (Figs 13, 15-17). Epigynal cavity longer than wide, covering proximal part of receptacula (Figs 13, 17), without median septum. Cavity 0.19-0.21 mm wide, its posterior margin distinct. Receptacula seminis small as compared with E. maculipes, and less spherical. The uncertain assignment of E. algiricus females in Knoflach and Thaler (2000) can be confirmed here. Distribution. Episinus algiricus is apparently confined to the western Mediterranean. Several records come from North Africa, Algeria (Lucas 1846; Simon 1914; Denis 1937), Tunisia (Simon 1914) and Morocco (Simon 1873a), and from south-west Europe, Portugal (Bacelar 1927; Cardoso 2009), Spain (Simon 1873a, 1914), France (Simon 1914; Denis 1934, 1964, 1965, 1966; Soyer 1973) including Corsica (Simon 1873a; sub E. truncatus Walckenaer, 1809), and Italy (Sardinia), see also Knoflach and Thaler (2000). Sympatric occurrence with E. maculipes seems to be evident from a few localities only, e.g. Vend��e, Longeville (Denis 1964, 1966). Among the present records from Sardinia both species were found at least not far apart., Published as part of Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) ��� II, pp. 227-264 in ZooKeys 16 (16) on pages 232-233, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.16.237, http://zenodo.org/record/576484, {"references":["Lucas H (1846) Histoire naturelle des Animaux articules. Arachnides. In: Exploration scientifique de l'Algerie pendant les annees 1840, 1841, 1842. Sciences physiques, Zoologie, 1 (Paris): 89 - 321, pl. 1 - 22.","Denis J (1965) Un Episinus nouveau pour la faune de France (Araneidae Theridiidae). Bulletin du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris (2) 36 (5): 611 - 613.","Kulczynski W (1905) Fragmenta arachnologica III. 6. De Episinis. Annotatio altera. Bulletin international de l'Academie des Sciences de Cracovie, 1905: 430 - 440, pl. 11.","Knoflach B, Thaler K (2000) Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) - I. Memorie della Societa Entomologica Italiana 78 (2): 411 - 442.","Agnarsson I, Coddington JA, Knoflach B (2007) Morphology and evolution of cobweb spider male genitalia (Araneae, Theridiidae). Journal of Arachnology 35: 334 - 395.","Simon E (1914) Les Arachnides de France 6 (1). Roret, Paris, 308 pp.","Denis J (1937) On a collection of spiders from Algeria. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 4, 1936: 1027 - 1060, pl. I-V.","Simon E (1873 a) Araneides nouveaux ou peu connus du midi de l'Europe (2 e memoire). Memoires de la Societe royale des sciences de Liege (2) 5: 1 - 174, 3 pl.","Bacelar A (1927) Aracnidios Portugueses. I. Bulletin de la Societe Portugaise des Sciences Naturelles 10 (8): 87 - 97.","Cardoso P (2009) Portugal spider catalogue (v 1.5). Available online at http: // www. ennor. org / catalogue. php (updated 5.2.2009).","Denis J (1934) Elements d'une faune arachnologique de l'ile de Port-Cros (Var). Annales de la Societe d'Histoire Naturelle de Toulon 18: 136 - 158.","Denis J (1964) Complements a la faune arachnologique de Vendee. Bulletin de la Societe scientifique de Bretagne 38: 99 - 117.","Denis J (1966) Second supplement a la faune arachnologique de Vendee. Bulletin de la Societe scientifique de Bretagne 39: 159 - 176.","Soyer B (1973) Contribution a l'etude ethologique et ecologique des araignees de la Provence occidentale. VIII. Les therides des collines et des terrains sales. Bulletin de la Societe Linneenne Provence 26: 113 - 121."]}

Theridion musivum Simon, 1873 Figs 43, 60-64 T. musivum Simon, 1873a: 94, pl. 2, f. 26, male female, type region: Corsica. Material examined. Croatia: Istria, Rovinj surroundings, agricultural site, 1 ♀ (CTh), 4.8.1965, leg. K. Thaler [Yu 65-15] . Italy: Sardinia, Isola Serpentara, 2 ♀ 1 juvenile, 9.5.1988 Vaglio, leg. G. Osella and Gregori. Sardinia, Isola di San Pietro, Stagno di Cala Vinagra, 1 ♀, 13.5.1988, leg. Gregori, ded. G. Osella. Sardinia, Isola di San Pietro, Pendici, Mte Guardia dei Mori, 1 ♀, 10.6.1989, leg. G. Osella. Sardinia, Oristano, Su Pallosu, 1 ♀, 24.- 28.4.1992 leg. E. Heiss. Sardinia, Baunei / Dorgali, close to branch-off to Codula di Luna, 635 m, 40��05.791��� N, 09��33.158��� E, 2 ♀ (CTh), 5.6.2003, pasture plateau, beating Cistus, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-454 Sa03/13]. France: Corsica, Calvi, Capo di a Veta, 180 m, 42��32���16.5������N 08��45���11.6������E, beating garigue, Cistus, 1 ♀, 29.4.2001, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-402, Co-01/1]. Corsica, Ostriconi-estuary, E Ile Rousse, 42��09���40.4������N 09��03���39.9������E, at sea shore, 5 m, beating shrubs, Juniperus, 2 ♀, 3.5.2001, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-410 Co-01/9]. Gabas (Br.), 18 ♂ 4 subadult ♂ 40 ♀ 16 juveniles (MHNP AR 2244 sub T. varians). Vaucluse, Vaison, 1 ♂ (MHNG), 18.5.1953, leg. A. Comellini. Spain: Mallorca, Palma, Camp de Mar, Castillo de Bellver, 1 ♀ (CTh), April 1974. Tunisia: Kairouan ��� Ouesslatia, 35��49���5.7������N 9��45���8.9������E, 288 m, beating Juniperus and Pinus, 1 ♂ (CTh), 26.4.2007, leg. C. Muster. Kebili, Zaafrane, 15 km W Douz, palm grove, tamarisk, 33��26���44.2������N 8��54���7.6������E, 50 m, 3 ♂ 1 subadult ♂ (CM), 21.4.2007, leg. C. Muster. Hammamet, coastal garden, beating scrub, 1 ♀, 27.2.1997, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [TH-293 Tun97-2]. Voucher specimens deposited in CTh, MHNG, MHNP, NHMB, NMW if not specifically indicated. Description, identification. Wiehle (1960), Levy and Amitai (1982), Levy (1998), see also Platnick (2008). Measurements. Males (n=5, min-max): Total length 1.5-1.7, carapace length 0.6- 0.7, width 0.6-0.7, length femur I 1.0-1.1, tibia I 0.6-0.7 mm. Females (n=5, minmax): Total length 1.8-2.3, carapace length 0.7-0-8, width 0.7-0.8, length femur I 0.9- 1.0, tibia I 0.5-0.6 mm. Somatic features, colouration (Figs 63-64). Overall colouration of carapace, sternum, gnathocoxae and chelicerae bright red in living specimens. This striking colour fades in specimens preserved in alcohol. Legs and palps lighter, with distal femora, patellae and distal tibiae reddish, but no dark annulations. Abdomen uniformly dark brown to ruby coloured. Male epigaster sclerotised, seminal vesicle (part of male genital system) conspicuously dark, translucent. Male palp (Figs 60-62). Tibia very short, wider than long, with one retrolateral trichobothrium. Embolar base with anchoring process for tegular notch, as in other Theridion species. Distal part of embolus rather short (0.2 mm long) and stout. Conductor covered with minute scales. Theridiid tegular apophysis straight and pointed, closely adjoining conductor. Median apophysis sickle-shaped. Epigynum /vulva (Fig. 43). Entrance of copulatory ducts distinctly sclerotised, visible through integument. Ducts 0.46 mm long, forming several overlapping, short coils. Receptacula seminis globular. Distribution. Mediterranean region, most records coming from Southwest Europe and North Africa: France (Simon 1914; Denis 1934; type locality Corsica ���commun en Corse sur les buissons��� Simon 1873a), Spain (Simon 1914), Portugal (Cardoso 2009), Italy (Caporiacco 1922, 1936b), Croatia (present paper), Morocco (Simon 1909, 1914), Algeria (Simon 1914) and Tunisia (Pavesi 1884). More recently, Theridion musivum has also been shown to occur in Sinai, Egypt (Levy 1998)., Published as part of Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) ��� II, pp. 227-264 in ZooKeys 16 (16) on pages 249-251, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.16.237, http://zenodo.org/record/576484, {"references":["Simon E (1873 a) Araneides nouveaux ou peu connus du midi de l'Europe (2 e memoire). Memoires de la Societe royale des sciences de Liege (2) 5: 1 - 174, 3 pl.","Wiehle H (1960) Der Embolus des mannlichen Spinnentasters. Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft, Bonn / Rhein 1960: 457 - 480.","Levy G, Amitai P (1982) The comb-footed spider genera Theridion, Achaearanea and Anelosimus of Israel (Araneae: Theridiidae). Journal of Zoology, London 196: 81 - 131.","Levy G (1998) Fauna Palaestina. Arachnida III. Araneae: Theridiidae. Jerusalem: The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 227 pp.","Platnick NI (2008) The world spider catalogue, Version 9.5, American Museum of Natural History. - online at: http: // research. amnh. org / entomology / spiders / catalog / INTRO 1. html (Theridiidae updated 13. Dec. 2008).","Simon E (1914) Les Arachnides de France 6 (1). Roret, Paris, 308 pp.","Denis J (1934) Elements d'une faune arachnologique de l'ile de Port-Cros (Var). Annales de la Societe d'Histoire Naturelle de Toulon 18: 136 - 158.","Cardoso P (2009) Portugal spider catalogue (v 1.5). Available online at http: // www. ennor. org / catalogue. php (updated 5.2.2009).","Caporiacco L di (1922) Saggio sulla fauna aracnologica della Carnia e regioni limitrofe. Memorie della Societa Entomologica Italiana 1: 60 - 111.","Caporiacco L di (1936 b) Saggio sulla fauna aracnologica del Casentino, Val d'Arno Superiore e Alta Val Tiberina. Festschrift Strand 1: 326 - 369.","Simon E (1909) Etude sur les arachnides recueillis au Maroc par M. Martinez de la Escalera en 1907. Memorias de la Real Sociedad Espanola de Historia Natural 6 (1): 1 - 43.","Pavesi P (1884) Materiali per lo studio della fauna Tunisia raccolti da G. e L. Doria. II. Aracnidi. Annali dagli Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova 20: 446 - 466."]}

Theridula aelleni (Hubert, 1970) stat. n., comb. n. Figs 80-84 Theridion aelleni Hubert, 1970: 190, figs 1-4, male female, type locality: Tunisia, Gr. des Chauves-Souris, El-Haouaria, 3.10.1967. Resurrected from synonymy with Theridion spinitarse O. P.- Cambridge, 1876 (contra Brignoli 1984), comb. n. Type material examined. Female holotype, male allotype, MHNG, Tunisia, Gr. des Chauves-Souris, El Haouaria, 3.10.1967, leg. P. Strinati, M. Frainier and V. Aellen, det. M. Hubert 1969. Further material examined. Spain: Cadiz, Embalse de Palmones, 1 ♀ (in collection J. van Keer), 16.3.1994, leg. J. van Keer. Description, identification. Hubert (1970). Measurements (n=3, holotype female/ allotype male/ female from Spain): Total length 2.4/2.0/3.2, carapace length 1.0/0.9/1.1, width 0.9/0.8/1.0, length femur I 1.3/1.4/1.5, tibia I 1.2/1.3/ 1.2 mm. Somatic features, colouration. Specimens from Tunisia uniformly pale yellow, probably faded (but see Hubert 1970). The female from Cadiz shows an indistinct pattern: Carapace light brown with faint dusky margins and median band. Sternum dusky grey. Legs uniformly pale yellowish. Abdomen grey, with three pairs of pale transverse, oval patches, arranged in diagonal paramedian rows. Venter uniformly grey. Spinnerets contrastingly light. Male chelicerae longer than in female. Abdomen globular, a little longer than wide, without protuberances. For further details see Hubert (1970). Male palp (Figs 80-82). Tibia rather asymmetrical, retrolaterally fairly extended (Fig. 80), but prolaterally excavated (Fig. 82), its distal rim in ventral-prolateral view oblique and almost reaching patella (Fig. 81). Two trichobothria present on retrolateral side of tibia. Cymbium elongate and slender, its base occupying prolateral side of palp, where it is markedly incised. Cymbial hood in dorsal-median position. Subtegulum and tegulum constitute the main part of genital bulb and are densely crossed by wide loops of sperm duct. The embolus forms a straight element inserted deeply within the tegulum. Subtegulum with strongly protruding sclerotised basal shaft, which is embedded within a cavity and surrounded by a noticeably developed basal haematodocha. Distal part of embolus conspicuously screwed. Embolar base encircled by a membranous apophysis, which interlocks with cymbial hood and thus is interpreted as the median apophysis. Epigynum /vulva (Figs 83-84). Copulatory orifices roughly circular, ca. 0.6 mm wide, with marked, sclerotised outlines. They are clearly separate, but less than their diameter apart. Their distance to epigastric furrow equals about their diameter. Copulatory ducts rather short, forming a small coil, at entrance rather wide, narrowing towards receptacula. Receptacula seminis barely larger than copulatory orifices. Taxonomic remarks, generic placement. The former synonymy of Theridion aelleni with T. spinitarse by Brignoli (1984: 301) was concluded from illustrations only and cannot be supported here. Along with the present analysis of type material the resurrection of T. aelleni has to be confirmed (for comparison see Theridion spinitarse above). However, the generic placement among Theridion evidently implies some difficulty. The new allocation offered here may be surprising and not fully satisfactory when considering the general appearance of hitherto known Theridula species, which is known to be striking, mainly through a tuberculate and wide abdominal shape, often combined with bright colour. Especially the unmodified abdomen of T. aelleni at first glance argues against placement within Theridula, but would suggest resemblance with the only hitherto known species of Paratheridula (see Levi 1957b). However, a transfer of the species into Theridula is suggested, mainly owing to characters of the male palp: 1. Membranous median apophysis adjoining embolus and arresting towards cymbial hood (= distal haematodocha according to Levi 1954, 1966 and Levi and Levi 1962, Heimer 1982; median apophysis according to Agnarsson 2004: 596). 2. Distal part of embolus screw-shaped. 3. Asymmetry of tibia. 4. Prolateral incision of cymbium. 5. Female genitalia of concordant structure. In Paratheridula a median apophysis (distal membrane) is reported to be completely missing, which appears to be the main criterion for its separation from Theridula (Levi and Levi 1962). Distribution. Theridula aelleni is so far known only from the type locality in Tunisia and from Spain., Published as part of Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) ��� II, pp. 227-264 in ZooKeys 16 (16) on pages 257-260, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.16.237, http://zenodo.org/record/576484, {"references":["Hubert M (1970) Araignees capturees dans des grottes de Tunisie et description de deux especes nouvelles. Revue suisse de Zoologie 77 (1): 189 - 195.","Cambridge OP (1876) Catalogue of a collection of spiders made in Egypt, with descriptions of new species and characters of a new genus. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1876: 541 - 630.","Brignoli PM (1984) Ragni di Grecia XII. Nuovi dati su varie famiglie (Araneae). Revue suisse de Zoologie 91 (2): 281 - 321.","Levi HW (1957 b) The North American spider genera Paratheridula, Tekellina, Pholcomma and Archerius (Araneae: Theridiidae). Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 76 (2): 105 - 115.","Levi HW (1954) The spider genus Theridula in North and Central America and the West Indies (Araneae: Theridiidae). Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 73 (4): 331 - 343.","Levi HW (1966) American spider genera Theridula and Paratheridula (Araneae: Theridiidae). Psyche, Cambridge 78 (2): 123 - 130.","Levi HW, Levi LR (1962) The genera of the spider family Theridiidae. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 127 (1): 1 - 71, Fig. 1 - 334.","Heimer S (1982) Interne Arretierungsmechanismen an den Kopulationsorganen mannlicher Spinnen (Arachnida, Araneae). Ein Beitrag zur Phylogenie der Araneoidea. Entomologische Abhandlungen, Staatliches Museum fur Tierkunde Dresden 45 (3): 35 - 64.","Agnarsson I (2004) Morphological phylogeny of cobweb spiders and their relatives (Araneae, Araneoidea, Theridiidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 141: 447 - 626."]}

Theridion pinicola Simon, 1873 Figs 65-67, 69-75 Theridion pinicola Simon, 1873b: 364, 371, male female. Type locality: Corsica. Paidiscura pinicola: ��� Wunderlich 2008: 392, transfer from Theridion. Material examined. France: Corsica, 3 ♂ 35 ♀ 4 juveniles (MHNP AR 2257). N Corsica, Calvi, For��t de Bonifatu, Bocca di Erbaghiolu, 1200 m, 42��25���15.0������N 08��50���15.5������E, beating from Pinus nigra laricio, 5 ♂ 3 ♀ 1 subadult ♂ 1 subadult ♀, 2.5.2001, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-409 Co-01/8] . Ibidem, 1200 m, 3 ♂ 1 ♀ 3 subadult ♂, 30.4.2001. Corsica, Haute Asco, 42��23���32.2������N 08��55���08.9������E, 1400-1440 m, 2 ♀, 12.9.2001, beating pine at timber line, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-417 Co01/15]. Tunisia: Kasserine, W Th��lepte, Dernaya (close to Algerian border), 35��7���24.3������N 8��28���57.0������E, 1120 m, sparse pine wood, 2 ♂ (1 ♂ CM, 1 ♂ SMF), 19.4.2007, leg. C. Muster. Voucher specimens deposited in CTh, MHNG, NMW if not specifically indicated. Description, identification. The species has not been reported since the original description of Simon (1873b: 364, 371; 1881: 105). Measurements. Males (n=5, min-max): Total length 1.5-1.9, carapace length 0.7- 0.9, width 0.7-0.8, length femur I 0.9-1.1, tibia I 0.6-0.8 mm. Females (n=5, min-max): Total length 1.5-2.4, carapace length 0.7-0-8, width 0.6-0.7, length femur I 0.7-0.9, tibia I 0.5-0.6 mm. Somatic features (Figs 65-67). Carapace yellowish with thin dark margins and dark median band from eye region to midline. Sternum light, its margins may be diffuse dark. Legs yellowish with dark annulations from distal femora onwards. Abdomen dark brown, dorsum usually with whitish median folium. Male epigaster protruding. Male palp (Figs 69-71). Conformation of male palp as in other representatives of the Theridion varians group (see Knoflach 1998). Tibia short, with one retrolateral trichobothrium. Conductor pointed and curved. Prolateral part of median apophysis triangular and strongly protruding. Theridiid tegular apophysis pointed. Embolus slender. Distal part of embolus 0.25 mm long. Epigynum /vulva (Figs 72-75). Epigynal cavity rounded, its posterior border strongly sclerotised; with central copulatory orifices fused to common, rounded opening. Copulatory ducts ca. 0.4 mm long. They diverge laterally, forming a few coils, turn inwards and enter the receptacula by a final wide coil. In mated females the epigynal cavity is filled by plug secretions. All parts of vulva clearly translucent through integument. Copulatory behaviour. Copulation follows the pattern of the Theridion varians group, with 6-8 sperm inductions, a presumed initial pseudocopulation and a final mating plug sequence (Knoflach 2004). Generic placement: The generic placement of Theridion pinicola in Paidiscura by Wunderlich (2008) has to be rejected, since there is no convincing argument for such a combination. T. pinicola is clearly a member of the T. varians group, see above and Knoflach (2004), for Paidiscura see Knoflach and Thaler (2000). Distribution. Theridion pinicola was hitherto known only from Corsica (Simon 1873b, 1881, 1914). The present new record from Tunisia suggests a wider distribution. As indicated by the naming of Simon the species occurs on pines, and appears to be a specialised inhabitant of pine forest, ���en ��t�� sur les pins��� (Simon 1881)., Published as part of Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) ��� II, pp. 227-264 in ZooKeys 16 (16) on pages 251-254, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.16.237, http://zenodo.org/record/576484, {"references":["Simon E (1873 a) Araneides nouveaux ou peu connus du midi de l'Europe (2 e memoire). Memoires de la Societe royale des sciences de Liege (2) 5: 1 - 174, 3 pl.","Simon E (1873 b) Etudes arachnologiques. 2 e Memoire. IV. Revision des genres Theridium et Neottiura. Revision des especes francaises des genres Theridium Walck. et Neottiura Menge. Annales de la Societe entomologique de France (5) 3: 359 - 374.","Wunderlich J (2008) Fossil and extant spiders (Araneae). Fossile und heutige Spinnen. Beitraege zur Araneologie 5: 1 - 870.","Simon E (1881) Les arachnides de France. Roret, Paris 5: 1 - 180, pl. XXV.","Knoflach B (1998) Mating in Theridion varians Hahn and related species (Araneae: Theridiidae). Journal of Natural History 32: 545 - 604.","Knoflach B (2004) Diversity in the copulatory behaviour of comb-footed spiders (Araneae, Theridiidae). Denisia (Linz) 12: 161 - 256.","Knoflach B, Thaler K (2000) Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) - I. Memorie della Societa Entomologica Italiana 78 (2): 411 - 442.","Simon E (1914) Les Arachnides de France 6 (1). Roret, Paris, 308 pp."]}

Theridion genistae Simon, 1873 Figs 34-40 Theridion genistae Simon, 1873a: 95, male female, type locality: Corsica. Paidiscura genistae: ��� Wunderlich 2008: 392, transfer from Theridion. Material examined. France: Corsica, Calvi, Capo di a Veta, 180 m, 42��32���16.5������N, 08��45���11.6������E, beating garigue, Cistus, 2 ♂, 29.4.2001, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-402 Co-01/1] . Corsica, Ostriconi estuary, E Ile Rousse, 42��09���40.4������N 09��03���39.9������E, at sea shore, 5 m, beating shrubs, Genista, 17 ♂ 38 ♀, 3.5.2001, leg B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-410 Co-01/9]. Italy: Calabria, Sibari, beat catches, 1 ♀, 3.6.1977, leg. S. Meyer. Sardinia, Ogliastra, W Baunei, 718 m, 40��06.319��� N, 09��34.867��� E, 2 ♂ 1 ♀, 2.6.2003, beating from Quercus, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-443 Sa03/2]. Sardinia, E Dorgali, above Cala Gonone, 40��16.290���N, 09��36.641���E, 220 m, 1 ♀, 2.6.2003, beating in oak forest, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-447 Sa03/6]. Greece: Corfu, Dasia, Sgombou / Gavrolimni, 100 m, beating phrygana and macchia, Quercus, 8 ♀, 28.5.1996, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [TH- 259 Ko 96-4]. Corfu, Spartilas surroundings, 500-600 m, beating scrub, 2 ♂ 2 ♀, 29.5.1996, leg. B. Knoflach & K. Thaler [TH-260 Ko 96-5]. Corfu, Spartilas, 600 m, 1 ♀, 3.- 4.6.1997, leg. E. Heiss. Kephallonia, Atheras beach, Atheras, 36 m, 38��19.997��� N, 20��24.195���E, 30 m, 1 ♂ 19 ♀, 15.5.2002, beating from scrub, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-427 Ke02/4]. E Crete, Stalida, garden, 1 ♂, 4.- 10.4.1998, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [TH-321 K98/0]. W Crete, Georgioupolis, 1 ♀, 29.3.1999, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [TH-352 K99-2-3]. Voucher specimens deposited in CTh, MHNG, NHMB, NMW if not specifically indicated. Description, identification. Wiehle (1960, female), Brignoli (1967, male, female), Vanuytven et al. (1994, male). Measurements. Males (n=6, min-max): Total length 1.3-1.6, carapace length 0.6- 0.8, width 0.5-0.7, length femur I 0.9-1.2, tibia I 0.6-0.9 mm. Females (n=6, minmax): Total length 1.4-1.6, carapace length 0.6, width 0.5-0.6, length femur I 0.6-0.8, tibia I 0.4-0.5 mm. Somatic features, colouration (Figs 34-35). Small Theridion species, carapace and sternum dark brown, legs annulated and abdomen with numerous dark dots and characteristic whitish folium, which widens at midline and fades within whitish area (Fig. 34). Female epigastric region bulging. For details see Simon (1873a). Male palp (Figs 36-38). Tibia rather small and short, with one retrolateral trichobothrium. Bulbus largely developed (see also Fig. 35). Embolus forms a long, thread-like spiral. Embolar base with knob-like locking device. Conductor a large, membranous, folded structure with furrow guiding embolus. Median apophysis inconspicuous, with a few scales, hidden within cymbium. Epigynum /vulva (Figs 39-40). Epigynal atrium tiny and rounded. Copulatory ducts long and highly convoluted, narrowing towards receptacula. Generic placement: The generic placement of Theridion genistae in Paidiscura as proposed by Wunderlich (2008) cannot be supported. Neither its general appearance nor structure of the male palpal organ favour such a combination. T. genistae shows a cymbial hood typical for Theridion, whereas in Paidiscura a hook is present. Also leg characters agree with Theridion: number of setae on tibiae I-IV 2/2/1/2 and metatarsus III with trichobothrium (see Knoflach and Thaler 2000). Distribution. Western Mediterranean; known from southern France (Simon 1914; Denis 1935; Soyer 1973; Vanuytven et al. 1994) including Corsica (Simon 1873a, 1914), Algeria (Simon 1914), Tunisia (Simon 1885, 1914), Morocco (Simon 1873a), Italy (Latium, Isola di Zannone; Brignoli 1967). Easternmost records from Greece (present material from Ionian Islands and Crete), where it was hitherto not known (Bosmans and Chatzaki 2005). The species inhabits the vegetation in phrygana/garigue and macchia, which is reflected by the specific epithet referring to Genista. Theridion genistae turanicum Charitonov, 1946. Judging from the illustration of the female genital organs by Charitonov (1946, fig. 29) Theridion genistae turanicum Charitonov, 1946 from Uzbekistan appears to belong to the T. melanurum -group and is not related to T. genistae. This justifies its elevation to species rank, Theridion turanicum stat. n., Published as part of Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) ��� II, pp. 227-264 in ZooKeys 16 (16) on pages 241-243, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.16.237, http://zenodo.org/record/576484, {"references":["Simon E (1873 a) Araneides nouveaux ou peu connus du midi de l'Europe (2 e memoire). Memoires de la Societe royale des sciences de Liege (2) 5: 1 - 174, 3 pl.","Wunderlich J (2008) Fossil and extant spiders (Araneae). Fossile und heutige Spinnen. Beitraege zur Araneologie 5: 1 - 870.","Wiehle H (1960) Der Embolus des mannlichen Spinnentasters. Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft, Bonn / Rhein 1960: 457 - 480.","Brignoli PM (1967) Notizie sui Theridiidae del Lazio (Araneae). Fragmenta entomologica 4: 177 - 197, Tav. III.","Vanuytven H, van Keer J, Poot P (1994) Kogelspinnen verzameld in Zuid-Europa door P. Poot (Araneae, Theridiidae). Nieuwsbrief van de Belgische Arachnologische Vereniging 9: 1 - 19.","Knoflach B, Thaler K (2000) Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) - I. Memorie della Societa Entomologica Italiana 78 (2): 411 - 442.","Simon E (1914) Les Arachnides de France 6 (1). Roret, Paris, 308 pp.","Denis J (1935) Liste d'araignees recueillies dans le departement du Var. Annales de la Societe d'Histoire Naturelle de Toulon 19: 104 - 113.","Soyer B (1973) Contribution a l'etude ethologique et ecologique des araignees de la Provence occidentale. VIII. Les therides des collines et des terrains sales. Bulletin de la Societe Linneenne Provence 26: 113 - 121.","Simon E (1885) Etudes sur les Arachnides recuellis en Tunisie en 1883 et 1884 par MM. A. Letourneux, M. Sedillot et Valery Mayet, membres de la mission de l'Exploration scientifique de la Tunisie. In: Exploration scientifique de la Tunisie. Imprimerie Nationale, Paris: 1 - 55.","Bosmans R, Chatzaki M (2005) A catalogue of the spiders of Greece. A critical review of all spider species cited from Greece with their localities. Arachnological Contributions, Newsletter of the Belgian Arachnological Society 20 (2, supplement): 1 - 124.","Charitonov DE (1946) [New forms of spiders of the USSR.] Izvestija Estestvenno-Nauchnogo Obshestva pri Molotovskom Universitete imeni Maksim Gorkogo 12: 19 - 32. [In Russian]"]}

Theridion pyrenaeum Denis, 1944 Figs 48-49, 53-55, 56 Material examined. Spain: Sierra Nevada, Veleta route, 2600 m, boulder fields, 3 ♂ 9 ♀ 1 subadult ♂ 1 subadult ♀ (CTh), 18.7.1982 and 19.7.1982, leg. K. Thaler [Sp82-2, 82-7]. Sierra Nevada, Corral de Veleta, 3000 m, 1 ♀ (MHNG), leg. K. Thaler [Sp82-5]. France: Pyrenees, Larruns, Arrens, E Col d���Aubisque, 1600 m, scree, 1 ♂ 4 ♀ 1 subadult ♂ 1 juvenile (CTh), 14.7.1982, leg. K. Thaler [Py 82-11]. Pyrenees Orientales, Massif du Canigou, between Chalet de Cortalets and Cirque, 2200-2400 m, 1 ♀ (NMW), 26.9.1983, leg. K. Thaler [F83-8]. Description, identification. Denis (1944), Bosmans et al. (1994). Taxonomic status. The statement of Bosmans et al. (1994: 238) ���.. further material of T. pyrenaeum is needed to allow a biometric study of some parts of the palp and epigyne to decide about the status of this species��� indicates its close similarity to T. hannoniae and the arising problem of interspecific/intraspecific classification. This requirement remains. Judging from the present specimens, T. pyrenaeum is larger in body and leg size, although in the females this was not always clearly reliable (Fig. 56). However, the dimensions of the male and female genitalia (cymbium length and width of epigynal cavity) from various locations show consistent differences. Measurements. This is a similar, but larger, species compared to Theridion hannoniae (Fig. 56). Males (n=4, min-max):Total length 2.2-2.5, carapace length 1.0, width 0.9-1.0, length femur I 1.8-2.2, tibia I 1.6-2.0 mm. Females (n=5, min-max): Total length 2.0-3.0, carapace length 0.8-1.0, width 0.8-1.0, length femur I 1.4-1.8, tibia I 1.1-1.5 mm. Somatic features, colouration. Not distinguishable from Theridion hannoniae, see above. Male palp (Figs 48-49). Conformation of male palp: see T. hannoniae, as palpal elements do not differ in shape. Differentiation from T. hannoniae by larger dimensions: Cymbium 0.50-0.52 mm long (n=4). Distal embolus 0.38-0.40 mm long (n=2). Epigynum /vulva (Figs 53-55). Overall genital morphology as in T. hannoniae, distinguished by size and proportion of following parts: Epigynal cavity larger than in T. pyrenaeum, 0.12-0.15 mm wide (n=11), its width exceeding the distance to outside of ducts (x, Fig. 53). Receptacula seminis as long as or shorter than width of epigynal cavity. Distribution. According to the current state of knowledge Theridion pyrenaeum appears to be endemic to western European mountain systems, in allopatry with the widespread T. hannoniae. Up to the present, T. pyrenaeum has been found only in the French and Spanish Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada (Spain). There it is confined to the higher zones, between 2500 and 3130 m altitude in Sierrra Nevada, about 2000 m in the type region Andorra (Denis 1957) and between 1600 and 2400 in the French Pyrenees (present paper). Ecological preference and altitudinal zoning resemble that of Theridion petraeum in the Alps., Published as part of Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) ��� II, pp. 227-264 in ZooKeys 16 (16) on pages 254-255, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.16.237, http://zenodo.org/record/576484, {"references":["Denis J (1944) Sur quelques Theridion appartenant a la faune de France. Bulletin de la Societe entomologique de France 49: 111 - 117.","Bosmans R, Vanuytven H, van Keer J (1994) On two poorly known Theridion species, recently collected in Belgium for the first time (Araneae: Theridiidae). Bulletin of the British arachnological Society 9: 236 - 240.","Denis J (1957) Zoologisch-systematische Ergebnisse der Studienreise von H. Janetschek und W. Steiner in die spanische Sierra Nevada 1954. VII Araneae. Sitzungsberichte der osterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathem. - naturw. Kl. (I) 166: 265 - 302."]}

Theridion spinitarse O.P.- Cambridge, 1876 Figs 78-79 Theridion spinitarsis O. P.- Cambridge, 1876: 570, female, type locality: Cairo. Theridion bifoveolatum Denis, 1945: 48, fig. 17, female, type locality: Luxor, Egypt, March 1923 (Levy and Amitai 1982: 84). Non: Theridion aelleni Hubert, 1970: 190, figs 1-4, male, female; contra Brignoli (1984: 301), see Theridula aelleni below. Material examined. Egypt: Assuan, 4 ♀ (CTh), 22.6.1975, on wall, leg. G. K��belb��ck. Saudi Arabia: Wadi Karrar, 3 ♀ (NHMB), 10.2.1980, leg. W. B��ttiker. Yemen: Wadi Warazan, 1 ♀, 28.10.1999, on guava, leg. M. Mahyoub and A. van Harten [794]. Al Hudaydah - Az Zaydiyah, 2 ♀, 06.12.1998, leg. van Harten [533]. Description, identification. Identification based on the description and figure given by Denis (1945 sub T. bifoveolatum). Male unknown. Measurements. Females (n=5, min-max): Total length 3.4-4.2, carapace length 1.3-1.5, width 1.1-1.3, length femur I 1.7-2.0, tibia I 1.3-1.5 mm. Somatic features, colouration. Carapace light brown, with dark margins and dark band at midline, which does not extend to eye region. Sternum of same light ground colour, sometimes with a few indistinct greyish patches or margins. Legs light brown, with dark annulations. Abdomen on dorsum with white, evenly undulated folium outlined by dark pigmentation. Epigaster light brown, venter whitish. Epigynum /vulva (Figs 78-79). Copulatory orifices laterally oval, ca. 0.07 mm wide, 0.05 long. Orifices widely separate, about 0.2 mm apart and thus about twice their width. Their distance to epigastric furrow equals about their overall width. In mated females the orifices are filled with plug secretions. Copulatory ducts ca. 0.45 mm long, coiled dorsally and anteriorly, and form a long transverse turn laterally before bending to receptacula. Receptacula seminis large as compared with copulatory orifices, ca. 0.15 mm long, clearly visible through integument. Affinities. The species appears to be rather close to the North American Theridion murarium Emerton, 1882. Distribution. North Africa and Arabian Peninsula. Theridion spinitarse is so far known from several localities in Egypt (O.P.- Cambridge 1876, Denis 1945) and from Ethiopia (Pavesi 1883; Shewa, mountains around Let Marefia). It also occurs in Saudi Arabia and Yemen (present paper). It has been collected at least partially from vegetation ���A single example was found on a low plant near Cairo��� (O.P.- Cambridge 1876)., Published as part of Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) ��� II, pp. 227-264 in ZooKeys 16 (16) on pages 256-257, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.16.237, http://zenodo.org/record/576484, {"references":["Cambridge OP (1876) Catalogue of a collection of spiders made in Egypt, with descriptions of new species and characters of a new genus. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1876: 541 - 630.","Denis J (1945) Descriptions d'araignees nord-africaines. Bulletin de la Societe d'Histoire naturelle de Toulouse 79: 41 - 57.","Levy G, Amitai P (1982) The comb-footed spider genera Theridion, Achaearanea and Anelosimus of Israel (Araneae: Theridiidae). Journal of Zoology, London 196: 81 - 131.","Hubert M (1970) Araignees capturees dans des grottes de Tunisie et description de deux especes nouvelles. Revue suisse de Zoologie 77 (1): 189 - 195.","Brignoli PM (1984) Ragni di Grecia XII. Nuovi dati su varie famiglie (Araneae). Revue suisse de Zoologie 91 (2): 281 - 321.","Pavesi P (1883) Studi sugli aracnidi africani. III. Aracnidi del regno di Scioa e considerazioni sull'aracnofauna d'Abissinia. Annali dagli Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova 20: 1 - 105."]}

Anatolidion gentile (Simon, 1881) Figs 1-9 Theridion gentile Simon, 1881: 106, male, type locality: Corsica. Theridion crinigerum Simon, 1881: 72, female, type locality: Corsica, syn. n. Theridion crinigerum: ��� Dalmas 1922: 86, male, Isola del Giglio. Anatolidion osmani Wunderlich, 2008: 385, figs 491-495, photo 352, male, type locality: Anatolia, syn. n. Detailed description. Wunderlich (2008, sub Anatolidion osmani Wunderlich, 2008, male). Synonymy. Recent syntopically collected males and females of this striking theridiid from Chios allow matching of the sexes on the one hand, but also synonymy of Simon���s Theridion crinigerum, as well as the recently described species Anatolidion osmani Wunderlich, 2008. According to Simon���s material, Theridion crinigerum and T. gentile, which since their description have been known from one sex only, can clearly be assigned as conspecific with the Greek specimens, and thus are considered here as synonyms. As both species were described in the same year and the same work it is in compliance with the principle of the first reviser (ICZN 24.2, International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, http://www.iczn.org/iczn/index.jsp) for our decision to determine precedence, which is in favour of gentile. The genus created by Wunderlich (2008) cannot be appropriately discussed here. Anatolidion gentile, which now becomes the type species of the monotypic genus Anatolidion Wunderlich, 2008, appears to share some features with the genus Neottiura, such as voluminous palps, a non-bulging epigaster, as well as an elevated clypeus, so that the cheliceral apodeme is far distant from the anterior eyes. Material examined. Morocco: 1 ♀ (MHNP AR 2253 sub Theridion crinigerum). Algeria: ��� Provence; Biskra; Tlemcen; Alger ���, 1 ♂, subadult ♂ (shortly before maturation) 5 subadult ♂, 22 juveniles (MHNP AR 2250 sub Theridion gentile). Greece: Chios, Volissos oaks, under oak logs in wood, 1 ♀ (CTh), 12.5.2006, leg. R. Snazell, swept flowers and grass between oaks, 2 ♂ (CTh), 12.5.2006, leg. A. Russell-Smith. Measurements. Male (n=3, min-max): Total length 1.6-1.9, carapace length 0.7- 0.8, width 0.7-0.8, length femur I 0.9-1.0, tibia I 0.6-0.8 mm. Femur of male palp 0.4-0.5 mm long. Female (n=2, min-max): Total length 2.2-2.5, carapace length 0.8- 0.9, width 0.8, length femur I 0.8-0.9, tibia I 0.6 mm. Somatic features, colouration (Figs 6-9). Carapace as long as wide, rather high. Eye region of male raised, clypeus projecting. Cheliceral apodeme quite distant from anterior eyes. Male epigaster not protruding. Carapace dark brown, with cephalic and lateral diffused dark areas. Sternum dark brown. Legs uniformly brown or with tibiae apically darkened, in males rather faint. Abdomen with blackish areas of various extent on brownish background, males considerably darker. Abdominal hairs long and strong, as indicated by the naming of Simon���s female as T. crinigerum. For further details see Simon (1881) and Wunderlich (2008). Surprisingly, Dalmas (1922: 87, sub T. crinigerum) mentions an apical spur on femur IV in the male ���L�����peron apical du femur IV du m��le est une particularit�� tr��s remarquable de cette esp��ce.���. This particular spur was not visible in the males examined and was not mentioned by Simon (1881: 107). Male palp (Figs 1-3). Palp rather large (Fig. 7), femur long (see measurements) and slender. Tibia likewise well developed, with two retrolateral trichobothria, distinctly tapering at its base. Base about 0.3 width of distal rim in ventral view (Fig. 2). Cymbium voluminous and rounded. Embolus forms a conspicuous, heavily sclerotised spiral (Figs 1-3), as described by Simon (1881: 107) ���bulbe volumineux, ��� pourvu d���un tr��s fin stylum circulaire, ������ and by Dalmas (1922: 86) ���...un fort style roul�� en deux spires dans un plan perpendiculaire au tarse���. The conductor is a membranous, lobed outgrowth, only its distal part enclosing the embolus. Median apophysis furcate, Y-shaped. Apparently, a second tegular apophysis is missing (see fig. 495 in Wunderlich 2008). Epigynum /vulva (Figs 4-5). Epigynal cavity small and round, with anterior margin sclerotised (Fig. 4). Copulatory ducts rather wide, ca. 0.8-0.9 mm long, running in several loops, winding in several directions and around each other, proximal coil overlapping receptacles posteriorly (Figs 4-5). Lumen narrows with last coil towards entrance into receptacula seminis (Fig. 5). Distribution. This little-known species is apparently widespread in the Mediterranean, but records are scattered: Algeria, Morocco, Corsica (Simon 1881, 1914), Italy (Toscana, Isola del Giglio, see Dalmas 1922, sub T. crinigerum; Firenze, Villa Mercatale, see Caporiacco 1923, sub T. gentile), Greece and Turkey (Wunderlich 2008). Interestingly, the report of Caporiacco (1923) concerns a single female of T. gentile, which at that time and until now was known from the male only., Published as part of Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) ��� II, pp. 227-264 in ZooKeys 16 (16) on pages 229-231, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.16.237, http://zenodo.org/record/576484, {"references":["Simon E (1881) Les arachnides de France. Roret, Paris 5: 1 - 180, pl. XXV.","Dalmas R de (1922) Catalogue des araignees recoltees par le Marquis G. Doria dans l'ile Giglio (Archipel toscan). Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova (3) 10 (50): 79 - 96.","Wunderlich J (2008) Fossil and extant spiders (Araneae). Fossile und heutige Spinnen. Beitraege zur Araneologie 5: 1 - 870.","Simon E (1914) Les Arachnides de France 6 (1). Roret, Paris, 308 pp.","Caporiacco L di (1923) Aracnidi dei dintorni di Firenze. Memorie della Societa Entomologica Italiana 24: 177 - 226."]}

Theridion semitinctum Simon, 1914 Figs 68, 76-77 Material examined. Spain: El Pardal (CM), 3 ♀ (MHNP AR 2298) . Italy: Lombardia, Lake Lugano, Porlezza, 1 ♀ (CTh), 30.6.1962 (Thaler 1966, Abb. 2d, sub Theridion sp.). Description, identification. This species has not been reported since the description of Simon (1914: 270, 297). A more detailed redescription including that of the unknown male is planned in comparison with the other members of the Theridion melanurum group (Knoflach, in preparation). For comparative analysis and illustration of females see Thaler (1966). Measurements. One female from El Pardal: Total length 3.2, carapace length 1.2, width 1.1, length femur I 1.8, tibia I 1.5 mm. Somatic features, colouration. The species is clearly a representative of the Theridion melanurum -group (Thaler 1966) and shares its general appearance, colour pattern and overall conformation of genital organs with Theridion betteni, T. melanurum, T. mystaceum, etc. Abdomen with clear folium. Epigynum /vulva (Figs 68, 76-77). Epigynal cavity a little longer than wide, scarcely sclerotised. Copulatory orifices about 0.1 mm apart, situated at posterior inner side of cavity. Copulatory ducts extensively coiled with large overlap of coils. Receptacula seminis globular. Distribution. Simon (1914) reported Theridion semitinctum from France (Provence), Spain, and the Balearic islands (Simon 1914). A further record came from northern Italy (Thaler 1966 sub Theridion sp.). The species has probably been confused with T. mystaceum., Published as part of Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) ��� II, pp. 227-264 in ZooKeys 16 (16) on pages 255-256, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.16.237, http://zenodo.org/record/576484, {"references":["Simon E (1914) Les Arachnides de France 6 (1). Roret, Paris, 308 pp.","Thaler K (1966) Fragmenta Faunistica Tirolensia (Diplopoda, Arachnida). Berichte des naturwissenschaftlich-medizinischen Vereins in Innsbruck 54: 151 - 157."]}

Episinus maculipes Cavanna, 1876 Figs 14, 18, 21, 23, 24 Description, identification. Kulczyński (1905), Brignoli (1967), Locket et al. (1974), Hillyard (1983), Roberts (1995), Knoflach and Thaler (2000), Agnarsson (2004). Material examined. France: ��� Gallia ��� without exact locality, 1 ♀ (MHNP AR 2196, sub Episinus algiricus, together with specimens of E. algiricus) . Idem, 8 ♂ 17 ♀ 1 subadult ♂ (MHNP AR 2207). Italy: Sardinia, Bosco Selene, above Lanusei, 930 m, N 39��52.810 N, 09��31.213��� E, beating from scrub and oak, 6 ♂ 5 ♀, 6.6.2003, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-461, Sa03/20+19]. Sardinia, above Baunei, Golgo-Plateau, 580 m, 40��02.715��� N, 09��40.003��� E, beating, 1 ♀ 4 juveniles, 7.6.2003, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-466 Sa03/25]. Liguria, Levanto surroundings, beating scrub and pine, 2 ♀, 19.9.2004, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-467 OI04/1]. Ibidem, 1 ♀, 20.9.2004 [Th-468 OI04/2]. Ibidem, Monterosso vs. St. Antonia, Colle di Grippa, 200-400 m, beating Erica arborea, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, 23.9.2004 [Th-471 OI04/5]. South Tyrol / Alto Adige, Klausen, S��ben, 1 ♀, 19.6.2004, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler. Greece: Chalkidiki, Sithonia east coast, above Koutloumousi beach, near rill, 1 ♀, 3.5.2000, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-388 Gr 00/9]. W-Crete, Georgioupolis, 1 ♀, 29.3.1999, swept from scrub, see Knoflach and Thaler (2000) [TH-353 K99-3b]. Voucher specimens deposited in CTh, MHNG, NMW if not specifically indicated. Measurements. Males (n=5, min-max): Total length 3.9-4.2, carapace length 1.4- 1.7, width 1.4-1.6, length femur I 3.4-3.8, tibia I 2.7-3.3 mm. Females (n=5, minmax): Total length 4.8-6.1, carapace length 1.6-1.9, width 1.5-1.7, length femur I 2.7-3.0, tibia I 2.2-2.4 mm. Selected comparative remarks, diagnosis. E. maculipes is well characterised by numerous authors, for details of morphology and distribution see Knoflach and Thaler (2000). Some features are given here for identification and differentiation compared to E. algiricus: Prosoma larger than that of E. algiricus. Sternum dark, with marked light median stripe, which widens anteriorly. Carapace with clear brown median band and reticulate pattern at margins (Figs 23-24). Legs conspicuously speckled. Venter pale. Male palp larger than that of E. algiricus (Figs 21 vs. 22; see also Kulczyński 1905), in ventral view 0.6-0.7 mm broad, 0.9-1.0 mm long (distance between distal rim of tibia and tip of cymbium). Palpal tibia 1.5 times wider than long (Simon 1914). Theridiid tegular apophysis (= TA 2 in Knoflach and Thaler 2000) less prominent than in E. algiricus. Epigynal cavity wider than long, not overlapping receptacula (Figs 14, 18), with narrow median septum. Cavity 0.25-0.31 mm wide. Posterior margin of cavity less distinct than in E. algiricus. Receptacula seminis comparatively large and spherical. Distribution. This widespread expansive Mediterranean species (for details see Knoflach and Thaler 2000) has recently been reported from Crimea, which is the easternmost record (Kovblyuk et al. 2008)., Published as part of Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) ��� II, pp. 227-264 in ZooKeys 16 (16) on pages 234-236, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.16.237, http://zenodo.org/record/576484, {"references":["Kulczynski W (1905) Fragmenta arachnologica III. 6. De Episinis. Annotatio altera. Bulletin international de l'Academie des Sciences de Cracovie, 1905: 430 - 440, pl. 11.","Brignoli PM (1967) Notizie sui Theridiidae del Lazio (Araneae). Fragmenta entomologica 4: 177 - 197, Tav. III.","Locket GH, Millidge AF, Merrett P (1974) British spiders 3. 1 - 314. Ray Society (London), 149: 1 - 314.","Hillyard PD (1983) Episinus maculipes Cavanna (Araneae, Theridiidae). Bulletin of the British arachnological Society 6: 88 - 92.","Roberts MJ (1995) Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe. Collins Field Guide. HarperCollins Publishers, Bath, 383 pp.","Knoflach B, Thaler K (2000) Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) - I. Memorie della Societa Entomologica Italiana 78 (2): 411 - 442.","Agnarsson I (2004) Morphological phylogeny of cobweb spiders and their relatives (Araneae, Araneoidea, Theridiidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 141: 447 - 626.","Simon E (1914) Les Arachnides de France 6 (1). Roret, Paris, 308 pp.","Kovblyuk MM, Nadolny AA, Gnelitsa VA, Zhukovets EM (2008) Spiders (Arachnida, Aranei) of the Martyan Cape Reserve (Crimea, Ukraine). Caucasian entomological Bulletin 4: 3 - 40."]}

Theridion hannoniae Denis, 1944 Figs 45-47, 50-52, 56 Material examined. Tunisia: Hammamet, coast, 1 ♀, 27.2.1997, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler . Hammamet W, at coast, 1 ♂, 22.- 29.9.1980, leg. E. and A.D. Kreissl. Algeria: Souk Harras, 1 ♀ (MHNP AR 2892, sub Theridion luctinosum), det. E. Simon (prosoma length 0.78 mm). Collective vial ��� Constantine, Boghari, Tlemcen ���, 1 ♂ 6 ♀ (MHNP AR 2890, sub Theridion petraeum minus), det. E. Simon. Portugal: Faro - Albufeira, Olhos de Aqua, at street, under paper, 1 ♀, 9.7.2001, leg. J. Buchar. Faro, saline area at coast, 1 ♂ 1 juvenile, 9.7.2001, leg. J. Buchar. Spain: Lerida-surroundings, xerothermic site, 1 ♀, 22.7.1982, leg. Thaler. Mallorca, Algaida, Alcudia, 2 ♀ (CTh), 1.4.- 8.4.1968, leg. V. Mahnert. France: N-Corsica, Calvi, For��t de Bonifatu, Bocca di Erbaghiolu, 42��26���22.1������N 08��50���40.4������E, 800 m, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, 30.4.2001, in boulder scree, leg. B. Knoflach and K. Thaler [Th-405 Co-01/4]. Italy: Toscana, Grosseto, Alberese, Sei Busi, pitfall trap, leg. P. Cenzi: 5 ♂ 3 ♀ 2 subadult ♂ 4 juveniles 2.7.1987. 4 ♂ 1 ♀ 1 subadult ♂ 4 juveniles 23.7.1987. 1 ♂ 8.8.1987. 6 ♂ 1 subadult ♂ 1.9.1987. 3 ♂ 1 juvenile 20.9.1987. 2 ♂ 1 subadult ♂ 7 juveniles 10.10.1987. 1 ♂ 1 subadult ♂ 1 juvenile 30.10.1987. 10 ♂ 5 ♀ 9 subadult ♂ 12 juveniles 11.12.1987. 4 ♂ 8 ♀ 1 subadult ♂ 1 juvenile 1.4.1988. 2 ♂ 5 ♀ 4 juveniles 1.5.1988. 2 subadult ♂ 38 juveniles 2.6.1988. 3 ♂ 1 ♀ 6 juveniles 2.7.1988. Toscana, Grosseto, Alberese, Le Tofane, pitfall trap, leg. P. Cenzi: 1 ♂ 7 juveniles 2.7.1987. 1 ♂ 1 ♀ 1 subadult ♂ 2 juveniles 23.7.1987. 2 juveniles 8.8.1987. 5 ♂ 1 subadult ♂ 2 juveniles 1.9.1987. 3 juveniles 20.9.1987. 2 ♂ 3 subadult ♂ 7 juveniles 10.10.1987. 1 ♂ 1 juvenile 30.10.1987. 6 ♂ 1 ♀ 3 subadult ♂ 3 juveniles 11.12.1987. 1 ♂ 2 ♀ 1.4.1988. 2 ♂ 2 ♀ 1 juvenile 1.5.1988. 3 ♀ 6 juveniles 2.6.1988. 4 ♂ 2 ♀ 1 juvenile 2.7.1988. Emilia-Romagna, Forli, 4 ♂, 1992, pitfall trap, leg. M. Paoletti and V. Celano. Voucher specimens deposited in CTh, MHNG, MHNP, NHMB, NMW if not specifically indicated. Description, identification. Denis (1944), Wunderlich (1987; sub T. denisi Wunderlich, 1987), Thaler and Noflatscher (1990), Bosmans et al. (1994), Kloid (1994), Roberts (1998), Nentwig et al. (2003), Warmingham and Merrett (2009, in press). Measurements. Fig. 56, smaller sibling species of Theridion pyrenaeum. Males (n=5, min-max): Total length 1.6-1.9, carapace length 0.7-0.8, width 0.6-0.7, length femur I 1.2-1.3, tibia I 1.0- 1.1 mm. Females (n=5, min-max): Total length 2.0-2.9, carapace length 0.7-0.8, width 0.7-0.8, length femur I 0.9-1.3, tibia I 0.7-1.0 mm. Somatic features, colouration. Carapace and sternum brown to dark brown. Legs yellowish with dark annulations. Abdomen greyish brown with dorsal whitish folium. Venter dark, with two distinct white patches. Male epigaster protruding. Colour pattern as in Theridion pyrenaeum. Male palp (Figs 45-47). Conformation of male palp as in other representatives of the Theridion varians group (see Knoflach 1998). Conductor, median apophysis and theridiid tegular apophysis of specific shape, albeit highly concordant with the sibling species T. pyrenaeum. Median apophysis sickle-shaped, with abruptly narrowing, pointed, light prolateral tip. Theridiid tegular apophysis bifid. Differentiation from T. pyrenaeum by smaller dimension: Cymbium 0.32-0.38 mm long (mean 0.35, n=13). Distal part of embolus 0.18, 0.20, 0.25 mm long (n=3). Epigynum /vulva (Figs 50-52). Epigynal cavity marked by two longitudinal, sclerotised ridges encircling roughly a square, with copulatory orifices situated at the anterior edges. Copulatory ducts diverge sideways, form a wider inwards coil and another small turn before entering receptacula. Overall genital morphology as in T. pyrenaeum, distinguished by size and proportion of following parts: Epigynal cavity smaller than in T. pyrenaeum, 0.06-0.08 mm wide (mean 0.07, n=10), less than or as wide as the distance to outside of ducts (x, Fig. 50). Receptacula seminis distinctly longer than epigynal cavity. Phenology. In Belgium Bosmans et al. (1994) found males from June to October only, while juveniles and females were abundant throughout the year. Present data from Tuscany reveal considerable male activity also during the winter season (Table 1). Distribution. Western Mediterranean, apparently expanding northwards. Theridion hannoniae is known from North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia), Macaronesia, South-West-Europe and by scattered records from Central-Europe (Bosmans et al. 1994). Numerous European records come from Portugal, Spain, France (type locality Douchy, NE-France) and Belgium. Recently, the species has also been found in Germany (Kloid 1994, Staudt 2003) and Wales (Warmingham 2008). The easternmost border of its distribution currently appears to lie in Italy (South Tyrol, Thaler and Noflatscher 1990; and present data from Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna). In northern Italy it may almost meet its eastern vicariant Theridion refugum, another representative of this still insufficiently known, ground-living, lapidicolous species complex. The allopatric occurrence of these closely allied species indicates different glacial refugia and respective reinvading processes. In contrast to its sibling T. pyrenaeum, T. hannoniae appears to be restricted to lower altitudes; highest localities being about 800-1100 m. T. hannoniae occurs under stones in natural boulder fields and scree, but also in human debris, such as quarries, dikes and railway constructions (Bosmans et al. 1994; Staudt 2003)., Published as part of Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) ��� II, pp. 227-264 in ZooKeys 16 (16) on pages 244-249, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.16.237, http://zenodo.org/record/576484, {"references":["Denis J (1944) Sur quelques Theridion appartenant a la faune de France. Bulletin de la Societe entomologique de France 49: 111 - 117.","Wunderlich J (1987) Die Spinnen der Kanarischen Inseln und Madeiras. Taxonomy and Ecology (Triops-Verlag, Langen) 1: 1 - 435.","Thaler K, Noflatscher MT (1990) Neue und bemerkenswerte Spinnenfunde in Sudtirol (Arachnida: Aranei). Veroffentlichungen des Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum (Innsbruck) 69 (1989): 169 - 190.","Bosmans R, Vanuytven H, van Keer J (1994) On two poorly known Theridion species, recently collected in Belgium for the first time (Araneae: Theridiidae). Bulletin of the British arachnological Society 9: 236 - 240.","Kloid P (1994) Erstnachweis von Theridion hannoniae fur Deutschland (Araneae: Theridiidae). Arachnologische Mitteilungen 8: 56 - 57.","Roberts MJ (1998) Spinnengids. Tirion, Baarn, Netherlands, 397 pp.","Nentwig W, Hanggi A, Kropf C, Blick T (2003) Spinnen Mittteleuropas - Bestimmungsschlussel. Version 8.12. 2003. Online: http: // www. araneae. unibe. ch /","Warmingham S, Merrett P (2009) Theridion hannoniae Denis, 1944 in Britain (Araneae: Theridiidae). Bulletin of the British arachnological Society: in press.","Knoflach B (1998) Mating in Theridion varians Hahn and related species (Araneae: Theridiidae). Journal of Natural History 32: 545 - 604.","Staudt A (2003) Erste Freilandpopulationen von Theridion hannoniae Denis, 1944 in Deutschland (Araneae: Theridiidae). Arachnologische Mitteilungen 25: 42 - 44.","Warmingham S (2008) Theridion hannoniae - new to the British Isles. - Newsletter of the British Arachnological Society 112: 14 - 15."]}

Episinus maculipes numidicus Kulczyński, 1905 Figs 19-20 E. m. numidica Kulczyński, 1905: 437, pl. 11, figs 4, 17, male, female, type region North Africa. Description, identification. Kulczyński (1905). Taxonomic status. Considerations on the subspecific rank have to be postponed owing to lack of material, especially males. Material examined. Tunisia: Jendouba, Kroumirie near A��n Draham, 196 m, 1 ♀, (SMF), 16.4.2007, beating and sweeping in macchia, leg. C. Muster. Measurements. Female (n=1): Total length 3.8, carapace length 1.3, width 1.2, length femur I 1.9, tibia I 1.5 mm. Somatic features, colouration. The single female shows a similar colour pattern to E. maculipes, except for the sternum, which lacks a light median stripe. Epigynum /vulva (Figs 19-20). Epigynal cavity considerably wider than long, 1.8 times in the examined female. Cavity 0.24 mm wide, about as long as receptacula seminis. Median septum broad and rather short. Differentiation from E. maculipes. As indicated by Kulczyński (1905) Episinus m. numidicus is smaller than E. maculipes. The following features agree well with the description of Kulczyński (1905): Sternum almost completely dark, without light median stripe. Median septum of female epigynum considerably broader and shorter than in E. maculipes (Fig. 19 vs. 14; see also Kulczyński 1905, figs 17 vs. 18). Ratio width to length of epigynal cavity larger in E. m. numidicus. Cavity about as long as receptacula, while in E. maculipes it is 1.2-1.3 times longer than receptacula. Distribution. North Africa (Kulczyński 1905)., Published as part of Knoflach, Barbara, Rollard, Christine & Thaler, Konrad, 2009, Notes on Mediterranean Theridiidae (Araneae) ��� II, pp. 227-264 in ZooKeys 16 (16) on page 237, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.16.237, http://zenodo.org/record/576484, {"references":["Kulczynski W (1905) Fragmenta arachnologica III. 6. De Episinis. Annotatio altera. Bulletin international de l'Academie des Sciences de Cracovie, 1905: 430 - 440, pl. 11."]}

Knoflach, Barbara, Harten, Antonius Van (2006): The one-palped spider genera Tidarren and Echinotheridion in the Old World (Araneae, Theridiidae), with comparative remarks on Tidarren from America. Journal of Natural History 40 (25-26): 1483-1616, DOI: 10.1080/00222930600940993, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222930600940993

Knoflach, Barbara, van Harten, Antonius (2000): Palpal loss, single palp copulation and obligatory mate consumption in Tidarren cuneolatum (Tullgren, 1910) (Araneae, Theridiidae). Journal of Natural History 34 (8): 1639-1659, DOI: 10.1080/00222930050117530, URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00222930050117530