Mystaria occidentalis Honiball Lewis & Dippenaar-Schoeman 2014, comb. n.
Creators: name: Honiball Lewis, Allet S.
name: Dippenaar-Schoeman, Ansie S.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Thomisidae
Mystaria
Mystaria occidentalis

description: Mystaria occidentalis (Millot, 1942) comb. n.
Figs 26–28, 65–68, 121
Paramystaria variabilis occidentalis Millot 1942: 8, fig. 3 (descr. ♀).
Type material: Lectotype (by present designation): ♀, REPUBLIC OF GUINEA: Mamou Region, Kouroussa [11°15’N, 11°59’W], August 1937, J. Millot (MNHN) (material not well-preserved, bleached). Syntype series from MNHN was examined. A female from the syntype series is elected as a new lectotype.
Paralectotypes: 2 ♀, same data as lectotype (MNHN)
Other material examined. CAMEROON: Adamawa Region, 1 ♂, Chabal Mbabo [07°25’N, 12°49’E], alt 1250 m, SW-slope, 7–13 April 1983, R. Bosmans & J. Van Stalle (MRAC 162.638); 1 ♂, 1 juvenile ♀, Mbam mountain near Koutoupi [07°25’N, 12°49’E], W-slope alt. 1100 m, Ndop plateau, forest litter, sweeping, 31 March 1983, R. Bosmans & J. Van Stalle (MRAC 162.645). East Region, 1 juvenile, Letta [04°55’N, 13°51’E], alt. 1100 m, 50 km N of Bertoua, sweeping, 3 March 1983, R. Bosmans & J. Van Stalle (MRAC 162.732). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC): Katanga Region, 1 ♀, Likasi (Jadotville), 11.2 km NW [10°59’S, 26°44’E], alt 1350 m, 27 January 1958, E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech (CAS). Nord-Kivu Region, 1 ♀, 1 ♂, Ishanga spillway of Lake Edward into Semliki [00°08’S, 29°36’E], 26–29 December 1968, R.P.M. Lejeune (MRAC 135.362, 135.368); 2 ♀, Semliki middle valley [01°13’N, 30°32’E], sweeping, 8 August 1968, R.P.M. Lejeune (MRAC 135.463, 135.439); 6 ♀, 5 ♂, Lulimbi, river mouth Ishasha into Lake Edward, SE [00°32’S, 29°40’E], gallery forest beating dense shrub, July–August 1976, R.P.M. Lejeune (MRAC 168.314, 169.056, 169.031); 1 ♂, same locality, sweeping meadow, July–August 1976 (MRAC 169.079); 1 ♀, Sake [01°34’S, 29°02’E], March 1936, L. Lippens (MRAC 20737); 1 ♀, N’Zulu, Lake Kivu [01°37’S, 29°06’E], 13–14 February 1934, G.F. De Witt (MRAC 222219). Orientale Region, 3 ♀, Kivu, valley of Kaisola, Plain of Ruindi [00°47’S, 29°17’E], beating, alt. 1100 m, 3 July 1972, R.P.M. Lejeune (MRAC 144.494, 144.595). Sud-Kivu Region, 1 ♀, Bukavu [02°27’S, 28°43’E], December 1954, H. Bomans (MRAC 85564). MOZAMBIQUE: Tete Province, 1 ♀, 1 ♂, Tete [16°09’S, 33°34’E], April 1947 (SMF 9976, 10-034); 1 ♀, Ponta Torres, Inhaca Island [26°00’S, 32°56’E], coastal beach forest, 22 December 1992, T. Steyn (NCA 93/240). RWANDA: Est Province, 1 ♀, Gabiro [01°31’S, 30°28’E], November 1985, R. Jocqué, J. Nsengimana & J.P Michiels (MRAC 165.867); 1 ♀, PN. Akagera, Lake Ihema, fisheries [01°55’S, 30°45’E], sweeping, alt. 1298 m, 8 December 1985, R. Jocqué, J. Nsengimana & J.P. Michiels (MRAC 165.830); 2 ♂, 2 ♀, same locality, beating on three tree spp. Acacia, Ziziphus and Commiphora, 1 July–29 November 1985, R. Jocqué, J. Nsengimana & J.P. Michiels (MRAC 165.370, 165.460); 1 ♀, same locality, 6 km south of fisheries [01°40’S, 30°35’E], dry forest, 5 December 1985, R. Jocqué, J. Nsengimana & J.P. Micheils (MRAC 165.670). Sud Province, 1 ♂, Butare [02°36’S, 29°43’E], April 1968, E. Vertriest (MRAC 134.811). SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal Province, 1♂, 1 ♀, Mtunzini, Twin Streams Farm [28°57’S, 31°46’E], 15 December 1963, W. Lawson & O. Bourquin (NM); 1 ♀, Hellsgate [28°07’S, 32°18’E], blue traps, tsetse fly survey, 15 February 2004, J. Esterhuizen (NCA 2009/4613); 1 ♀, 1 juvenile, Umtamvuna Nature Reserve [32°11’S, 28°58’E], L. Berio (MNHG). TANZANIA: Morogoro Province, 1 ♀, Tanganyika territory [09°06’S, 35°38’E], October 1926, A. Loveridge (MCZ). UGANDA: Jinja District, 1 ♀, Busaga district, Mount Kisunyi [00°40’N, 33°18’E], February 1967, T.Ruabunesa (MRAC 131.591). Kampala Disctrict, 3 ♂, 1 ♀, sub-adult ♂ Rubaga [00°18’N, 32°33’E], sweeping, April –August 1994, D. Penney (MRAC 210194, 210216, 210206); 1 ♂, 3 ♀, same locality, found on flowers, 6 August 1994, D. Penney (MRAC 210192).
Remarks. Millot (1942) described Paramystaria variabilis occidentalis as a subspecies of P. variabilis, based mainly on colour variation. A critical examination of P. v. occidentalis revealed that the epigyne differs from that of P. variabilis and these differences necessitate the recognition of P. occidentalis as a distinct species within Mystaria.
Diagnosis. Females recognised by colour patterns on body (Fig. 26); differ from other species which may have similar abdominal patterns by slightly larger lateral eyes which are situated closer to PME; epigyne with atrium rim teardrop-shaped, small flap posteriorly; small intromittent orifices open antero-laterally (Fig. 67). Male dark with pale legs, femora I and II may have dark infuscated bands (Fig. 28); RTA with long slender tip directed laterally with slight curve anteriorly (Fig. 65); VTA slender (Fig. 66).
Re-description. Female. Size, measurements (n = 21). TL: 2.99 (2.56–3.76); CL: 1.12 (1.05–1.33); CW: 1.01 (0.92–1.20); CI: 1.11 (1.04–1.20); CH: 0.70 (0.60–0.86); CLL: 0.22 (0.15–0.27); MOQ-L: 0.24 (0.20–0.28). Colour. Carapace varies from dark copper-brown to orange-red, colour and patterns vary between individuals, may be uniform in colour or tinted darker on certain areas: usually with two darker bands dorso-laterally (Fig. 26) or darker areas in eye region, may have two small lightly coloured triangles on postero-lateral sides and/or dark bands on thoracic area, in orange specimens carapace dark postero-laterally; clypeus and anterior eye area paler or brighter colour; chelicerae sometimes orange at base and dark distally; labium dark; sternum orange-brown or sometimes with darker brown pattern; abdomen varies: dorsally pale or with blue tint, may have a darker brown medial band or lateral patterns; ventrally striae striped; legs I–IV uniform pale yellow (Fig. 27), or femora I–II often with darker tint; tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi II or IV sometimes dark. Carapace. Smooth, not granular. Sternum. SL: 0.48; SW: 0.51; SI: 0.95. Eye s. Eye measurements: AME–AME: 0.22; ALE–AME: 0.30; AME–AME/ AME–ALE: 0.72; PME–PME: 0.35; PLE–PME: 0.28; PME–PME/PME–PLE: 1.26; ALE/AME: 1.40; PLE/PME: 0.81; MOQ-AW/MOQ-PW: 0.63; MOQ-L/MOQ-W: 0.39; Clyp/AME–AME: 1.01. Legs. Two or three small setae on femora, rest of leg segments covered densely with fine setae, few small strong setae dorsally and ventrally on patellae and tibiae; leg formula: II:I:IV:III; leg measurements: leg I—Fe 0.77, Pat 0.27, Tib 0.58, Mt 0.50, Ta 0.39, total 2.51; II—Fe 0.79, Pat 0.28, Tib 0.63, Mt 0.52, Ta 0.37, total 2.59; III—Fe 0.58, Pat 0.25, Tib 0.42, Mt 0.33, Ta 0.28, total 1.86; IV—Fe 0.67, Pat 0.25, Tib 0.50, Mt 0.43, Ta 0.31, total 2.16. Abdomen. Covered with short setae embedded in small tubercles; AL: 1.87; AW: 1.76; AI: 1.06. Epigyne. Wide posteriorly with small flap centrally, almost closed anteriorly (Fig. 67); intromittent canals complex, as in Fig. 68.
Male. Size, measurements (n = 12). TL: 2.39 (2.10–2.64); CL: 1.02 (0.90–1.14); CW: 0.92 (0.80–1.00); CI: 1.11 (1.05–1.19); CH: 0.62 (0.54–0.72); CLL: 0.22 (0.18–0.24); MOQ-L: 0.22 (0.20–0.24). Resemble females but differ as follows: Colour. Body dark or rich copper-brown; abdomen dorsally with or without patterns, sometimes with narrow bluish or white border anteriorly; ventrally uniform metallic blue, pinkish-purple or pale with blue and white striped striae; legs either pale or femora I–II and tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi IV darker (Fig. 28). Sternum. SL: 0.42 SW: 0.46 SI: 0.92. Eyes. Large; eye measurements: AME–AME: 0.21; ALE–AME: 0.27; AME–AME/ AME–ALE: 0.79; PME–PME: 0.31; PLE–PME: 0.25; PME–PME/PME–PLE: 1.26; ALE/AME: 1.29; PLE/PME: 0.80; MOQ-AW/MOQ-PW: 0.68; MOQ-L/MOQ-W: 0.34; Clyp/AME–AME: 1.05. Legs. Usually with short setae; leg formula: II:I:IV:III; leg measurements: leg I—Fe 0.84, Pat 0.26, Tib 0.73, Mt 0.59, Ta 0.43, total 2.85; II—Fe 0.91, Pat 0.28, Tib 0.75, Mt 0.60, Ta 0.42, total 2.95; III—Fe 0.56, Pat 0.23, Tib 0.48, Mt 0.35, Ta 0.29, total 1.92; IV—Fe 0.64, Pat 0.32, Tib 0.52, Mt 0.44, Ta 0.31, total 2.23. Abdomen. AL: 1.36; AW: 1.17; AI: 1.17. Palp. Embolus long with at least three coils; VTA and RTA almost same length (Figs 65, 66).
Natural history. Sampled from sweeping and beating vegetation such as trees shrubs and from forest litter in coastal beach forest, gallery forests, marshy areas near lakes and mountainous areas. Collected material suggested adults to be abundant from July to April whereas juveniles appeared from March to June.
Distribution. Republic of Guinea. New records: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda (Fig. 121).
description: Published as part of Honiball Lewis, Allet S. & Dippenaar-Schoeman, Ansie S., 2014, Revision of the spider genus Mystaria Simon, 1895 (Araneae: Thomisidae) and the description of a new genus from the Afrotropical region, pp. 101-144 in Zootaxa 3873 (2) on pages 123-124, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3873.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4948115