Molestia caudatus Irfan & Zhang & Peng 2022, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Irfan, Muhammad
name: Zhang, Zhi-Sheng
name: Peng, Xian-Jin
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Linyphiidae
Molestia
Molestia caudatus

description: Molestia caudatus sp. nov. (ÃĢƦ)
Figures 204–207, 212
Types. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Yunnan, Fugong County, Lumadeng Township, Shibali forest station trap area, 27.16636°N, 98.77667°E, alt. 2563m, 4 May 2004, Charles Griswold and D. H. Kavanaugh leg. (CGY28). Paratypes: 1♂ 3♀, same data as holotype (CGY28).
Etymology. This epithet derives from the Latin adjective “ caudatus ”, meaning “tail”, referring to the cymbium having a long tail-shaped proximal cymbial apophysis in the male palp.
Diagnosis. The female of new species resembles that of Molestia molestus (Tao, Li & Zhu, 1995) in having a similar scape which has lateral pockets on inner surface (Fig. 206C, D; Tu et al. 2006, figs 37–40), but can be distinguished by the spermathecae situated dorso-laterally, pointing away from each other in M. caudatus sp. nov. (Fig. 206D), whereas situated dorso-mesally, pointing towards each other in M. molestus (Tu et al. 2006, figs 37, 39). Posterior median plate trapezoid in M. caudatus sp. nov. (Fig. 206D), whereas round in M. molestus (Tu et al. 2006, fig. 39). Male of Molestia can be diagnosed by the terminal apophysis sclerotized, large with teeth; lamella characteristca relatively robust without lamellar projections; embolus proper relatively broad (Figs 204A– D, 205A–D).
Description. Male (holotype, Fig. 207A–C): Total length: 1.96. Carapace 0.87 long, 0.71 wide, brown; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.21 high. Sternum longer than wide, brown, sparsely covered with microsetae. Labium wider than long. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae with two promarginal and two retromarginal teeth. AER recurved, PER straight, slightly wider. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.07, PME 0.06, PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.03, AME–ALE, 0.04, PME–PLE 0.05, AME–PME 0.08, ALE–ALE 0.30, PLE–PLE 0.31, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 3.38 (0.89, 1.09, 0.79, 0.61), II 2.89 (0.81, 0.91, 0.65, 0.52), III 2.24 (0.61, 0.70, 0.52, 0.41), IV 2.99 (0.82, 0.96, 0.69, 0.52). Leg formula I-IV-II-III. Tm I 0.36, Tm IV absent. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Abdomen 1.08 long, 0.66 wide, oval, greenish-grey, posteriorly with three chevrons; ventral side greenish-grey.
Palp (Figs 204A–D, 205A–D): Patella shorter than tibia with a long dorsal spine; tibia conic, distal margin much wider than proximal one, with two retrolateral and a dorsal trichobothria; proximal cymbial apophysis long, tail-shaped. Basal part of paracymbium with a somewhat triangular projection with sharp pointed end; distal arm grooved, with finger-like tip. Tegulum with a pointed outgrowth on ventral side. Distal suprategular apophysis relatively sclerotized, with blunt end. Lamella characteristca relatively robust without lamellar projections. Fickert’s gland present within radix. Terminal apophysis sclerotized, longer than wide, with woodpecker head shaped distal end. Embolus proper broad at base with distal pointed end.
Female (one of the paratypes, Fig. 207D–F): Total length: 1.95. Carapace 0.81 long, 0.64 wide, yellow; fovea, cervical and radial grooves distinct. Clypeus 0.19 high. Sternum longer than wide, brown, sparsely covered with microsetae. Labium wider than long. Maxillae long, distal end broad with scopulae. Chelicerae with four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth.AER recurved, PER straight, slightly wider. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.03, ALE 0.06, PME 0.07, PLE 0.06, AME–AME 0.03, PME–PME 0.04, AME–ALE, 0.04, PME–PLE 0.04, AME–PME 0.07, ALE–ALE 0.28, PLE–PLE 0.30, ALE–PLE contiguous. Length of legs: I 3.08 (0.84, 0.99, 0.70, 0.55), II 2.72 (0.74, 0.87, 0.61, 0.50), III 2.22 (0.66, 0.68, 0.49, 0.39), IV 2.90 (0.84, 0.92, 0.64, 0.50). Leg formula I-IV-II-III. Tm I 0.33, Tm IV absent. Tibial spine formula: 2-2-2-2. Abdomen 1.30 long, 0.86 wide, oval, greenish-grey, posteriorly with three chevrons; ventral side greenish-grey.
Epigyne (Fig. 206A–D): Scape broad, round, with lateral pockets on inner surface.Stretcher absent. Posterior median plate broad, trapezoid. Spermathecae situated dorso-laterally, pointing away from each other.
Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Fig. 212).
Molestia hamifer (Simon, 1884) comb. nov. (ÂNĢƦ) Figures 208, 209, 212
Lepthyphantes minhenensis Zhu & Li, 1983b: 145, fig. 3a–c (Df).
Lepthyphantes hamifer Simon, 1884a: 285, figs 40–42 (Dmf); Zhu & Zhang, 2011: 130, fig. 82A–D (mf). For full list of publications and synonyms concerning this species see World Spider Catalog (2022).
Material examined. 3♂ 2♀, CHINA, Yunnan, Fugong County, Pihe Township, Bacun river, south shore, 1.96
these characteristics, Lepthyphantes hamifer Simon, 1884 best fits in genus Molestia and proposed here as Molestia hamifer (Simon, 1884) comb. nov..
description: Published as part of Irfan, Muhammad, Zhang, Zhi-Sheng & Peng, Xian-Jin, 2022, Survey of Linyphiidae (Arachnida: Araneae) spiders from Yunnan, China, pp. 1-292 in Megataxa 8 (1) on pages 174-177, DOI: 10.11646/megataxa.8.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7526571