Description of four new Steatoda species (Araneae: Theridiidae) from the Mediterranean region with notes on some related species

 

Description of four new Steatoda species (Araneae: Theridiidae) from the Mediterranean region with notes on some related species

Abstract

Four new Steatoda species from the Mediterranean region are diagnosed, described and illustrated: S.

koeni sp. nov. (♂♀, Morocco), S. ingeae sp. nov. (♂♀, Morocco), S. dickjonesi sp. nov. (♂♀, France)

and S. verae sp. nov. (♂♀, Spain). The holotype of S. triangulosa concolor (Caporiacco, 1933) was

examined and found to be a subadult specimen, the subspecies is elevated to species level and S.

concolor stat. nov. is described from both sexes (♂♀, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria), and the female of S.

trianguloides is redescribed. Three new synonyms are proposed: S. moerens (Thorell, 1875) is found

to be a junior synonym of S. latifasciata (Simon, 1873) new syn.; S. incomposita (Denis, 1957) is found

to be a junior synonym of Steatoda albocincta (Lucas, 1846) new syn.; S. albomaculata infuscata

(Schenkel, 1925) is synonymized with S. albomaculata (De Geer, 1778) new syn.; S. venator (Audouin,

1826) is considered a nomen dubium. All Euro-Mediterranean Steatoda species except S. xerophila

Levy & Amitai 1982 are illustrated and a key to the species is provided.

VAN KEER, J., BOSSELAERS, J., OGER, P. (2024). Description of four new Steatoda species (Araneae: Theridiidae) from the Mediterranean region with notes on some related species. Journal of the Belgian Arachnological Society 39(2) supplement: 1-77.