Herbert W. Levi.
The Neotropical orb-weaver genera Epeiroides, Bertrana and Amazonepeira (Araneae: Araneidae).
Psyche 96:75-100, 1989.

Full text (searchable PDF, 3600K)
Durable link: http://psyche.entclub.org/96/96-075.html

The following unprocessed text is extracted from the PDF file, and is likely to be both incomplete and full of errors. Please consult the PDF file for the complete article.

THE NEOTROPICAL ORB-WEAVER GENERA
EPEIROIDES, BERTRANA AND A MAZONEPEZRA
(ARANEAE: ARANEIDAE).*
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 02138
Most Neotropical spider specimens preserved in museums were collected by ornithologists, entomologists or amateur naturalists, who picked up spiders when their preferred organisms could not be found. Invariably such collectors bring back the biggest, showiest spiders. Only in recent years have arachnologists themselves col- lected, concentrating on the less conspicuous but often more inter- esting spiders that previously were overlooked. Tiny spiders frequently show greater diversity in structure than larger ones, and have more species in the Holarctic region. At present we know much less about the minute Neotropical Araneidae than about the larger species.
For most of these spiders there is no literature other than catalog citations. Often the second citation is a misidentification, and many species, when found again, were given new names (e.g. Bertrana striolata), because making a new species is much easier than check- ing previous descriptions and examining their types. Specimens from the following collections were used. I want to thank their curators for their help.
AMNH
American Museum of Natural History, New York, N. Platnick, L. Sorkin;
BMNH British Museum (Natural History), London, P. Hill- yard, F. Wanless;
CAS
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, W. J. Pulawski, D. Ubick;
FSCA Florida State Collection of Arthropods, G. B. Edwards; HEC
Hope Entomology Collections, Oxford University, D. Spencer-Smith, J. Lansbury;
*Manuscript received by the editor May 8, 1989. 75
Pzirfif W7i-99 (1989). hup Yftwche rnlclub orgÌöei^6.075.htm



================================================================================

76
IRSNB
MCN
MCZ
MECN
MEG
MHNSM
MNHN
MZSP
MZUF
NHRM
PAN
PMY
USNM
Psyche [vo~. 96
Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Brussels, L. Baert;
Museu de Ciencias Naturals, Porto Alegre, A. Lise, E. Buckup;
Museum of Comparative Zoology;
Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales, Quito, L. Aviles;
M. E. Galiano;
Museo de
Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional
Mayor de San Marco's, Lima, D. Silva D.; Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, J. Heur- tault, J. Kovoor;
Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Siio Paulo, P. Vanzolini, L. Neme, J. L. M. Leme;
Museo Zoologico de "La Specola," Universith, Flor- ence, S. Mascherini;
Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, Stockholm, T. Kronestedt; Polska Akademia Nauk, Warszawa, A. Riedel, W. Starega, J. Proczynski, A. Slojewska;
Peabody Museum, Yale University, C. Remington, D. G. Furth;
National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., J. Coddington. The research until recently was supported by National Science Foundation grants: B-5 133, GB-36 16 1, BMS 75-057 19, DEB 76- 15568, DEB 79-23004, DEB 80-19732 and BSR 83-12771. This paper has been made possible by the excellent tiny spider collecting of W. Eberhard, Diana Silva D. and J. Coddington. W. Eberhard, R. E. Coville and C. Griswold provided natural history information. Arno A. Lise made distribution data available. J. Coddington and W. Eberhard read the paper and made useful comments. Dee Woessner helped with the word processing and L. Leibensperger with all aspects of the research. I am grateful to all. The methods used have been the same as in previous papers (Levi, 1986, 1987, 1988 and in press).
Epeiroides Keyserling
Epeiroides Keyserling, 1884: 523. Type species by monotypy E. bahiensis Keyserling 1884. The gender of the name is feminine (Bonnet, 1956: 1706).



================================================================================

19891
Levi - Neotropical orb-weaver genera
Map 1.
Distribution of Epeiroides bahiensis.
Diagnosis.
Epeiroides has genitalia resembling those of AZpaida, Wagneriana, Cyclosa and Eriophora. The epigynum of Epeiroides females differs from that of Araneus by lacking an annulate scape with a pocket at its tip. The palpus of male Epeiroides differs from that of Araneus in having the conductor inside the cup formed by the tegulum (not on the rim), and extended basally into a para- medium apophysis. The embolus is similar to that of AZpaida in being fused to the terminal apophysis. (Or is it the embolus lamella?).
Females of Epeiroides bahiensis differ from those of the related AZpaida species and from species of other genera by the unusual apomorph spindle-shaped abdomen and the low, soft carapace. Males differ by having apomorph soft tubercles on the third coxa. The females have hardly any macrosetae on the legs. Only one species is widespread in the Neotropics (Map 1). The male was heretofore not known.
Misplaced species.
Epeiroides albonotatus Me110 Leit50, 1945, is AZpaida truncata (Keyserling).
Epeiroides lamprus Soares and Camargo, 1948, is a Verrucosa.



================================================================================

Psyche
[Vol. 96
Epeiroides bahiensis (Keyserling)
Figures 1- 10; Map 1
Epeiroides bahiensis Keyserling, 1885; 524, pi. 13, fig. 23, Q. Female holotype from Bahia, Brazil in MCZ, examined. Keyserling, 1893: 307, pi. 15, fig. 227, Q, Bonnet, 1956: 1706.
Aranea bahiensis:-Roewer, 1942: 837.
Note.
The holotype has the tip of the epigynum torn off. Description.
Female from Bahia, Brazil: Carapace yellowish with a pair of minute black spots. Chelicerae, labium, endites yel- lowish. Sternum yellowish, dusky in center. Coxae yellowish. Legs yellowish; undersides of first and second femora with two black lines, and a dorsal black line from tibiae to tarsi. Dorsum of abdo- men yellowish white (Fig. 4); venter dusky with a pair of white spots side by side, spinnerets black (Fig. 5). Eyes subequal. Anterior median eyes two diameters apart, posterior medians one. Legs with- out macrosetae. Abdomen oval, wider than long (Fig. 4). Total length 6.8 mm. Carapace 3.0 mm long, 2.7 wide. First femur 4.7 mm, patella and tibia 5.3, metatarsus 4.2, tarsus 1.1. Second patella and tibia 3.7 mm, third 1.9, fourth 2.8. Male from Colombia: Color as in female. Eyes as in female. Endite with tooth; palpal femur with tooth. Palpal patella with one macroseta. First coxa with hook. Third coxa with tubercles (Fig. 10). Second tibia thicker than first with distal macrosetae (Fig. 9). Legs with macrosetae, second femur with ventral row of macrose- tae. Abdomen as wide as long. Total length 4.4 mm. Carapace 2.7 mm long, 2.3 wide. First femur 4.5 mm, patella and tibia 4.5, meta- tarsus 4.0, tarsus 1.2. Second patella and tibia 3.8 mm, third 1.5, fourth 2.2.
Variation.
The tip of the epigynum is torn off in some speci- mens (Fig. 2, from Bahia, Brazil); in others it is present (Fig. 1, from Colombia). Total length of females 5.2 to 8.7 mm. Diagnosis.
The epigynum appears quite variable, often with the center torn out (Figs. 1,2). The palpus has a large conductor (C in Figs. 6-8) and large median apophysis (M). The species appears superficially similar to Araneus sextus (Chamberlin) but differs by the structure of the genitalia (Levi, in press). Natural History.
The web of the female from Costa Rica, a small, vertical orb-web with long foundation lines, was located at the top of stairs leading from the river to the biological station. The



================================================================================

19891
Levi - Neotropical orb-weaver genera
Figures 1 - 10.
Epeiroides bahiensis Keyserling. 1-5, female. 1,2, epigynum, ven- tral. 3, epigynum, posterior. 4, dorsal. 5, abdomen, ventral. 6-10, male. 6, left palpus, mesal. 7, palpus, ventral. 8, palpus, pulled apart. 9, left second tibia, ventral. 10, left third and fourth coxae. Abbreviations. A, terminal apophysis; C, conductor; E, embolus; H, hematodocha; M, median apophysis; PM, paramedian apophysis; R, radix; T, tegulum; Y, cymbium. Scale lines. 1.0 mm; genitalia 0.1 mm. spider was in the hub at first but when disturbed moved to a loosly constructed retreat below the tip of a branch, at the base of three leaves. The spider was clearly visible in the slightly cup-shaped retreat. The orb of the web measured 25 by 25 cm, with a large notched zone but no well-defined hub or free zone. The web was suspended from a bridge measuring 90 cm on each side of the orb, for a total of 205 cm; a line from the bottom to the substrate mea- sured 45 cm. The species is preyed on by the wasp Trypoxylon



================================================================================

80 Psyche [VOI. 96
(Trypargilum) vagulum Richards (Hymenoptera, Sp hecidae). (From field notes of C. Griswold, courtesy R. E. Coville, 1986). Other notes are: fell into canoe from overhead vegetation in Venezuela; immature female collected with adult male from under leaf in Colombia.
Records.
COSTA RICA Heredia: La Selva nr. Puerto Viejo, Oct. 1981, Q (C. E. Griswold, MCZ). Cartago: Turrialba, Q (Burgdorf-Schild, USNM).
VENEZUELA Amazonas: middle Rio Baria, 100 m el., 21 July 1984, Q (L. S. Ford, C. W. Myers, AMNH). GUYANA Bartica Distr.: Kartabo, 1924, imm (AMNH), COLOMBIA Cauca: ca. 90 km S of Cali, 5 March 1977, Q, $ (W. Eberhard, MCZ). ECUA- DOR Napo: Rio Tarapuy, 18 Nov. 1982, Q (L. Avilks, MECN). PERU Madre de Dios: Rio Tambopata Reserve, 30 km SW Puerto Maldonado, Nov. 1982, Q (E. S. Ross, CAS). BRAZIL Amazonas: Rio Japura, Chicago, 13 Apr. 1915, Q (A. Ramon, NHRM). Bahia: Salvador, Oct. 1961, Q (N. L. H. Krauss, AMNH); Camacan, $ (MCN, 16963).
Bertrana Keyserling
Bertrana Keyserling, 1884: 654. Type species by monotypy, B. striolata Keyserling 1884. The gender of the name is feminine (Bonnet, 1955: 881). Diotherisoma di Caporiacco, 1947: 25. Type species by original designation and monotypy, D. strandi di Caporiacco, 1947 (= B. striolata). NEW SYNONYMY. Diagnosis.
Bertrana has genitalia resembling those of Alpaida, Wagneriana, Cyclosa and Eriophora. The epigynum of the female differs from that of Araneus in lacking a long annulate scape on an elaborate base; instead there is a bulge or lobe. The male palpus is distinct from the Araneus palpus by having the conductor inside the cup of the tegulum (not on the rim), and extended basally into a paramedian apophysis. The palpus differs from those of Alpaida, Wagneriana, Cyclosa and Eriophora by a synapomorphy; having the bulb twisted in such a way that the base of the embolus is covered by the cymbium (Figs. 23,38,40). The median apophysis is often round and touches the edge of the cymbium (Figs. 17,30,50). Unfortunately the small size and the transparency of the sclerites and lack of abundant material makes the study of the palpi difficult. Bertrana females differ from females of the related Alpaida and other genera by the sparse black pigment in the eye region, the low



================================================================================

19891 Levi - Neotropical orb-weaver genera 81 soft carapace, the soft, wider-than-long abdomen, and by their small size, females being less than 5 mm total length (all presumed syn- apomorphies). Bertrana includes the smallest known araneid orbweavers.
There are nine species in the Neotropics (Map 2). Only one male, that of B. striolata, was previously known. All males have 1 palpal patellar seta, all but B. vella have a tooth or tubercle on the endite, all but B. vella have a coxal hook, and Plate 1. Web of Bertrana laselva, maximum diameter of free zone 4.6 mm; the web was perfectly vertical (photo W. Eberhard).



================================================================================

82 Psyche [vo~. 96
only B. elinguis and B. planada have pronounced macrosetae on the second tibia. The second tibia of B. laselva is thicker than the first. Natural History.
As far as is known, the species make small, complete, vertical orb-webs (Plate 1) early in the evening, the spi- ders usually sitting in the hub (B. striolata, B. valle, B. planada, B. abbreviata, B. laselva). One individual of B. laselva was found near the edge of a web in a retreat, probably a daytime retreat. Several species were collected from early secondary vegetation, B. laselva, B. planada from streamside, B. valle, B. striolata from roadside (all W. Eberhard, personal communication, 1989). Misplaced species.
Bertrana farri Archer, 1955: 1 1, figs. 18-21, 24,3, belongs to a new genus to be named. Key to Bertrana species, females
..... Abdomen marked with numerous lines (Figs. 15,21) .2
...............................
Abdomen otherwise.. .3
Epigynum longer than wide (Fig. 19), with an A-shaped pos- terior depression (Fig. 20); carapace with a pair of dusky marks (Fig. 21) ............................. rufostriata Epigynum wider than long (Fig. 1 I), with a wider than long median plate in posterior view (Fig. 12); carapace without dusky marks (Fig. 15) ......................... striolata Epigynum longer than wide (Fig. 52) ................ vella Epigynum as long as wide, or wider than long. .......... .4 Epigynum constricted at base with a lobe on each side (Figs. 25,26) ....................................... elinguis Epigynum not constricted at base ..................... .5 Carapace and abdomen orange (Fig. 37); epigynum with two dark circles in ventral view, their diameter from posterior margin and touching each other (Fig. 35). .......... laselva Coloration and epigynum otherwise ................... .6 A dark mark on each side between head and carapace (Fig. 46); epigynum in posterior view with a pair of sclerites (Fig. 45) ............................................ arena Markings and epigynum otherwise .................... .7 Posterior view of epigynum with two dark circles (Fig. 48) ............................................ lanada Posterior view of epigynum otherwise. ................. .8



================================================================================

19891 Levi - Neotropical orb-weaver genera 8 3 striolata
Map 2.
Distribution of Bertrana species and Amazonepeira herrera. Epigynum in ventral view with sides of median lobe concave (Fig. 41); in posterior view with two parallel lines (Fig. 42) nancho
............................................. Epigynum rounded in ventral view (Fig. 31) and with a P- shaped mark and its mirror image in posterior view (Fig. 32) abbreviate
.......................................... Key to Bertrana species, males
Abdomen marked with lines (Figs. 18, 24) .............. .2 Abdomen otherwise ................................. .3 Median apophysis as wide as long; end of terminal apophysis expanded into a knob (Fig. 17) ................. striolata Median apophysis much longer than wide; end of terminal apophysis pointed (Fig. 23). .................. rufostriata



================================================================================

84 Psyche [vo~. 96
..................... 3(2) Tegulum drawn out (Figs. 50,55) .4 -
.............................
Tegulum not drawn out. .5
4(3)
Tegulum with a projecting bar (Fig. 55) .............. vella -
Tegulum drawn out to a point (Fig. 50) .......... .planada 5(3)
Median apophysis with large tooth pointing distally to cym- bium (Fig. 30). ................................ elinguis -
Median apophysis otherwise (Figs. 38,39), bulb with charac- teristic duct loops (Fig. 39) ....................... laselva Bertrana striolata Keyserling
Figures 1 1 - 18; Map 2
Bertrana striolata Keyserling, 1884: 654, pi. 21, fig. 6, Q. According to Keyserling (1884) several female syntypes from Pevas, Amazonas, [Pebas, Loreto, Peru] in the collection Simon. A specimen from La Para [Belkm] (MNHN) examined and labeled lectotype. Keyserling 1893: 310, pi. 16, fig. 229, Q. Roewer, 1942: 776. Bonnet, 1955: 881.
Bertrana hieroglyphica Petrunkevitch, 1925: 113, figs. 22-28,S. Male holotype from San Lorenzo, Panama (PMY), examined. Roewer, 1942: 776. Bonnet, 1955: 881. Chickering, 1963: 129, figs. 1-4, Q, 3. NEW SYNONYMY. Diotherisoma strandi Di Caporiacco, 1947: 25; 1948: 664, fig. 74,Q. Female holotype from Two Mouths, near Essequibo River, Guyana (Florence Museum), exam- ined. Brignoli, 1983: 239. NEW SYNONYMY. Note.
Keyserling apparently had specimens of two species, strio- lata and rufostriata, and illustrated the species here called striolata. A specimen in the BMNH labeled as striolata is actually rufostriata. Also, not all of Keyserling's original specimens may have come from Pevas.
Description.
Female from Argentina: Carapace orange-yellow with median white pigment patch. Chelicerae, labium, endites yel- low. Sternum orange. Coxae and legs orange-yellow; first and second femora with two ventral black lines; all patellae and tibiae have a dorsal black line; distal ends of first and fourth tibiae with black ring; first tarsus black. Dorsum of abdomen white with black lines bordered by white (Fig. 15); venter dusky. Posterior median eyes 1 diameter of anterior medians, anterior laterals 0.8 diameter, poste- rior 0.8. Anterior median eyes 1.5 diameters apart, 1 from laterals. Posterior median eyes 0.6 diameter apart, two from laterals. Abdo- men spherical (Fig. 15). Total length 3.2 mm. Carapace 1.3 mm long, 1.2 wide. First femur 1.6 mm, patella and tibia 1.7, metatarsus



================================================================================

19891 Levi - Neotropical orb-weaver genera 85 Figures 1 1 - 18. Bertram striolata Keyserling. 11 - 16, female. I 1, epigynum, ven- tral. 12, epigyouni, posterior. 13, epigynum, lateral. 14, epigynum, posterior, cleared. 15, dorsal. 16, chelicerae and eye region, 17, 18, male. 17, left palpus. 18, dorsal. Figures 19-24. B. rufostriata Simon. 19-21, female. 19, epigynum, ventral. 20, epigynum, posterior. 21, dorsal. 22-24, male. 22,23, palpus. 24, dorsal. Scale lines. 1.0 mm; genitalia 0.1 nun.
11. tarsus 0.4. Second patella and tibia 1.3 mm, third 0.8, fourth 1.2.
Mate from Panama: Color as in female (Fig. 18). Posterior median eyes 1 diameter of anterior medians, anterior laterals 0.8 diameter, posterior laterals 0.8. Anterior median eyes 1.5 diameters



================================================================================

86 Psyche [Vol. 96
apart, 1 from laterals. Posterior median eyes 0.6 diameter apart, 2 from laterals. Endite and palpal femur each with a tooth. Palpal patella with one macroseta. First coxa with large projecting hook. Neither first nor second tibia modified. Second femur with short groove. Fourth trochanter with one short macroseta. Abdomen oval. Total length 2.5 mm. Carapace 1.3 mm long, 1.0 wide. First femur 1.4 mm, patella and tibia 1.7, metatarsus 1.1, tarsus 0.4. Second patella and tibia 1.3 mm, third 0.7, fourth 1 .O. Note.
Figures 1 1- 13, 16 were made from the lectotype, 15 from an Argentinian specimen, 17, 18 from a Panamanian specimen. Variation. Total length of females 2.4 to 3.8 mm, males 2.2 to 2.6 mm. One female has the tip of the epigynum torn off. Diagnosis.
Bertrana striolata differs from B. rufostriata by hav- ing the epigynum wider than long (Fig. 12), and the male palpus with a median apophysis as wide as long and a knob at the tip of the terminal apophysis (Fig. 17).
Natural History. Found in forest understory (W. Eberhard, personal comm.)
Distribution. From Costa Rica to Argentina (Map 2). Records. COSTA RICA Puntarenas: vicinity of Piedras Blancas, 23 July 1981,$ (G. B. Edwards, FSCA); Osa Peninsula, 2.5 mi. SW Rincon, March 1967, Q (Organ. Trop. Studies, MCZ). PANAMA Panama: Pedro Miguel; Forest Reserve; Experimental Gardens; Balboa; Madden Dam; Cerro Galero; Summit; Cocoli area; Barro Colorado Island, Gatun Lake (all MCZ). COLOMBIA Putumayo: Bueno Vista, July 1972,4Q, 58 (W. Eberhard, MCZ). ECUADOR Pichincha: 4 km NE Pedro Maldonado, km 113 to Puerto Quito, 0å¡05' 79'07', 9-12 July 1988, Q, $ (W. Maddison, MCZ). PERU Huanuco: Tingo Maria, 10 Oct. 1954, 3Q (E. I. Schlinger, E. S. Ross, CAS); Dantas La Molina, SW of Puerto Inca, 270 m, 09O38', 75O00', 18 May-1 June 1987, Q (D. Silva D, MHNSM). Madre de Dios: Atalaya, Rio Carbon, 23 Sep. 1987, 29, 13 (D. Silva, MHNSM). BRAZIL SZo Paulo: Barueri, 6 Dec. 1965, 39, $ (K. Henohocol, MZSP 5873), 20 Dec. 1965, Q (K. Lenko, MZSP 9576); Jundiai, Nov. 1976, 3 (P. Schneble, MCZ). BOLIVIA La Paz: Chulumani, 1700 m, Yungas, Q (L. Pefia, IRSN). ARGENTINA Misiones: Eldorado, Nov. 1970, $ (M. E. Galiano, MEG); Sep.-Nov. 1964, Q (A. Kovacs, AMNH); Gral. Manuel Belgrano, Jan. 1966, 8 (M. E. Galiano, MEG); Parque Nac. Iguazu, Jan.



================================================================================

19891 Levi - Neotropical orb-weaver genera 8 7 1966,3, Oct. 1977, Q (M. E. Galiano, MEG); Cataratas de Iguazu, 5 Oct. 1963, Q, 26 March 1968, $ (M. E. Galiano, MEG). Rio Negro: El Bolson, 1965, 1966,S (A. Kovacs, AMNH). Bertrana rufostriata Simon
Figures 19-24; Map 2
Bertrana rufostriata Simon, 1893: 325. Female holotype from Pebas, [Dpto. Loreto], Peru in MNHN, examined. Roewer, 1942: 776. Bonnet, 1955: 881. Description.
Female holotype: Carapace, chelicerae, labium, endites, sternum orange-yellow. Coxae, legs orange-yellow, tarsi dusky. Dorsum of abdomen white with dusky streaks (Fig. 21); sides with small white spots, venter with some dusky pigment. Eyes sub- equal. Anterior median eyes 1.5 diameters apart, 1.5 from laterals. Posterior median eyes their diameter apart, 2.5 from laterals. Poste- rior median eyes their diameter apart, 2.5 from laterals. Abdomen spherical (Fig. 2 1). Total length 3.4 mm. Carapace 1.3 mm long, 1.2 wide. First femur 1.7 mm, patella and tibia 1.9, metatarsus 1.4, tarsus 0.4. Second patella and tibia 1.8 mm, third 0.7, fourth 1.4. Male from S5o Paulo: Color as in female but carapace with two short dusky marks (Fig. 24), legs with black lines under femora and tibiae, and abdomen with a transverse dusky bar in front of spin- nerets. Eyes subequal. Anterior median eyes slightly more than a diameter apart, one from laterals. Posterior median eyes slightly less