Eight cobweb spider species from China building detritus-based, bell-shaped retreats (Araneae, Theridiidae).

ABSTRACT: Eight cobweb spider species building a detritus-based, bell-shaped retreat from China are reported in the current paper, including five new Campanicola species and three known species: Campanicolaanguilliformis Li & Liu, sp. nov., Campanicolafalciformis Li & Liu, sp. nov., Campanicolaheteroidea Li & Liu, sp. nov., Campanicolatauricornis Li & Liu, sp. nov., Campanicolavolubilis Li & Liu, sp. nov., Campanicolacampanulata (Chen, 1993), Campanicolaferrumequina (Bösenberg & Strand, 1906), and Parasteatodaducta (Zhu, 1998). Among them, the male of Parasteatodaducta (Zhu, 1998) is described for the first time. We provide photographs of all species and descriptions for new species in the current paper. The type of bell-shaped retreat is rare in theridiid, and found only in four related genera. A natural next step upon completing this taxonomic study would be to analyse and understand the evolution of the retreat and related traits.

SUBMITTER: Li Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9848907 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature