﻿A new species of Floronia Simon, 1887 from Baiyan Cave in Guizhou Province, China (Araneae, Linyphiidae)

﻿Abstract Floroniahuishuiensis Zhou & Xu, sp. nov. (♂♀) is the first species in the genus Floronia to be described from Baiyan Cave in Guizhou Province, China. The new species is similar to F.zhejiangensis Zhu, Chen & Sha, 1987 but differs in structural details of the genital organs, primarily by the presence of a well-developed retrolateral tibial apophysis, a hook-shaped distal end of the radix in the male palp, and the rectangular posterior median plate in the epigyne. The illustration of copulatory organs of F.bucculenta (Clerck, 1757) and F.zhejiangensis Zhu, Chen & Sha, 1987 were reproduced here for comparison. A detailed description, photographs of the habitus and copulatory organs of the new species and a distribution map is provided.


Introduction
Linyphiidae is the second largest family of relatively small spiders, with 4,832 species in 636 genera, which are commonly distributed across the globe, and including 517 species in 179 genera reported from China (World Spider Catalog 2023).The genus Floronia Simon, 1887 comprises six species distributed in China, Europe, Japan, Korea, and Russia (World Spider Catalog 2023).
With the addition of the new species described here, Floronia huishuiensis Zhou & Xu, sp.nov., the number of Floronia species from China reaches five.The type species of the genus, F. bucculenta (Clerck, 1757), has a wide distribution in Europe, Russia and has now spread to five provinces in China (Hebei, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, and Yunnan).While examining spider specimens from Guizhou Province, we identified a new species of Linyphiidae, which is described here.The illustrations of copulatory organs of F. bucculenta (Clerck, 1757) and F. zhejiangensis Zhu, Chen & Sha, 1987 are reproduced from the master's thesis of Dr Xu Xin and are presented here for comparison.

Materials and methods
Specimens were collected by handpicking and preserved in 95% ethanol.After dissection, the epigyne was cleared in trypsin enzyme solution before examination and photography.The left male pedipalps were used for description and illustration.Specimens were examined and measured with an Olympus BX41 stereomicroscope.Photographs were taken with a Kuy Nice CCD mounted on an Olympus BX41 stereomicroscope and focus stacked using Helicon Focus v. 3.10.Maps were created using ArcMap v. 10.2 and modified using Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended.Leg measurements are shown as total length (coxa, trochanter, femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus).All measurements are given in millimeters (mm).Terminology and taxonomic descriptions follow Saaristo and Tanasevitch (1996)   Distribution.Europe to the Russian Far East; China (Fig. 7).Etymology.The specific epithet is derived from the name of the county where the type locality is located.Gender neutral.
Description.Male (holotype, Fig. 5A−C).Total length 1.51.Carapace 0.65 long, 0.52 wide, with a broad, longitudinal, white band at centre and sides greenish-brown sides.Abdomen 0.86 long, 0.51 wide.Anterior half of abdomen   3A, B).Patella as long as tibia, retrolaterally with two large macrosetae; tibia with one retrolateral and one dorsal trichobothria; retrolateral tibial apophysis well developed, doorknob-like in dorsal view, with blunt end.Cymbium retrolateral margin with a shallow depression at base; prolateral margin with a small tubercle; proximal cymbial apophysis somewhat thumb-shaped in dorsal view.Paracymbium with well-developed anterior and distal arms; prolateral margin longer than  Distribution.Known only from the type locality in Guizhou, China (Fig. 7).
Habitat.Baiyan Cave is a natural karst cave with a large opening.The new species, which was mainly found about 10-20 m from the cave's opening, makes webs under large rocks.Distribution.China (Fig. 7).
. The specimens of Floronia huishuiensis Zhou & Xu, sp.nov.are deposited in the Taxidermy Museum of Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou City, China (GNNU), and specimens of F. bucculenta and F. zhejiangensis are deposited at the College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan.