Research Article
Print
Research Article
Revision of the orb-weaver spider genus Gea C.L. Koch, 1843 (Araneae, Araneidae) from China
expand article infoXiaoqi Mi‡, Feng Liu§, Cheng Wang‡, Jiahui Gan‡, Yibei Wu‡
‡ Tongren University, Tongren, China
§ Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming, China

Corresponding author: Xiaoqi Mi ( mixiaoqi1018@163.com )

Academic editor: Zhiyuan Yao
© 2024 Xiaoqi Mi, Feng Liu, Cheng Wang, Jiahui Gan, Yibei Wu.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Mi X, Liu F, Wang C, Gan J, Wu Y (2024) Revision of the orb-weaver spider genus Gea C.L. Koch, 1843 (Araneae, Araneidae) from China. ZooKeys 1191: 75-88. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1191.117592
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:13141202-A28C-4A14-8B6E-860BBD434A69
Open Access

Abstract

The orb-weaver spider genus Gea C.L. Koch, 1843 from China is revised, and three species including one new species, are recognized: Gea jingdong Mi, Wang & Gan, sp. nov. (♂♀) from Yunnan; Gea spinipes C.L. Koch, 1843 (♂♀) from Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Taiwan, and Yunnan; and Gea subarmata Thorell, 1890 (♂♀) from Guangxi and Hainan. Gea subarmata is newly recorded in China.

Key words

Arachnida, Argiopinae, diagnosis, morphology, new species, taxonomy

Introduction

The orb-weaver spider subfamily Argiopinae consists of three genera, Gea C.L. Koch, 1843, Argiope Audouin, 1826, and Neogea Levi, 1983 (Levi 1983). This subfamily differs from other araneid subfamilies in having the posterior eye row procurved in dorsal view, and it is also characterized by sexual dimorphism (Levi 1983). The subfamily Argiopinae of the Western Pacific region has been revised by Levi (1983), who included in it 49 Argiope species, seven Gea species, and two Neogea species; eight species of Argiope occur in China, but no species of Gea were known from China.

The genus Gea contains 13 species and subspecies, which are mainly distributed in Africa, Asia, and Australia, and Gea heptagon (Hentz, 1850) is introduced to the USA to Argentina (WSC 2024). Gea spinipes has been almost concurrently reported from Guizhou and Yunnan (Yin et al. 1997) and Taiwan (Chang and Chang 1997) and is the only known Gea species known from China at present (Song et al. 1999; WSC 2024).

The Gea specimens collected in China were examined, and three species including a new species, are identified. They are described in this paper.

Material and methods

All specimens were collected by beating shrubs or by hand and are preserved in 75% ethanol. The specimens are deposited in the Museum of Tongren University, China (TRU). Methods follow Mi et al. (2023).

All measurements are given in millimeters. Leg measurements are given as total length (femur, patella + tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). Abbreviations used in the text and figures are as follows: ALE anterior lateral eye; AME anterior median eye; C conductor; CD copulatory duct; CO copulatory opening; E embolus; FD fertilization duct; LP lateral plate; MA median apophysis; MOA median ocular area; PLE posterior lateral eye; PME posterior median eye; Sp spermatheca.

Taxonomy

Family Araneidae Clerck, 1757

Gea C.L. Koch, 1843

Gea C.L. Koch, 1843: 101.

Type species

Gea spinipes C.L. Koch, 1843.

Diagnosis

Gea is distinguished from Argiope by having the posterior eyes about equally spaced, while Argiope has the posterior median eyes farther from the posterior lateral eyes than the posterior median eyes from each other (Levi 1983: figs 27, 45, 64). Gea differs from Neogea in having the cephalic region behind the eyes not swollen, while in Neogea this region of the head is swollen (Levi 1983: figs 290, 292).

Description

Small to medium-sized spiders with female total length of 3.65–9.00 mm and male total length of 3.00–4.30 mm. Carapace pear-shaped, yellow to yellowish brown. Legs yellow to yellowish brown, always with dark annuli; coxa I of male without hook; femur II of male without groove; tibia II of male not expanded. Abdomen shield-shaped dorsal often with a pair of low anterolateral humps in females, pale with a pair of dark patches close to humps and dark folium posteriorly or dark with white spots. Ventral abdomen pale with irregular dark patches or white spots.

Pedipalp of male without basal femoral protrusion; patella with only one bristle; paracybium fingerlike or flattened fingerlike; median apophysis bifurcated; dorsal ramus often weaker than ventral ramus; embolus extremely long and curved, thick at base, tapering to filiform end; conductor broad, curved, wrapped distal part of embolus.

Epigynum weakly sclerotized; median septum separating two depressions; copulatory openings situated on edges of depressions; copulatory ducts twisted, a bit longer than spermatheca; spermathecae elongate kidney-shaped, S-shaped, or bean-shaped, either touching or not.

Comment

Spination of femur I is not useful to characterize these Gea species.

Gea jingdong Mi, Wang & Gan, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/64B67A05-C6F7-419B-B2A2-EE672A6E4BE7
Figs 1, 2, 7A–D, 8

Type materials

Holotype : China • ♂; Yunnan Province, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Jingdong Yi Autonomous County, Jinping Township, Yubishan Park; 24°27.01'N, 101°49.53'E; ca 1270 m elev.; 16.VIII.2015; X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-268. Paratypes: 3♀♀; same data as for holotype; TRU-Araneidae-269–271.

Etymology

The specific name is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality.

Diagnosis

The new species resembles G. spinipes in appearance and genitalia structures, but it can be distinguished as follows: 1) median apophysis not exceeding the conductor in prolateral view and retrolateral view (Fig. 2A, B) vs exceeding the conductor (Fig. 4A, B); 2) visible part of embolus curled about 90° in ventral view (Fig. 2C) vs about 180° (Fig. 4C); 3) conductor shorter, extending ventrally and not exceeding prolateral margin of pedipalp in ventral view (Fig. 2C) vs longer, extending ventro-prolaterally and the tip exceeding the prolateral margin of pedipalp (Fig. 4C); 4) copulatory openings situated on inner edges of the depressions (Fig. 1A) vs on anterior lateral edges (Fig. 3A); 5) lateral epigynal plates not covering the anterior rim in lateral view (Fig. 1B) vs covering the anterior rim (Fig. 3B); and 6) female carapace lacking dark brown patches (Fig. 1E, G) vs having dark brown patches (Fig. 3G, I).

Figure 1. 

Gea jingdong Mi, Wang & Gan, sp. nov. A–G female paratype TRU-Araneidae-269 H–J male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., lateral view C vulva, posterior view D ibid., dorsal view E, H habitus, dorsal view F, I ibid., ventral view G, J ibid., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A–D); 1 mm (E–J). Abbreviations: CD copulatory duct, CO copulatory opening, FD fertilization duct, LP lateral plate, Sp spermatheca.

Figure 2. 

Gea jingdong Mi, Wang & Gan, sp. nov. male holotype A pedipalp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: C conductor, E embolus, MA median apophysis.

Figure 3. 

Gea spinipes C.L. Koch, 1843 A–E, G–I TRU-Araneidae-274 F TRU-Araneidae-276 J–L TRU-Araneidae-272 A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., lateral view C ibid., anterior view D vulva, posterior view E ibid., dorsal view F ibid., dorsal view G, J habitus, dorsal view H, K ibid., ventral view I, L ibid., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A–F); 1 mm (G–L). Abbreviations: CD copulatory duct, CO copulatory opening, FD fertilization duct, LP lateral plate, Sp spermatheca.

Figure 4. 

Gea spinipes C.L. Koch, 1843 A–D TRU-Araneidae-272 E TRU-Araneidae-279 A pedipalp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view E part of pedipalp (show the unbroken tip of embolus), prolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: C conductor, E embolus, MA median apophysis.

Description

Male (holotype, Figs 1H–J, 2, 7A–D). Total length 3.80. Carapace 2.25 long, 1.90 wide. Abdomen 1.90 long, 1.45 wide. Clypeus 0.05 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.08, PME 0.15, PLE 0.15, AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.18, MOA length 0.53, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.45. Leg measurements: I 8.85 (2.75, 2.65, 2.40, 1.05), II 8.35 (2.60, 2.45, 2.30, 1.00), III 4.55 (1.55, 1.30, 1.10, 0.60), IV 7.05 (2.35, 2.00, 1.90, 0.80). Carapace yellow, with inconspicuous gray patches in thoracic region; base of eyes black. Cervical groove inconspicuous; fovea longitudinal. Chelicerae yellow, with four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Endites wider than long, yellow, with very narrow, dark anterior edges. Labium triangular, yellow. Sternum cordiform, yellow, with a wedge-shaped white patch posteriorly. Legs yellow to yellowish brown, with inconspicuous annuli; femur I with 12 macrosetae; tibia I with 12 macrosetae; tibia II with seven macrosetae; tibia III with seven macrosetae; tibia IV with seven macrosetae. Abdomen shield-shaped, ~1.31× longer than wide, grayish yellow, dorsal with a pair of dark brown patches anterolaterally and a dark brown folium posteriorly. Venter abdomen yellow with gray patches. Spinnerets yellow with gray tip.

Pedipalp (Fig. 2): paracybium fingerlike; median apophysis bifurcated; dorsal ramus weaker than the ventral one; embolus thick at base, twisted and tapered into a fine tip; conductor membranous, curled, about 2× longer than wide in retrolateral view.

Female (paratype TRU-Araneidae-269, Fig. 1A–G). Total length 5.05. Carapace 2.35 long, 2.00 wide. Abdomen 3.00 long, 2.35 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.08, PME 0.18, PLE 0.18, AME–AME 0.15, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.33, PME–PLE 0.35, MOA length 0.58, anterior width 0.43, posterior width 0.65. Leg measurements: I 8.45 (2.45, 2.80, 2.20, 1.00), II 8.35 (2.45, 2.75, 2.15, 1.00), III 5.10 (1.65, 1.60, 1.15, 0.70), IV 8.00 (2.60, 2.55, 2.00, 0.85). Habitus similar to that of male, but abdomen with a pair of low anterolateral humps and sternum with a throughout paler patch.

Epigyne (Fig. 1A–D): ~1.36× wider than long in ventral view, with a distinct median septum separating two depressions; copulatory openings situated on inner edges of the depressions; copulatory ducts widest at the beginning part, a bit longer than spermatheca; spermathecae almost S-shaped in dorsal view, not touching.

Variation

Total length: ♀ 5.05–6.70 (n = 3).

Distribution

China (Yunnan).

Gea spinipes C.L. Koch, 1843

Figs 3, 4, 7E–H, 8

Gea spinipes C.L. Koch 1843: 101, fig. 823; Yin et al. 1989: 67, fig. 7A–C; Chang and Chang 1997: 83, figs 1–4; Yin et al. 1997: 90, fig. 21a–f; Song et al. 1999: 282, fig. 169B–D. (type material not examined).

Materials examined

China – Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region • 1♂; Beihai City, Yinhai District, Yajishan Forestry Station; 21°35.37'N, 109°18.41'E; ca 30 m elev.; 12.VIII.2017; X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-272 • 1♂; Fangchenggang City, Shangsi County, Shiwandashan National Forestry Park; 21°53.87'N, 107°54.26'E; ca 370 m elev.; 14.VIII.2017; X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-273 • 1♂; Beihai City, Tieshangang District, Xinggang Township, Xiaomatou Village, Caobiaotang; 21°33.11'N, 109°29.22'E; ca 10 m elev.; 4.XII.2018, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-275 • 2♀♀; Chongzuo City, Jiangzhou District, Zuozhou Township, Guanghe Village; 22°34.72'N, 107°24.94'E; ca 160 m elev.; 4.VII.2019; C. Wang et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-276–277. – Guangdong Province • 1♀; Maoming City, Xinyi City, Dawuling Natural Reseve; 22°17.05'N, 111°10.87'E; ca 700 m elev.; 2.XII.2018, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-274. – Hainan Province • 1♀;Wuzhishan City, A’tuoling; 18°50.17'N, 109°30.61'E; ca 790 m elev.; 9.VIII.2020 X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-278 • 1♀; Wuzhishan City, Shuiman Township, around Yataiyulin Hotel; 18°54.37'N, 109°40.70'E; ca 750 m elev.; 11.VIII.2020; X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-279 • 1♀; Dongfang City, Gancheng Township, Tuotou Village; 18°50.57'N, 108°50.87'E; ca 110 m elev.; 29.VII.2023; X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-280 • 1♂; Dongfang City, Gancheng Township, Tuotou Village, Shi’anlao; 18°50.56′N, 108°50.72′E; ca 110 m elev.; 30.VII.2023; X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-281 • 1♂1♀; Lingshui Li Autonomous County, Diaoluoshan National Nature Reserve, Popular Science Base; 18°40.25'N, 109°53.66'E; ca 490 m elev.; 26.VII.2023; C. Wang et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-282–283 • 1♂; Lingshui Li Autonomous County, Diaoluoshan National Nature Reserve, Shidai Village, Heliuling; 18°47.55'N, 109°44.03'E; ca 610 m elev.; 27.VII.2023; C. Wang et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-284 • 1♂; Lingshui Li Autonomous County, Diaoluoshan National Nature Reserve, Houshan; 18°43.57'N, 109°52.04'E; ca 930 m elev.; 28.VII.2023; C. Wang et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-285 • 1♂; Changjiang Li Autonomous County, Qicha Township, Bawangling National Nature Reserve, Dongyi Forest Station; 19°7.23'N, 109°7.64'E; ca 490 m elev.; 3.VIII.2023; X.Q. Mi et al. Leg; TRU-Araneidae-286 • 1♀; Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County, Maogan Township, X124 roadside; 18°39.32'N, 109°32.45'E; ca 530 m elev.; 4.VIII.2023; C. Wang et al. leg; TRU-Araneidae-287.

Diagnosis

See the Diagnosis of G. jingdong Mi, Wang & Gan, sp. nov.

Description

Male (Figs 3J–L, 4, 7E–H). Total length 3.25. Carapace 1.95 long, 1.70 wide. Abdomen 1.85 long, 1.20 wide. Clypeus 0.05 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.08, PME 0.13, PLE 0.13, AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.23, MOA length 0.53, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.43. Leg measurements: I 8.55 (2.50, 2.60, 2.40, 1.05), II 7.90 (2.35, 2.30, 2.25, 1.00), III 4.65 (1.55, 1.30, 1.15, 0.65), IV 7.20 (2.35, 2.00, 2.00, 0.85). Carapace yellow, with inconspicuous, radial, dark patches; eyes with dark base. Cervical groove inconspicuous; fovea longitudinal. Chelicerae yellow, with four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Endites wider than long, yellow, with very narrow, dark anterior edges. Labium triangular, yellow. Sternum cordiform, yellow, with a white, wedge-shaped patch. Legs yellow to yellowish brown; legs III and IV with dark annuli; femur I with 11 macrosetae; tibia I with 13 macrosetae; tibia II with 13 macrosetae; tibia III with seven macrosetae; tibia IV with 11 macrosetae. Abdomen shield-shaped, ~1.54× longer than wide; dorsum dark, with two white spots anteriorly. Venter abdomen yellow, with white patches. Spinnerets yellow with gray tip.

Pedipalp (Fig. 4): paracybium fingerlike; median apophysis bifurcated, dorsal ramus weaker, ventral ramus extremely long, exceeding length of conductor in prolateral and retrolateral view; embolus stout at base, twisted approximately 360° and tapering into a fine tip; conductor prominent, curled bilaterally.

Female (Fig. 3A–I). Total length 3.65. Carapace 2.05 long, 1.60 wide. Abdomen 2.40 long, 1.75 wide. Clypeus 0.05 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.18, ALE 0.08, PME 0.18, PLE 0.18, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PME 0.25, PME–PLE 0.35, MOA length 0.65, anterior width 0.38, posterior width 0.55. Leg measurements: I 6.60 (2.00, 2.05, 1.75, 0.80), II 6.50 (2.05, 2.00, 1.70, 0.75), III 4.05 (1.30, 1.25, 0.95, 0.55), IV 6.30 (2.10, 2.00, 1.60, 0.60). Habitus similar to that of male but with darker patches on thoracic region.

Epigyne (Fig. 4A–F): ~1.3× wider than long in ventral view, with a distinct median septum separating two depressions in ventral view; copulatory openings situated on anterolateral edges of depressions; copulatory ducts twisted, a bit longer than spermatheca; spermathecae elongate kidney-shaped, touching or nearly touching at midline.

Variation

Total length: ♂ 3.25–4.00 (n = 8); ♀ 3.65–6.90 (n = 8). Tip of embolus always broken.

Distribution

China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan), Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Singapore.

Comment

Gea spinipes is widely distributed from Pakistan to Indonesia, and shows some differences in epigynal structure of specimens collected from different sites (Levi 1983: figs 362–370) and that may indicate they are not conspecific. So, further taxonomic study about this species is necessary, especially getting more male specimens from different sites. G. zaragosa described by Barrion and Litsinger (1995) is similar to G. spinipes both in habitus and genitalia structures, but no detailed diagnosis was provided. Judging from the illustrations, G. zaragosa Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 is probably synonymized with the former.

Gea subarmata Thorell, 1890

Figs 5, 6, 7I–L, 8

Gea subarmata Thorell, 1890: 101; Levi 1983: 323, figs 350–354; Okuma et al. 1993: 21, fig. 16A, B (type material not examined).

Materials examined

China – Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region • 1♂; Beihai City, Tieshangang District, Xinggang Township, Xiaomatou Village, Caobiaotang; 21°33.11'N, 109°29.22'E; ca 10 m elev.; 4.XII.2018; X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-288. – Hainan Province • 2♀♀; Dongfang City, Gancheng Township, Tuotou Village, Shi’anlao; 18°50.56′N, 108°50.72′E; ca 110 m elev.; 30.VII.2023; X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; TRU-Araneidae-289–290.

Diagnosis

Females differ from those of congeneric species by the circular epigynum frame in ventral view (Fig. 5A) and bean-shaped spermathecae (Fig. 5E); males resembles G. eff Levi, 1983 in having similar pedipalp structures, but differs in: 1) dorsal ramus of the median apophysis tapered (Fig. 6A, C) vs slender (Levi 1983: figs 360, 361); 2) dorsal ramus of the median apophysis shorter than ventral ramus (Fig. 6E) vs about equal length (Levi 1983: fig. 360); and 3) conductor curled into a triangular dorsal fin in retrolateral view (Fig. 6B) vs lacking a triangular dorsal fin (Levi 1983: fig. 361).

Figure 5. 

Gea subarmata Thorell, 1890 A–I TRU-Araneidae-289 J–L TRU-Araneidae-288 A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., lateral view C ibid., anterior view D ibid., posterior view E vulva, dorsal view F ibid., posterior view G, J habitus, dorsal view H, K ibid., ventral view I, L ibid., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A–F); 1 mm (G–L). Abbreviations: CD copulatory duct, CO copulatory opening, FD fertilization duct, Sp spermatheca.

Figure 6. 

Gea subarmata Thorell, 1890 TRU-Araneidae-288 A pedipalp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view E median apophysis, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: C conductor, E embolus, MA median apophysis.

Description

Male (TRU-Araneidae-288, Figs 5J–L, 6, 7I–L). Total length 3.00. Carapace 1.65 long, 1.35 wide. Abdomen 1.65 long, 1.20 wide. Clypeus 0.10 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.05, PME 0.10, PLE 0.10, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.20, MOA length 0.43, anterior width 0.33, posterior width 0.33. Leg measurements: I 6.55 (1.85, 2.00, 1.80, 0.90), II 6.05 (1.75, 1.80, 1.65, 0.85), III 3.20 (1.05, 0.95, 0.70, 0.50), IV 4.90 (1.60, 1.40, 1.25, 0.65). Carapace yellow, with dark patches on thoracic region. Cervical groove inconspicuous; fovea longitudinal. Chelicerae yellow, with four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Endites wider than long, grayish yellow, with very narrow, dark anterior edge. Labium triangular, grayish yellow, with paler at tip. Sternum cordiform, yellowish brown, with a paler longitudinal patch. Legs yellow without annuli; femur I with five macrosetae; tibia I with nine macrosetae; tibia II with eight macrosetae, tibia III with four macrosetae; tibia IV with nine macrosetae. Abdomen shield-shaped, ~1.38× longer than wide; dorsum whitish yellow, with a pair of narrow, grayish-brown patches anterolaterally and a grayish-brown folium posteriorly. Venter abdomen whitish yellow, with grayish-brown patches. Spinnerets yellowish brown.

Figure 7. 

Legs of Gea spp., prolateral view (some macroseta fell out from the original positions) A–D Gea jingdong Mi, Wang & Gan, sp. nov. holotype E–H Gea spinipes C.L. Koch, 1843 TRU-Araneidae-272 I–L Gea subarmata Thorell, 1890 TRU-Araneidae-288 A, E, I legs I B, F, J legs II C, G, K legs III D, H, L legs IV. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Pedipalp (Fig. 6): paracybium flattened, fingerlike; median apophysis bifurcate; dorsal ramus about equal length to ventral ramus; ventral ramus with a distal spur; embolus extremely long, twisted more than 360°; conductor prominent, membranous, wrapped around distal half of embolus.

Female (TRU-Araneidae-289, Fig. 5A–I). Total length 5.90. Carapace 2.30 long, 2.00 wide. Abdomen 3.80 long, 3.00 wide. Clypeus 0.10 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.08, PME 0.13, PLE 0.13, AME–AME 0.25, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.30, PME–PLE 0.35, MOA length 0.70, anterior width 0.50, posterior width 0.55. Leg measurements: I 8.30 (2.40, 2.75, 2.20, 0.95), II 7.95 (2.40, 2.65, 2.00, 0.90), III 4.85 (1.55, 1.55, 1.10, 0.65), IV 7.60 (2.40, 2.50, 1.95, 0.75). Habitus similar to that of male but abdomen with a pair of low anterolateral humps, thoracic region, sternum and abdomen a bit darker, and paler patch on sternum more obvious.

Epigyne (Fig. 5A–F) ~1.2× wider than long, with circular frame and a long median septum separating two depressions in ventral view; copulatory openings located at posterior edges of depressions; copulatory ducts twisted into a C-shape, a bit longer than spermatheca; spermathecae bean-shaped, touching at midline.

Variation

Total length: ♀ 5.60–5.90 (n = 2).

Distribution

China (Hainan, Guangxi), Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines, and Singapore.

Figure 8. 

Distribution in China of the examined specimens.

Comment

Male of G. subarmata described by Kulczyński (1911) is the male of G. eff Levi, 1983 as Levi (1983) proposed.

Acknowledgements

This manuscript benefitted greatly from comments by subject editor Zhiyuan Yao (Shenyang, China) and two anonymous referees. We are grateful to Mingyong Liao, Zhaolin Liao, Guijie Tian, Yuanfa Yang, Hong Liu, Siyi Yan, Chaoguan Qin, Nonghao Yao, Hong Yao and Shenglan Chen for collecting the specimens.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC-31660609, 32200369), the Science and Technology Project Foundation of Guizhou Province ([2020]1Z014), and the Key Laboratory Project of Guizhou Province ([2020]2003), and it was partly supported by the program of Animal Resources Survey Project of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park and the Open Project of Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Hainan Normal University, China.

Author contributions

Data curation: WY. Funding acquisition: MX. Methodology: GJJ. Project administration: MX. Writing – original draft: LF. Writing – review and editing: WC.

Author ORCIDs

Xiaoqi Mi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1744-3855

Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.

References

  • Barrion T, Litsinger A (1995) Riceland spiders of South and Southeast Asia. CAB International, Wallingford, 700 pp. [16 plates.]
  • Chang Y, Chang H (1997) Gea spinipes C.L. Koch, 1843 (Araneae: Araneidae), a new addition to Taiwan fauna. Acta Arachnologica 46(2): 83–85. https://doi.org/10.2476/asjaa.46.83
  • Kulczyński W (1911) Spinnen aus Nord-Neu-Guinea. Résultats de l’expédition scientifique néerlandaise à la Nouvelle-Guinée en 1903 sous les auspices de Arthur Wichmann. Nova Guinea 5(Zoologie, Lief. 4): 423–518. [plate 19–20.] https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.10923
  • Levi H (1983) The orb-weaver genera Argiope, Gea, and Neogea from the western Pacific region (Araneae: Araneidae, Argiopinae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 150(5): 247–338.
  • Mi X, Wang C, Gan J (2023) Six new species of the orb-weaver spider genus Araneus Clerck, 1757 (Araneae, Araneidae) and a redescription of A. colubrinus Song & Zhu, 1992 from Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China. ZooKeys 1173: 243–273. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1173.106315
  • Okuma C, Kamal Q, Hirashima Y, Alam Z, Ogata K (1993) Illustrated Monograph of the Rice Field Spiders of Bangladesh. Institute of Postgraduate Studies in Agriculture (Salna, Gazipur, Bangladesh). Japan International Cooperation Agency Project Publication, 93 pp.
  • Song D, Zhu M, Chen J (1999) The Spiders of China. Hebei Science and Technology Publishing House, Shijiazhuang, 640 pp.
  • Thorell T (1890) Studi sui ragni Malesi e Papuani. IV, 1. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova 28: 5–421.
  • Yin C, Wang J, Zhang Y, Peng X, Chen X (1989) The study of the subfamily Argiope [sic] from China (Araneae, Araneidae). Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Normalis Hunanensis 12: 60–69.
  • Yin C, Wang J, Zhu M, Xie L, Peng X, Bao Y (1997) Fauna Sinica: Arachnida: Araneae: Araneidae. Science Press, Beijing, 460 pp.
login to comment