Pachygnatha curtisi McCook, 1894 from California.

See Levi (1980) and Álvarez-Padilla and Hormiga (2011).

TURKEY: Konya Province: 1♂, 2♀ (AUZM), Seydişehir District, Kuyucak Mountain, Kalafat Hill, Ferzene Cave (37°22'49.24"N 31°50'2.10"E), 27.03.2011 (R.S. Özkütük); 5♀ (AUZM), Derebucak District, Çamlık Town, Körükini Cave (37°20'53.94"N 31°37'38.53"E), 10.06.2011 (K.B. Kunt); 1♂, 2♀ (AUZM), Derebucak District, Çamlık Town, Döllüönüini Cave (37°20'20.38"N 31°37'15.12"E), 10.07.2011 (R.S. Özkütük). Erzincan Province, 2♂, 4♀ (AUZM), Kemaliye District, Kozlupınar Village, Ala Cave (39°13'5.63"N 38°34'20.71"E), 20.03.2015 (M. Elverici) Sivas Province, 3♂, 1♀ (AUZM), Şarkışla District, Alaman Village, Camızlı Cave (39°35'8.91"N 36°15'12.13"E), 18.04.2016 (K.B. Kunt). ARMENIA: syntype 1♂ (ZISP), Goktscha Lake (=Sevan), Yelenovka, 13–16.08.1931 (M. Karpova). IRAN: Kohgiluyeh and Buyer-Ahmad Province, 1♂ 1♀ (ZMUT), Nevel Cave, 28.08.2011 (M.J. Malek Hosseini).

Figures 1–6. 

Somatic characters of Metellina orientalis. 1 male habitus, lateral 2–3 anterior part of prosoma showing chelicera with stridulating ridges 4–5 female habitus, dorsal; 6 female habitus, lateral. Scale bars 1 mm (1, 4, 5, 6); 0.2 mm (2).

Figures 7–10. 

Abdomen of Metellina kirgisica (7–8) from Azerbaijan and M. orientalis (9–10) from Erzincan Province of Turkey. 7, 10 dorsal 8–9 lateral. Scalebars 0.5 mm (7, 8); 1 mm (9, 10).

Males of M. orientalis can be easily distinguished from all congeners, except for M. kirgisica, by having strong cymbial spines (Figs 17–19, 23, 25) lacking in other species. The two sibling species can be distinguished by the shape of paracymbial spur (Ps), which are rounded and claw-like in M. orientalis (Figs 19, 23) and spine-like in M. kirgisica (Figs 21–22). Females of M. orientalis are also very similar to those of M. kirgisica by having three pairs of abdominal humps (can be almost indistinct in some specimens) and a very similar epigyne. The epigyne in M. orientalis has a larger and wider median plate (cf. Fig. 36, 39–40, 42) and a thinner “septum” (1/3 of median plate width vs. 1/2). Females can be easily distinguished by carapace pattern, poorly developed in M. orientalis (Fig. 4–5) and very complex in M. kirgisica (Figs 11–12).

Figures 11–16. 

Somatic characters of Metellina kirgisica female from Tajikistan. 11–12 habitus, dorsal, showing differences in size and colour pattern 13, 16 habitus, ventral and lateral 14 metatarsus I prolateral, showing row of stiff setae 15 tibia I, prolateral. Scale bars 1 mm (11, 12, 13, 16); 0.2 mm (14).

Figures 17–22. 

Male palp of Metellina orientalis (17–19) from Azerbaijan and M. kirgisica (20–22). 17 from above 18, 20 ventral 19, 22 dorsal 21 tip of paracymbium with spur. Pd dorso-retrolateral arm Ps spur like process Pv finger-like ventral arm. Scale bars 0.2 mm (17, 18, 19).

Measurements (♂/♀): total length 6.48/6.60; carapace 2.88/2.70 long, 2.24/2.04 wide; chelicerae 1.20/1.20 long; abdomen 3.60/3.90 long, 2.40/3.12 wide.

Female carapace with weak pattern (Fig. 5) or almost lacking any pattern (Fig. 4). Legs with numerous spines, stronger in males than in females. Legs light-coloured; femora, tibia and metatarsi of all legs with two dark rings (Figs 1, 4–6). Tibia-metatarsi of legs I and II with prolateral row of stiff, inflexible setae forming kind of catching basket. For leg measurements see Table 1.

Abdomen with three pairs of humps, almost indistinct in males. Anterior pair large and distinct in all females examined, two posterior pairs much smaller and can be indistinct. Pattern not distinct, in contrast to sibling species; venter with wide dark median band.

Male chelicera with five strong stridulating ridges and some smaller ones above and below. Male palp as in Figs 17–19, 23, 24, 30–33. Cymbium with more than a dozen strong macrosetae in distal half. Paracymbium with finger-like ventral arm (Pv) covered with setae and a large extending dorso-retrolateral arm (Pd). Dorso-retrolateral arm gradually widens, its width subequal to width of cymbium. Dorso-distal part of the arm with deep depression dorsally (Dd), spur like process (Ps) and several rows of fine spines (Fs) clearly visible with SEM, but indistinct with light microscopy. Tegulum thin, as wide as conductor, transverse. Conductor (Co) long, with parallel margins, tip abrupt, with small membranous outgrowth (Mo), conductor entirely hides embolus in ventral view; embolus (Em) with large base (Eb) formed by two lobes; embolus gradually tapering, with widened tip.

Epigyne as in Figs 34–36, 39; simple, heavily sclerotized plate more than twice as wide than long, without any outgrowths; median plate (Mp) with septum-like sclerotised outgrowth (Se) three times thinner than width of median plate; median plate hexagonal, weakly sclerotized, wider than long. Anterior from epigynal plate with pair of transversal sclerotized plates (Sp, Fig. 34).

World Spider Catalog (2017) indicates distribution of the species as “Central Asia, Iran” although it was described from Armenia, located in the Caucasus and neighbouring with Turkey, which belong to the Middle East. Mikhailov’s catalogue (Mikhailov 2013) indicates the distribution of M. orientalis in the former USSR as Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan: Metellina orientalis was reported from Kazakhstan (Almaty) and Turkmenistan (Akhal-Teke) by Spassky (1952) but the two records of the species from Central Asia undoubtedly refer to the sibling species M. kirgisica, previously reported from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan (Mikhailov 2013), and northwestern China, Xinjiang (Marusik et al. 2007).

This species was reported from Turkey for the first time by Karol (1967). She referred to Spassky (1932) and Charitonov (1936), although none of these publications deal with spiders of Turkey. Spassky (1932) described it from Armenia, and Charitonov (1936) just listed the species in his catalogue. Several surveys and checklists of Turkish spiders listed this species as occurring in Turkey with reference to Karol’s (1967) publications (Bayram 2002; Topçu et al. 2005; Bayram et al. 2017). Now we are able to confirm the presence of M. orientalis in Turkey.

AZERBAIJAN: Lenkoran Dist.: 1♀ (ZMMU), env. of Aurora Vill., 38°40'N, 48°52'E, 23–28.04.2001 (Y.M. Marusik). KYRGYZSTAN: 1♂ (lost), Kirgizian Mt. Range, Ala-Archa River, ca. 42.645°N 74.480°E, 8.05.1983 (S.V. Ovtchinnikov); 1♀ (lost), Chatkal Mt. Range, Sary-Chelek Reserve, Karangitun Gorge, ca. 41°40'N, 71°56'E, 3.05.1983 (S.L. Zonstein). TAJIKISTAN: Khatlon Area: 4♀ (ZMMU), Vose Distr., Khodzha-Mumin Mt., 37°45.941'N, 69°38.665'E, 474 m, 25.04.2015 (Y.M. Marusik); 1♀(ZMMU), Khovaling Distr., Darai-Mukhtor, env. of ”Vose Museum”, 38°23.572'N, 69°57.910'E, 1579 m, 28.04.2015 (Y.M. Marusik); 2♀ (ZMMU) Hissar Mt. Range, Ramit Reserve, 38°44.605'N, 69°18.486'E, 1324 m, 1.05.2015 (Y.M. Marusik); 1♀ (ZMMU), environs of Dushanbe, Hissar Mt. Ridge, 38^th km of Varzob Hwy, Takob Gorge, env. of Dehmalik Vill, 38°50.829'N, 68°54.637'E, 805 m, 8.05.2015 (Y.M. Marusik & M. Saidov). CHINA, Xinjiang Province 1♀ (ZMUT), 70 km southwest of Urumqi, Nantaizi, 43.399°N to 43.438°N, 87.214°E to 87.262°E, 1800–2100 m, 3.05.-28.06.2004 (N.R. Fritzén).

Figures 23–29. 

Copulatory organs and chelicera of Metellina orientalis (23–25, 29) from Konya Province of Turkey and M. kirgisica (26–28). 23–24 male palp, dorsal and ventral 25 cymbial setae 26–28 epigyne, ventral, ventro-caudal and caudal 29 male chelicera, lateral. Abbreviations: Dd deep depression Fs fine spines Pd dorso-retrolateral arm Ps spur like process Pt lateral pits Pv finger-like ventral arm Se sclerotised outgrowth. Scale bars 0.2 mm (26, 27, 28).

Figures 30–33. 

Bulb of Metellina orientalis. 33 from above. Abbreviations: Co conductor Eb embolar base Em embolus Mo membranous outgrowth. Scale bars 0.1 mm.

Bakhvalov (1974) described Meta kirgisicus only in a key to the orb-weaving spiders of Kyrgyzstan. The type material was not mentioned. In the subsequent paper Bakhvalov (1982) described the same species as Meta kirgisica on the basis of the holotype female and several paratypes. This description was supplemented with new figures. A year later this species was described again based on the same material and figures (Bakhvalov, 1983). Bakhvalov (1982, 1983) indicated that types will be deposited in the Laboratory of Entomology of the Institute of Biology of Kirgizian Academy of Sciences. According to Sergei L. Zonstein (pers. comm.), who was working in that laboratory, Bakhvalov never deposited type specimens in the Laboratory of Entomology. After the death of Bakhvalov his private collection was taken by son, and its fate is unknown.

Females of M. kirgisica can be distinguished from sibling M. orientalis by smaller size (carapace 2.0–2.1 long vs. 2.7), more developed pattern of carapace (cf. Figs 4–6 and 11–12, 16), and proportions of the median plate of epigyne (as long as wide vs. wider than long). Males of the two species can be distinguished by the shape of paracymbial spur (Ps), straight and spine-like in M. kirgisica and bent claw-like in M. orientalis (cf. Figs 19 and 21–22).

Male. Measurements (male unavailable, specimen lost, palp was illustrated in 80th by YM). Female: total length 4.5–5.5; carapace 2.0–2.1 long, 1.5–1.7 wide. Carapace yellow with complex dark pattern and distinct marginal dark stripe (Figs 11–12, 16). Legs yellowish with dark annulation and dark spots around base of each spine; femora, tibia and metatarsus of legs with two dark rings, rings of femora thick and thin on tibia and metatarsi; coxae IV with blackish dot (Fig. 13); distal half of tibia and metatarsi I and II with row of stiff setae forming a kind of catching basket (Figs 14–15). For leg measurements see Table 2.

Abdomen with three pairs of humps, anterior the largest, two posterior humps less distinct. Abdomen with distinct pattern as shown on Figs 11–13, 16; venter with wide light band.

Palp as in Figs 20–22; spination of cymbium not documented; paracymbium with weakly sclerotised ventral arm and large and broad dorsal arm; dorsal arm with spine-like spur (Ps).

Epigyne as in Figs 26–28, 37–46; almost instinct transversal sclerotised plate (Sp, Fig. 44) in front of epigynal plate, epigynal plate twice as wide as long, heavily sclerotised with pair of small lateral pits (Pt); median plate (Mp) weakly sclerotised except kind of septum (Se), septum twice as thin as median plate; median plate longer than wide; receptacles touching each other consisting of two lobes (Fig. 46).

Figures 34–42. 

Epigynes of Metellina orientalis (34–36, 39) and M. kirgisica (37–42). 34–35, 37–38, 41 ventral 36, 40, 42 caudal 39 outline of median plate of two species, showing differences in size and proportions 34–36 from Konya Province of Turkey 37–40 from Tajikistan 41–42 from Azerbaijan. Abbreviations: Sp sclerotized plate Se sclerotised outgrowth Mp median plate. Scale bars 0.2 mm

Figures 43–46. 

Macerated epigyne of Metellina kirgisica. 43 caudal 44 ventral 45 anterior 46 dorsal. Pt lateral pits Se sclerotised outgrowth Sp sclerotized plate. Scale bars 0.2 mm

The species was previously known from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan (Marusik 1989; Mikhailov 2013), and Xinjiang, China (Marusik et al. 2007). A search for literature records reveals that it was reported also from southeastern Kazakhstan (sub. M. orientalis: Spassky 1952). New material studied in this work reveals its occurrence in Tajikistan and eastern Azerbaijan (Fig. 47).

Figure 47. 

Distribution records of Metellina orientalis (circle) and M. kirgisica (square).