One new species of the Clubiona obesa-group from China, with the first description of Clubiona kropfi male (Araneae, Clubionidae)

Abstract The present paper describes two Clubiona obesa-group species: Clubiona bicuspidata sp. n. and the male Clubiona kropfi Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2003, which is described for the first time.

One of the largest species groups, Clubiona obesa, was first recognized by Edwards (1958) for the Nearctic species. This group is restricted to Asia and the Nearctic (Mikhailov 1995). Currently the group encompasses almost 50 species (Mikhailov 1995;Li and Wang 2014). Of these, 13 species occur in China (Li and Wang 2014): C. corrugata Bösenberg & Strand, 1906, C. kurilensis Bösenberg & Strand, 1906, C. lena Bösenberg & Strand, 1906, C. manshanensis Zhu & An, 1988, C. bakurovi Mikhailov, 1990, C. kimyongkii Paik, 1990, C. aciformis Zhang & Hu, 1991, C. irinae Mikhailov, 1991, C. fusoidea Zhang, 1992, C. fuzhouensis Gong, 1985, C. baishishan Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2003, C. kropfi Zhang, Zhu & Song, 2003and C. lirata Yang, Song and Zhu, 2003. This group is well studied in China, and only one species, C. kropfi, is known by female sex. However, recently collected material has permitted us to recognize the previously unknown male of C. kropfi Zhang et al., 2003 and to identify one species new to science. The goal of our paper is to provide a re-description of the C. kropfi female and a first description of its male, and, additionally, describe a new species, Clubiona bicuspidata sp. n.

Material and methods
All specimens were examined under a Tech XTL-II stereomicroscope. The drawings, photos and measurements were finished with a Leica M205A stereomicroscope equipped with a drawing tube and a DFC450 CCD camera. Carapace length was measured from the anterior margin to the posterior margin of the carapace medially. Eye sizes were measured as the maximum diameter of the lens in dorsal or frontal view. The measurements of legs are shown as total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). The epigynum was cleared in a solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) and transferred to 75% ethanol for drawing, taking photos and measuring. All mea surements are in millimeters. All specimens studied are kept in 75% ethanol and deposited in the Museum of Hebei University (MHBU), Baoding, China.
Diagnosis. This species is similar to C. bakurovi (Mikhailov, 1990: f. 61-65), but can be distinguished by the hilt-like ventral branch of RTA, the tip of the embolus short and anti-clockwise, the EP wedge-shaped lacking a large tooth; the absence of epigynal grooves; the copulatory openings situated on the posterior edge of epigyne, and the septum thin.
Distribution. China (Hebei).  (Zhang et al., 2003: f. 1A-F), but differs by the shorter embolus, two pointed distal EP apophyses, and the tip of RTA without a concavity in dorsal view.

Clubiona bicuspidata
Etymology. The species name is an adjective, derived from the shape of EP apophyses.