Howaia mogera (Yaginuma, 1972)
- Dataset
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
- Rank
- SPECIES
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Arthropoda
- class
- Arachnida
- order
- Araneae
- family
- Nesticidae
- genus
- Nesticella
- species
- Nesticella mogera
description
Figs 1 A-J, 4 A-D, 15 A, 16 C, D (Japanese name: chibi-horahimegumoチビホラヒメグモ)
description
Size variation. Male (based on 5 specimens): total length: 1.89 - 2.02, prosoma length: 0.84 - 1.07, prosoma width: 0.76 - 0.85. Female (based on 10 specimens): total length: 2.08 - 2.88, prosoma length: 0.96 - 1.15; prosoma width: female: 0.87 - 0.96.
diagnosis
Diagnosis. This species is closely related to H. alba sp. nov. and H. subterranea sp. nov. from which it can be easily distinguished by the presence of pigmentation and well-developed eyes (vs pigmentation and eyes lacking in both the other species) (Fig. 1 H-J cf. Figs 2 H-J, 3 A-C). Males of H. mogera can also be separated from males of H. alba sp. nov. by the thinner paracymbium (P) and the more squared and stockier distal process of paracymbium (Di) (vs wider P and longer and slightly sharper Di in H. alba sp. nov.) (Figs 1 A, B, D, 4 A-C cf. Figs 2 A, B, D, 4 E-G). Females of H. mogera are distinguished from females of H. alba sp. nov. and H. subterranea sp. nov. by the shape of scapus (Sc), rectangular and with a flat posterior margin (vs stockier and larger Sc in H. alba sp. nov. or longer and distally dilatated Sc in H. subterranea sp. nov., both having a rounded posterior margin) (Figs 1 E-G, 4 D cf. Figs 2 E-G, 3 D, E, 4 H, 13 E). See also Lin et al. (2016) for the diagnosis of H. mogera with other congeners of the same species group.
distribution
Distribution. East Asia (from South China to Korea and Japan). Introduced to Europe, Azerbaijan, and several oceanic islands (Hawaii, Fiji, Reunion, St. Helena, etc.). Although it is likely that H. mogera is naturally distributed in Asia, its precise center of origin, as well as the time and mode of its dispersion outside the Asian continent, are still unstudied. In Japan the species is widespread along the whole country in both mainland Japan and the Ryukyus (Fig. 16 C, D).
materials_examined
Material examined. Japan: Honshu Is.: Miyagi Pref.: 1 ♀, Tome-gun, Lake Izunuma, 20. July. 1986, A. Tanikawa leg. (MNHAH); 6 ♂, 4 ♀, Tamatukuri-gun, Naruko-cho, Myousada, 7 - 10. May. 1996, K. Kumada leg. (NMST-Ar. 3587); Akita Pref.: 1 ♀, Akita-shi, Shimokitateyanagitate, Kagawa, 21. Nov. 2005, A. Fukushima leg. (NSMT-Ar. 20405, identified as N. brevipes); Yamagata Pref.: 1 ♀, Tsuruoka-shi, Oyama, 38.75628 ° N, 139.76331 ° E, 26. Aug. 2019, Y. Suzuki leg. (YSPC); Tochigi Pref.: 1 ♂ Tochigi-shi, Fujoka-machi, Uchino, Watarase-Yusuichi, 36.2353 ° N, 139.6574 ° E, Alt.: 20 m, 2. Apr. 2022, N. Kikuchi leg. (FBPC); Tokyo Pref.: 1 ♂ (holotype), Tamagawa, 3. Feb. 1969, H. Kobayashi leg. (NMST-Ar. 73); 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Hachioji-shi, Minami-Osawa, Tokyo Metropolitan University campus, litter under bushes, 35.6245 ° N, 139.3863 ° E, 22. Sep. 2020, F. Ballarin leg. (FBPC); Hachijo-jima Is.: 3 ♂, 3 ♀, Okago, Hachijo Botanical Park, forest litter, 33.11044 ° N, 139.78432 ° E, 03. May. 2021, F. Ballarin leg. (FBPC); Kanagawa Pref.: 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Kawasaki-shi, Nakahara-ku, Kasugi-cho, Dec. 1984 (exact date unknown), H. Ono leg. (NMST-Ar. 893); 2 ♀, Yokohama-shi, Maioka park, 6. July. 1986, A. Tanikawa leg. (MNHAH); Nagano Pref.: 2 ♀, Ueda-shi, 8. Sep. 1998, Y. Fujisawa leg. (NMST-Ar. 6965); 3 ♀, Kamiina-gun, Ijima-cho, 35.67049 ° N, 137.91159 ° E, 09. Sep. 2019, Y. Suzuki leg. (YSPC); Shizuoka Pref.: 1 ♀ (Paratype), Tenryu-shi, Mar. 1970 (exact date unknown), H. Kobayashi leg. (NMST-Ar. 74); 1 ♀, Hamamatsu-shi, Kita Ward, Inasacho Okuyama, 34.85102 ° N, 137.62569 ° E, under grass tuffs in a paddy field, 30. Sep. 2019, F. Ballarin leg. (FBPC); Fukui Pref: 1 ♀, Tsuruga-shi, Nagatani, under grass tuffs in a paddy field, 35.60836 ° N, 136.03872 ° E, 3. Oct. 2019, F. Ballarin leg. (FBPC); Mie Pref: 1 ♀, Iga-shi, Otani, under grass tuffs in a paddy field, 34.79919 ° N, 136.13501 ° E, 7. Oct. 2019, F. Ballarin leg. (FBPC); Kumamoto Pref.: 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Tamana-gun, Gyokutou-machi, Harakura, Yamakitasho-no-ana cave (山北小の穴), 20. May. 1984, T. Irie leg. (NMST-Ar. 16065); Kagoshima Pref.: 1 ♀, Minami Kyushu-shi, Kawabe-cho, 26. Feb. 2007, K. Iohii (?) leg. (NMST-Ar. 14585); Yakushima Is.: 1 ♂, Anbo, 207 m, broadleaf forest litter on a gentle slope 30.28458 ° N, 130.61799 ° E, 24. Sep. 2021, F. Ballarin leg. (FBPC); Suwanosejima Is.: 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Otohime-no-dokutsu cave, 8. Jul. 2022, Y. Suzuki leg. (YSPC); Amami-Ōshima Is.: 1 ♂, Amami-shi, Kasarichō Ōaza Kise, 2 m, at the base of tufts of grass on a sandy seashore, 28.46221 ° N, 129.65013 ° E, 13. Jul. 2021, F. Ballarin leg. (FBPC); Okinawa Pref.: Okinawa-Honto Is.: 1 ♀, Naha-shi, Sueyoshi park, 70 m, humid broadleaves litter under trees, 26.22840 ° N, 127.71508 ° E, 21. Nov. 2020, F. Ballarin leg. (FBPC); 1 ♂, 4 ♀, Nakagami-gun, Yomitan-son, Namihira, Shimuku Gama cave (シムクガマ), Alt.: 72 m, large and long cave with a creek, 26.40242 ° N, 127.73125 ° E, 15. May. 2022, F. Ballarin leg. (FBPC); Aka-jima Is.: 3 ♀, 17. Mar. 2022, Y. Suzuki leg. (YSPC); Kume-jima Is.: 1 ♂, Shimajiri-gun, Gima, Nameless Beach, under vegetation on a sandy seashore, 26.32681 ° N, 126.77002 ° E, Alt.: 3 m, 17. May. 2022, F. Ballarin leg. (FBPC); Miyako-jima Is.: 1 ♀, Nobaru Ueno, Pinza-Abu cave (ピンザアブ 洞穴), 57 m, long and muddy cave, dark zone, 24.74853 ° N, 125.33443 ° E, 13. Nov. 2020, F. Ballarin leg. (FBPC); Ishigaki-jima Is.: 4 ♀, Tonoshiro, Fukubukuīza Daiichi-do cave (フクブクイ ーザー 第 1 洞), 66 m, long and humid cave with a small creek, 24.36533 ° N, 124.17721 ° E, 9. Nov. 2020, F. Ballarin leg. (FBPC); 4 ♀, same locality, 11. Nov. 2020, F. Ballarin leg. (FBPC); Yonaguni-jima Is.: 1 ♀, Irizaki, under stones in a meadow near the seashore, 24.44499 ° N, 122.9411 ° E, 30 m a. s. l., 4. Mar. 2021, F. Ballarin leg. (FBPC).
description
Description. For detailed description, see Lin et al. (2016). However, it is important to state that all recent works illustrating and / or redescribing H. mogera n. comb. have focused on non-Japanese material (e. g., Azerbaijan (Marusik & Guisenov, 2003), China (Gong & Zhu, 1982; Liu & Li, 2013), Fiji (Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980), the Hawaiian Islands (Gertsch, 1984), Italy (Pantini et al., 2020), Korea (Kim et al., 1999; Kim & Lee, 2018) and Saint Helena (Hubert, 1977) [the latter as N. helenensis]). Rationale for synonymy. The palp morphology of the paratype male of Nesticus helenensis (Figs. 2, 5) is in agreement with all prior published illustrations of the male palp of Howaia mogera. Similarly, the epigynal morphology of the holotype (Figs. 4, 6) fits with previously published illustrations of H. mogera. The habitus (Figs. 1, 3) is also congruent with that of preserved specimens of H. mogera (DS pers. obs.). The potential for synonymy was already recognised by Lehtinen & Saaristo (1980), but no formal synonymy was made. We hereby formally make the synonymy: Nesticus helenensis Hubert, 1977 = Howaia mogera (Yaginuma, 1972) n. syn.
diagnosis
Diagnosis. (Adapted from Lin et al., 2016) Howaia mogera can be distinguished from most known male congeners based on the thin ventral apophysis, and blunted paracymbial process (vs. ventral apophysis wider and paracymbial process not blunted in most known congeners, except H. rongtangensis). Females can be distinguished by the short, robust and conspicuously protruding scape (vs. scape not short, robust and conspicuously protruding in known congeners). Howaia mogera is distinguished from H. rongtangensis in both sexes by the presence of eyes (vs. eyes absent in both sexes of H. rongtangensis).
distribution
Distribution. United Kingdom to Japan, introduced to Hawaii and Saint Helena (Nentwig et al., 2023; WSC, 2023).
materials_examined
Material examined. Type material of Nesticus helenensis: holotype ♀, paratype ♀ (BE _ RMCA _ ARA. Ara. 129084), Fisher's Valley, Saint Helena, 1,000 ft., 14. XII. 1965 – 15. XII. 1965, coll. P. Basilewsky, P. L. G. Benoit and N. Leleup, examined; paratype ♁ [allotype] (BE _ RMCA _ ARA. Ara. 133336), Fisher's Valley, Saint Helena, 1,000 ft., 26. I. 1967, coll. J. Decelle and N. Leleup, examined; paratype ♀ (BE _ RMCA _ ARA. Ara. 129205), The Briars [listed as Prosperous Bay, Bryan's Rock in Hubert (1977)], 1,000 ft., 6. I. 1966, coll. P. Basilewsky, P. L. G. Benoit and N. Leleup, examined; paratype ♀ (BE _ RMCA _ ARA. Ara. 129183), Prosperous Bay, Bryan's Rock, 1,000 ft., 14. XI. 1965, coll. P. Basilewsky, P. L. G. Benoit and N. Leleup, examined; paratype ♀ (BE _ RMCA _ ARA. Ara. 129171), Fisher's Valley, Saint Helena, 1,000 ft., 6. I. 1966, coll. P. Basilewsky, P. L. G. Benoit and N. Leleup, examined; paratype ♀ (BE _ RMCA _ ARA. Ara. 129425), Fisher's Valley, Saint Helena, 1,000 ft., 19. XII. 1965, coll. P. Basilewsky, P. L. G. Benoit and N. Leleup, examined; paratype imm. ♁ (BE _ RMCA _ ARA. Ara. 135896), Fisher's Valley, Saint Helena, 1,000 ft., 14. XII. 1965 – 15. XII. 1965, coll. P. Basilewsky, P. L. G. Benoit and N. Leleup, examined.
Name
- Homonyms
- Howaia mogera (Yaginuma, 1972)
- Common names
- Warmhaus-Höhlenspinne in الألمانية