The European spider of the year 2015, Anyphaena accentuata (Walckenaer, 1802), is presented. For the first time it is a representative of the anyphaenid sac spiders. Its characteristics (e.g., ecology, habitat, phenology) are briefly described. The modality of the voting is given as well as numerous links to the supporting societies and to distribution maps.

Die europäische Spinne des Jahres 2015, Anyphaena accentuata (Walckenaer, 1802), wird vorgestellt. Erstmals ist es ein Vertreter der Familie der Zartspinnen. Ihre Merkmale und Eigenschaften (z.B. Ökologie, Lebensraum, Phänologie) werden kurz beschrieben. Der Wahlmodus, die beteiligten Länder und zahlreiche Links zu den unterstützenden Gesellschaften und Verbreitungskarten werden genannt.

The rare linyphiid spider species Maro lehtineni Saaristo, 1971 was recorded in the Polish part of the Sudetes, in the Giant Mountains (in Polish Karkonosze). Five males were found on one of the sloping transition mires in the spring and early summer of 2011 and 2012. We provide new figures for identification of this species, and summarize and discuss data on its distribution, characteristic habitats and phenology.

Die seltene Linypiidenart Maro lehtineni Saaristo, 1971 konnte im polnischen Teil des Riesengebirges (polnisch Karkonosze) nachgewiesen werden. Fünf Männchen wurden auf einem Hangzwischenmoor gefunden. Wir veröffentlichen neue Abbildungen zur Bestimmung dieser Art und fassen die Daten über Verbreitung, bevorzugten Lebensraum und Phänologie zusammen.

An overlooked error in the correlation of new scientific names with the spider images on plate 4 in Carl Wilhelm Hahn’s sixth instalment of his book ”Monographie der Spinnen” led to the notion that at least two of the spiders illustrated on plate 4 cannot be identified and their names are nomina dubia. Here, I draw attention to the fact that, if the names are re-aligned to the images in a meaningful way, then at least three spiders on plate 4 can be identified. Theridion rufipes sensu Hahn is a synonym of Gongylidium rufipes (Linnaeus, 1758) (syn. conf.). In particular, the previous nomen dubium Theridion tibiale Hahn, 1831 is a senior synonym of Lasaeola tristis (Hahn, 1833) (syn. nov.). Evidence is presented that the junior synonym is in prevailing usage and the senior synonym is therefore regarded as nomen oblitum.

Ein bislang übersehener Fehler in der Zuordnung der neu beschriebenen wissenschaftlichen Artnamen zu den Spinnenabbildungen auf Tafel 4 des sechsten Heftes von Carl Wilhelm Hahn’s „Monographie der Spinnen“ führte zu der Auffassung, dass zumindest zwei der Spinnen auf Tafel 4 nicht identifiziert werden können und die Artnamen Nomina dubia sind. In dieser Notiz möchte ich darauf aufmerksam machen, dass mindestens drei Spinnen auf Tafel 4 identifiziert werden können, wenn man die Zuordnung der Namen zu den Abbildungen in sinnvoller Weise neu durchführt. Theridion rufipes sensu Hahn ist ein Synonym von Gongylidium rufipes (Linnaeus, 1758) (syn. conf.). Insbesondere das bisherige nomen dubium Theridion tibiale Hahn, 1831 ist ein älteres Synonym von Lasaeola tristis (Hahn, 1833) (syn. nov.). Es werden Belege angeführt wonach das jüngere Synonym in vorherrschendem Gebrauch ist, und das ältere Synonym wird daher als nomen oblitum aufgefasst.

The prosoma length of adult males and females of the lycosid spider Arctosa leopardus (Sundevall, 1833) varies by about 200%. By contrast, the decisive structures of the copulatory organs show allometrically constant sizes. Male and female copulatory organs are described in detail. Their mechanical co-operation in copula is discussed.

In einer Population der Wolfspinne Arctosa leopardus (Sundevall, 1833) variiert die Prosomalänge adulter Tiere bis zu 200%. Demgegenüber zeigen die kopulationsmechanisch maßgeblichen Strukturen des männlichen Pedipalpenbulbus sowie der weiblichen Epigyne ein allometrisches Verhalten mit konstanten Größenverhältnissen. Der Bau der Kopulationsorgane wird detailliert dargestellt und ihr mechanisches Zusammenwirken bei der Kopulation diskutiert.

A surprisingly large number of European spider species have never been reliably rediscovered since their first description many decades ago. Most of these are probably synonymous with other species or unidentifiable, due to insufficient descriptions or missing type material. Here we discuss about 50 of these cases, declare some names as nomina dubia and establish the following new or re-confirmed synonymies: Agelena mengeella Strand, 1942 = Allagelena gracilens (C. L. Koch, 1841) syn. conf.; Anyphaena accentuata obscura (Sundevall, 1831) = Anyphaena accentuata (Walckenaer, 1802) syn. conf.; Anyphaena accentuata obscura Lebert, 1877 = Anyphaena accentuata (Walckenaer, 1802) syn. nov.; Araneus diadematus stellatus C. L. Koch, 1836 = Araneus diadematus Clerck, 1757 syn. nov.; Araneus diadematus islandicus (Strand, 1906) = Araneus diadematus Clerck, 1757 syn. nov.; Araneus quadratus minimus Simon, 1929 = Araneus quadratus Clerck, 1757 syn. nov.; Araneus quadratus subviridis (Franganillo, 1913) = Araneus quadratus Clerck, 1757 syn. nov.; Centromerus unctus (L. Koch, 1870) = Leptorhoptrum robustum (Westring, 1851) syn. nov.; Clubiona caliginosa Simon, 1932 = Clubiona germanica Thorell, 1871 syn. nov.; Coelotes atropos anomalus Hull, 1955 = Coelotes atropos (Walckenaer, 1830) syn. nov.; Coelotes atropos silvestris Hull, 1955 = Coelotes atropos (Walckenaer, 1830) syn. nov.; Coelotes obesus Simon, 1875 = Pireneitega pyrenaea (Simon, 1870) syn. conf.; Coelotes simoni Strand, 1907 = Coelotes solitarius (L. Koch, 1868) syn. nov.; Diplocephalus semiglobosus (Westring, 1861) nomen oblitum = Entelecara congenera (O. P.-Cambridge, 1879) syn. nov.; Drassodes voigti (Bösenberg, 1899) = Scotophaeus blackwalli (Thorell, 1871) syn. conf.; Erigone decens Thorell, 1871 = Hylyphantes graminicola (Sundevall, 1830) syn. nov.; Liocranoeca striata gracilior (Kulczynski, 1898) = Liocranoeca striata (Kulczynski, 1882) syn. conf.; Phlegra rogenhoferi (Simon, 1868) = Phlegra cinereofasciata (Simon, 1868) syn. nov.; Styloctetor stativus (Simon, 1881) = Styloctetor compar (Westring, 1861) syn. nov. and comb. nov.; Tapinocyba bilacunata (L. Koch, 1881) = Silometopus incurvatus (O. P.-Cambridge, 1873) syn. nov.; Theridion varians melanotum Strand, 1907 = Theridion varians Hahn, 1833 syn. nov.; Thomisus trigonus Giebel, 1869 = Pistius truncatus (Pallas, 1772) syn. nov.; Titanoeca psammophila Wunderlich, 1993 = Titanoeca spominima (Taczanowski, 1866) syn. nov. and comb. nov.; Xysticus paniscus L. Koch, 1875 = Xysticus lineatus (Westring, 1851) syn. conf.

Eine überraschende Anzahl von europäischen Spinnenarten wurde seit ihrer Erstbeschreibung nie mehr zuverlässig wiedergefunden. In den meisten Fällen handelt es sich vermutlich um Synonyme anderer Arten oder die Arten bleiben aufgrund von unzulänglichen Beschreibungen und verlorenem Typusmaterial unidentifizierbar. Hier besprechen wir etwa 50 dieser Fälle, erklären zahlreiche Namen zu nomina dubia und identifizieren eine Reihe von neuen oder bisher übersehenen Synonymien: Agelena mengeella Strand, 1942 = Allagelena gracilens (C. L. Koch, 1841) syn. conf.; Anyphaena accentuata obscura (Sundevall, 1831) = Anyphaena accentuata (Walckenaer, 1802) syn. conf.; Anyphaena accentuata obscura Lebert, 1877 = Anyphaena accentuata (Walckenaer, 1802) syn. nov.; Araneus diadematus stellatus C. L. Koch, 1836 = Araneus diadematus Clerck, 1757 syn. nov.; Araneus diadematus islandicus (Strand, 1906) = Araneus diadematus Clerck, 1757 syn. nov.; Araneus quadratus minimus Simon, 1929 = Araneus quadratus Clerck, 1757 syn. nov.; Araneus quadratus subviridis (Franganillo, 1913) = Araneus quadratus Clerck, 1757 syn. nov.; Centromerus unctus (L. Koch, 1870) = Leptorhoptrum robustum (Westring, 1851) syn. nov.; Clubiona caliginosa Simon, 1932 = Clubiona germanica Thorell, 1871 syn. nov.; Coelotes atropos anomalus Hull, 1955 = Coelotes atropos (Walckenaer, 1830) syn. nov.; Coelotes atropos silvestris Hull, 1955 = Coelotes atropos (Walckenaer, 1830) syn. nov.; Coelotes obesus Simon, 1875 = Pireneitega pyrenaea (Simon, 1870) syn. conf.; Coelotes simoni Strand, 1907 = Coelotes solitarius (L. Koch, 1868) syn. nov.; Diplocephalus semiglobosus (Westring, 1861) nomen oblitum = Entelecara congenera (O. P.-Cambridge, 1879) syn. nov.; Drassodes voigti (Bösenberg, 1899) = Scotophaeus blackwalli (Thorell, 1871) syn. conf.; Erigone decens Thorell, 1871 = Hylyphantes graminicola (Sundevall, 1830) syn. nov.; Liocranoeca striata gracilior (Kulczynski, 1898) = Liocranoeca striata (Kulczynski, 1882) syn. conf.; Phlegra rogenhoferi (Simon, 1868) = Phlegra cinereofasciata (Simon, 1868) syn. nov.; Styloctetor stativus (Simon, 1881) = Styloctetor compar (Westring, 1861) syn. nov. and comb. nov.; Tapinocyba bilacunata (L. Koch, 1881) = Silometopus incurvatus (O. P.-Cambridge, 1873) syn. nov.; Theridion varians melanotum Strand, 1907 = Theridion varians Hahn, 1833 syn. nov.; Thomisus trigonus Giebel, 1869 = Pistius truncatus (Pallas, 1772) syn. nov.; Titanoeca psammophila Wunderlich, 1993 = Titanoeca spominima (Taczanowski, 1866) syn. nov. and comb. nov.; Xysticus paniscus L. Koch, 1875 = Xysticus lineatus (Westring, 1851) syn. conf.

Destruction of peat bogs by drainage, peat digging, agriculture and forestry in Central Europe represents a serious threat for the conservation of adapted species and characteristic habitat types. As a basis to form recommendations for renaturation procedures we investigated spider assemblages from different habitat types on the Dubringer Moor (Saxony, Germany). Spiders were recorded by pitfall trapping in 2012 in an Erica tetralix bog, a degenerated stage of the bog dominated by Molinia caerulea, two varieties of birch wood and four varieties of Picea abies forests. 22 of the 130 recorded spider species are endangered (Red Data Books of Germany and Saxony). Indicator species for different habitat types were found. Tyrphophilic and photohygrophilic species are characteristic for the peat bog stand as well as xerophylic spiders of dry heathlands – in the latter case caused by the more xerothermous conditions on the tops of hummocks. From the perspective of nature conservation the spruce-birch forests offer a more diverse habitat structure, photic and hygric amplitude than the spruce forest monocoenosis, resulting in a more diverse spider assemblage. Therefore, these woods could represent ’stepping stones’ for some species linking to rare Betula pubescens stands. The renaturation of the damaged bog sites should be enhanced by blocking ditches and cutting spruce, leading to reduced evaporation and re-wetting of the area

Die meisten Torfmoore sind in Mitteleuropa durch Trockenlegung, Torfabbau, Land- und Forstwirtschaft beeinträchtigt. Hierdurch sind die charakteristischen Habitattypen und viele der an die hier herrschenden Lebensbedingungen angepassten Arten gefährdet. Die Untersuchungen der Spinnenfauna des vorliegenden Projekts wurden 2012 im Dubringer Moor (Sachsen) mit Hilfe von Bodenfallen in einem Heidemoor, einem von Pfeifengras dominierten, degenerierten Heidemoorstadium, zwei Birkenwaldtypen und vier unterschiedlichen Fichtenforsten durchgeführt. Es konnten insgesamt 130 Arten nachgewiesen werden, von denen 22 nach den Roten Listen von Sachsen und Deutschland als gefährdet gelten. Für die verschiedenen Habitattypen konnten Indikatorarten gefunden werden. An Moore gebundene sowie licht- und feuchteliebende Arten sind für das Torfmoor charakteristisch, genauso wie trockenliebende Arten der Heiden – bedingt durch die trocken-warmen Bedingungen auf den Bulten. Aus Sicht des Naturschutzes bieten die Fichten-Birken-Wälder eine abwechslungsreichere Habitatstruktur mit einer breiteren Vielfalt von Licht- und Feuchteverhältnissen als die reinen Fichtenforste – resultierend in einer größeren Vielfalt der Spinnenfauna. Deshalb können diese Mischwälder für einige Arten als „Trittsteine“ zur Verbindung zwischen den seltenen Moorbirkenwäldern dienen. Die Renaturierung der geschädigten Moorstandorte könnte durch das Anstauen der Entwässerungsgräben und dem Fällen der Fichten mit einer dadurch reduzierten Wasserverdunstung gefördert werden.

The species of the genus Pseudoblothrus Beier, 1931 from Italy are revised. Two species are present in this area: P. peyerimhoffi (Simon, 1905) (Piedmont) and P. regalini Inzaghi, 1983 (Lombardy). The following synonymy is proposed: Pseudoblothrus ellingseni (Beier, 1929) is a junior subjective synonym of P. peyerimhoffi (Simon, 1905) (syn. nov.). A key to all species of the genus Pseudoblothrus is provided.

Preface to the section of the Proceedings of the 28th European Congress of Arachnology, Torino, 2014 Aug. 24-29

The zoological collection of the National Museum, Prague (NMP) contains spirit (juvenile) as well as dry (mostly adult) specimens of horseshoe crabs (Xiphosura). Living horseshoe crabs are of immunological importance due to clotting agents present in their hemolymph. Here we summarize basic data about the mechanism of the immune system of these marine animals and its use in practice – the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate test – including the laboratory assays and handling with the animals. In the NMP collection, 82 specimens (16 dry and 66 spirit) of all four currently recognised living species of horseshoe crabs are present. They were collected in Indonesia, USA and Vietnam in 1872–1998; Limulus polyphemus from the USA is the most numerous species in the NMP. The collection contains no type specimens but three historical mounted ontogenetic series are present. The largest part of the horseshoe crab collection is 55 spirit specimens from the collection of Václav Frič (1839–1916) whose preparations were intended mostly for educational purposes.

A new scorpion species, Euscorpius drenskii sp. nov., is described from the Western Rhodope Mts. in southern Bulgaria. It is characterized by an oligotrichous trichobothrial pattern, which shows a conspicuous loss of one trichobothrium in the external median patellar series (em = 3), also observed in E. carpathicus (Linnaeus, 1767) and the subgenus Alpiscorpius Gantenbein, Fet, Largiadèr & Scholl, 1999. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA marker sequences does not show any close relationship between these three groups, suggesting that the observed loss of a trichobothrium is an independent event.

Previous study of the setae covering the opisthosoma of ground spiders shows that the morphology of the covering setae is genus-specific. The present study pursues the description of covering setae across the whole Gnaphosidae family using SEM. A detailed morphology of the setae of ground spiders (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) is presented. The six major types of covering setae recognized among gnaphosid spiders are squamose, plumose, lanceolate, pinnate, arborate and sicate setae. Squamose setae are characteristic for Micaria lenzi and Nauhea tapa. Plumose setae are more common in ground spiders and occur in the genera Drassodes, Haplodrassus, Anagraphis, Nodocion, Zelotes and the species Berlandina caspica, Nomisia aussereri, Minosiella intermedia, Sosticus loricatus, Leptodrassus memorialis, Intruda signata, Parasyrisca caucasica, Scopoides catharius, Echemoides tofo, Zimiromus medius, Encoptarthria echemophthalma, Apodrassodes trancas, Apopyllus silvestri, Hemicloea sundevalli, Zelanda erebus, Orodrassus assimilis, Callilepis nocturna and Synaphosus turanicus. The species Matua valida, Anzacia gemmea, Hypodrassodes maoricus, Homoeothele micans and Scotophaeus blackwalli have lanceolate setae. Spiders of the genus Gnaphosa have pinnate setae. Fedotovia uzbekistanica has arborate setae. The species Cesonia bilineata, Herpyllus propinquus, Litopyllus temporarius, Aphantaulax seminigra and Kishidaia conspicua have sicate setae. Some genera, such as Drassodes and Synaphosus, have a combination of different types of setae on their opisthosoma, whereas others, like Eilica sp., Laronius erawan, Urozelotes rusticus, have no covering setae on their opisthosoma at all. This study reveals the existence of different types of covering setae and provides a set of characteristics important for the classification and phylogenetic analysis of Gnaphosidae.

Discoveries of new species of giant scorpion (more than 14 cm in total length) are considered extremely rare. Among the largest scorpions in the world there are some species from West Africa, very popular in the pet trade and, for this reason, protected by the Washington Convention (CITES). Besides the three well-known protected species – Pandinus imperator (C. L. Koch, 1841), Pandinopsis dictator (Pocock, 1888) and Pandinus gambiensis Pocock, 1900 – a fourth giant species, Pandinus ulderigoi Rossi, 2014, was recently described from a supposedly unknown locality in the Central African Republic. Unpublished notes, just discovered, allow clarification of the exact type locality of this species. Besides newly examined material from the type locality, representative of both sexes, allows better definition of the characters of this species including its unusual trichobothrial pattern. A fifth giant species, Pandinus roeseli (Simon, 1872), recently revalidated from Pandinus imperator, is automatically included among the protected species. In light of the vulnerable status, the similar general appearance, the possibly restricted and continuous distribution with regards to the four protected species as well as the recent import suspension of P. imperator from Ghana, P. ulderigoi should be added to the Pandinus species protected by the Washington Convention.

A new genus of hubbardiid schizomid, Bucinozomus gen. nov. with the single species B. hortuspalmarum spec. nov., is described on basis to two male specimens found in the 'Palmengarten' greenhouse in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It clearly differs from other known genera by having a long and conical abdominal segment IX, as well as the following combination of characters: anterodorsal margin of femur IV produced at less than a 90° angle, metapeltidium divided, and pedipalps with prominent spinose setae. It differs from Trithyreus Kraepelin, 1899 by having the pedipalp trochanter with a mesal spur, leg femur IV not slender and a pedipalp tarsus with a shorter claw (half of tarsus length). Living sympatric with this new taxon were female specimens of Stenochrus portoricensis Chamberlin, 1922 and Zomus bagnallii (Jackson, 1908).

Die neue Zwerggeißelskorpion-Gattung Bucinozomus gen. nov. (Schizomida: Hubbardiidae) mit der bisher einzigen bekannten Art B. hortuspalmarum spec. nov. wurde erstmalig anhand von zwei männlichen Individuen, welche in den Gewächshäusern des Palmengartens in Frankfurt am Main (Deutschland) gefunden wurden, beschrieben. Sie unterscheidet sich deutlich von allen anderen bisher bekannten Gattungen durch den Besitz eines langen, kegelförmigen Abdominalsegments IX, so wie durch eine Kombination folgender Merkmale: Der anterodorsale Rand des Femurs IV bildet einen Winkel unter 90° aus, das Metapeltidium ist geteilt und die Pedipalpen weisen auffällig stachelige Setae auf. Von der Gattung Trithyreus Kraepelin, 1899 lässt sich die neue Gattung anhand eines mesalen Sporns auf den Pedipalpen-Trochantern, einem insgesamt weniger schlanken Femur IV und kürzeren Klauen an den Pedipalpentarsen (Hälfte der Tarsuslänge) unterscheiden. Am Fundort kommt B. hortuspalmarum spec. nov. sympatrisch mit Weibchen von Stenochrus portoricensis Chamberlin, 1922 und Zomus bagnallii (Jackson, 1908) vor.

A female of the jumping spider Heliophanus stylifer Simon, 1878 was found in the s’Albufera natural park on the Balearic Island of Mallorca (Spain). This species is new to Europe. Seven additional jumping spider species were recorded, including the first records of Heliophanus apiatus, Icius hamatus and Menemerus taeniatus for the Balearic Islands.

Ein Weibchen der Springspinne Heliophanus stylifer Simon, 1878 wurde im Naturpark s’Albufera auf der Balearen-Insel Mallorca (Spanien) gefunden. Die Spezies ist neu für Europa. Außerdem wurden weitere sieben Springspinnenarten nachgewiesen, darunter mit Heliophanus apiatus, Icius hamatus und Menemerus taeniatus drei Arten erstmalig für die Balearen.

book review: Christoph Muster & Marc Meyer 2014 Verbreitungsatlas der Weberknechte des Großherzogtums Luxemburg

anniversary, Jörg Wunderlich

working group