The genus Trigonobothrys in New Zealand and a redescription of Achaearanea blattea (Theridiidae: Araneae): Tuhinga 14

Tuhinga 14: 25 - 33

ABSTRACT: Three New Zealand species of spiders that have been placed in the genus Dipoena Thorell, 1869, are reviewed and shown to belong to other genera. The male of a previously undescribed but illustrated species of Dipoena from New Zealand is shown to belong to Trigonobothrys Simon, 1889, and to be conspecific with Phycosoma oecobioides O.P. Cambridge, 1879, known from the female holotype only. The new combination Trigonobothrys oecobioides (O.P. Cambridge, 1879) is proposed, as is the new synonymy of Phycosoma O.P. Cambridge, 1879 under Trigonobothrys. The female of T. oecobioides is redescribed, and the male is described for the first time. Theridium blatteus Urquhart, 1886, currently placed in the genus Dipoena, is shown to belong to Achaearanea Strand, 1929. Another species, Atkinsonia nana O.P. Cambridge, 1879, had been placed in Dipoena, then transferred to Euryopis Menge, 1868, and we agree with this placement.

KEYWORDS: Dipoena, Trigonobothrys oecobiodes, Achaearanea blattea, Euryopis nana, Theridiidae, Hadrotarsinae, New Zealand, new combination, new synonymy, redescription.