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Research Article
Picking pearls from the Silk Road: Insights into the spider (Arachnida, Araneae) diversity in Georgia from the Caucasus Barcode of Life (CaBOL) project. Part III
expand article infoArmen Seropian, Natalia Bulbulashvili§, Hans-Joachim Krammer|, Jana Thormann|, Nils Hein|, Elisabeth Karalashvili, Nino Kachlishvili, Anastasia Datunashvili
‡ Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
§ Unaffiliated, Gori, Georgia
| LIB: Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Bonn, Germany
Open Access

Abstract

The present study contains information about a small number of spiders collected between 2018 and 2023. The spiders were determined to species level and partially assisted by genetic barcoding of the COI gene. Among the resulting 33 species, 23 species and three genera, are recorded from Georgia for the first time, of which 11 are new records for the entire Caucasus. Of the 26 barcoded specimens representing 18 species, six species (Agroeca maculata L. Koch, 1879; Aituaria eriashvilii (Marusik, 1987); Evippa sjostedti Schenkel, 1936; Lathys cf. lehtineni Kovblyuk, Kastrygina & Omelko, 2014; Zelotes segrex (Simon, 1878); Lathys lehtineni Kovblyuk, Kastrygina & Omelko, 2014; Maculoncus obscurus Tanasevitch, Ponomarev & Chumachenko, 2016) are barcoded for the first time. In addition, 12 new regional records for 10 species are provided. The collecting information for each record is provided in detail, together with a discussion of the barcoding results and remarks, supported by 48 diagnostic drawings of 22 first-recorded species. A potential synonymy of Pelecopsis odontophora (Kulczyński, 1895) with P. parallela (Wider, 1834) and Bassaniodes loeffleri (Roewer, 1955) with B. pseudorectilineus (Wunderlich, 1995) is discussed.

Key words

Aranei, biodiversity, faunistic, new records, South Caucasus

Introduction

The present survey marks the third contribution in the series of articles devoted to the study of Georgian spiders (Seropian et al. 2023a, b). Prior to the release of the first part of this series of studies, devoted to the diversity of spiders in Georgia and the Caucasus as a whole, the number of documented species in the country stood at 659. Recently this number has been replenished by 111 species and 27 genera, of which five genera and 24 species appeared to be new to the Caucasus and three species new to science were described. As a result spider diversity of Georgia increased to 766 species from 286 genera, comprising ≈65% of the known aranean diversity of the Caucasus (Otto 2023). While the faunistic exploration of Georgian araneofauna has undergone relatively comprehensive investigations over the past five years, signifciant part of the country continue to remain inadequately explored, as new species (and families) are consistently being discovered (Deltshev et al. 2023; Seropian et al. 2023a, b; Deltshev et al. 2023; Zamani and Marusik 2024) showcasing the necessity of more targeted studies in the region. In this study, we provide records of an additional 23 species new to the fauna of Georgia, of which 11 taxa are recorded for the first time in the Caucasus.

Material and methods

Sampling

The main part of the studied material was collected within the framework of the Caucasus Barcode of Life (CaBOL) project, being the most ambitious arthropod inventories ever performed in Georgia by the members of the GGBC (Georgian-German Biodiversity Center) and the CaBOL team of the Ilia State University (https://ggbc.eu/). Most samples were collected during expeditions and short trips to different parts of Georgia (including both protected and unprotected areas) via aspirators, soil sifters, and hand collecting. Sampling details are given below. The elevations and GPS coordinates (given in WGS84) were obtained via Garmin GPS MAP 64s.

Collected specimens were preserved in 96% ethanol and stored in a freezer at -22˚C at the scientific collections of Ilia State University (Georgia, Tbilisi) and the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK) (Germany, Bonn). Unique ID numbers of the preserved material (CaBOL-ID, ZFMK-TIS) indicate the depositories (Ilia State University and Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, respectively). Identification was done by the authors using literature sources on Caucasian spiders (see list in Otto 2023) as well as Nentwig et al. (2023) and sources listed therein. For specimen identification, we used a Zeiss Stemi 508 Stereo Microscope with 8:1 Zoom and a Zeiss Apo 1.5x FWD 53 mm front lens attached. Drawings were made based on microscope photographs using a Wacom CTH-690 Intuos Medium Pen and Touch Tablet with the programs Krita (version 2.9.7) and Photoshop CS6 (version 13.0). Drawings usually show the left male palpus, the female epigyne, and the endogyne; perspective and scale bars are given in the plates and their captions. The preparation of the female epigyne and endogyne was done using a 30% solution of potassium hydroxide.

DNA processing

DNA extraction in ZFMK was performed by following the standard protocols of the GBOL (German Barcode of Life) project (Geiger et al. 2016; http://www.bolgermany.de). DNA extraction at ISU was performed following the customized protocol (Seropian et al. 2023a, b). Extracted DNA and remnants of the specimens were deposited at the ZFMK and scientific collections of Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia, while the sequences were submitted to Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) databases. The newly obtained DNA barcodes of COI sequences were checked against the BOLD Systems database (http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php). Barcode Index Number (BIN) (Ratnasingham and Hebert 2013) for the sequenced taxa and their nearest neighbor in BOLD Systems (if they had a BIN) are also given. For the calculation of sequence differentiation, we used p-distance as performed in the BOLD Systems.

Results

In total, 142 (sub)adult spiders (including 46 males, 95 females, and 1 juvenile) collected during the sampling period were examined, comprising 33 species from 28 genera and 13 families. The 13 species marked with an asterisk (*) listed below are recorded in Georgia for the first time, additionally, 11 species marked with a double asterisk (**) represent the first records in the Caucasus. The list below is given in alphabetical order.

From the collected material submitted for barcoding, 59 quality barcodes (658 bp length barcodes, with no stop codons, indels, or deletions) representing 22 species have been generated so far, of which 12 barcodes (seven species) are the first ones of the species submitted to the BOLD Systems. Barcode information is given under each barcoded species listed below.

Abbreviations used are as follows: Mun. – mucipality; Vill. – village; NP – National Park.

List of spider species recorded

Family Agelenidae C.L. Koch, 1837

Genus Tegenaria Latreille, 1804

Tegenaria lyncea Brignoli, 1978

Figs 1–3

Malthonica lyncea Guseinov, Marusik & Koponen, 2005: 165, figs 57–58, 63–68, 122–123 (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Kvemo Karlti • 1♂; Bolnisi mun., Tandzia Vill.; N41.4523°, E44.360511°; 915 m a.s.l.; meadow, under rocks; leg. Bulbulashvili N.; 16 Jun. 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035764.

Remarks

This species has an eastern Anatolian-Caucasian distribution range in the Caucasus, known from Azerbaijan and the North Caucasus (WSC 2023; Otto 2023). It is the first report of T. lyncea from Georgia. From the region congeners, it is closest to T. pseudolyncea (Guseinov, Marusik & Koponen, 2005), from which the males of T. lyncea are distinguished by a shorter embolus, thicker tegular apophysis, shorter prolateral arm of the conductor, and shape of the tibial apophysis.

Figures 1–3. 

Tegenaria lyncea , male (1: left palpus, ventral view; 2: same, retrolateral view; 3: tibial apophysis, dorsal view). Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Family Clubionidae Simon, 1878

Genus Clubiona Latreille, 1804

Clubiona frisia Wunderlich & Schuett, 1995

Fig. 6

Clubiona frisia Wunderlich & Schuett, 1995: 12, figs 1–10 (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Samtskhe-Javakheti • 1♂; Borjomi mun., Tabatskuri L.; N41.66°, E43.613°; 2040 m a.s.l.; leg. Karalashvili E. & Krammer H.-J.; 23 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008386 (BOLD:AAU8188) (Figs 4–5). Mtskheta-Mtianeti • 2♀♀; Kazbegi mun., Stepantsminda; N42.655°, E44.649°; 1821 m a.s.l.; leg. Krammer H.-J. & Karalashvili E.; 7 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TISs 8008063, 8008064 (BOLD:AAU8188) • 1♀; S of Stepantsminda; N42.637°, E44.631°; 1745 m a.s.l.; leg. Krammer H.-J. & Karalashvili E.; 5 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008084 (BOLD:AAU8188) • 1♀; N of Shevardeni, Mna Valley; N42.58°, E44.47°; 2012 m a.s.l.; leg. Krammer H.-J. & Karalashvili E.; 8 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008100 (BOLD:AAU8188).

Barcoding

Five barcodes were obtained from the specimens ZFMK-TISs 8008063, 8008064, 8008084, 8008100 and 8008386 (BOLD:AAU8188, mean p-distance 1.0%), with the nearest neighbor in BOLD Systems C. frisia from Norway (BOLD:AAU8188, 0.46%, 0.15%, 0.15%, 0.31%, 0.61% respective p-distances).

Remarks

This species is distributed from Spain east to West Siberia, north to the Scandinavian Peninsula, and south to Georgia (the record from Bulgaria is unpublished (Blagoev et al. 2018)) (Nentwig et al., 2023; Otto 2023). It is the first record of C. frisia from Georgia and the southernmost one within the known range. Until Wunderlich and Schuett (1995), this species was treated as C. similis, from which the males of C. frisia are distinguished by a shorter distance between the embolus curvature and the tibial apophysis (best viewed in prolateral) (notably longer in C. similis), while the females have a longer receptacula seminis (shorter in C. similis).

Figures 4–5. 

Clubiona frisia , male (4: left palpus, ventral view; 5: same, retrolateral view). Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Figures 6–10. 

Clubiona frisia , female (6: endogyne, dorsal view). Clubiona reclusa, male (7: left palpus, ventral view; 8: same, retrolateral view). Brigittea innocens, female (9: endogyne, dorsal view). Lathys lehtineni, female (10: endogyne, dorsal view). Scale bars: 0.2 mm (6–9); 0.1 mm (10).

Clubiona reclusa O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1863

Figs 7–8

Clubiona reclusa Almquist - 2006: 374, figs 323a–f (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Samtskhe-Javakheti • 1♂; Ninotsminda mun., Madatapa L.; N41.1794°, E43.7831°; 2100 m a.s.l.; subalpine meadow; leg. Balkhamishvili S., Ninua L., Daraselia I.; 31 May 2023; CaBOL-ID 1020850.

Remarks

This species is distributed from the Iberian Peninsula east to the Baikal and north to Torne lappmark (Sweden) (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). It is the first record of C. reclusa in the Caucasus (Nentwig et al. 2023; Otto 2023; WSC 2023). Clubiona reclusa belongs to the reclusa-species group (for the species list, see Mikhailov 1995), from which C. stagnatilis Kulczyński, 1897 and C. subsultans Thorell, 1875, occur in the Caucasus (Nentwig et al. 2023; Otto 2023; WSC 2023). The males of this species group are characterized by a harpoon-shaped ventral process of the tibial apophysis and the presence of a protector on the bulb. Males of C. reclusa are distinguished from those of C. stagnatilis and C. subsultans by the shape of the conductor (conductor broad, with bifurcated top in C. subsultans; prolateral margin of conductor deeply grooved near apical part in C. stagnatsilis), shape and placement of the tegular apophysis (small-sized, strongly curved outwards conductor in C. stagnatsilis; medium-sized, straight, originating at about 11 o’clock in C. subsultans; large, straight, originating at about 12 o’clock in C. reclusa), and shape of the tibial apophysis.

Family Dictynidae O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871

Genus Brigittea Lehtinen, 1967

Brigittea innocens (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872)

Fig. 9

Brigittea innocens Lecigne, 2021: 13, figs 4a–i, 5a–h, 6a–e (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Kakheti • 2♀♀; Dedoplistskaro mun., Chachuna Managed Reserve; N41.225185°, E46.323604°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert, vegetation; leg. Seropian A.; 18 Jul. 2023; CaBOL-IDs 1035877, 1035878.

Barcoding

Two barcodes were obtained from the specimens CaBOL-IDs 1035877 and 1035878 (BOLD:AFO9424, mean p-distance 1.37%). According to the BOLD Systems library, there are 2 barcodes of the species currently with a private status that failed to indicate a good match with our specimens. Either the specimens in the BOLD Systems belong to other species, or the COI gene is not a proper tool to differentiate this particular species.

Remarks

This species is distributed from the eastern Mediterranean to eastern Kazakhstan (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). It is the first record of B. innoscens in the Caucasus. The nearest known record originates from Cyprus (Bosmans et al. 2019), while in the neighboring countries, this species is recorded in Antalya (Turkey) (Lecigne 2021; see also for female diagnosis).

Brigittea latens Fabricius, 1775

Brigittea latens Marusik, Esyunin & Tuneva, 2015: 136, figs 31-36, 40–42 (♂)

Material examined

GEORGIA – Kakheti • 5♂♂; Dedoplistskaro mun., Vashlovani NP, Mijniskure; N41.1127°, E46.6460°; 101 m a.s.l.; semidesert, light trap; leg. Kaitila J.-P. & Junnilainen J.; 22. May 2023; CaBOL-IDs 1035765, 1035766, 1035767, 1035817, 1035818 • 1♀; Vashlovani NP; N41.214°, E46.537°; 388 m a.s.l.; leg. Karalashvili E. & Krammer H.-J.; 10 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008402 (BOLD:AAO1681). Kvemo Kartli • 2♀♀; Gardabani mun., Kumisi L.; N41.577°, E44.824°; 476 m a.s.l.; leg. Karalashvili E. & Krammer H.-J.; 16 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TISs 8008367, 8008368 (BOLD:AAO1681).

Barcoding

Three barcodes were obtained from the specimens ZFMK-TISs 8008367, 8008368, and 8008402 (BOLD:AAO1681, mean p-distance 1.52%), with the nearest neighbor in BOLD Systems B. latens from Spain (maximum p-distance 0.61%) currently at private status.

Remarks

This species is distributed from the Iberian Peninsula east to eastern Kazakhstan and north to Steinkjer (Norway) (WSC 2023). In the Caucasus, it is reported from Azerbaijan, the North-East Caucasus, and Georgia (Samachablo region) (Otto 2023). It is the first record of B. latens from the Kakheti and Kvemo Kartli regions.

Genus Lathys Simon, 1884

Lathys cf. lehtineni Kovblyuk, Kastrygina & Omelko, 2014

Fig. 10

Lathys lehtineni Kovblyuk, Kastrygina & Omelko, 2014: 195, figs 1–8 (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Mtskheta-Mtianeti • 2♀♀; N of Shevardeni, Mna Valley; N42.58°, E44.47°; 2012 m a.s.l.; leg. Krammer H.-J. & Karalashvili E.; 7 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TISs 8008109, 8008110 (BOLD:AFJ0262).

Barcoding

Two identical barcodes were obtained from the specimens ZFMK-TISs 8008109 and 8008110 (BOLD:AFJ0262). The identification via the COI gene was not straightforward, as the best match is Lathys alberta Gertsch, 1946, from Canada (BOLD:AAK7771, p-distance 2.29%). There are currently no barcodes for L. cf. lehtineni in BOLD Systems; we are submitting the first ones.

Remarks

This species was described from Ukraine (Crimea) and Russia (Astrakhan and Rostov regions) and also occurs in Kazakhstan (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). Potential records from Turkey and Iran (Danışman et al. 2014; Zamani et al. 2020) need verification. It is the first record of L. lehtineni in the Caucasus. Although the examined material fits well with the original description of the species (Kovblyuk et al. 2014), identification by singleton females is not reliable and shall be confirmed after the male specimen is available.

Family Gnaphosidae Banks, 1892

Genus Haplodrassus Chamberlin, 1922

Haplodrassus kulczynskii Lohmander, 1942

Haplodrassus kulczynskii Kovblyuk, Kastrygina & Omelko, 2012: 73, figs 35–39 (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Tbilisi • 1♀; Telovani Vill.; N41.8023°, E44.6768°; 923 m a.s.l.; meadow, under rocks; leg. Bulbulashvili N.; 27 May 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035524.

Remarks

This species is distributed from France to East Asia (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023) with records in the Caucasus from Georgia (Samachablo region) and the North Caucasus. It is the first record of H. kulczynskii from Tbilisi and the second in the country.

Genus Nomisia Dalmas, 1921

Nomisia ripariensis O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872

Figs 11–13

Nomisia ripariensis Levy, 1995: 931, figs 26–30 (♂♀).

Nomisia ripariensis Ponomarev et al., 2019: 316, fig. 10 (♂).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Kakheti • 6♂♂; Dedoplistskaro mun., Vashlovani NP, Mijniskure; N41.1127°, E46.6460°; 101 m a.s.l.; semidesert, the light trap; leg. Kaitila J.-P. & Junnilainen J.; 22 May 2023; CaBOL-IDs 1035768, 1035775, 1035790, 1035810, 1035811, 1035822. Kvemo Kartli • 1♀; Marneuli mun., Shulaveri; N41.3681°, E44.8219°; 479 m a.s.l.; under rocks in steppe; leg. Seropian A., Bulbulashvili N. & Zukakishvili A.; 3 Jun. 2023; CaBOL-ID 1020862.

Remarks

This species is distributed from the eastern Mediterranean north to Dagestan and east to Iran (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). In the Caucasus, it is reported from a single locality in Dagestan and several localities in Azerbaijan (Otto 2023). It is the first record of N. ripariensis from Georgia. The examined material originates from the Georgian-Azerbaijani border, although the nearest record to our specimens is from Dagestan. Males of N. ripariensis are most similar to those of co-occurring in the Caucasus and Georgia N. conigera (Spassky, 1941), from which they are distinguished by a shorter retrolateral tibial apophysis (longer in N. conigera), a shorter and more oblique prolateral arm of the conductor (distinctly protruding and conical in N. conigera), and shape of the embolus (distinctly longer than wide in N. conigera; width and length approximately the same in N. ripariensis). Females are most similar to those of N. exornata (C.L. Koch, 1839) and N. excerpta (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872), but differ in the shape of the receptaculum seminis.

Figures 11–15. 

Nomisia ripariensis , male (11: left palpus, ventral view; 12: same, retrolateral view; 13: tibial apophysis, dorsal view). Poecilochroa senilis, male (14: left palpus, ventral view; 15: same, retrolateral view). Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Genus Marinarozelotes Ponomarev, 2020

Marinarozelotes malkini (Platnick & Murphy, 1984)

Marinarozelotes malkini Ponomarev & Shmatko, 2020: 135, figs 14–15, 19, 25–26, 43–44, 64–65 (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Tbilisi • 1♀; Dighomi vill.; N41.778°, E44.701°; 716 m a.s.l.; Paliurus spina-christi dominated shrubland, under rocks; leg. Seropian A., Krammer H.-J. & Karalashvili E.; 17 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008317 (BOLD:AAO4464).

Bacroding. A single barcode was obtained from the specimen ZFMK-TIS 8008317 (BOLD:AAO4464) with the nearest neighbor in BOLD Systems M. malkini from Bulgaria (p-distance 0.15%) with an Early-Release status.

Remarks

This species is distributed in the Balkans, Greece, the Caucasus (except for Armenia), the Asian part of Turkey, Iran, and Kazakhstan (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). The record from Azerbaijan (Ponomarev and Shmatko 2020) is missing in Otto (2023). It is the second record for M. malkini in Georgia, the first record was from the Samachablo region (Otto 2023).

Genus Poecilochroa Westring, 1874

Poecilochroa senilis (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872)

Figs 14–15

Poecilochroa senilis Murphy, 2007: 50, figs 370–371 (♂♀).

Poecilochroa senilis Bosmans & Gavalas, 2023: 50, figs 26A–D (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Kakheti • 1♂; Dedoplistskaro mun., Chachuna Managed Reserve; N41.230663°, E46.140872°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert, under rocks; leg. Seropian A.; 19 Jul. 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035879.

Barcoding

A single barcode was obtained from the specimen CaBOL-ID1035879 (BOLD:ABW8614). According to the BOLD Systems library, there is a single public barcode of the species mined from the GenBank, with 518 bp length, that failed to indicate a good match with our specimens. Either the specimen in the BOLD Systems belongs to another species, or the COI gene is not a proper tool to differentiate this particular species.

Remarks

This species is distributed from the Eastern Mediterranean east to Turkmenistan (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). In the Caucasus, it is reported only from NE Caucasus (Otto 2023). It is the first record of P. senilis in Georgia and the South Caucasus. The males of this species are easily distinguished from other local congeners by the shape of the retrolateral tibial apophysis.

Genus Zelotes Gistel, 1848

Zelotes latreillei (Simon, 1878)

Fig. 16

Zelotes latreillei Almquist, 2006: 426, figs 367a–e (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Samtskhe-Javakheti • 1♀; Borjomi mun., Tabatskuri L.; N41.66°, E43.613°; 2040 m a.s.l.; leg. Krammer H.-J. & Karalashvili E.; 23 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008390 (BOLD:ABZ4051). Mtskheta-Mtianeti • 1♀; Kazbegi mun., Stepantsminda; N42.667°, E44.614°; 2100 m a.s.l.; leg. Klug T.; 7 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008619 (BOLD:ABZ4051).

Bacroding. Two barcodes were obtained from the specimens ZFMK-TISs 8008317 and 8008619 (BOLD:ABZ4051, p-distance 0.91%) with the nearest neighbors in BOLD Systems Z. latreillei from Finland, Austria, and Germany (BOLD:ABZ4051, p-distance 0.76% and 0.77%, respectively). The second-best match is Z. latreillei from Slovenia (BOLD:ABZ4051, p-distance 0.77% and 0.78%, respectively).

Remarks

This species is distributed from the Iberian Peninsula east to Yenisei and north to the Scandinavian Peninsula (Marusik et al. 2001; Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). In the Caucasus, it is known from the North Caucasus and Azerbaijan (Otto 2023). It is the first record of Z. latreillei from Georgia.

Figures 16–17. 

Zelotes latreillei , female (16: epigyne, ventral view). Zelotes segrex, female (17: epigyne, ventral view). Scale bars = 0.2 mm

Zelotes segrex (Simon, 1878)

Fig. 17

Zelotes labilis Di Franco, 2002: 199, figs 13–16 (♂♀).

Zelotes segrex Gaymard & Lecigne, 2018: 21, figs 14C–E (♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Tbilisi • 1♀; Dighomi cemetery; N41.771°, E44.767°; 446 m a.s.l.; leg. Karalashvili E., Krammer H.-J. & Seropian A.; 17 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008381 (BOLD:AFI9929).

Bacroding. A single barcode was obtained from the specimen ZFMK-TIS 8008381 (BOLD:AFI9929). There are currently no barcodes of this species in BOLD Systems, we are submitting the first one.

Remarks

This species is distributed from the Iberian Peninsula to Kazakhstan (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). In the Caucasus, it is reported from the North Caucasus and Azerbaijan (Otto 2023). It is the first record of Z. segrex from Georgia.

Family Linyphiidae Blackwall, 1859

Genus Maculoncus Wunderlich, 1995

Maculoncus obscurus Tanasevitch, Ponomarev & Chumachenko, 2016

Maculoncus (?) obscurus Tanasevitch, Ponomarev & Chumachenko, 2016: 426, figs 10–16 (♂).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti • 1♂; Oni mun., Tskhmori Vill.; N42.53125°, E43.470933°; 1269 m a.s.l.; deciduous forest, litter sifting; leg. Astrin J.; 18 Jul. 2018; ZFMK-TIS 8005081 (BOLD:AFJ0696).

Bacroding. A single barcode was obtained from the specimen ZFMK-TIS 8005081 (BOLD:AFJ0696). There are currently no barcodes for M. obscurus in BOLD Systems, we are submitting the first one.

Remarks

Maculoncus obscurus is endemic to the Caucasus (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023), where it is reported from Adygea (terra typica) and Georgia (Imereti region, Mukhura Vill.). It is the first record of this species in the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti and the third in the region. The female of M. obscurus is unknown.

Genus Metopobactrus Simon, 1884

Metopobactrus prominulus (O. Pickard--Cambridge, 1872)

Metopobactrus prominulus Roberts, 1987: 46, figs 14c, 17c (♂♀).

Metopobactrus prominulus Crespo et al., 2018: 166, figs 7a–h (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Mtskheta-Mtianeti • 1♀; Kazbegi mun., Stepantsminda; N42.655°, E44.649°; 1821 m a.s.l.; leg. Krammer H.-J. & Karalashvili E.; 7 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008075 (BOLD:AFI9848).

Bacroding. A single barcode was obtained from the specimen ZFMK-TIS 8008075 (BOLD:AFI9848) with the nearest neighbor in BOLD Systems M. prominulus from Georgia (p-distance 1.08%) with private status. The second-best match is M. prominulus from Turkey (p-distance 1.23%) with early-release status.

Remarks

This species has a holarctic distribution (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). In Georgia, it was known solely from Abkhazia (Kovblyuk et al. 2011). It is the first record of M. prominulis in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region.

Genus Pelecopsis Simon, 1864

Pelecopsis parallela Wider, 1834

Figs 18–19

Pelecopsis parallela Roberts, 1987: 61, figs 23h, 24d (♂♀).

Pelecopsis parallela Marusik, Koponen & Danilov, 2001: 87, figs 25–26, 31–32 (♂).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Shida Kartli • 1♂; Gori, Kvernaki ridge, Gori; N41.9833°, E44.1494°; 641 m a.s.l.; Paliurus spina-christi dominated shrubland, under rocks; leg. Bulbulashvili N.; 08 April 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035448.

Remarks

Transpalaearctic species, also occurring in West Greenland (WSC 2023). It is the first record of P. parallela in the Caucasus. Males of P. parallela are distinguished from those of co-occurring in the Caucasus P. crassipes Tanasevitch, 1987 by its flat, 1/2 as high as long cephalic lobe of the carapace (round and high in P. crassipes) and the absence of long frontal outgrowth on the tegulum (present in P. crassipes). Another species, P. odontophora (Kulczyński, 1895), similar to P. parallela, can be distinguished by the presence of a rounded projection in the proximal part of the cymbium (absent in P. parallela) (Tanasevitch 1990). A male from Gori resembles P. parallela but has a rounded projection, suggesting P. odontophora might be a junior synonym of P. parallela. Further examination of the holotype specimen and local specimens is needed to confirm this.

Figures 18–19. 

Pelecopsis parallela , male (18: left palpus, retrolateral view; 19: carapace, lateral view). Scale bars: 0.1 mm (18); 0.2 mm (19).

Family Liocranidae Simon, 1897

Genus Agroeca Westring, 1861

Agroeca maculata L. Koch, 1879

Figs 20–21

Agroeca maculata Danilov, 1999: 313, figs 1D–E (♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Mtskheta-Mtianeti • 1♀; N of Shevardeni, Mna Valley; N42.58°, E44.47°; 2012 m a.s.l.; leg. Krammer H.-J..; 7 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008097 (BOLD:AFJ0323).

Barcoding

A single barcode was obtained from the specimen ZFMK-TIS 8008097 (BOLD:AFJ0323) with the nearest neighbor in BOLD Systems. There are currently no barcodes for A. maculata in BOLD Systems, we are submitting the first one.

Remarks

Species with a Western-Palaearctic distribution range occur from Ukraine east to the Irkutsk Oblast of Russia (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). In the Caucasus, it is known only from Dagestan (Otto 2023). It is the first record of A. maculata in Georgia. Females of the species are readily distinguished from the females of other Palaearctic congeners by the shape of epigyne and endogyne.

Figures 20–21. 

Agroeca maculata , female (20: epigyne, ventral view, in situ; 21: endogyne, dorsal view). Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Genus Apostenus Westring, 1851

Apostenus cf. humilis Simon, 1932

Fig. 22

Apostenus humilis Bosselaers, 2009: 39, figs 1A–E, 2B–C, 8A (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Shida Kartli • 1♀; Gori, Kvernaki ridge; N41.9834°, E44.1495°; 641 m a.s.l.; Paliurus spina-christi dominated shrubland, under rocks; leg. Bulbulashvili N.; 04 April 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035450. • 1♀; N41.9833°, E44.1504°; 493 m a.s.l.; Paliurus spina-christi dominated shrubland, under rocks; leg. Bulbulashvili N.; 20 May 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035493.

Remarks

The examined material seems to correspond to the description (pale, unicolored, patternless abdomen) and drawings by Bosselaers (2009). It has a simple morphology, and identification by singleton females leaves some doubts, thus the male specimen is required for verification.

Figures 22. 

Apostenus humilis , female, endogyne, dorsal view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

Family Lycosidae Sundevall, 1833

Genus Evippa Simon, 1882

Evippa sjostedti Schenkel, 1936

Figs 23–26

Evippa sjostedti Marusik, Guseinov & Koponen, 2003: 50, figs 30–34 (♂♀).

Evippa sjostedti Zhang, Peng & Zhang, 2022: 130, figs 94A–H (♂♀).

Evippa sjostedti Esyunin & Kabdrakhimov, 2023: 22, fig. 2A (♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Kakheti • 1♀; Dedoplistskaro mun., Vashlovani NP, Pantishara Gorge; N41.2400°, E46.3847°; 459 m a.s.l.; semidesert, rocks; leg. Seropian A.; 16 Apr. 2021; CaBOL-ID 1010010. • 3♂♂; Mijniskure; N41.1127°, E46.6460°; 101 m a.s.l.; semidesert, light trap; leg. Kaitila J.-P. & Junnilainen J.; 22 May 2023; CaBOL-IDs 1035789, 1035813, 1035814 • 1♀; Chachuna Managed Reserve; N41.213086°, E46.015515°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert; leg. Seropian A.; 16 Jul. 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035907.

Barcoding

Two barcodes were obtained from the specimens CaBOL-IDs 1010010 and 1035907 (BOLD:AFK2385, p-distance 1.06%), with the nearest neighbor in BOLD Systems being an Asian species, Evippa onager Simon, 1895 from Israel (BOLD:AEK4432, p-distance 7.62%). There are currently no barcodes for E. sjostedti in BOLD Systems; we are submitting the first ones.

Remarks

Evippa sjostedti is distributed in western Kazakhstan, southern Mongolia, and central China (WSC 2023). It is the first record of this species in the Caucasus. Along with E. turkmenica Sternbergs, 1979 (description based only on females), it belongs to the sjostedti-group. The females of E. sjostedti can be distinguished from those of E. turkmenica by the angled anterior hood (almost straight in E. turkmenica).

Figures 23–26. 

Evippa sjostedti (23: female, epigyne, ventral view, in situ; 24: endogyne, dorsal view; 25: male, left palpus, ventral view; 26: same, retrolateral view). Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Family Miturgidae Simon, 1886

Genus Zora C.L. Koch, 1847

Zora nemoralis (Blackwall, 1861)

Material examined

GEORGIA – Mtskheta-Mtianeti • 1♀; Akhmeta mun., NW of Vedzebi Vill.; N42.064°, E45.064°; 1036 m a.s.l.; leg. Karalashvili E. & Krammer H.-J.; 08 July 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008338 (BOLD:AAG5679).

Barcoding

A single barcode was obtained from the specimen ZFMK-TIS 8008338 (BOLD:AAG5679) with the nearest neighbor in BOLD Systems Z. nemoralis from Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Finland (BOLD:AAG5679, p-distance 1.54%).

Remarks

This species has a transpalaearctic range (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). It is a common species in the Caucasus, recorded in Azerbaijan, the North Caucasus, and Georgia (Samachablo region) (Otto 2023). Herein, Z. nemoralis is reported from the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region for the first time.

Family Nesticidae Simon, 1894

Genus Aituaria Esyunin & Efimik, 1998

Aituaria eriashvilii (Marusik, 1987)

Carpatonesticus eriashvilii Marusik, 1987: 462, fig. 3 (♀).

Carpathonesticus eriashvilii Marusik et al., 2017: 302, figs 1–6, 8–17, 23–33, 38–40 (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Tbilisi • 1♂; W of Kojori; N41.67°, E44.669°; 1308 m a.s.l.; mixed forest, leg. Karalashvili E. & Krammer H.-J.; 15 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008275 (BOLD:AFJ0298).

Barcoding

A single barcode was obtained from the specimen ZFMK-TIS 8008275 (BOLD:AFJ0298). There are currently no barcodes for A. eriashvilii in BOLD Systems, we are submitting the first one.

Remarks

The terra typica and the sole record of this troglophile species in the Caucasus is Lagodekhi (Marusik (1987) as Carpatonesticus eriashvilii (WSC 2023). Apart from Georgia, it was also recorded in two synantropic localities (cellars) in West and East Ukraine (Nentwig et al. 2023). It is the first record of A. eriashvilii in Tbilisi and the second within the country.

Family Oxyopidae Thorell, 1869

Genus Oxyopes Latreille, 1804

Oxyopes badhyzicus Mikhailov & Fet, 1986

Figs 27–30

Oxyopes badhyzicus Levy, 1999: 46, figs 18A–C, 19A-B (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Kakheti • 1♀; Dedoplistskaro mun., Chachuna Managed Reserve; N41.231156°, E46.147153°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert, vegetation; leg. Seropian A.; 17 Jul. 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035886 (Figs 27–28) • 1♀; N41.249974°, E45.948397°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert vegetation; leg. Seropian A.; 16 Jul. 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035885 • 1♀; N41.214409°, E6.01487°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert vegetation; leg. Seropian A.; 16 Jul. 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035880 • 1♀; N41.223268°, E46.322996°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert vegetation; leg. Chitadze B.; 18 Jul. 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035908 • 1♀; N41.223701°, E46.325385°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert vegetation; leg. Chitadze B.; 18 Jul. 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035909 • 1♀; N41.223268°, E46.322996°; 648 m a.s.l.; osemidesert vegetation; leg. Chitadze B.; 18 Jul. 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035908 • 1♂; N41.2252°, E46.3236°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert vegetation; leg. Chitadze B.; 18 Jul. 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035916.

Barcoding

Five identical barcodes were obtained from the specimens: CaBOL-IDs 1035885, 1035886, 1035908, 1035909, and 1035916 (BOLD:AFN3105). There are currently no barcodes for O. badhyzicus in BOLD Systems; we are submitting the first ones.

Remarks

This species was described from Eastern Turkmenistan and is currently known to occur from Israel to Turkmenistan (WSC 2023). It is the first record of O. badhyzicus in the Caucasus. Oxyopes badhyzicus is closest to the co-occurring O. globifer Simon, 1876, from which males and females can be easily distinguished not only by the structure of copulatory organs but also by a rather delicate elongated abdomen and the pattern of carapace (broad dark margins and a light median longitudinal band in O. globifer; dark margins and two dark longitudinal bands extending from chelicerae to the eye field and the base of the carapace in O. badhyzicus). For species diagnosis, see Levy (1999).

Figures 27–30. 

Oxyopes badhyzicus (27: female, epigyne, ventral view, in situ; 28: endogyne, dorsal view; 29: male, left palpus, ventral view; 30: same, retrolateral view). Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Family Philodromidae Thorell, 1869

Genus Philodromus Walckenaer, 1826

Philodromus emarginatus (Schrank, 1803)

Material examined

GEORGIA – Mtskheta-Mtianeti • 1♀; Kazbegi mun., Stepantsminda; N42.671°, E44.61°; 2050 m a.s.l.; leg. Wipfler B.; 7 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008608 (BOLD:AAY8533).

Barcoding

A single barcode was obtained from the specimen ZFMK-TIS 8008608 (BOLD:AAY8533) with the nearest neighbor in BOLD Systems P. emarginatus from Finland and Norway (BOLD:AAY8533, p-distance 0.15%).

Remarks

This species has a transpalaearctic range (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023), distributed throughout the whole Caucasus, with a single record in Georgia (Tbilisi) (Nentwig et al. 2023; Otto 2023). It is the first record of P. emarginatus in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region and the second in the country.

Philodromus fuscolimbatus Lucas, 1846

Fig. 31

Philodromus fuscolimbatus Muster & Thaler, 2004: 315, figs 13, 18a–b (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Kvemo-Kartli • 1♀; Gardabani mun., Kumisi L.; N41.577°, E44.824°; 476 m a.s.l.; leg. Karalashvili E. & Krammer H.-J.; 16 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008363 (BOLD:AEZ9065)

Barcoding

A single barcode was obtained from the specimen ZFMK-TIS 8008363 (BOLD:AEZ9065) with the nearest neighbor in BOLD Systems Philodromus from Finland (p-distance 1.82%) with a private status.

Remarks

Philodromus fuscolimbatus has a Mediterranean distribution (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). It is the first record of this species in the Caucasus. The previous record of P. fuscolimbatus from Azerbaijan was considered to be a misidentified P. longipalpis Simon, 1870 (Logunov and Huseynov 2008).

Figures 31–36. 

Philodromus fuscolimbatus , female (31: endogyne, dorsal view). Pulchellodromus medius, male (32: left palpus, ventral view; 33: same, retrolateral view). Phrurolithus azarkinae, male (34: left palpus, retrolateral view; 35: tibial apophysis, dorsal view). Enoplognatha oelandica, female (36: endogyne, dorsal view). Scale bars: 0.2 mm (31–33); 0.1 mm (34–36).

Genus Pulchellodromus Wunderlich, 2012

Pulchellodromus medius (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872)

Figs 32–33

Philodromus medius Muster, Bosmans & Thaler, 2007: 57, figs 9, 23, 34, 45, 56, 67–68 (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Kakheti • 1♂; Dedoplistskaro mun., Vashlovani NP, Mijniskure; N41.1127°, E46.6460°; 101 m a.s.l.; semidesert, light trap; leg. Kaitila J.-P. & Junnilainen J.; 22. May 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035791.

Remarks

Described from the Near East this species is distributed from Italy to Iran (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). In the Caucasus, it is known from Azerbaijan and N Caucasus (Otto 2023). It is the first record of P. medius in Georgia. Pulchellodromus medius is closest to the co-occurring in the Caucasus P. ruficapillus (Simon, 1885), from which the males of P. medius can be distinguished by the long and triangular conductor (compact and truncate in P. ruficapillus) and different shape of the tibial apophysis.

Family Phrurolithidae Banks, 1892

Genus Phrurolithus C.L. Koch, 1839

Phrurolithus azarkinae Zamani & Marusik, 2020

Figs 34–35

Phrurolithus azarkinae Zamani & Marusik, 2020: 313, figs 1A–F, 2A–F, 3A–D (♂♀).

Phrurolithus azarkinae Lecigne, 2021: 22, figs 21a–j (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Kakheti • 1♂; Dedoplistskaro; N41.477288°, E46.1172°; 867 m a.s.l.; steppe, under rocks; leg. Seropian A.; 19 Apr. 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035825.

Remarks

This recently described species is known to occur in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). It is the first record of P. azarkinae in Georgia. The males of this species are readily distinguished from those co-occurring in the Caucasus P. festivus by a short conical embolus (cylindrical and bent in P. festivus) and a smaller retrolateral tibial apophysis.

Family Theridiidae Sundevall, 1833

Genus Dipoena Thorell, 1869

Dipoena braccata (C.L. Koch, 1841)

Material examined

GEORGIA – Samtskhe-Javakheti • 1♀; Adigeni mun., Utkisubani Vill.; N41.661°, E42.607°; 1458 m a.s.l.; leg. Krammer H.-J. & Karalashvili E.; 19 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TIS 8008464 (BOLD:AAO2442).

Baroding. A single barcode was obtained from the specimen ZFMK-TIS 8008464 (BOLD:AAO2442), identical to the COI gene of D. braccata from Germany and Norway (BOLD:AAO2442) in BOLD Systems.

Remarks

This species is distributed in the Mediterranean, Central Europe, the Caucasus, Scandinavia, and North Africa (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). In the Caucasus, it is recorded in the North Caucasus and Georgia (Samachablo and Kakheti regions). It is the first record of D. braccata in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region.

Genus Enoplognatha Pavesi, 1880

Enoplognatha oelandica (Thorell, 1875)

Fig. 36

Enoplognatha oelandica Bosmans & Van Keer, 1999: 224, figs 63–67 (♂♀).

Enoplognatha oelandica Huseynov & Marusik, 2008: 157, figs 7–9, 52–54, 67, 78 (♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Mtskheta-Mtianeti • 2♀♀; N of Shevardeni, Mna Valley; N42.58°, E44.47°; 2012 m a.s.l.; leg. Krammer H.-J. & Karalashvili E.; 7 Jul. 2019; ZFMK-TISs 8008103, 8008104 (BOLD:AFI9404).

Baroding. Two nearly identical barcodes were obtained from the specimens ZFMK-TIS 8008103 and 8008104 (BOLD:AFI9404, p-distance 0.15%). According to the BOLD Systems library, there are 3 barcodes of the species with a private status that failed to indicate a good match with our specimens. Either the specimens in the BOLD Systems belong to other species, or the COI gene is not a proper tool to differentiate this particular species.

Remarks

This species is distributed from Spain north to Sweden and east to Kazakhstan and China (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). In the Caucasus, it is recorded in Azerbaijan and Dagestan (Otto 2023). It is the first record of E. oelandica in Georgia. The females of E. oelandica are distinguished from those of the diversa-species group by a median pit 1.5 times as wide as long and the copulatory ducts forming a large lateral loop.

Genus Euryopis Menge, 1868

Euryopis quinqueguttata Thorell, 1875

Material examined

GEORGIA – Shida Kartli • 1♀; Gori, Kvernaki ridge; N41.9833°, E44.1504°; 641 m a.s.l.; Paliurus spina-christi dominated shrubland; leg. Bulbulashvili N.; 20. May 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035496. Tbilisi • 1♀; Treligorebi Old Dwelling Hills; N41.7662°, E44.7671°; 473 m a.s.l.; under rocks; leg. Seropian A.; 9 Jul. 2023; CaBOL-ID 1035847.

Remarks

Distributed in the West of the West Palaearctic (Nentwig et al. 2023), known in the Caucasus from Azerbaijan, the North Caucasus, and Georgia (Samachablo region) (Otto 2023). It is the first record of E. quinqueguttata in the Shida Kartli region and Tbilisi, and the second in Georgia.

Genus Latrodectus Walckenaer, 1805

Latrodectus pallidus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872

Figs 37–42

Latrodectus pallidus Levy, 1998b: 100, figs 183–188 (♀).

Latrodectus pallidus Zamani et al., 2014: 60, figs 2C, 3C, 4E (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Kakheti • 2♀♀ (1 subadult); Dedoplistskaro mun., Chachuna Managed Reserve; N41.229592°, E46.139063°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert, shrubs; leg. Seropian A.; 19 Jul. 2023. • 14♀♀, 6♂♂; N41.231156°, E46.147153°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert; leg. Seropian A.; 17 Jul. 2023; semidesert, shrubs; leg. Seropian A.; 17 Jul. 2023; CaBOL-IDs 1035887, 1035888, 1035889, 1035890, 1035891, 1035892, 1035893, 1035894, 1035895, 1035896, 1035897, 1035898, 1035899, 1035900, 1035901, 1035902, 1035903, 1035904, 1035905, 1035906 • 7♀♀ (3 subadult); N41.229966°, E46.150206°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert, shrubs; leg. Seropian A.; 17 Jul. 2023; CaBOL-IDs • 7♀♀ (2 subadult), 2♂♂; N41.230042°, E46.147842°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert, shrubs; leg. Seropian A.; 17 Jul. 2023. • 5♀♀ (3 subadult), 8♂♂; N41.220055°, E46.019804°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert, shrubs; leg. Seropian A.; 16 Jul. 2023. • 1♀; N41.220575°, E46.01699°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert, shrubs; leg. Seropian A.; 16 Jul. 2023. • 4♀♀ (3 subadult); N41.214409°, E46.01487°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert, shrubs; leg. Seropian A.; 16 Jul. 2023; CaBOL-IDs 1035881, 1035882, 1035883, 1035884 • 5♀♀ (3 subadult); N41.213397°, E46.013024°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert, shrubs; leg. Seropian A.; 16 Jul. 2023. • 5♀♀ (4 subadult), 1♂; N41.213086°, E46.015515°; 648 m a.s.l.; semidesert, shrubs;; leg. Seropian A.; 16 Jul. 2023; leg. Seropian A.

Genetics. Twenty-three identical barcodes were obtained from the specimens CaBOL 1035881, 1035882, 1035883, 1035884, 1035887, 1035888, 1035889, 1035890, 1035891, 1035892, 1035893, 1035894, 1035895, 1035896, 1035897, 1035898, 1035899, 1035900, 1035901, 1035902, 1035903, 1035904, and 1035906 (BOLD:AAO3346) with the nearest neighbor in BOLD Systems L. pallidus from Turkey with a private status (maximum p-distance 0.15%). The second-best match is L. pallidus from Israel (BOLD:AAO3346, maximum p-distance 0.63%).

Remarks

This species is distributed from Cape Verde Island to Libya, South Africa, Turkey, Iran, and Central Asia (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). It is the first record of L. pallidus in the Caucasus. Males and females were collected from the webs spun on the shrubs, with the cone retreats (up to 6 cm in length) tapering above the catching platform. Although all of the males have been collected directly from the female retreats, the fact that 1/3 of the females are still immature suggests the beginning of the mating season in Georgia in late June-July. From the co-occurring in the Caucasus L. dahli Levi, 1959 and L. tredecimguttatus (Rossi, 1790), it is easily distinguished by the creamy-white coloration of the abdomen (dorsally covered with large irregular yellow spots with dark margins in males, and small irregular spots in females), whereas females of L. dahli are black (with a thin median white stripe ventrally), males are light yellow, with 3 to 5 pairs of black spots on dorsum; L. tredecimguttatus juveniles, males, and females are black, with abdomens dorsally covered with 13 red spots with white margins (this ornament is generally reduced (sometimes totally) to the thin white margins in adult females from the local populations). Males of L. pallidus have an embolus coiling up to three times around the cymbium (a single coil in L. dahli).

Figures 37–44. 

Latrodectus pallidus (37: female, epigyne, ventral view, in situ; 38: endogyne, dorsal view; 39: male, left palpus, prolateral view; 40: same, ventral view; 41: same, retrolateral view; 42: same, apical view). Theridion cinereum (43: male, left palpus, ventral view; 44: female, endogyne, dorsal view). Scale bars: 0.2 mm (37–42); 0.1 mm (43–44).

Genus Theridion Walckenaer, 1805

Theridion cinereum Thorell, 1875

Figs 43–44

Theridion cinereum Kovblyuk et al., 2016: 110, figs 283–290 (♂♀).

Theridion cinereum Zamani et al., 2021: 295, figs 12A–B (♂).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Kvemo Kartli • 1♀; Marneuli mun., Shulaveri; N41.3681°, E44.8219°; 479 m a.s.l.; Paliurus spina-christi dominated shrubland, under rocks; leg. Seropian A., Bulbulashvili N., Zukakishvili A.; 3 Jun. 2023; CaBOL-ID 1020880. Shida Kartli • 1♀, 1♂; Gori, Kvernaki ridge; N41.9833°, E44.1504°; 641 m a.s.l.; Paliurus spina-christi dominated shrubland, under rocks; leg. Bulbulashvili N.; 20. May 2023; CaBOL-IDs 1035502, 1035503.

Remarks

This species is distributed from Italy north to Switzerland, east to Kyrgyzstan, and south to Iran (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). In the Caucasus, it was known from the North Caucasus (Otto 2023). It is the first record of T. cinereium in Georgia and the South Caucasus.

Family Thomisidae Sundevall, 1833

Genus Bassaniodes Pocock, 1903

Bassaniodes pseudorectilineus (Wunderlich, 1995)

Figs 45–46

Psammitis pseudorectilineus Wunderlich, 1995: 764, figs 52–53 (♂).

Xysticus pseudorectilineus Demir, Aktaş & Seyyar, 2008: 65, figs.1–7 (♂♀).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Tbilisi • 1♀; Dighomi Vill.; N41.7816°, E44.6906°; 797 m a.s.l.; Paliurus spina-christi dominated shrubland, under rocks; leg. A. Seropian; 24 Sep. 2021; CaBOL-ID 1010063 • 2♂♂; Tbilisi; N41.7701°, E44.7669°; 436 m a.s.l.; under rocks in heathland; leg. A. Seropian; 01 Sep. 2023; CaBOL-IDs 1035912, 1035913. Kakheti • 1♀; Dedoplistskaro mun., Vashlovani NP, Lekistskali (Mlashetskali) R. bank; N41.1394°, E46.5808°; 213 m a.s.l.; semidesert, under rocks leg. A. Seropian; 17 Apr. 2021; CaBOL-ID 1010431.

Genetics. Two barcodes were obtained from the specimens with CaBOL-IDs 1010063 and 1035912 (BOLD:AAO1746, p-distance 1.06%), with the nearest neighbor in BOLD Systems B. pseudorectilineus (Wunderlich, 1995) from Turkey (BOLD:AAO1746, mean p-distance 0.47%).

Remarks

This species is very close to B. loeffleri (Roewer, 1955) found in Georgia (Otto 2023), from which the males of B. pseudorectilineus differ in the presence of an ovate-shaped translucent apophysis in front of the embolus tip with a club-shaped outgrowth (Wunderlich 1995), while the females of these species are indistinguishable (see figures and colored photos in Nentwig et al. 2023). Considering the relatively poor details of B. loeffleri palp drawings, the extreme (and suspicious) similarity of females’ epigynes and endogynes, as well as the sympatry (Nentwig et al. 2023), additional study of the type specimens of these two species is required for potential synonymy confirmation, with B. pseudorectilineus being the junior synonym. Until then, this is the first record of this species in the Caucasus, unless otherwise stated. In addition, the previous record of B. loeffleri in Georgia requires validation since no drawings were provided by Pkhakadze (2006).

Figures 45–48. 

Bassaniodes pseudorectilineus , male (45: left palpus, ventral view; 46: same, retrolateral view). Tmarus piochardi, male (47: left palpus, ventral view; 48: tibial apophysis, dorsal view). Scale bars: 0.2 mm (45–47); 0.1 mm (48).

Genus Tmarus Simon, 1875

Tmarus piochardi (Simon, 1866)

Figs 47–48

Tmarus piochardi Zamani, 2015: 18, figs 3A–D (♂♀).

Tmarus piochardi Lecigne, 2016: 115, figs 11B-D (♂).

Material examined

GEORGIA – Kakheti • 2♂♂; Dedoplistskaro mun., Vashlovani NP, Mijniskure; N41.1127°, E46.6460°; 101 m a.s.l.; semidesert, light trap; leg. Kaitila J.-P. & Junnilainen J.; 22. May 2023; CaBOL-IDs 1035797, 1035816.

Remarks

This species is distributed from the Iberian Peninsula to Iran (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023). It is the first record of T. piochardi in the Caucasus. The males of this species are readily distinguished from those co-occurring in the Caucasus congeners by the shape of the tibial apophysis.

Genus Xysticus C.L. Koch, 1835

Xysticus bifasciatus C.L. Koch, 1837

Material examined

GEORGIA – Racha-Leckhumi and Kvemo Svaneti • 1juv.; Oni mun., Tskhmori Vill; N42.53125°, E43.470933°; 1225 m a.s.l.; Fagus sp. forest; leg. Astrin J.; 18 Jul. 2018; ZFMK-TIS 8000027 (BOLD:AAL7717).

Genetics. A single barcode was obtained from the specimen ZFMK-TIS 8000027 (BOLD:AAL7717) with the nearest neighbor in BOLD Systems X. bifasciatus from Germany (BOLD:AAL7717, p-distance 0.78%).

Remarks

The first record of this species in Georgia is based solely on the determination via barcode, which further can be supported by earlier records of X. bifasciatus in the South Caucasus (Azerbaijan) and the North Caucasus (Otto 2023) and Western Palaearctic distribution (Nentwig et al. 2023; WSC 2023).

Discussion

Summarizing the results of the publications within the series dedicated to the study of the Georgian diversity of spiders with roots traced back to the year 2006, 132 species were recorded in the country for the first time (Seropian et al. 2023a, b; present study). Accounting for this article's results, 792 species of 289 genera and 44 families of spiders are recorded in Georgia. Herein, three genera (namely Apostenus Westring, 1851; Evippa Simon, 1882; and Pulchellodromus [O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872]) and 24 species of spiders are recorded in Georgia for the first time, including 11 species (Clubiona reclusa, Brigittea innocens, Lathys lehtineni, Pelecopsis parallela, Apostenus humilis, Evippa sjostedti, Oxyopes badhyzicus, Philodromus fuscolimbatus, Latrodectus pallidus, Bassaniodes pseudorectilineus, and Tmarus piochardi) that are new records for the Caucasus region. The abovementioned emphasizes the importance of Georgia and the Caucasus region as a whole as a stepping stone for European and Asian araneofaunas.

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to our colleagues and friends who helped directly or indirectly with collecting some of the material during expeditions throughout Georgia, foremost Aleksandre Zukakishvili, Beqa Chitadze, Ivane Daraselia, Levan Ninua, Sopio Balkhamishvili, Jari-Pekka Kaitila (Kerava, Finland), Jari Junnilainen (Vantaa, Finland), Jonas Astrin, Thorsten Klug, and Wipfler Benedikt. Special thanks to Dr. Andrei V. Tanasevitch (A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia) and Dr. Christoph Muster (Zoologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Greifswald, Germany) for their help with the determinations of Maculoncus obscurus and Philodromus fuscolimbatus, respectively. The manuscript benefited from comments by Stefan Otto (subject editor) and an anonymous reviewer.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

The project on which this study is based was partially funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research under grant number 01DK20014A and the generous support of a charitable fund run by Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin. The responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of SABUKO.

Author contributions

AS, NH and H-JK led the writing, AS and H-JK performed morphological species identification, AS prepared figures, AS, NH, NB and EK collected the specimens, JT, NK and AD exracted DNA.

Author ORCIDs

Armen Seropian https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3777-9954

Natalia Bulbulashvili https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6802-1209

Hans-Joachim Krammer https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7012-1752

Nils Hein https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5172-8531

Elisabeth Karalashvili https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9015-7604

Nino Kachlishvili https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5632-8959

Anastasia Datunashvili https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1421-2057

Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text or Supplementary Information.

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