Research Article |
Corresponding author: Armen Seropian ( armen.seropiani@iliauni.edu.ge ) Academic editor: Stefan Otto
© 2024 Armen Seropian, Natalia Bulbulashvili, Hans-Joachim Krammer, Jana Thormann, Nils Hein, Elisabeth Karalashvili, Nino Kachlishvili, Anastasia Datunashvili.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Seropian A, Bulbulashvili N, Krammer H-J, Thormann J, Hein N, Karalashvili E, Kachlishvili N, Datunashvili A (2024) 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. Caucasiana 3: 89-118. https://doi.org/10.3897/caucasiana.3.e120883
|
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.
Aranei, biodiversity, faunistic, new records, South Caucasus
The present survey marks the third contribution in the series of articles devoted to the study of Georgian spiders (
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
DNA extraction in ZFMK was performed by following the standard protocols of the GBOL (German Barcode of Life) project (
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.
Family Agelenidae C.L. Koch, 1837
Genus Tegenaria Latreille, 1804
Malthonica lyncea Guseinov, Marusik & Koponen, 2005: 165, figs 57–58, 63–68, 122–123 (♂♀).
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.
This species has an eastern Anatolian-Caucasian distribution range in the Caucasus, known from Azerbaijan and the North Caucasus (WSC 2023;
Family Clubionidae Simon, 1878
Genus Clubiona Latreille, 1804
Clubiona frisia Wunderlich & Schuett, 1995: 12, figs 1–10 (♂♀).
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
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).
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)) (
Clubiona reclusa
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.
This species is distributed from the Iberian Peninsula east to the Baikal and north to Torne lappmark (Sweden) (
Family Dictynidae O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871
Genus Brigittea Lehtinen, 1967
Brigittea innocens Lecigne, 2021: 13, figs 4a–i, 5a–h, 6a–e (♂♀).
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.
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.
This species is distributed from the eastern Mediterranean to eastern Kazakhstan (
Brigittea latens Marusik, Esyunin & Tuneva, 2015: 136, figs 31-36, 40–42 (♂)
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).
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.
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) (
Genus Lathys Simon, 1884
Lathys lehtineni Kovblyuk, Kastrygina & Omelko, 2014: 195, figs 1–8 (♂♀).
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).
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.
This species was described from Ukraine (Crimea) and Russia (Astrakhan and Rostov regions) and also occurs in Kazakhstan (
Family Gnaphosidae Banks, 1892
Genus Haplodrassus Chamberlin, 1922
Haplodrassus kulczynskii Kovblyuk, Kastrygina & Omelko, 2012: 73, figs 35–39 (♂♀).
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.
This species is distributed from France to East Asia (
Genus Nomisia Dalmas, 1921
Nomisia ripariensis Levy, 1995: 931, figs 26–30 (♂♀).
Nomisia ripariensis
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.
This species is distributed from the eastern Mediterranean north to Dagestan and east to Iran (
Genus Marinarozelotes Ponomarev, 2020
Marinarozelotes malkini Ponomarev & Shmatko, 2020: 135, figs 14–15, 19, 25–26, 43–44, 64–65 (♂♀).
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.
This species is distributed in the Balkans, Greece, the Caucasus (except for Armenia), the Asian part of Turkey, Iran, and Kazakhstan (
Genus Poecilochroa Westring, 1874
Poecilochroa senilis Murphy, 2007: 50, figs 370–371 (♂♀).
Poecilochroa senilis Bosmans & Gavalas, 2023: 50, figs 26A–D (♂♀).
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.
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.
This species is distributed from the Eastern Mediterranean east to Turkmenistan (
Genus Zelotes Gistel, 1848
Zelotes latreillei Almquist, 2006: 426, figs 367a–e (♂♀).
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).
This species is distributed from the Iberian Peninsula east to Yenisei and north to the Scandinavian Peninsula (Marusik et al. 2001;
Zelotes labilis Di Franco, 2002: 199, figs 13–16 (♂♀).
Zelotes segrex Gaymard & Lecigne, 2018: 21, figs 14C–E (♀).
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.
This species is distributed from the Iberian Peninsula to Kazakhstan (
Family Linyphiidae Blackwall, 1859
Genus Maculoncus Wunderlich, 1995
Maculoncus (?) obscurus Tanasevitch, Ponomarev & Chumachenko, 2016: 426, figs 10–16 (♂).
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.
Maculoncus obscurus
is endemic to the Caucasus (
Genus Metopobactrus Simon, 1884
Metopobactrus prominulus Roberts, 1987: 46, figs 14c, 17c (♂♀).
Metopobactrus prominulus
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.
This species has a holarctic distribution (
Genus Pelecopsis Simon, 1864
Pelecopsis parallela Roberts, 1987: 61, figs 23h, 24d (♂♀).
Pelecopsis parallela Marusik, Koponen & Danilov, 2001: 87, figs 25–26, 31–32 (♂).
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.
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) (
Family Liocranidae Simon, 1897
Genus Agroeca Westring, 1861
Agroeca maculata Danilov, 1999: 313, figs 1D–E (♀).
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).
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.
Species with a Western-Palaearctic distribution range occur from Ukraine east to the Irkutsk Oblast of Russia (
Genus Apostenus Westring, 1851
Apostenus humilis Bosselaers, 2009: 39, figs 1A–E, 2B–C, 8A (♂♀).
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.
The examined material seems to correspond to the description (pale, unicolored, patternless abdomen) and drawings by
Family Lycosidae Sundevall, 1833
Genus Evippa Simon, 1882
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 (♀).
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.
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.
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).
Family Miturgidae Simon, 1886
Genus Zora C.L. Koch, 1847
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).
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%).
This species has a transpalaearctic range (
Family Nesticidae Simon, 1894
Genus Aituaria Esyunin & Efimik, 1998
Carpatonesticus eriashvilii Marusik, 1987: 462, fig. 3 (♀).
Carpathonesticus eriashvilii
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).
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.
The terra typica and the sole record of this troglophile species in the Caucasus is Lagodekhi (
Family Oxyopidae Thorell, 1869
Genus Oxyopes Latreille, 1804
Oxyopes badhyzicus Levy, 1999: 46, figs 18A–C, 19A-B (♂♀).
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
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.
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
Family Philodromidae Thorell, 1869
Genus Philodromus Walckenaer, 1826
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).
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%).
This species has a transpalaearctic range (
Philodromus fuscolimbatus Muster & Thaler, 2004: 315, figs 13, 18a–b (♂♀).
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)
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.
Philodromus fuscolimbatus
has a Mediterranean distribution (
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
Philodromus medius Muster, Bosmans & Thaler, 2007: 57, figs 9, 23, 34, 45, 56, 67–68 (♂♀).
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.
Described from the Near East this species is distributed from Italy to Iran (
Family Phrurolithidae Banks, 1892
Genus Phrurolithus C.L. Koch, 1839
Phrurolithus azarkinae Zamani & Marusik, 2020: 313, figs 1A–F, 2A–F, 3A–D (♂♀).
Phrurolithus azarkinae Lecigne, 2021: 22, figs 21a–j (♂♀).
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.
This recently described species is known to occur in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey (
Family Theridiidae Sundevall, 1833
Genus Dipoena Thorell, 1869
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.
This species is distributed in the Mediterranean, Central Europe, the Caucasus, Scandinavia, and North Africa (
Genus Enoplognatha Pavesi, 1880
Enoplognatha oelandica Bosmans & Van Keer, 1999: 224, figs 63–67 (♂♀).
Enoplognatha oelandica Huseynov & Marusik, 2008: 157, figs 7–9, 52–54, 67, 78 (♀).
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.
This species is distributed from Spain north to Sweden and east to Kazakhstan and China (
Genus Euryopis Menge, 1868
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.
Distributed in the West of the West Palaearctic (
Genus Latrodectus Walckenaer, 1805
Latrodectus pallidus Levy, 1998b: 100, figs 183–188 (♀).
Latrodectus pallidus Zamani et al., 2014: 60, figs 2C, 3C, 4E (♂♀).
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%).
This species is distributed from Cape Verde Island to Libya, South Africa, Turkey, Iran, and Central Asia (
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
Theridion cinereum
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.
This species is distributed from Italy north to Switzerland, east to Kyrgyzstan, and south to Iran (
Family Thomisidae Sundevall, 1833
Genus Bassaniodes Pocock, 1903
Psammitis pseudorectilineus Wunderlich, 1995: 764, figs 52–53 (♂).
Xysticus pseudorectilineus Demir, Aktaş & Seyyar, 2008: 65, figs.1–7 (♂♀).
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%).
This species is very close to B. loeffleri (Roewer, 1955) found in Georgia (
Genus Tmarus Simon, 1875
Tmarus piochardi Zamani, 2015: 18, figs 3A–D (♂♀).
Tmarus piochardi Lecigne, 2016: 115, figs 11B-D (♂).
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.
This species is distributed from the Iberian Peninsula to Iran (
Genus Xysticus C.L. Koch, 1835
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%).
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 (
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 (
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.
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
No ethical statement was reported.
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.
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.
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
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text or Supplementary Information.