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The female genitalic morphology of “micronetine” spiders (Araneae, Linyphiidae)

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Abstract

Current knowledge of “micronetine” female genitalia is almost exclusively based on transmitted light microscopy data. As such, our understanding of the epigynal anatomy is incomplete and somewhat misleading, to the extent that it hinders comparative studies of linyphiid diversity. We used scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) to study the complex epigynal morphology of “micronetine” spiders. Enzymatic digestion of soft tissues allowed us to examine the internal chitinized structures in detail using SEM. A taxonomic sample of nine species was selected to represent the morphological genitalic diversity of female “micronetines” (including one member of the Erigoninae clade). Results reveal that the epigynum consists of a pair of grooves formed by integument folds (copulatory and fertilization grooves). The protruding epigynal region is divided into a ventral and a dorsal plate by the grooves; both plates can be modified to form an epigynal cavity and/or a scape. Our observations confirm the widespread occurrence of epigynal grooves, rather than ducts, in “micronetines”. Epigynal grooves seem to be common in linyphioids and other spider groups.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Jinzhong Fu for his help in the development of the ideas expressed in this study and Martín J. Ramírez, Dimitar Dimitrov, Jeremy Miller and two anonymous reviewers for their comments on an earlier version of this paper. We also want to thank Lara Lopardo and Fernando Álvarez-Padilla for their help with the preparation of specimens for SEM. The following individuals and institutions kindly loaned specimens for this study: Shuqiang Li (Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, China, IZCAS), Norman Platnick and Louis Sorkin (American Museum of Natural History, New York, AMNH). We would like to thank the late Michael Saaristo for help and for many fruitful discussions on linyphiid genitalia. Funding for this research has been provided by National Natural Sciences Foundation, China (NSFC-30670244), the Scientific Research Common Program of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, China (KM200610028008), and a Collection Study Grant from the American Museum of Natural History to L. Tu, by a U.S. National Science Foundation grant (DEB-0328644) to G. Hormiga and G. Giribet, by Research Enhancement Fund and Selective Excellence grants from The George Washington University to G. Hormiga, and by an ATOL grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (EAR-0228699) to W. Wheeler, J. Coddington, G. Hormiga, L. Prendini and P. Sierwald.

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  1. College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, 100037, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Lihong Tu

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA

    Lihong Tu & Gustavo Hormiga

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  1. Lihong Tu
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  2. Gustavo Hormiga
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Correspondence to Lihong Tu.

Appendix

Appendix

Specimen data of the species examined. Museum abbreviations: CNU—Capital Normal University, Beijing; IZCAS—Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing; AMNH—American Museum of Natural History, New York.

  • Lepthyphantes minutus (Blackwall, 1833)—1 m and 1 fm, Finland, Sundholm, Houtskari, Aug. 24-Oct. 24, 1968, Lehtinen coll. (IZCAS)

  • Arcuphantes arcuatus (Roewer, 1942)—1 fm, USA, Oregon, Sixes (1 mile north), W124.30:N42.51, Sept. 30, 1959, Vincent Roth coll. (AMNH)

  • Bifurcia ramosa (Li and Zhu, 1987)—2 m and 3 fm, China, Prov. Sichuan, Count Tianquan, Erlangshan National Forest Park, July 8, 2004, Tu and Li coll. (IZCAS)

  • Drapetisca alteranda Chamberlin, 1909—4 m and 4 fm, USA, Ontario, Island 1024, Lake Temagami, W80.03, N46.59, Aug. 15–25, 1946, Gertsch coll. (AMNH)

  • Drapetisca socialis (Sundevall, 1833)—2 m and 2 fm, Finland, Mustfinnö, Parainen, Sept. 1968, Saaristo coll. (IZCAS)

  • Erigone atra (Blackwall, 1833)—2 m and 4 fm, China, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Burgin County, Kirzlesu River, Alt. 469 m, E86.50, N47.41, Sept. 20 2007, Tu and Chen coll. (CNU)

  • Mansuphantes fragilis (Thorell, 1875)—1 m and 1 fm, France, Bishop coll. (no detailed locality and collecting data) (AMNH)

  • Meioneta rurestris (C. L. Koch, 1836)—2 m and 2 fm, Germany, Torfstgebiet, Haidgauer, Wurzacher Ried, MTB 8025, July 22, 1992, WJ coll. (IZCAS)

  • Helophora insignis (Blackwall, 1841)—2 m and 2 fm, Canada, Alberta, 10 miles N·W. of Whitecourt, W115.47, N54.15, Aug. 4, 1965, Ivie coll. (AMNH)

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Tu, L., Hormiga, G. The female genitalic morphology of “micronetine” spiders (Araneae, Linyphiidae). Genetica 138, 59–73 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-009-9368-9

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