Myrmarachne melanocephala MacLeay 1839

Myrmarachne melanocephala MacLeay, 1839

(Figs 32 A–G, 33A–H, 34A–C)

Myrmarachne melanocephala MacLeay, 1839: 11, Pl. 1, Fig. 4; Galiano, 1969: 146; Edwards & Benjamin, 2009: 5, Figs 1 A–H, 2A– D, 3A–D, 4A–E, 5A–D; Yamasaki & Edwards, 2013: 15, Figs 46–58. Mymecia melanocephala Walckenaer, 1841: 462.

Salticus contractus Karsch, 1880: 396.

Salticus providens Peckham & Peckham, 1892: 34.

Myrmarachne providens: Simon, 1901: 500.

Myrmarachne ramosa Badcock, 1918: 303, Fig. 8; Edmunds & Prószyński, 2003: 301, Figs 8–21. Myrmarachne albicrurata Badcock, 1918: 306, Fig. 9 a.

Myrmarachne lateralis Badcock, 1918: 310, Figs 9 b–c.

Non-type material examined. BORNEO: 1 male and 2 females, UMS, Sabah, 21 III 2008, T. Yamasaki leg.; 2 males, same loc., 26 III 2008, H. Takizawa leg.; 1 male, Poring Hot Spring, Kinabalu Park, Sabah, 8 XII 2008, H. Takizawa leg.; 1 male, Monggis substation, Kinabalu Park, Sabah, 3 X 2009, T. Yamasaki leg.; 2 males, Sukau, Sabah, 20 X 2009, T. Yamasaki leg.; 1 male and 2 females, Tawau Hills Park, Sabah, 17–18 XI 2009, T. Yamasaki leg.; 1 male, UMS, Sabah, 6 X 2010, T. Yamasaki leg. NE. THAILAND: 1 female, Haui Nam Keam, Wang Nam Kheao dist., Nakhon Ratchasima prov., 18 VIII 2009, T. Yamasaki leg. S. THAILAND: 1 male, Rubber plantation, Noppling subdistrict, Muang dist., Pangnga prov., 11 VIII 2009, T. Yamasaki leg. MALAY PENINSULA: 1 male, 2 females and 1 juvenile, Campus of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu, 11–17 XI 2010, T. Maeda leg.; 1 male, same loc., 6 XII 2010, T. Maeda leg.; 1 male, 3 females and 1 juveniles, Batu Tujuk, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, 25–26 XII 2010, T. Maeda leg.; 2 males and 1 female, Campus of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu, 3 I 2011, T. Maeda leg. SUMATRA: 1 male and 2 females, Forest of Andalas University, Padang, 2 VII 2010, Ky. Nakamura leg.; 1 male and 3 females, same loc., 1–2 VIII 2010, Ky. Nakamura leg. J AVA: 1 male, Kebun Raya, Bogor, 27 XI 2009, T. Yamasaki leg.

Diagnosis. Slender, orange to dark brown species with long pedicel. Coloration variable from orange to black. In males, fang weakly sinuous with tooth-like apophysis (Fig. 32 D); retrolateral tibial apophysis of palp strongly curved with hooked tip (Figs 32 E–G). In females, copulatory atria oval; sclerotised copulatory ducts twisted; lateral pockets present in front of epigastric furrow (Figs 33 D–H, 34A–C).

Measurements (male/female). Carapace length 1.83–2.73/2.27–2.50, width 1.03–1.55/1.15–1.25. Abdomen length 1.90–2.85/2.30–2.60. Chelicera length 0.95–2.50. Sternum length 1.08–1.60/1.30–1.40. Width of eye row I 0.90–1.30/1.08–1.20; II 0.87–1.25/1.03–1.13; III 1.02–1.43/1.20–1.30. ALE–PLE 0.70–1.00/0.85–0.95. ALE– PME 0.35–0.48/0.40–0.43. Eye size: AME 0.30–0.42/0.35–0.37, ALE 0.15–0.22/0.18, PME 0.05–0.08/0.05–0.06, PLE 0.15–0.23/0.19–0.20.

Male (Figs 32 A–G). Cephalic part weakly convex dorsally. Constriction between cephalic and thoracic parts deep and narrow. Thoracic part convex dorsally. Chelicera long, with ten to 13 prolateral and eleven to 14 small retrolateral teeth. Fang weakly sinuous with tooth-like apophysis. Pedicel long. Sternum slender, slightly overlapped by coxae I and II. Abdomen elongate-oval with constriction anteriorly, and with slender dorsal scutum that is incised on each lateral outline anteriorly.

Palp (Figs 33 E–G). Tegulum small, round, with c-shaped seminal reservoir in retrolateral part of tegulum. Embolus forming two round coils; embolus coils small, occupying less than half of venter of cymbium. With palp in lateral view RTA strongly s-curved with hooked tip. Flange of RTA well developed.

Leg spination. Femur I md 0–1, pd 1; patella I rv 0–1; tibia I pv 3–5, rv 4–5; metatarsus I pv 2, rv 2; femur II md 0–1, pd 0–1; tibia II pv 1–3, rv 2–3; metatarsus II pv 2, rv 2; femur III pd 1; tibia III pv 0–1; tibia IV pv 0–1.

Coloration and pilosity. Carapace orange to dark brown; cephalic part darker than thoracic part; dorsum of cephalic part covered with sparse white hairs; thoracic part sparsely covered with white hairs dorsally; lateral markings fringed with white hairs present between cephalic and thoracic parts. Chelicera orange to dark brown; its outer margin fringed with sparse white hairs. Maxilla and labium pale brown. Sternum pale orange to dark brown. Coxae I and III slightly tinged with blackish brown; coxa I paler than coxa III; coxae II and IV cream or brownish cream. Abdomen covered with fine hairs; dorsal scutum translucent brown to dark brown; integument except for scutum cream to blackish grey.

Female (Figs 33 A–H, 34A–C). Carapace almost same as in males. Chelicera with six or seven prolateral and seven retrolateral teeth. Pedicel long. Sternum almost same as in males. Abdomen elongate-oval, with weak constriction anteriorly, and without dorsal scutum.

Epigyne (Figs 33 D–H, 34A–C). Copulatory atria containing openings oval. Sclerotised copulatory ducts twisted; its twist variable. Lateral pockets present in front of epigastric furrow.

Leg spination. Patella I rv 0–1; tibia I pv 5, rv 5; metatarsus I pv 2, rv 2; tibia II pv 3, rv 3; metatarsus II pv 2, rv 2.

Coloration and pilosity. Carapace almost same as in males. Chelicera orange to dark brown. Maxilla, labium and sternum orange to pale brown. Coxae I and II cream; coxa III tinged with blackish orange; coxa IV cream, and slightly tinged with pale blackish orange. Abdomen covered with fine hairs; white hairs forming two lateral markings on anterior part, and white striped pattern on posterior part dorsally.

Distribution. India (MacLeay 1839; Edwards & Benjamin 2009), Sri Lanka (Edwards & Benjamin 2009), Malay Peninsula (Badcock 1918; Edmunds & Prószyński 2003), Bintang Island (Edwards & Benjamin 2009), Sumatra, Java, Krakatau Islands (Żabka & Nentwig 2002), Flores (Yamasaki & Edwards 2013) and Borneo.

Remarks. M. melanocephala is the type species of the genus Myrmarachne MacLeay, 1839. Edwards & Benjamin (2009) designated a specimen from West Bengal, India as the neotype. The species is very similar to M. ramosa in external appearance, and Edwards & Benjamin (2009) consider M. ramosa to be a synonym of M. melanocephala. However, Dr. Prószyński does not agree with their opinion (Prószyński, 2012). The epigyne of M. ramosa drawn by Edmunds & Prószyński (2003) and that of M. melanocephala drawn by Edwards & Benjamin (2009) are different in structural characters, and it is possible that one of the females is mismatched. In the present study, Bornean specimens are regarded as M. melanocephala based on the structure of the epigyne. The presence of this species in Borneo would extend the range of this species even farther southeast than reported by Edwards & Benjamin (2009).

Biology. The species occurs in various environments such as gardens and buildings, and lower vegetation near forests.