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WSN 67(1) (2017) 1-67 EISSN 2392-2192

On the Araneid Fauna (Araneae: Araneidae) of the Tea Estates of Dooars, West Bengal, India

Tapan Kumar Roy1,a, Sumana Saha2,b and Dinendra Raychaudhuri1,c 1Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, IRDM Faculty Centre, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Narendrapur, Kolkata - 700103, West Bengal, India 2Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Barasat Govt. College, Barasat, Kolkata - 700124, West Bengal, India. India a-cE-mail address: [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected]

ABSTRACT The present study is devoted to 32 araneid species under 14 genera recorded from the tea estates of Dooars, West Bengal, India. Of these, Cyrtophora bituberculata is considered new to science; while Acusilas coccineus Simon, 1895 is the first record from the country. Hither to unknown male morphs of Cyclosa moonduensis Tikader, 1963 and C. simoni Tikader, 1982 are also reported. Cyclosa krusa Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 though reported from India by Saha et al., 2016, lacks detail description of the Indian representatives. All the species considered new in some way or other are described and suitably illustrated. The recorded genera and species are suitably keyed together with relevant illustrations.

Keywords: Araneidae, New Species, New Records, New Male Morphs, Tea Estates, Dooars, West Bengal

World Scientific News 67(1) (2017) 1-67

Reviewer

Prof. Jerzy Borowski Department of Forest Protection and Ecology, SGGW, Warsaw, Poland

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1. INTRODUCTION

Tea, a major monoculture plantation crop, is a permanent but typical ecosystem that provides habitat continuity for 1031 species of arthropods and 82 species of nematodes globally (Chen & Chen, 1989; Hazarika et al., 2009). In Asia, 230 species of insects and mite pests attack tea (Muraleedharan, 1992). However, 173 arthropods and 16 nematodes are reported to be the pests of tea in North-East India (Hazarika et al., 1994). The unquestionable contribution of spiders in biological control is now well appreciated. Accordingly, the spider fauna of several crop systems are being thoroughly documented in some parts of the world, e.g. cotton, soybean, alfalfa, maize, citrus orchards, deciduous orchards and rice (Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Satpathi, 2004). But unfortunately the spider fauna of tea-ecosystem is yet to be explored other than China (Zhang, J. W. 1993; Huong, L. T. T. 1999 and BoGang, C. 2003). Against these backdrops, we carried out a systematic study on the spiders of tea ecosystem of Dooars, West Bengal, India. It is worth mentioning that such a study is first of its kind in India. Among the recorded araneo fauna typical orb weavers are the largest group from the tea estates. These araneids are currently represented by 3096 species belonging to 169 genera throughout the world (World Spider Catalogue, 2017). This includes 163 Indian species belonging to 28 genera (Keswani et al., 2012). During our survey for the spiders of tea ecosystem of Dooars, we could sample 32 species of araneids under 14 genera from eight tea estates of Dooars namely Shikarpur T. E., Kailashpur T. E., Meenglas T. E., Nepuchapur T. E., Nagrakata T. E., Bhogotpore T. E., Kurti T. E. and Dalgaon T. E. Search of literature guided us to conclude that Cyrtophora bituberculata is a new species, Acusilas coccineus Simon, 1895 is new from India; male morphs of Cyclosa moonduensis Tikader, 1963 and C. simoni Tikader, 1982 are hither to unknown. Detail knowledge on the Indian Cyclosa krusa Barrion & Litsinger is still wanting (Saha et al., 2016). Description and necessary illustrations of the referred species are provided. All the recorded genera and species are suitably keyed together with relevant illustrations.

2. MATERIAL AND METHODS

Araneids were collected mainly by hand from the foliages and tea bushes, shade tree trunks and fencing trees. Samples were also collected from the ground by pitfall traps. Survey was made during the period 2008-2011. The study area included eight Tea Estates namely Shikarpur T. E., Kailashpur T. E., Meenglas T. E., Nepuchapur T. E., Nagrakata T. E., Bhogotpore T. E., Kurti T. E. and Dalgaon T. E. Of these, the former four belong to Western Dooars while the rests are within the jurisdiction of Central Dooars. Spider specimens thus sampled were preserved following Tikader (1987) and Barrion and Litsinger (1995). They were studied under Stereo Zoom Binocular Microscopes, model Olympus SZX-7. The measurements indicated in the text are in millimeters (mm), made with an eye piece graticule. Materials are in the deposition of Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, IRDM Faculty Centre, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Narendrapur, Kolkata. Abbreviations used: AL= abdominal length, ALE= anterior lateral eye, AME= anterior median eye, AW= abdominal width, CL= cephalothoracic length, CW= cephalothoracic

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width, PLE= posterior lateral eye, PME= posterior median eye, TL= total length, BTE= Bhogotpore Tea Estate, DTE= Dalgaon Tea Estate, KTE= Kailashpur Tea Estate, KUTE= Kurti Tea Estate, MTE= Meenglas Tea Estate, NTE= Nepuchapur Tea Estate, NATE= Nagrakata Tea Estate, STE= Shikarpur Tea Estate, WB= West Bengal, J= Juvenile.

3. RESULTS

Family: Araneidae Clerck, 1757

Key to genera:

1. Spinnerets situated on an elevated circular area, surrounded by a thick flange in the form of a ring or tube; abdomen hard, with anterior, median and posterior pairs of spines ------Gasteracantha Sundevall - Spinnerets neither on elevated circular area nor surrounded by thick flange; abdomen neither hard nor spined ------2 2. Tarsus and metatarsus together longer than patella plus tibia; posterior row of eyes strongly procurved, anterolaterals smaller than posterolaterals ------3 - Tarsus and metatarsus together shorter than patella plus tibia; posterior row of eyes nearly straight or recurved, laterals sub equal ------4 3. Anterior row of eyes evenly spaced or medians closer to laterals; tibia I of male curved and strongly spined; females smaller than 6 mm ------Gea C. L. Koch - Anterior row of eyes not evenly spaced, medians closer to each other; tibia I of male straight and not spined; females larger ------Argiope Audouin 4. Abdomen transverse, wider than long ------5 - Abdomen not transverse, usually longer than wide ------6 5. Epigyne with short, blunt scape; integument of abdomen leathery, dorsum strongly convex ------Cyrtarachne Thorell - Epigyne without scape; integument of abdomen not leathery but with numerous tubercles, dorsum at least medially concave ------Pasilobus Simon 6. Cephalothorax convex, cephalic region strongly elevated ------7 - Cephalothorax may or may not be convex, cephalic region not elevated ------9 7. Abdomen with a distinct posterior tubercle or tail like projection

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------Eriovixia Archer - Abdomen without posterior tubercle or tail like projection ------8 8. Cephalothorax anteriorly roundish; abdomen provided with a few tubercles ------Chorizopes O. P.-Cambridge - Cephalothorax anteriorly narrowing; abdomen without any tubercles but with pairs of moderately small, spherical sigillae in 2 longitudinal rows ------Acusilas Simon 9. Cephalothorax flat with distinct thoracic furrow; abdomen anteriorly very high with at least 1 pair of shoulder humps ------Cyrtophora Simon - Cephalothorax not flat, thoracic furrow may or may not be distinct; abdomen anteriorly not high, with or without shoulder humps ------10 10. Posteromedian eyes closely apposed, carapace provided with a ‘U’ shaped mark between cephalic and thoracic regions ------Cyclosa Menge - Posteromedian eyes separate, carapace without any such mark ------11 11. Cephalic region behind the ocular area bulging, warty; anterior row of eyes procurved; epigyne with short, beak like scape ------Parawixia F. O. P Cambridge - Cephalic region neither bulged nor warty; anterior row of eyes recurved; epigynal scape absent, when present not beak like ------12 12. Thoracic groove longitudinal in female; epigynal lateral lobes 1 or 2 pairs, scape smooth ------Neoscona Simon - Thoracic groove in female transverse; epigynal lateral lobes absent, scape distinctly wrinkled ------13 13. Abdominal shoulders elevated, with a pair of tubercles at extremities; posteromedian eyes largest ------Gibbaranea Archer - Abdominal shoulders neither elevated nor tuberculate; posteromedian eyes never so ------Araneus Clerck

Genus: Gasteracantha Sundevall Gasteracantha Sundevall, 1833, Conspectus Arachnidum: 14.

Type species: Aranea cancriformis Linnaeus, 1758. Distribution: Cosmopolitan (World Spider Catalogue, 2017). Key to species: 1. Abdomen much wider than long, nearly 3 x length, with 3 transverse yellowish bands; median spines larger than remaining; sigillae arranged in transverse row ------diadesmia Thorell

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- Abdomen almost as wide as long, nearly 1.3 x length, with transverse yellowish band; median spines subequal; sigillae arranged along entire margin ------kuhlii C. L. Koch

Gasteracantha diadesmia Thorell (Fig. 1-6 & 166) Gasteracantha diadesmia Thorell, 1887, Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova, 25: 225.

Measurements (female): CL - 1.44, CW - 2.67, AL - 5.33, AW - 17.56, TL - 6.79. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.39, ALE – AME= 1.17, ALE – ALE= 2.61, PME – PME= 0.44, PLE – PME= 1.11, PLE – PLE= 2.67, ALE – PLE= 0.11, AME – PME= 0.17 Legs: I 7.28 (2.00, 1.09, 1.55, 1.55, 1.09); II 7.35 (2.45, 1.09, 1.36, 1.36, 1.09); III 4.29 (1.64, 0.55, 0.82, 0.73, 0.55); IV 8.28 (2.91, 0.91, 1.82, 1.64, 1.00). Leg formula 4213. Material examined: 1female, KUTE, 23.III.2009, coll. D. C. Dhali Distribution: India: Andaman & Nicobar Island, Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal; Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand (Tikader, 1970, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Saha et al., 1995; Kundu & Raychaudhuri, 1997; Saha & Raychaudhuri, 2004a; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sen et al., 2009; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017)

Gasteracantha kuhlii C.L. Koch (Fig. 7-12 & 167) Gasteracantha kuhlii C. L. Koch, 1837, Die Arachniden: 20.

Measurements (female): CL - 1.71, CW - 2.00, AL - 4.29, AW - 7.94, TL - 6.00. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.23, ALE – AME= 0.86, ALE – ALE= 1.89, PME – PME= 0.23, PLE – PME= 0.89, PLE – PLE= 1.91, ALE – PLE= 0.09, AME – PME= 0.17 Legs: I 4.86 (1.29, 0.79, 1.14, 0.93, 0.71); II 4.50 (1.29, 0.64, 0.93, 0.93, 0.71); III 2.93 (1.07, 0.50, 0.43, 0.50, 0.43); IV 5.28 (1.71, 0.36, 1.21, 1.21, 0.79). Leg formula 4123. Material examined: 2 females, STE, 02.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), KTE, 31.I.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 3 females, MTE, 08.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, MTE, 16.III.2009, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 1 female, MTE, 28.I.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), MTE, 14.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 4 females, NTE, 18.III.2009, coll. S. Saha; 2 females, NTE, 29.I.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), NTE, 08.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NTE, 01.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), NATE, 21.XI.2008, coll. D. C. Dhali; 1 female, NATE, 13.X.2009, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 2 females (J), NATE, 01.II.2010, coll. S. Saha; 1 female, BTE, 15.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, BTE, 03.II.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, BTE, 31.X.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KUTE, 23.VII.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 3 females, KUTE, 15.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 6 females, KUTE, 20.XI.2008, coll. D. C. Dhali; 2 females, KUTE, 23.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 6 females, KUTE, 02.II.2010, coll. T. K. Roy;1 female, DTE, 07.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Andaman & Nicobar Island, Assam, Bihar, Kerala, Sikkim, West Bengal; Bhutan, Hongkong, Indo- Malaysia, Japan, Myanmar (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Kundu & Raychaudhuri, 1997; Hazarika & Chakraborti, 1998; Saha & Raychaudhuri, 2004a; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sebastian & Peter,

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2009; Sen et al., 2009; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Genus: Gea C. L. Koch Gea C. L. Koch, 1843, Die Arachniden, 10: 101

Type species: Gea spinipes C. L. Koch, 1843. Distribution: Almost throughout excepting Neotropical (World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Gea subarmata Thorell (Figs. 13-17 & 168) Gea subarmata Thorell, 1890, Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova, 28: 101.

Measurements (female): CL - 1.83, CW - 1.83, AL - 3.60, AW - 2.51, TL - 5.43. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.34, PME – PME= 0.40, PLE – PME= 0.37, PLE – PLE= 0.89, AME – PME= 0.40 Legs: I 5.91 (1.00, 0.45, 1.64, 1.91, 0.91); II 5.45 (1.00, 0.36, 1.36, 1.82, 0.91); III 3.73 (1.00, 0.36, 0.82, 0.91, 0.64); IV 6.00 (1.27, 0.64, 1.45, 1.73, 0.91). Leg formula 4123. Material examined: 6 females (J), KTE, 07.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), KTE, 14.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 4 females (J), KTE, 06.X.2009, coll. S. Saha; 1 female, MTE, 07.X.2009, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 1 male (J), NTE, 11.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NTE, 18.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 male (J), NATE, 21.XI.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), NATE, 13.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females (J), NATE, 01.II.2010, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Assam, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal; Bangladesh, Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines ( Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Kundu & Raychaudhuri, 1997; Saha & Raychaudhuri, 2004a; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sebastian & Peter, 2009; Sen et al., 2009; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Genus: Argiope Audouin Argiope Audouin, 1826, In Savigny, Description de l'Egypte, 1(4): 121.

Type species: Aranea lobata Pallas, 1772. Distribution: Cosmopolitan (World Spider Catalogue, 2017). Key to species: 1. Abdomen oval, anteriorly truncate, dorsum with transverse black stripes, forming a network in the posterior half; pro and retro margins of chelicerae with 3 and 2 teeth respectively; copulatory ducts very short, running along the inner basal margin of spermathecae, opening little above the base ------aemula (Walckenaer) - Abdomen pentagonal, posteromedially broadest, dorsum with transverse stripes but not forming any network in the posterior half; pro and retro margins of chelicerae with 4 and 2 teeth respectively; copulatory ducts long, running along the outer margin of spermathecae, opening at the tip ------pulchella Thorell

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Argiope aemula (Walckenaer) (Figs. 18-22 & 169) Epeira aemula Walckenaer, 1841, Hist. Nat. des Ins. Aptères. Paris, 2: 118. Argiope aemula (Walckenaer) Thorell, 1877, Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova, 10: 364.

Measurements (female): CL - 5.33, CW - 5.11, AL - 10.17, AW - 8.33, TL - 15.78. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.56, ALE – AME= 0.72, ALE – ALE= 1.89, PME – PME= 0.67, PLE – PME= 0.94, PLE – PLE= 2.28, ALE – PLE= 0.22, AME – PME= 0.72 Legs: I 24.9 (8.20, 2.80, 5.30, 6.80, 1.80); II 24.5 (7.60, 2.60, 5.20, 7.30, 1.80); III 15.9 (5.2, 1.9, 3.2, 4.2, 1.4); IV 25 (8.40, 2.10, 5.00, 7.90, 1.60). Leg formula 4123. Material examined: 4 females, STE, 12.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, STE, 02.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KTE, 06.X.2009, coll. S. Saha; 1 female, NTE, 08.IV.2010, coll. D. Raychaudhuri Distribution: India: Andaman & Nicobar Island, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh , Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal; China, Indonesia, Indo and Austro- Malaysia, Myanmar, New Hebrides, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Gajbe, 2004; Majumder, 2007; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sebastian & Peter, 2009; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Argiope pulchella Thorell (Figs. 23-27 & 170) Argiope pulchella Thorell, 1881, Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova, 17: 74.

Measurements (female): CL - 4.56, CW - 4.39, AL - 9.11, AW - 8.77, TL - 14.22. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.50, PME – PME= 0.67, PLE – PME= 0.78, PLE – PLE= 2.06, AME – PME= 0.61 Legs: I 25.11 (6.67, 2.44, 5.78, 8.22, 2.00); II 24.89 (6.67, 2.44, 5.78, 8.00, 2.00); III 14.66 (4.44, 1.78, 3.11, 4.00, 1.33); IV 24.21(8.00, 2.22, 4.88, 7.33, 1.78). Leg formula 1243. Material examined: 4 females, STE, 12.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, STE, 02.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 3 females, KTE, 14.VII.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, KTE, 06.IX.2008, coll. D. C. Dhali; 2 females, KTE, 14.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 9 females (J), KTE, 06.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), KTE, 31.I.2010, coll. D. C. Dhali; 4 females, KTE, 13.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 3 females, KTE, 24.VIII.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, KTE, 03.XI.2010, coll. S. Saha; 1 female, MTE, 08.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 9 females (J), MTE, 07.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, MTE, 14.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 8 females (J), NTE, 10.IX.2008, coll. D. C. Dhali; 3 females, NTE, 18.III.2009, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 1 female (J), NTE, 09.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females (J), NTE, 29.I.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NTE, 08.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NTE, 01.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NATE, 21.XI.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, NATE, 22.III.2009, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 1 female (J), NATE, 13.X.2009, coll. D. C. Dhali; 2 females, BTE, 22.III.2009, coll. S. Saha; 2 females (J), BTE, 15.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, KUTE, 15.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KUTE, 23.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, DTE, 07.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Andaman & Lakshadweep Islands, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal; Java, Malaya Peninsula, Myanmar, Pegu

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Moulmein, Myanmar (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Kundu & Raychaudhuri, 1997; Hazarika & Chakraborti, 1998; Saha & Raychaudhuri, 2004a; Majumder, 2007; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sebastian & Peter, 2009; Sen et al., 2009; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Genus: Cyrtarachne Thorell Cyrtarachne Thorell, 1868, Eug. Resa Arachnol. : 10.

Type species: Cyrtogaster grubii Keyserling, 1864. Distribution: Almost throughout excepting Nearctic and Neotropical (World Spider Catalogue, 2017). Key to species: 1. Abdomen yellowish brown, with large, smooth, convex, indistinct prominences having chocolate patches; scape broad and blunt; spermathecae oval, single lobed, copulatory duct outwardly curved ------inequalis Thorell - Abdomen pale brown with large, smooth, convex, distinct prominences having creamy patches, scape thin and long; spermathecae bilobed, copulatory duct incurved, horizontal ------raniceps Pocock

Cyrtarachne inequalis Thorell (Figs. 28-32 & 171) Cyrtarachne inequalis Thorell, 1895, Descriptive catalogue of the spiders of Burma. Lond.: 201.

Measurements (female): CL - 3.43, CW - 3.57, AL - 8.29, AW - 11.57, TL - 12.00. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.43, ALE – AME= 0.86, ALE – ALE= 2.07, PME – PME= 0.36, PLE – PME= 0.93, PLE – PLE= 2.14, ALE – PLE= 0.14, AME – PME= 0.21 Legs: I 8.56 (2.57, 1.43, 2.14, 1.71, 0.71); II 8.35 (2.57, 1.43, 2.21, 1.43, 0.71); III 4.94 (1.86, 0.79, 0.93, 0.79, 0.57); IV 6.35 (2.57, 0.93, 1.21, 1.07, 0.57). Leg formula 1243. Material examined: 1 female, NTE, 09.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal; Japan, Myanmar (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Majumder, 2004; Roy et al., 2010; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Cyrtarachne raniceps Pocock (Figs. 33-37 & 172) Cyrtarachne raniceps Pocock, 1900, The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Arachnida. Lond.: 229.

Measurements (female): CL - 3.27, CW - 3.45, AL - 6.73, AW - 8.09, TL - 10.36. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.41, ALE – AME= 0.91, ALE – ALE= 2.05, PME – PME= 0.36, PLE – PME= 0.95, PLE – PLE= 2.18, ALE – PLE= 0.18, AME – PME= 0.27 Legs: I 7.56 (2.00, 0.78, 2.44, 1.78, 0.56); II 7.34 (2.00, 0.78, 2.33, 1.67, 0.56); III 5.45 (2.00, 0.78, 1.11, 1.00, 0.56); IV 7.12 (2.56, 1.00, 1.67, 1.33, 0.56). Leg formula 1243.

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Material examined: 1 female, MTE, 16.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NTE, 09.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Karnataka, Orissa, West Bengal; Sri Lanka (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Majumder, 2004; Roy et al., 2009; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Genus: Pasilobus Simon Pasilobus Simon, 1895, Hist. Nat. des Araign. Paris, 1: 881.

Type species: Micrathena bufonina Simon, 1867. Distribution: Ethiopian, Oriental and Palaearctic (World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Pasilobus kotigeharus Tikader (Figs. 38-42 & 173) Pasilobus kotigeharus Tikader, 1963, Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., 57(B): 96.

Measurements (female): CL - 2.00, CW - 2.67, AL - 4.33, AW - 10.56, TL - 6.33. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.28, ALE – AME= 0.61, ALE – ALE= 1.50, PME – PME= 0.33, PLE – PME= 0.61, PLE – PLE= 1.61, ALE – PLE= 0.11, AME – PME= 0.22 Legs: I 6.56 (2.22, 0.56, 2.00, 1.22, 0.56); II 6.56 (2.22, 0.67, 1.89, 1.22, 0.56); III 3.67 (1.44, 0.33, 0.67, 0.67, 0.56); IV 5.12 (2.11, 0.56, 0.89, 1.00, 0.56). Leg formula 1=243. Material examined: 2 females, NTE, 09.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Assam, Karnataka, West Bengal (New record) (Tikader, 1982; Saha & Raychaudhuri, 2004b; Sebastian & Peter, 2009; Roy et al., 2010; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Genus: Eriovixia Archer Eriovixia Archer, 1951, Am. Mus. Novit., 1487: 18.

Type species: Araneus rhinura Pocock, 1899. Distribution: Ethiopian, Oriental and Palaearctic (World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Eriovixia excelsa (Simon) (Figs. 43-47 & 174) Glyptogona excelsa Simon, 1889, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 58: 337. Eriovixia excelsa (Simon) Grasshoff, 1986, Zool. Wetensch., 250: 118.

Measurements (female): CL - 2.34, CW - 2.29, AL - 5.26, AW - 5.26, TL - 7.83. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.34, ALE – AME= 0.51, ALE – ALE= 1.23, PME – PME= 0.34, PLE – PME= 0.46, PLE – PLE= 1.23, ALE – PLE= 0.11, AME – PME= 0.20 Legs: I 9.86 (3.14, 1.00, 2.43, 2.29, 1.00); II 8.57 (2.71, 1.00, 2.00, 1.86, 1.00); III 5.13 (1.71, 0.57, 1.14, 1.14, 0.57); IV 8.00 (2.86, 0.86, 1.71, 1.71, 0.86). Leg formula 1243. Material examined: 1 female, STE, 27.VIII.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KTE, 15.VII.2008, coll. S. Saha; 4 females, KTE, 14.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, MTE, 08.IX.2008, coll. D. C. Dhali; 1 female, MTE, 28.I.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, MTE, 14.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NTE, 10.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 4 females, NTE,

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30.I.2010, coll. D. C. Dhali; 1 female, NTE, 19.VIII.2010, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 1 female, NTE, 01.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), NATE, 10.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, BTE, 19.XI.2008, coll. S. Saha; 3 females, BTE, 21.VIII.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, BTE, 31.X.2010, coll. D. C. Dhali; 1 female, KUTE, 15.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, DTE, 12.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal; China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Taiwan (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Majumder, 2007; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sebastian & Peter, 2009; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Genus: Chorizopes O. P.-Cambridge Chorizopes O. P.-Cambridge, 1870, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. : 737.

Type species: Chorizopes frontalis O. P.-Cambridge, 1870. Distribution: Ethiopian, Oriental and Palaearctic (World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Chorizopes quadrituberculata Roy et al (Fig. 175) Chorizopes quadrituberculata Roy et al., 2014, Rom. J. Biol. – Zool., 59(1): 3-9.

Material examined: 1 female, NTE, 01.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 males, KUTE, 23.VII.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 male, KUTE, 27.VIII.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 male, DTE, 23.VIII.2010, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: West Bengal. The species is so far known from the type locality.

Genus: Acusilas Simon Acusilas Simon, 1895, Hist. Nat. des Araign. Paris, 1: 785.

Type species: Acusilas coccineus Simon, 1895. Distribution: Ethiopian, Oriental and Palaearctic (World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Acusilas coccineus Simon (Figs. 48-52 & 176) Acusilas coccineus Simon, 1895, Hist. Nat. des Araign. Paris, 1: 785.

Description: Female CL - 2.64, CW - 2.36, AL - 5.50, AW - 3.96, TL - 8.14. Cephalothorax (Fig. 48) yellow brown, anteriorly narrowing, cephalic region elevated, furrows deeply distinct, clothed with setae, midlongitudinally with a furrow extending from posteromedians to little beyond the middle; thoracic region broad, fovea short, radii indistinct. Eyes 8, homogenous, transparent, basally ringed with black, arranged in 2 recurved rows with anterior row more so, lateral contiguous, ocular quad trapezoid, a little wider in front, eye diameter AME≥ PME > PLE > ALE. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.32, ALE – AME= 0.25, ALE – ALE= 0.75, PME – PME= 0.29, PLE – PME= 0.29, PLE – PLE= 0.82, ALE – PLE= 0.14, AME – PME= 0.14. Clypeus sloped, shorter than half of anteromedian eye diameter. Chelicerae (Fig. 49) yellowish brown, with boss, moderately small, promargin with 4 and retromargin with 3 teeth,

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fang brown, long, sharp. Labium (Fig. 50) a little wider than long, basally yellowish brown, apically off white, narrowing to triangular, scopulate. Maxillae (Fig. 50) pale brown, slightly longer than wide, constricted sub basally, apically broad, inner margin pale, scopulate. Sternum (Fig. 50) cordate, pale brown with long, brown hairs. Legs long, dorsally yellowish brown, ventrally dark brown, tarsi with 2 superior and 1 inferior claw, superior claws pectinate throughout with hairs and spine, leg measurements: I 8.00 (2.40, 1.20, 1.90, 1.60, 0.90); II 6.70 (2.00, 1.10, 1.70, 1.20, 0.70); III 4.90 (1.50, 0.90, 1.00, 0.80, 0.70); IV 7.40 (2.20, 1.20, 1.70, 1.50, 0.80). Leg formula 1423 Abdomen (Fig. 48) oblong, dark brown, overhanging the cephalothorax, clothed with hairs, dorsally decorated with white reticulation, sigillae 4 pairs in midlongitudinal rows, brown, marked by black. Venter grey, with yellow tinges, colulus triangular, basal segments of anterior spinnerets wider than long, posterior spinnerets smaller than anterior. Epigynum – Internal genitalia (Figs. 51 & 52): Spermatheca nearly circular, periphery dark brown, fertilization duct downwardly coiled, sub medially forked, copulatory duct long, v shaped, below the fertilization duct. Material examined: 2 females, NTE, 30.I.2010, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: Assam, West Bengal (New record); China to Moluccas (Sebastian & Peter, 2009; Roy et al., 2010; World Spider Catalogue, 2017). Remarks: Schmidt and Scharff (2008) in their review on the genus Acusilas Simon, indicated the occurrence of Acusilas coccineus Simon in India (Kuntner pers. com.), though not examined any Indian example. Therefore, record of the said species prompted a thorough taxonomic treatment.

Genus: Cyrtophora Simon Cyrtophora Simon, 1864, Hist. Nat. des Araign. (aranéides) Paris, 1: 261.

Type species: Aranea citricola Forsskål, 1775. Distribution: Throughout excepting Nearctic (World Spider Catalogue, 2017). Key to species: 1. Abdomen oval, with 1 pair of humps, caudal hump absent; dorsum decorated with 2 black, transverse bands below the humps, mid longitudinally with 3 pairs of brown sigillae in transverse rows; cheliceral pro and retromargins with 4 and 3 teeth respectively ------bituberculata sp. nov. - Abdomen not oval, with more than 1 pair of humps, caudal hump present ------2 2. Abdominal hump 2 pairs and caudal hump 1, median, not high up anteriorly; epigyne with a broad rim ------cicatrosa (Stoliczka) - Abdomen with 2 pairs of humps, anterior pair indicating shoulder humps and posterior pair bifurcate at caudal tip; epigyne without a broad rim ------exanthematica (Doleschall)

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Cyrtophora bituberculata sp. nov. (Figs. 53-57 & 177)

Type material: Holotype: 1 female, KTE, 06.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy Description: Female (Holotype) CL - 1.09, CW - 1.03, AL - 2.00, AW - 1.70, TL - 3.09. Cephalothorax (Fig. 53) brown, distinctly longer than wide, cephalic region yellow brown, usually clothed with shiny white hairs, weakly raised, anteriorly produced, parallel sided, cervical furrows well marked by brown; thoracic region round, marginally brown, medially pale around the brown, oval thoracic fovea, radii indistinct. Eyes 8, homogenous, transparent, basally ringed with black, arranged in 2 recurved rows as viewed dorsally, anterior row strongly so, ocular quad nearly rectangular, wider than long, posteriorly narrower than in front, posteromedians largest, laterals contiguous, eye diameter: PME> PLE> AME> ALE. Interocular distances: AME – AME= 0.21, ALE – AME= 0.21, ALE – ALE= 0.55, PME – PME= 0.17, PLE – PME= 0.26, PLE – PLE= 0.60, ALE – PLE= 0.09, AME – PME= 0.06. Clypeus brown, narrow, sub equal to anteromedian eye diameter, clypeal angles darker, obtusely produced. Chelicerae (Fig. 54) dark brown, moderate, more or less parallel, promargin with 4 and retromargin with 3 teeth, fang dark brown, curved, sharp, stout. Labium (Fig. 55) more than twice wider than long, basally dark brown, constricted sub basally, apically broad, pale, scopulate. Maxillae (Fig. 55) dark brown, nearly as wide as long, inner margin pale, scopulate. Sternum (Fig. 55) cordate, brown black, usually clothed with long, pale brown hairs, outer lateral margins weakly indented at each coxae, apical margins weakly concave, tip projected between coxae IV, blunt, round. Legs brown, long, stout, banded, usually clothed with pale brown hairs, tarsal claws 3 with 2 superior and 1 inferior, leg measurements: I 3.14 (1.21, 0.21, 0.86, 0.50, 0.36); II 2.70 (1.21, 0.21, 0.64, 0.43, 0.21); III 2.29 (0.93, 0.21, 0.43, 0.43, 0.29); IV 3.29 (1.14, 0.29, 0.86, 0.71, 0.29). Leg formula 4123. Abdomen (Fig. 53) black tinged with creamy white patches, nearly globose, widest at the median paired humps, narrowing at both ends, usually clothed with moderate, shiny white hairs. Dorsum decorated with 2 black, transverse bands below the humps, mid longitudinally with 3 pairs of brown sigillae in transverse rows. Venter black, laterally with creamy white tinges, usually clothed with shiny white hairs. Epigynum – Internal genitalia (Figs. 56 & 57): Epigynum without a distinct rim transversely, fertilization duct short, downward, copulatory duct long, upwardly and outwardly directed, looped at the middle, then descending Type deposition: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, IRDM Faculty Centre, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Narendrapur, Kolkata – 700103, registration no: RKMVUE 0043- 15 Distribution: India: West Bengal. The species is so far known from the type locality. Etymology: The species name is derived from the abdominal tubercles. Remarks: The species shows a close affinity to Cyrtophora bidenta Tikader, 1970 but can be separated by i) sigillae on abdominal dorsum 3 pairs ( sigillae absent in C. bidenta); ii) dorsal decoration much different from C. bidenta iii) epigyne without any transverse rim ( epigyne with a distinct transverse rim in C. bidenta); iv) copulatory duct long, upwardly and outwardly directed, looped at the middle, then descending (copulatory duct short, upwardly

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directed, not coiled in C. bidenta). Such differences appear to justify the erection of a new species. The species is therefore recognized as new to science.

Cyrtophora cicatrosa (Stoliczka) (Figs. 58-62 & 178) Epeira cicatrosa Stoliczka, 1869, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 38: 242. Cyrtophora cicatrosa (Stoliczka) Chrysanthus, 1960, Nova Guinea (N.S.), 10: 28.

Measurements (female): CL - 2.50, CW - 1.93, AL - 4.07, AW - 2.36, TL - 6.57. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.32, ALE – AME= 0.29, ALE – ALE= 0.75, PME – PME= 0.25, PLE – PME= 0.25, PLE – PLE= 0.79, ALE – PLE= 0.14, AME – PME= 0.29 Legs: I 9.58 (3.29, 0.86, 2.57, 2.00, 0.86); II 9.43 (2.57, 0.57, 2.86, 2.57, 0.86); III 5.86 (1.86, 0.57, 1.14, 1.43, 0.86); IV 9.72 (3.29, 0.86, 1.71, 2.86, 1.00). Leg formula 4123. Material examined: 1 female (J), STE, 02.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 6 females, KTE, 15.VII.2008, coll. S. Saha; 14 females, KTE, 06.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), KTE, 14.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KTE, 31.I.2010, coll. D. C. Dhali; 3 females, KTE, 03.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 10 females (J), MTE, 08.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), MTE, 16.III.2009, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 1 female (J), MTE, 07.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, MTE, 28.VIII.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, NTE, 10.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NTE, 09.X.2009, coll. D. C. Dhali; 2 females, NTE, 08.IV.2010, coll. S. Saha; 2 females, NTE, 01.XI.2010, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 7 females, NATE, 21.XI.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, NATE, 13.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 14 females, BTE, 20.VII.2008, coll. D. C. Dhali; 1 female, KUTE, 15.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, DTE, 07.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Andaman & Nicobar Island, Assam, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal; Australia, Austro- Malaysia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Pakistan (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Gajbe, 2004; Majumder, 2007; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sebastian & Peter, 2009; Sen et al., 2009; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Cyrtophora exanthematica (Doleschall) (Figs. 63-67 & 179) Epeira exanthematica Doleschall, 1859, Acta Soc. Sci. Ind.-Neerl., 5: 38. Cyrtophora exanthematica (Doleschall) Yaginuma, 1958, Acta Arachnol. Tokyo, 16: 14.

Measurements (female): CL - 2.71, CW - 2.21, AL - 6.43, AW - 4.39, TL - 9.14 Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.36, ALE – AME= 0.36, ALE – ALE= 0.93, PME – PME= 0.29, PLE – PME= 0.43, PLE – PLE= 1.04, ALE – PLE= 0.21, AME – PME= 0.21. Legs: I 6.93 (2.14, 1.00, 1.79, 1.29, 0.71); II 6.28 (1.71, 1.00, 1.57, 1.29, 0.71); III 4.00 (1.43, 0.50, 0.79, 0.71, 0.57); IV 5.27 (1.57, 0.57, 1.21, 1.21, 0.71). Leg formula 1243. Material examined: 1 female, KTE, 06.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NATE, 10.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India (New record): West Bengal; Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, New South Wales, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore (Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Roy et al., 2009; Sen et al., 2011; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

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Genus: Cyclosa Menge Cyclosa Menge, 1866, Schrift. Nat. Ges. Danzig (N.F.), 1: 73.

Type species: Aranea conica Pallas, 1772. Distribution: Cosmopolitan (World Spider Catalogue, 2017). Key to species: 1. Abdomen with tubercles ------3 - Abdomen without any tubercle ------2 2. Abdomen pale brown, elongate oval, uniformly wide; cardiac area pale, with 4 small, distinct, brown sigillae in longitudinal series, further laterally with 7 pairs of larger, similar sigillae; sternum tuberculate at each coxal end, tip narrowly produced between coxae IV ------krusa Barrion & Litsinger - Abdomen brownish black, elongate oval, anteriorly narrow; dorsum decorated with silver white patches medially and 4 pairs of distinct, brownish sigillae in transverse rows; sternum well indented between coxae, tip broadly projected between coxae IV ------moonduensis Tikader 3. Abdomen with paired tubercles, median caudal tubercle may or may not be present ------4 - Abdomen without any paired tubercles but with long, blunt, caudal tubercle; both copulatory and fertilization ducts outwardly curved, the latter short ------bifida (Doleschall) 4. Abdomen very short, nearly globular ------5 - Abdomen rather elongate ------6 5. Abdomen with 1 pair of anterior tubercles, caudal tubercles absent; scape broad, with a distinct median bulge underside; copulatory duct nearly straight ------mulmeinensis (Thorell) - Abdomen with 2 pairs of tubercles, posterior pair at the caudal end, disposed vertically, more prominent; scape narrow without median bulge underside; copulatory duct incurved ------quinqueguttata (Thorell) 6. Abdomen with a median tubercle anteriorly, bent upward ------7 - Abdomen with no such tubercles at the anterior end ------8 7. Abdominal tubercles 1 pair, located at the base of caudal process; scape contracted, tip narrow, bent nearly at right angle to the base; copulatory duct long ------spirifera Simon - Abdominal tubercles 2 pairs, 1st pair at the middle, other at the base of caudal process; scape not contracted, tip narrow but weakly bent; copulatory duct moderately long ------hexatuberculata Tikader

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8. Abdomen with a pair of small, indistinct tubercles placed anteriorly but without any tubercle at the base of caudal process; scape short and thin ------neilensis Tikader - Abdomen with no such tubercles anteriorly but with 1 pair of long, pointed tubercles at the base of caudal process; scape long and thick ------simoni Tikader

Cyclosa krusa Barrion & Litsinger (Figs. 68-73 & 180) Cyclosa krusa Barrion & Litsinger, 1995, Riceland Spiders of South and Southeast Asia: 596.

Description: Male CL - 1.77, CW - 1.27, AL - 2.13, AW - 1.13, TL - 3.90. Cephalothorax (Fig. 68) dark red brown, elongate oval, somewhat flat, clothed with pale brown hairs, cephalic region weakly raised, anteriorly produced snout like, cervical furrows marked by brown, with a longitudinal shallow depressions from posteromedian eye to the middle; thoracic region round with circular, pit like, dark brown fovea, margins more darker, radii indistinct. Eyes 8, homogenous, pearly white, arranged in 2 recurved rows as viewed dorsally, anterior row strongly recurved with anteromedians largest, posterior weakly so with posteromedians closely apposed, ocular quad trapezoid, wider than long, anteriorly wider than behind, laterals contiguous, a pair of spine like hairs behinds the posterolaterals, eye diameter AME> PME> ALE≥ PLE. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.22, ALE – AME= 0.15, ALE – ALE= 0.42, PME – PME= 0.08, PLE – PME= 0.20, PLE – PLE= 0.45, ALE – PLE= 0.07, AME – PME= 0.13. Clypeus narrow, brown, less than anteromedian eye diameter. Chelicerae (Fig. 69) pale brown, moderate, more or less parallel, both pro and retromargin with 3 teeth, fang pale brown, small and stumpy. Labium (Fig. 70) close, weakly wider than long, basally dark brown, constricted medially, apically broad, triangular, pale, scopulate. Maxillae (Fig. 70) brown, as wide as long, constricted sub basally, apically broad, inner margin pale and scopulate. Sternum (Fig. 70) rebordered, brown, margins more darker, longer than wide, tuberculate at each coxal end, tip narrowly produced between coxae IV, pointed, clothed with long brown hairs. Legs long, stout, pale brown, banded, usually clothed with brown hairs and spines, tarsi with 2 superior and 1 inferior claw, superior claws pectinate throughout, leg measurements: I 5.49 (1.71, 0.64, 1.36, 1.21, 0.57); II 4.78 (1.57, 0.64, 1.07, 1.00, 0.50); III 3.07 (0.93, 0.36, 0.64, 0.71, 0.43); IV 4.85 (1.57, 0.43, 1.21, 1.07, 0.57). Leg formula 1423. Abdomen (Fig. 68 & 71) pale brown, elongate oval, posteriorly beyond the spinnerets, tip weakly raised, clothed with fine, small, pale brown hairs; cardiac area pale brown, with 4 small, distinct, brown sigillae in longitudinal series, further laterally with 7 pairs of larger, similar sigillae. Dorsum decorated with shiny white patches. Venter pale brown with black tinges, clothed with brown hairs. Palp (Figs. 72 & 73): Cymbium cup shaped, longer than wide, embolus long, straight, sharply pointed, radix nearly rectangular, sub parallel, conductor membranous, terminal apophysis sharply pointed, median apophysis swollen, terminally broad with an apical, curved spine. Material examined: 2 males, NTE, 09.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 male, NTE, 10.X.2009, coll. S. Saha; 1 male, NTE, 19.VIII.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 male, BTE, 31.X.2010, coll. T. K. Roy

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Distribution: India: West Bengal; Pakistan, Philippines (Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Mukhtar & Mushtaq, 2005; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Cyclosa moonduensis Tikader (Figs. 74-79 & 181) Cyclosa moonduensis Tikader, 1963, J. Univ. Poona (Sci. Tech.), 24: 46.

Description: Male CL - 1.27, CW - 0.83, AL - 1.35, AW - 0.80, TL - 2.62. Cephalothorax (Fig. 74) black, elongate oval, somewhat flat, excepting weak concavity near brownish black circular pit like thoracic fovea, clothed with fine, moderately long, shiny white hairs, cephalic region weakly raised, anteriorly produced snout like, medially with shallow depression extending up to the thoracic fovea, cervical furrows faintly marked, thoracic region round, posteriorly gradually depressed, radii indistinct. Eyes 8, homogenous, pearly white, arranged in 2 recurved rows as viewed dorsally, anterior row strongly recurved with anteromedians largest, posterior weakly so with posteromedians nearly close, ocular quad trapezoid, wider than long, anteriorly wider than behind, laterals contiguous, a spine like hair behind the posterolaterals, eye diameter AME> PME> ALE≥ PLE. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.17, ALE – AME= 0.10, ALE – ALE= 0.32, PME – PME= 0.10, PLE – PME= 0.13, PLE – PLE= 0.13, ALE – PLE= 0.07, AME – PME= 0.12. Clypeus narrow, blackish brown, less than anteromedian eye diameter. Chelicerae (Fig. 75) pale brown, moderate, more or less parallel, dorsally with blackish brown patches, promargin with 3 and retromargin with 2 teeth, fang yellowish, curved, sharp, long and stout. Labium (Fig. 76) close, slightly wider than long, basally brown black, constricted medially, apically broad, triangular, pale, scopulate. Maxillae (Fig. 76) brown black, as wide as long, constricted sub basally, apically broad, margins weakly convex, inner margin pale, scopulate. Sternum (Fig. 76) brown black, margins more so, rebordered, longer than wide, well indented between coxae, tip projected between coxae IV, pointed, clothed with fine, shiny, white hairs. Legs long, stout, brown, banded, clothed with brown hairs and spines, femora ventrally rugose, tarsal claw 3, 2 superior and1 inferior, leg measurements: I 3.66 (1.13, 0.33, 0.87, 0.80, 0.53); II 3.20 (1.00, 0.33, 0.67, 0.73, 0.47); III 2.26 (0.80, 0.20, 0.53, 0.40, 0.33); IV 3.33 (1.00, 0.33, 0.87, 0.73, 0.40). Leg formula 1423. Abdomen (Figs. 74 & 77) brownish black, clothed with brown hairs, elongate oval, anteriorly narrow, apical margins with long, erect, pale brown hairs, posteriorly broad, round, upwardly projected. Dorsum decorated with silvery white patches medially and 3 pairs of distinct, brownish sigillae in transverse rows. Venter brownish black, medially with fine brown and postero-laterally with shiny white hairs, spinnerets located at basal 2/3rd. Palp (Figs. 78 & 79): Embolus long, straight, sharply pointed, medially weakly incurved, conductor short, medially attached to embolus, terminal apophysis long, sharp, pointed upwardly, median apophysis broadly semi lunar. Material examined: 2 males, NTE, 29.I.2010, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal (New record) (Tikader, 1982; Gajbe, 2004: World Spider Catalogue, 2017). Remarks: The male morph is first recorded. So it is described and illustrated.

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Cyclosa bifida (Doleschall) (Figs. 80-84 & 182) Epeira bifida Doleschall, 1859, Acta Soc. Sci. Ind.-Neerl., 5: 38. Cyclosa bifida (Doleschall) Simon, 1895, Hist. Nat. des Araign. Paris, 1: 779.

Measurements (female): CL - 1.81, CW - 1.28, AL - 6.23, AW - 2.26, TL - 8.04. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.23, ALE – AME= 0.21, ALE – ALE= 0.55, PME – PME= 0.11, PLE – PME= 0.26, PLE – PLE= 0.62, ALE – PLE= 0.11, AME – PME= 0.17 Legs: I 4.42 (1.07, 0.43, 1.21, 1.07, 0.64); II 4.28 (1.21, 0.43, 1.14, 0.93, 0.57); III 2.93 (0.86, 0.29, 0.71, 0.64, 0.43); IV 4.36 (1.07, 0.43, 1.29, 1.07, 0.50). Leg formula 1423. Material examined: 1 female, STE, 12.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, KTE, 06.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, KTE, 13.IV.2010, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 2 females, KTE, 03.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, MTE, 08.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 4 females, MTE, 16.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, MTE, 07.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 12 females, MTE, 28.I.2010, coll. D. C. Dhali; 1 female, MTE, 14.IV.2010, coll. S. Saha; 1 female, NTE, 10.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 9 females, NTE, 18.III.2009, coll. D. C. Dhali; 1 female, NTE, 09.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 4 females, NTE, 29.I.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, NTE, 01.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 6 females, NATE, 01.II.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, BTE, 20.VII.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, BTE, 14.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 3 females, BTE, 19.XI.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 4 females, BTE, 22.III.2009, coll. S. Saha; 3 females, BTE, 15.X.2009, coll. D. C. Dhali; 7 females, BTE, 03.II.2010, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 6 females, KUTE, 23.VII.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 7 females, KUTE, 15.IX.2008, coll. D. C. Dhali; 4 females, KUTE, 20.XI.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KUTE, 14.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 3 females, DTE, 11.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, West Bengal; Malaysia, New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Kundu & Raychaudhuri, 1997; Saha & Raychaudhuri, 2004a; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sebastian & Peter, 2009; Sen et al., 2009; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Cyclosa mulmeinensis (Thorell) (Figs. 85-89 & 183) Epeira mulmeinensis Thorell, 1887, Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova, 25: 221. Cyclosa mulmeinensis (Thorell) Simon, 1909, Bull. Sci. Fr. Belg., 42: 104.

Measurements (female): CL - 1.47, CW - 1.17, AL - 2.34, AW - 2.04, TL - 3.81. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.15, ALE – AME= 0.23, ALE – ALE= 0.55, PME – PME= 0.09, PLE – PME= 0.25, PLE – PLE= 0.58, ALE – PLE= 0.06, AME – PME= 0.13 Legs: I 3.96 (1.26, 0.51, 0.84, 0.88, 0.47); II 3.62 (1.16, 0.51, 0.74, 0.74, 0.47); III 2.09 (0.74, 0.28, 0.37, 0.37, 0.33); IV 2.84 (0.88, 0.42, 0.70, 0.56, 0.28). Leg formula 1243. Material examined: 1 female, STE, 12.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KTE, 06.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KTE, 03.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, MTE, 08.X.2009, coll. S. Saha; 2 females, NTE, 18.III.2009, coll. D. C. Dhali; 2 females (J), NTE, 09.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NTE, 29.I.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 3 females, NTE, 01.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, NATE, 21.XI.2008, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 1 female, NATE, 22.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), NATE, 13.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NATE, 01.II.2010,

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coll. D. C. Dhali; 1 female, BTE, 22.III.2009, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 2 females, BTE, 15.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, BTE, 03.II.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), KUTE, 14.X.2009, coll. D. C. Dhali; 3 females, DTE, 11.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Assam, Maharashtra, West Bengal; Africa to Japan, Arabia, Malacca, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Taiwan (Tikader, 1982; Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Hazarika & Chakraborti, 1998; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Cyclosa quinqueguttata (Thorell) (Figs. 90-95 & 184) Epeira quinque-guttata Thorell, 1881, Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova, 17: 113. Cyclosa quinqueguttata (Thorell) Roberts, 1983, Zool. J. Linn. Soc., 77: 261.

Measurements (female): CL - 1.51, CW - 1.21, AL - 2.83, AW - 2.11, TL - 4.34. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.17, ALE – AME= 0.23, ALE – ALE= 0.51, PME – PME= 0.11, PLE – PME= 0.23, PLE – PLE= 0.55, ALE – PLE= 0.08, AME – PME= 0.15 Legs: I 4.28 (1.37, 0.68, 0.91, 0.86, 0.46); II 3.71 (1.14, 0.57, 0.74, 0.80, 0.46); III 2.51 (0.80, 0.40, 0.40, 0.51, 0.40); IV 4.12 (1.37, 0.57, 0.86, 0.86, 0.46). Leg formula 1423. Material examined: 1 female, STE, 02.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, KTE, 14.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KTE, 13.IV.2010, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 1 female (J), KTE, 24.VIII.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KTE, 03.XI.2010, coll. S. Saha; 1 male (J) & 11 females, NTE, 10.IX.2008, coll. D. C. Dhali; 3 females, NTE, 18.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NTE, 01.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NATE, 21.XI.2008, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal; Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Taiwan (Tikader, 1982; Kundu & Raychaudhuri, 1997; Hazarika & Chakraborti, 1998; Saha & Raychaudhuri, 2004a; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sen et al., 2009; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Cyclosa spirifera Simon (Figs. 96-101 & 185) Cyclosa spirifera Simon, 1889, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 58: 337.

Measurements (female): CL - 1.43, CW - 1.25, AL - 5.46, AW - 2.93, TL - 6.89. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.14, ALE – AME= 0.18, ALE – ALE= 0.46, PME – PME= 0.11, PLE – PME= 0.21, PLE – PLE= 0.54, ALE – PLE= 0.07, AME – PME= 0.11 Legs: I 5.93 (2.00, 0.71, 1.36, 1.29, 0.57); II 5.01 (1.64, 0.79, 1.29, 0.79, 0.50); III 3.65 (1.00, 0.50, 0.86, 0.79, 0.50); IV 5.28 (1.71, 0.71, 1.36, 1.00, 0.50). Leg formula 1423. Material examined: 1 female, STE, 12.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KTE, 06.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 3 females, MTE, 08.IX.2008, coll. S. Saha; 2 females, MTE, 08.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 4 females, NTE, 18.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 8 females, NTE, 30.I.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 3 females, NTE, 01.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, NATE, 22.III.2009, coll. S. Saha; 1 female, NATE, 13.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), NATE, 01.II.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NATE, 10.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 4 females, BTE, 22.III.2009, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 1 female, BTE, 15.X.2009, coll. D. C. Dhali; 3 females, BTE, 03.II.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 6 females, KUTE, 15.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy

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Distribution: India: Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal; Pakistan (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Kundu & Raychaudhuri, 1997; Hazarika & Chakraborti, 1998; Gajbe, 2004; Saha & Raychaudhuri, 2004a; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sen et al., 2009; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Cyclosa hexatuberculata Tikader (Figs. 102-107 & 186) Cyclosa hexatuberculata Tikader, 1982, Fauna of India (Araneae), 2: 197.

Measurements (female): CL - 1.40, CW - 1.36, AL - 3.92, AW - 2.53, TL - 5.32. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.17, ALE – AME= 0.21, ALE – ALE= 0.53, PME – PME= 0.11, PLE – PME= 0.25, PLE – PLE= 0.60, ALE – PLE= 0.11, AME – PME= 0.15 Legs: I 4.71 (1.57, 0.64, 1.14, 0.93, 0.43); II 4.22 (1.43, 0.57, 1.00, 0.79, 0.43); III 3.00 (0.86, 0.50, 0.64, 0.57, 0.43); IV 4.43 (1.43, 0.57, 1.07, 0.86, 0.50). Leg formula 1423. Material examined: 2 females, MTE, 08.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Assam, Maharashtra, West Bengal; Pakistan (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Kundu & Raychaudhuri, 1997; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sebastian & Peter, 2009; Sen et al., 2009; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Cyclosa neilensis Tikader (Figs. 108-114 & 187) Cyclosa neilensis Tikader, 1977, Rec. Zool. Surv. India, 72: 179.

Measurements (female): CL - 1.13, CW - 0.93, AL - 3.97, AW - 1.58, TL - 5.10. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.13, ALE – AME= 0.17, ALE – ALE= 0.42, PME – PME= 0.10, PLE – PME= 0.18, PLE – PLE= 0.45, ALE – PLE= 0.07, AME – PME= 0.12 Legs: I 3.74 (1.27, 0.53, 0.87, 0.67, 0.40); II 3.41 (1.07, 0.47, 0.80, 0.67, 0.40); III 2.34 (0.67, 0.40, 0.47, 0.47, 0.33); IV 3.67 (1.20, 0.47, 0.87, 0.73, 0.40). Leg formula 1423. Material examined: 1 female, STE, 02.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NTE, 18.III.2009, coll. D. Raychaudhuri Distribution: India: Assam, West Bengal (Tikader, 1982; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Cyclosa simoni Tikader (Figs. Female 115-120 & 188; Male 121-126 & 189) Cyclosa simoni Tikader, 1982, Fauna of India (Araneae), 2: 203.

Measurements (female): CL - 2.71, CW - 1.71, AL - 5.57, AW - 2.25, TL - 8.43. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.21, ALE – AME= 0.29, ALE – ALE= 0.71, PME – PME= 0.11, PLE – PME= 0.32, PLE – PLE= 0.71, ALE – PLE= 0.11, AME – PME= 0.14 Legs: I 6.72 (2.00, 0.93, 1.79, 1.43, 0.57); II 6.43 (2.00, 0.79, 1.57, 1.43, 0.64); III 4.57 (1.57, 0.57, 0.93, 0.86, 0.64); IV 6.63 (2.00, 0.71, 1.71, 1.50, 0.71). Leg formula 1423. Description: Male CL - 1.73, CW - 1.12, AL - 2.87, AW - 1.45, TL - 4.67. Cephalothorax (Fig. 121) brown to brown black, elongate oval, somewhat flat, clothed with white hairs, cephalic region anteriorly produced snout like, medially with shallow depression extending upto the circular

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pit like brown thoracic fovea, cervical furrows faintly marked, thoracic region round, at times with 2 yellow brown patches on either side of fovea, radii indistinct. Eyes 8, homogenous, pearly white, arranged in 2 recurved rows as viewed dorsally, anterior row strongly recurved with anteromedians largest, posterior weakly so with posteromedians very close, nearly touching each other, ocular quad trapezoid, wider than long, anteriorly wider than behind, laterals contiguous, eye diameter AME> PME> ALE≥ PLE. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.22, ALE – AME= 0.13, ALE – ALE= 0.40, PME – PME= 0.10, PLE – PME= 0.18, PLE – PLE= 0.45, ALE – PLE= 0.07, AME – PME= 0.13. Clypeus narrow, brown, less than anteromedian eye diameter. Chelicerae (Fig. 122) pale brown, moderate, more or less parallel, dorsally with blackish brown patches, promargin with 3 and retromargin with 4 teeth; fang pale brown, curved, sharp, stout and stumpy. Labium (Fig. 123) close, slightly wider than long, basally red brown, constricted medially, apically broad, triangular, pale, scopulate. Maxillae (Fig. 123) brown, as wide as long, apically broad, margins weakly concave, inner margin pale, scopulate. Sternum (Fig. 123) yellow brown, margins brown black, longer than wide, tuberculate at each coxal end, tip narrowly produced between coxae IV, pointed, clothed with long white hairs. Legs long, stout, pale yellowish brown, banded, clothed with brown hairs and spines, tarsi with 2 superior and 1 inferior claw, superior claws pectinate throughout, leg measurements: I 4.18 (1.38, 0.46, 1.00, 0.88, 0.46); II 3.68 (1.17, 0.46, 0.92, 0.75, 0.38); III 2.37 (0.83, 0.21, 0.54, 0.46, 0.33); IV 3.60 (1.17, 0.38, 0.92, 0.75, 0.38). Leg formula 1243. Abdomen (Fig. 121 & 124) brown, elongate, tip round, blunt with a caudal hump, a pair of small, lateral humps anterior to it. Dorsum decorated with silvery white, brown, brown black patches, 3 pairs of distinct and many small brown, sigillae in transverse rows. Venter brown, with brown black spinnerets, located more or less near the middle and irregular brown black, silvery white patches. Palp (Figs. 125 & 126): Cymbium rather flat, medially broad and apically prolonged, embolus long, pointed, radix semicircular, conductor long, narrow, terminal apophysis sharp and pointed, paramedian apophysis acute, subtegulum nearly straight, prominent. Material examined: 1 female, STE, 12.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 4 females, STE, 13.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 male, KTE, 06.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KTE, 31.I.2010, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 8 females, KTE, 03.XI.2010, coll. D. C. Dhali; 2 females, MTE, 08.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, MTE, 16.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 4 females, MTE, 28.I.2010, coll. S. Saha; 3 females, MTE, 14.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, NTE, 18.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 male, NTE, 09.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 male & 16 females, NTE, 29.I.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, NTE, 08.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, NTE, 01.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 male & 2 females, NATE, 13.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 males & 5 females, NATE, 01.II.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, BTE, 19.V.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 3 females, BTE, 14.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, BTE, 15.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 4 females, BTE, 03.II.2010, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 3 females, BTE, 11.IV.2010, coll. D. C. Dhali; 8 females, BTE, 31.X.2010, coll. S. Saha; 1 female, KUTE, 18.V.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, KUTE, 15.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KUTE, 20.XI.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, KUTE, 14.X.2009, coll. D. C. Dhali; 3 females, KUTE, 02.II.2010, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 1 female, KUTE, 11.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KUTE, 27.VIII.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 3 females, DTE, 11.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy

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Distribution: : India: Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Hazarika & Chakraborti, 1998; Saha & Raychaudhuri, 2004a; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sen et al., 2009, 2010; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Genus: Parawixia F. O. P Cambridge Parawixia F. O. P Cambridge, 1904, Biol. Cent. Am. (Zool), 2: 487.

Type species: Epeira destricta Cambridge, 1889. Distribution: Neotropical, Oriental and Palaearctic (World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Parawixia dehaani (Doleschall) (Figs. 127-131 & 190) Epeira dehaanii Doleschall, 1859, Acta Soc. Sci. Ind.-Neerl., 5: 33. Parawixia dehaani (Doleschall) Tikader, 1982, Fauna of India (Araneae), 2: 212.

Measurements (female): CL - 7.07, CW - 6.71, AL - 12.14, AW – 11.21, TL - 19.21. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.79, ALE – AME= 1.57, ALE – ALE= 3.79, PME – PME= 0.36, PLE – PME= 2.00, PLE – PLE= 4.07, ALE – PLE= 0.50, AME – PME= 0.29 Legs: I 16.54 (2.36, 2.00, 5.45, 5.09, 1.64); II 14.18 (1.64, 1.82, 5.09, 4.36, 1.27); III 12.00 (3.27, 1.82, 2.73, 2.73, 1.45); IV 21.45 (5.64, 2.91, 5.27, 5.27, 2.36). Leg formula 4123. Material examined: 1 female, NTE, 18.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NTE, 09.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NATE, 21.XI.2008, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 1 female (J), NATE, 01.II.2010, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Assam, Karnataka, Sikkim, West Bengal; Indo & Austro- Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Java, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines, Polynesia (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Kundu & Raychaudhuri, 1997; Saha & Raychaudhuri, 2004b; Majumder, 2007; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sebastian & Peter, 2009: Sen et al., 2009; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Genus: Neoscona Simon Neoscona Simon, 1864, Hist. Nat. des Araign., 1: 261.

Type species: Epeira arabesca Walckenaer, 1841. Distribution: Cosmopolitan (World Spider Catalogue, 2017). Key to species: 1. Abdomen sub triangular ------2 - Abdomen in no case triangular or sub triangular ------5 2. Epigynal scape not constricted at the bending point ------3 - Epigynal scape constricted either at the bending point or at the middle ------4 3. Epigynal scape right angle to the base, lateral lobes inconspicuous; labium basally deeply notched ------bengalensis Tikader & Bal

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- Epigynal scape not at right angle to the base, lateral lobes conspicuous and nearly rounded; labium basally not deeply notched ------chrysanthusi Tikader & Bal 4. Spermatheca elongate oval, copulatory ducts almost straight with distinct copulatory openings ------nautica (L. Koch) - Spermatheca relatively small, rounded, copulatory duct inwardly curved with openings not distinct ------punctigera (Doleschall)

5. Cephalic region frontally narrowed to a snout beyond the anteromedian eyes; thoracic region wide, reddish brown ------yptinika Barrion & Litsinger - Cephalic region not forming any snout; thoracic region less wide, not reddish brown ------theisi (Walckenaer)

Neoscona bengalensis Tikader & Bal (Figs. 132-137 & 191) Neoscona bengalensis Tikader & Bal, 1981, Rec. Zool. Surv. India, Occ. Pap., 24: 15.

Measurements (female): CL - 5.27, CW - 5.00, AL - 7.36, AW - 6.36, TL - 12.63. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.59, ALE – AME= 1.05, ALE – ALE= 2.50, PME – PME= 0.50, PLE – PME= 1.05, PLE – PLE= 2.50, ALE – PLE= 0.23, AME – PME= 0.41 Legs: I 16.15 (3.57, 2.00, 4.43, 4.86, 1.29); II 15.71 (3.57, 1.86, 5.14, 4.00, 1.14); III 11.86 (3.29, 1.86, 2.86, 2.71, 1.14); IV 16.86 (3.86, 2.43, 4.43, 5.00, 1.14). Leg formula 4123. Material examined: 2 females, KTE, 13.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, MTE, 14.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NTE, 18.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NTE, 08.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NATE, 10.IV.2010, coll. D. C. Dhali; 1 female, KUTE, 15.IX.2008, coll. S. Saha; 1 female, DTE, 21.VII.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, DTE, 20.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, DTE, 11.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Assam, West Bengal (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Kundu & Raychaudhuri, 1997; Majumder, 2005; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sebastian & Peter, 2009; Sen et al., 2009; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Neoscona chrysanthusi Tikader & Bal (Fig. 138-143 & 192) Neoscona chrysanthusi Tikader & Bal, 1981, Rec. Zool. Surv. India, Occ. Pap., 24: 13.

Measurements (female): CL - 4.82, CW - 3.64, AL - 8.55, AW - 8.00, TL - 13.36. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.45, ALE – AME= 0.91, ALE – ALE= 2.00, PME – PME= 0.32, PLE – PME= 1.00, PLE – PLE= 2.09, ALE – PLE= 0.18, AME – PME= 0.27 Legs: I 13.55 (2.22, 1.78, 4.44, 3.78, 1.33); II 14.67 (2.89, 2.00, 4.00, 4.22, 1.56); III 8.89 (3.33, 1.33, 1.56, 1.56, 1.11); IV 14.22 (4.00, 2.00, 3.33, 3.56, 1.33). Leg formula 2413. Material examined: 1 female, NTE, 16.VII.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, DTE, 21.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy

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Distribution: India: West Bengal; Bhutan (Tikader, 1982; Roy et al., 2009; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Neoscona nautica (L. Koch) (Figs. 144-148 & 193) Epeira nautica L. Koch, 1875, Aegyptische und abyssinische Arachniden gesammelt von Herrn C. Jickeli. Nürnberg: 17. Neoscona nautica (L. Koch) Petrunkevitch, 1930, Trans. Connect. Acad. Arts Sci., 30: 320.

Measurements (female): CL - 2.73, CW - 3.32, AL - 6.09, AW - 5.64, TL - 8.82. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.45, ALE – AME= 0.50, ALE – ALE= 1.32, PME – PME= 0.23, PLE – PME= 0.59, PLE – PLE= 1.32, ALE – PLE= 0.18, AME – PME= 0.18 Legs: I 11.72 (2.00, 1.43, 3.29, 4.00, 1.00); II 10.14 (1.71, 1.14, 2.86, 3.43, 1.00); III 6.57 (1.57, 0.86, 1.57, 1.71, 0.86); IV 10.86 (2.71, 1.29, 2.86, 3.00, 1.00). Leg formula 1423. Material examined: 1 female, STE, 02.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, KTE, 14.VII.2008, coll. D. C. Dhali; 2 females, KTE, 31.I.2010, coll. S. Saha; 2 females, NTE, 10.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, DTE, 21.VII.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, DTE, 20.III.2009, coll. D. Raychaudhuri Distribution: India: Assam, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, West Bengal; North America, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Kundu & Raychaudhuri, 1997; Gajbe, 2004; Saha & Raychaudhuri, 2004a; Majumder, 2007; Roy et al., 2009; Sebastian & Peter, 2009; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Neoscona punctigera (Doleschall) (Figs. 149-154 & 194) Epeira punctigera Doleschall, 1857, Nat. Tijdschr. Neder.-Ind., 13: 420. Neoscona punctigera (Doleschall) Roberts, 1983, Zool. J. Linn. Soc., 77: 275.

Measurements (female): CL - 3.29, CW - 3.07, AL - 5.93, AW - 4.79, TL - 9.22. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.36, ALE – AME= 0.61, ALE – ALE= 1.46, PME – PME= 0.25, PLE – PME= 0.64, PLE – PLE= 1.50, ALE – PLE= 0.14, AME – PME= 0.18 Legs: I 10.86 (1.86, 1.43, 4.00, 2.43, 1.14); II 11.00 (1.86, 1.29, 3.71, 3.14, 1.00); III 6.44 (1.86, 0.86, 1.43, 1.43, 0.86); IV 10.57 (2.14, 1.29, 3.00, 3.14, 1.00). Leg formula 2143. Material examined: 2 females, STE, 02.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NATE, 21.XI.2008, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 4 females, BTE, 31.X.2010, coll. S. Saha; 1 female, KUTE, 20.XI.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, DTE, 20.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal (New record); Austro-Malaysia, China, Japan, Reunion, South New Guinea (Tikader, 1982; Roy et al., 2010; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Neoscona yptinika Barrion & Litsinger (Fig. 195) Neoscona yptinika Barrion & Litsinger, 1995, Riceland Spiders of South and Southeast Asia: 620. Neoscona yptinika Barrion & Litsinger, Sen et al, 2011, J. Asia Pac. Entomol. 14: 367-371

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Material examined: 2 males, KTE, 13.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 males, NTE, 09.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 male, NTE, 01.XI.2010, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 1 male, DTE, 20.III.2009, coll. S. Saha Distribution: India: West Bengal; Philippines (Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Roy et al., 2010; Sen et al., 2011; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Neoscona theisi (Walckenaer) (Figs. 155-160 & 196) Epeira theis Walckenaer, 1841, Hist. Nat. des Ins. Aptères. Paris, 2: 53. Neoscona theisi (Walckenaer) F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1904, In Biologia Centrali-Americana, Zool . Lond., 2: 470.

Measurements (female): CL - 2.79, CW - 2.64, AL - 4.79, AW - 3.86, TL - 7.57. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.36, ALE – AME= 0.50, ALE – ALE= 1.21, PME – PME= 0.21, PLE – PME= 0.57, PLE – PLE= 1.25, ALE – PLE= 0.11, AME – PME= 0.18 Legs: I 12.57 (3.29, 1.43, 3.00, 3.71, 1.14); II 9.57 (1.86, 1.14, 2.71, 3.00, 0.86); III 6.43 (1.71, 1.00, 1.29, 1.57, 0.86); IV 12.29 (3.43, 1.43, 2.86, 3.57, 1.00). Leg formula 1423. Material examined: 8 females, STE, 12.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, STE, 02.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, KTE, 15.VII.2008, coll. S. Saha; 2 females, MTE, 14.IV.2010, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 2 females, NTE, 09.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, NATE, 11.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, BTE, 21.VIII.2010, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 2 females, DTE, 21.III.2009, coll. S. Saha; 2 females, DTE, 07.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, West Bengal; China to Pacific Island, New Guinea (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Kundu & Raychaudhuri, 1997; Gajbe, 2004; Majumder, 2007; Roy et al., 2009; Saikia & Baruah, 2009; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Genus: Gibbaranea Archer Gibbaranea Archer, 1951, Am. Mus. Novit., 1502: 1-34.

Type species: Aranea bituberculataWalckenaer, 1802. Distribution: Oriental and Palaearctic (World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

Gibbaranea indiana Roy et al. (Fig. 197) Gibbaranea indiana Roy et al., 2015, Species 16(52): 1- 5

Material examined: 1 female, STE, 12.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: West Bengal. The species is so far known from the type locality.

Genus: Araneus Clerck Araneus Clerck, 1757, Argn. Suec. : 15.

Type species: Araneus angulatus Clerck, 1757. Distribution: Cosmopolitan (World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

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Araneus mitificus (Simon) (Figs. 161-165 & 198) Epeira mitifica Simon, 1886, Act. Soc. Linn. Bord., 40: 150. Araneus mitificus (Simon) Simon, 1909, Bull. Sci. Fr. Belg., 42: 109.

Measurements (female): CL - 2.43, CW - 2.14, AL - 4.79, AW - 4.93, TL - 7.22. Interocular distance: AME – AME= 0.39, ALE – AME= 0.29, ALE – ALE= 0.82, PME – PME= 0.25, PLE – PME= 0.32, PLE – PLE= 0.82, ALE – PLE= 0.11, AME – PME= 0.21 Legs: I 6.90 (1.78, 0.67, 2.00, 1.56, 0.89); II 6.67 (1.44, 0.56, 1.89, 1.89, 0.89); III 3.33 (0.78, 0.44, 0.78, 0.89, 0.44); IV 4.56 (1.00, 0.56, 1.33, 1.11, 0.56). Leg formula 1243. Material examined: 1 female, STE, 12.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 4 females, KTE, 14.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KTE, 06.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KTE, 13.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), KTE, 24.VIII.2010, coll. D. C. Dhali; 4 females, MTE, 14.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 3 females, NTE, 16.VII.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, NTE, 11.IX.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 4 females, NTE, 18.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), NTE, 09.X.2009, coll. S. Saha; 2 females (J), NTE, 29.I.2010, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 1 female, NTE, 08.IV.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, NTE, 01.XI.2010, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, NATE, 21.XI.2008, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, NATE, 22.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female (J), NATE, 01.II.2010, coll. S. Saha; 3 females, BTE, 22.III.2009, coll. D. C. Dhali; 1 female, KUTE, 23.VII.2008, coll. D. Raychaudhuri; 2 females, KUTE, 23.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 1 female, KUTE, 14.X.2009, coll. T. K. Roy; 2 females, DTE, 21.III.2009, coll. T. K. Roy Distribution: India: Assam, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh , Maharashtra, West Bengal; Bangladesh, Hongkong, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam (Tikader, 1982; Biswas & Biswas, 1992; Barrion & Litsinger, 1995; Kundu & Raychaudhuri, 1997; Hazarika & Chakraborti, 1998; Gajbe, 2004; Majumder, 2007; Roy et al., 2009, 2010; Sebastian & Peter, 2009; Sen et al., 2009, 2010; Raychaudhuri et al., 2016; Saha et al., 2016; World Spider Catalogue, 2017).

4. DISCUSSION

In tea ecosystem, members of the family Araneidae are most diverse. They are typical Orb weavers and nocturnal. However, they are frequently found in the webs during the day time and adopt the spin wrap attack method to subdue their prey. Among the recorded species, Argiope pulchella Thorell is very much common in tea bushes, rehabilitation crops and fencing trees. Cyclosa spp. remain in the web with food particles and faeces. Neoscona spp. enjoy the foliages, weeds or sometimes the dry tea leaves, perfectly matching with the back ground. Dry leaf spider Acusilas coccineus Simon prefers the shade tree leaves of litter. Araneids are dominant during post monsoon, though a state of equilibrium is maintained throughout the year. Analysis of Zoogeographical distribution reveals that the fauna is largely Oriental (100%), followed by Australian (21.88%), Palaearctic (15.63%) and Ethiopian (3.13%). Number of recorded araneids from the study area shows that their diversity is maximum in Nepuchapur T. E. and minimum in Bhogotpore T. E.. Based on species diversity, the decreasing order of the tea estates are NTE (81.25%) > KTE (59.38%) > NATE (53.13%) > STE 50%) > DTE (46.88%) > MTE (43.75%) > KUTE (40.63%) > BTE

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(37.5%). This leads to infer ‘tea estates experiencing less pesticides, harbour higher spider heterogeneity’.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank National Tea Research Foundation, C/o-Tea Board [17(177)/2008 dt.27.3.2008] and MOEF & CC, GOI, (AICOPTAX) [22018/02/2010-CS (Tax) dt. 28.7.2014] for sponsoring the project and the officials of the concerned Tea estate, Dept. of Forest, Govt. of West Bengal, The Head, Dept. of Zoology, University of Calcutta and The Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Narendrapur for necessary support.

LITERATURE CITED

[1] Barrion, A. T. & Litsinger, J. A. 1995. Riceland Spiders of South and Southeast Asia. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, xix + 700 pp. [2] Biswas, B. K. & Biswas, K. 1992. State Fauna Series 3: Fauna of West Bengal, Araneae: Spiders, part 3. Zoological Survey of India, 357-500. [3] Bo Gang, C. 2003. Research on the use of spiders for the control of insects in tea fields. Acta Arachnologica Sinica, 12(2): 125-127. [4] Chen, Z. & Chen, X. 1989. An analysis of the world tea pest fauna. Journal of Tea Science Research, 9(1): 13-22. [5] Gajbe, P. U. 2004. Spiders of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, (Arachnida: Araneae). Records Zoological Survey of India, Occasional Paper 227: 1-154. [6] Gajbe, U. A. 2005. Studies on some spiders of the family Araneidae (Araneae: Arachnida) from Madhya Pradesh, India. Records Zoological Survey of India, 105(1-2): 45-60. [7] Hazarika, L. K., Bhuyan, M. & Hazarika, B. N. 2009. Insect pests of tea and their management. Annual Review of Entomology, 54: 267-284. [8] Hazarika, L. K., Borthakur, M., Singh, K. & Sannigrahi, S. 1994. Present status and future prospects of biological control of tea pests in North East India. Proceeding 32nd Tocklai, Conference TRA, Tocklai Expermental Station. Jorhat: 169-177. [9] Hazarika, L. K. & Chakraborti, S. K. 1998. Spider complex of tea ecosystem in Assam. Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Research Bulletin No. AAU/DA/EI. [10] Huong, L. T. T. 1999. Biological control of red spider mite. Ph.D. Thesis. Available at: http://www.community ipm.org/docs/Tea Eco-guide/08B-insect/20 Ecology. [11] Keswani, S., Hadole, P. & Rajoria, A. 2012. Checklist of Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from India-2012. Indian Journal of Arachnology, 1(1): 129. [12] Kundu, M. & Raychaudhuri, D. 1997. Araneid Spiders (Araneidae: Araneae) from Buxa Tiger Reserve, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. Insect Environment, 2(4): 133-134.

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[13] Majumder, S. C. 2004. Taxonomic studies of some spiders from mangrove and semi- mangrove areas of Sundarban. Memoirs Zoological Survey of India, 20(2): 1-42. [14] Majumder, S. C. 2005. Studies on some spiders from eastern coastal region of India. Memoirs Zoological Survey of India, 20(3): 1-57. [15] Majumder, S. C. 2007. Pictorial handbook on spiders of Sunderbans, West Bengal. Zoological Survey of India, 138 pp. [16] Mukhtar, M. K. & Mushtaq, S. 2005. Spiders of the genus Cyclosa (Araneae: Araneidae) from Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 37: 199-204. [17] Muraleedharan, N. 1992. Pest control in Asia. Tea cultivation to consumption. Chapman and Hall, London: 375-411. [18] Raychaudhuri, D., Saha, S. & Roy, T. K. 2016. Spiders: A proficient candidate in practicing IPM for Darjeeling Tea. World Scientific News 38: 1-62. [19] Roy, T. K., Dhali, D. C., Saha, S. & Raychaudhuri, D. 2009. Typical Orb-weaving Spiders (Araneidae: Araneae) of Tea Ecosystem of Dooars, West Bengal. Insect Environment, 15(3): 116-117. [20] Roy, T. K., Dhali, D. C., Saha, S. & Raychaudhuri, D. 2010. Orb-weaving spiders (Araneae: Araneidae) in the Tea Ecosystem of Assam. Bionotes, 12(4): 113-114. [21] Saha, S., Biswas, V., Majumder, S. C. & Raychaudhuri, D. 1995. Araneidae of Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal. Acta Arachnologica, Tokyo 44: 11-14. [22] Saha, S. & Raychaudhuri, D. 2004 a. A survey of spiders (Araneae: Araneidae) of Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, West Bengal, with description of a new Zilla species. Entomon, 29: 245-252. [23] Saha, S. & Raychaudhuri, D. 2004 b. Hitherto unknown genera of spiders, Ordgarius Keyserling, Pasilobus Simon (Araneidae) and Strigoplus Simon (Thomisidae) from eastern India. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society, 101: 425-428. [24] Saha, S., Roy, T. K. & Raychaudhuri, D. 2016. Survey on spider faunal diversity of Darjeeling Tea Plantations. Munis Entomology & Zoology, 11(2): 622-635. [25] Saikia, P. & Baruah, M. 2009. Diversity of spiders in Deep Water Rice Ecosystem of Assam. Insect Environment, 14(4): 173-174. [26] Satpathi, C. R. 2004. Predacious spiders of crop pests. Capital Publ. Company, 188 pp. [27] Schmidt, J. B. & Scharff, N. 2008. A taxonomic revision of the orb-weaving spider genus Acusilas Simon, 1895 (Araneae, Araneidae). Insect Systematics & Evolution, 39: 1-38. [28] Sebastian, P. A. & Peter, K. V. 2009. Spiders of India. University press (India) private limited, 614 pp. [29] Sen, S., Saha, S. & Raychaudhuri, D. 2009. Typical Orb weavers (Araneidae: Araneae) of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, West Bengal. Insect Environment, 15(1): 30-31.

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[30] Sen, S., Saha, S. & Raychaudhuri, D. 2010. Spiders of Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary and Neora Valley National Park, Darjeeling, West Bengal. Insect Environment, 15(4): 178- 180. [31] Sen, S., Saha, S. & Raychaudhuri, D. 2011. Spiders of Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan. Insect Environment, 16(4): 172-173. [32] Simon, E. 1895. Hist. Nat. des Araign. Paris, 1: 761-1084. [33] Tikader, B. K. 1963 a. Studies on some spider fauna of Maharashtra and Mysore states- Part I. Journal of University of Poona (Sci. Tech.), 24: 29-54. [34] Tikader, B. K. 1963 b. On two new species of spiders of the genera Pasilobus Simon and Cladomelea Simon of the family Argiopidae from India. Proceedings Indian Academy of Science, 57(B): 96-98. [35] Tikader, B. K. 1970. Spider fauna of Sikkim. Records Zoological Survey of India, 64: 1- 83. [36] Tikader, B. K. 1982. The Fauna of India, Spider: Araneae (Araneidae & Gnaphosidae). Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta II (1): 533 pp. [37] Tikader, B. K. 1987. Hand Book of Indian Spiders. Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, 251 pp. [38] World Spider Catalog. 2017. World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Available at http://wsc.nmbe.ch, version 17.5 (Accessed on 5th January, 2017). [39] Zhang, J. W. 1993. Dominant population and species of spiders preying on leafhopper in tea plantation. Tea Commun. No. 1: 17-19.

( Received 10 January 2017; accepted 30 January 2017 )

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LEGENDS OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figs. 1-6 & 166: Gasteracantha diadesmia Thorell, 1887: 1. Dorsal habitus; 2. Chelicerae, ventral view; 3. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 4. Epigynum, ventral view; 5. Epigynum, ventral view (Ex situ) 6. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 166. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 7-12 & 167: Gasteracantha kuhlii C.L. Koch, 1837: 7. Dorsal habitus; 8. Chelicerae, ventral view; 9. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 10. Epigynum, ventral view; 11. Epigynum, ventral view (Ex situ) 12. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 167. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 13-17 & 168: Gea subarmata Thorell, 1890: 13. Dorsal habitus; 14. Chelicerae, ventral view; 15. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 16. Epigynum, ventral view; 17. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 168. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 18-22 & 169: Argiope aemula (Walckenaer, 1841): 18. Dorsal habitus; 19. Chelicerae, ventral view; 20. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 21. Epigynum, ventral view; 22. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 169. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 23-27 & 170: Argiope pulchella Thorell, 1881: 23. Dorsal habitus; 24. Chelicerae, ventral view; 25. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 26. Epigynum, ventral view; 27. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 170. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 28-32 & 171: Cyrtarachne inequalis Thorell, 1895: 28. Dorsal habitus; 29. Chelicerae, ventral view; 30. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 31. Epigynum, ventral view; 32. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 171. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 33-37 & 172: Cyrtarachne raniceps Pocock, 1900: 33. Dorsal habitus; 34. Chelicerae, ventral view; 35. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 36. Epigynum, ventral view; 37. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 172. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 38-42 & 173: Pasilobus kotigeharus Tikader, 1963: 38. Dorsal habitus; 39. Chelicerae, ventral view; 40. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 41. Epigynum, ventral view; 42. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 173 General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 43-47 & 174: Eriovixia excelsa (Simon, 1889): 43. Dorsal habitus; 44. Chelicerae, ventral view; 45. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 46. Epigynum, ventral view; 47. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 174. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 48-52 & 176: Acusilas coccineus Simon, 1895: 48. Dorsal habitus; 49. Chelicerae, ventral view; 50. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 51. Epigynum, ventral view; 52. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 176. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 53-57 & 177: Cyrtophora bituberculata sp. nov. (Holotype): 53. Dorsal habitus; 54. Chelicerae, ventral view; 55. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 56. Epigynum, ventral view; 57. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 177. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 58-62 & 178: Cyrtophora cicatrosa (Stoliczka, 1869): 58. Dorsal habitus; 59. Chelicerae, ventral view; 60. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 61. Epigynum, ventral view; 62. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 178. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 63-67 & 179: Cyrtophora exanthematica (Doleschall, 1859): 63. Dorsal habitus; 64. Chelicerae, ventral view; 65. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 66. Epigynum, ventral view; 67. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 179. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 68-73 & 180: Cyclosa krusa Barrion & Litsinger, 1995: 68. Dorsal habitus; 69. Chelicerae, ventral view; 70. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 71. Abdomen, lateral view; 72. Male Palp, prolateral view; 73. Male Palp, Retrolateral view; 180. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 74-79 & 181: Cyclosa moonduensis Tikader, 1963: 74. Dorsal habitus; 75. Chelicerae, ventral view; 76. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 77. Abdomen, lateral view; 78. Male Palp, prolateral view; 79. Male Palp, Retrolateral view; 181. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 80-84 & 182: Cyclosa bifida (Doleschall, 1859): 80. Dorsal habitus; 81. Chelicerae, ventral view; 82. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 83. Epigynum, ventral view; 84. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 182. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 85-89 & 183: Cyclosa mulmeinensis (Thorell, 1887): 85. Dorsal habitus; 86. Chelicerae, ventral view; 87. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 88. Epigynum, ventral view; 89. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 183. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 90-95 & 184: Cyclosa quinqueguttata (Thorell, 1881): 90. Dorsal habitus; 91. Chelicerae, ventral view; 92. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 93. Abdomen, lateral view; 94. Epigynum, ventral view; 95. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 184. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 96-101 & 185: Cyclosa spirifera Simon, 1889: 96. Dorsal habitus; 97. Chelicerae, ventral view; 98. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 99. Abdomen, lateral view; 100. Epigynum, ventral view; 101. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 185. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 102-107 & 186: Cyclosa hexatuberculata Tikader, 1982: 102. Dorsal habitus; 103. Chelicerae, ventral view; 104. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 105. Abdomen, lateral view; 106. Epigynum, ventral view; 107. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 186. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 108-114 & 187: Cyclosa neilensis Tikader, 1977: 108. Dorsal habitus; 109. Chelicerae, ventral view; 110. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 111. Abdomen, lateral view; 112. Epigynum, lateral view; 113. Epigynum, ventral view; 114. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 187. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 115-120 & 188: Cyclosa simoni Tikader, 1982 (Female): 115. Dorsal habitus; 116. Chelicerae, ventral view; 117. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 118. Abdomen, lateral view; 119. Epigynum, ventral view; 120. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 188. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 121-126 & 189: Cyclosa simoni Tikader, 1982 (Male): 121. Dorsal habitus; 122. Chelicerae, ventral view; 123. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 124. Abdomen, lateral view; 125. Male Palp, ventral view; 126. Male Palp, retrolateral view; 189. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 127-131 & 190: Parawixia dehaani (Doleschall, 1859): 127. Dorsal habitus; 128. Chelicerae, ventral view; 129. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 130. Epigynum, ventral view; 131. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 190. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 132-137 & 191: Neoscona bengalensis Tikader & Bal, 1981: 132. Dorsal habitus; 133. Chelicerae, ventral view; 134. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 135. Epigynum, lateral view; 136. Epigynum, ventral view; 137. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 191. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 138-143 & 192: Neoscona chrysanthusi Tikader & Bal, 1981: 138. Dorsal habitus; 139. Chelicerae, ventral view; 140. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 141. Epigynum, lateral view; 142. Epigynum, ventral view; 143. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 192. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 144-148 & 193: Neoscona nautica (L. Koch, 1875): 144. Dorsal habitus; 145. Chelicerae, ventral view; 146. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 147. Epigynum, ventral view; 148. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 193. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 149-154 & 194: Neoscona punctigera (Doleschall, 1857): 149. Dorsal habitus; 150. Chelicerae, ventral view; 151. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 152. Epigynum, lateral view; 153. Epigynum, ventral view; 154. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 194. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 155-160 & 196: Neoscona theisi (Walckenaer, 1841): 155. Dorsal habitus; 156. Chelicerae, ventral view; 157. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 158. Epigynum, lateral view; 159. Epigynum, ventral view; 160. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 196. General habitus, Photographic image. Figs. 161-165 & 198: Araneus mitificus (Simon, 1886): 161. Dorsal habitus; 162. Chelicerae, ventral view; 163. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 164. Epigynum, ventral view; 165. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 198. General habitus, Photographic image. Fig. 175 A & B: Chorizopes quadrituberculata Roy et al, 2014: General habitus, Photographic image (PLATE II). Fig. 195: Neoscona yptinika Barrion & Litsinger, 1995: General habitus, Photographic image. (PLATE IV). Fig. 197: Gibbaranea indiana Roy et al., 2015: General habitus, Photographic image. (PLATE V).

PLATE I – Figs. 166-173 PLATE II – Figs. 174-180 PLATE III – Figs. 181-188 PLATE IV – Figs. 189-195 PLATE V – Figs. 196-198

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Figs. 1-6 & 166: Gasteracantha diadesmia Thorell, 1887: 1. Dorsal habitus; 2. Chelicerae, ventral view; 3. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 4. Epigynum, ventral view; 5. Epigynum, ventral view (Ex situ) 6. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 166. General habitus, Photographic image

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Figs. 7-12 & 167: Gasteracantha kuhlii C.L. Koch, 1837: 7. Dorsal habitus; 8. Chelicerae, ventral view; 9. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 10. Epigynum, ventral view; 11. Epigynum, ventral view (Ex situ) 12. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 167. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 13-17 & 168: Gea subarmata Thorell, 1890: 13. Dorsal habitus; 14. Chelicerae, ventral view; 15. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 16. Epigynum, ventral view; 17. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 168. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 18-22 & 169: Argiope aemula (Walckenaer, 1841): 18. Dorsal habitus; 19. Chelicerae, ventral view; 20. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 21. Epigynum, ventral view; 22. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 169. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 23-27 & 170: Argiope pulchella Thorell, 1881: 23. Dorsal habitus; 24. Chelicerae, ventral view; 25. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 26. Epigynum, ventral view; 27. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 170. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 28-32 & 171: Cyrtarachne inequalis Thorell, 1895: 28. Dorsal habitus; 29. Chelicerae, ventral view; 30. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 31. Epigynum, ventral view; 32. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 171. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 33-37 & 172: Cyrtarachne raniceps Pocock, 1900: 33. Dorsal habitus; 34. Chelicerae, ventral view; 35. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 36. Epigynum, ventral view; 37. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 172. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 38-42 & 173: Pasilobus kotigeharus Tikader, 1963: 38. Dorsal habitus; 39. Chelicerae, ventral view; 40. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 41. Epigynum, ventral view; 42. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 173 General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 43-47 & 174: Eriovixia excelsa (Simon, 1889): 43. Dorsal habitus; 44. Chelicerae, ventral view; 45. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 46. Epigynum, ventral view; 47. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 174. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 48-52 & 176: Acusilas coccineus Simon, 1895: 48. Dorsal habitus; 49. Chelicerae, ventral view; 50. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 51. Epigynum, ventral view; 52. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 176. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 53-57 & 177: Cyrtophora bituberculata sp. nov. (Holotype): 53. Dorsal habitus; 54. Chelicerae, ventral view; 55. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 56. Epigynum, ventral view; 57. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 177. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 58-62 & 178: Cyrtophora cicatrosa (Stoliczka, 1869): 58. Dorsal habitus; 59. Chelicerae, ventral view; 60. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 61. Epigynum, ventral view; 62. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 178. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 63-67 & 179: Cyrtophora exanthematica (Doleschall, 1859): 63. Dorsal habitus; 64. Chelicerae, ventral view; 65. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 66. Epigynum, ventral view; 67. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 179. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 68-73 & 180: Cyclosa krusa Barrion & Litsinger, 1995: 68. Dorsal habitus; 69. Chelicerae, ventral view; 70. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 71. Abdomen, lateral view; 72. Male Palp, prolateral view; 73. Male Palp, Retrolateral view; 180. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 74-79 & 181: Cyclosa moonduensis Tikader, 1963: 74. Dorsal habitus; 75. Chelicerae, ventral view; 76. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 77. Abdomen, lateral view; 78. Male Palp, prolateral view; 79. Male Palp, Retrolateral view; 181. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 80-84 & 182: Cyclosa bifida (Doleschall, 1859): 80. Dorsal habitus; 81. Chelicerae, ventral view; 82. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 83. Epigynum, ventral view; 84. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 182. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 85-89 & 183: Cyclosa mulmeinensis (Thorell, 1887): 85. Dorsal habitus; 86. Chelicerae, ventral view; 87. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 88. Epigynum, ventral view; 89. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 183. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 90-95 & 184: Cyclosa quinqueguttata (Thorell, 1881): 90. Dorsal habitus; 91. Chelicerae, ventral view; 92. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 93. Abdomen, lateral view; 94. Epigynum, ventral view; 95. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 184. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 96-101 & 185: Cyclosa spirifera Simon, 1889: 96. Dorsal habitus; 97. Chelicerae, ventral view; 98. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 99. Abdomen, lateral view; 100. Epigynum, ventral view; 101. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 185. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 102-107 & 186: Cyclosa hexatuberculata Tikader, 1982: 102. Dorsal habitus; 103. Chelicerae, ventral view; 104. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 105. Abdomen, lateral view; 106. Epigynum, ventral view; 107. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 186. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 108-114 & 187: Cyclosa neilensis Tikader, 1977: 108. Dorsal habitus; 109. Chelicerae, ventral view; 110. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 111. Abdomen, lateral view; 112. Epigynum, lateral view; 113. Epigynum, ventral view; 114. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 187. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 115-120 & 188: Cyclosa simoni Tikader, 1982 (Female): 115. Dorsal habitus; 116. Chelicerae, ventral view; 117. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 118. Abdomen, lateral view; 119. Epigynum, ventral view; 120. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 188. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 121-126 & 189: Cyclosa simoni Tikader, 1982 (Male): 121. Dorsal habitus; 122. Chelicerae, ventral view; 123. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 124. Abdomen, lateral view; 125. Male Palp, ventral view; 126. Male Palp, retrolateral view; 189. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 127-131 & 190: Parawixia dehaani (Doleschall, 1859): 127. Dorsal habitus; 128. Chelicerae, ventral view; 129. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 130. Epigynum, ventral view; 131. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 190. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 132-137 & 191: Neoscona bengalensis Tikader & Bal, 1981: 132. Dorsal habitus; 133. Chelicerae, ventral view; 134. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 135. Epigynum, lateral view; 136. Epigynum, ventral view; 137. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 191. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 138-143 & 192: Neoscona chrysanthusi Tikader & Bal, 1981: 138. Dorsal habitus; 139. Chelicerae, ventral view; 140. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 141. Epigynum, lateral view; 142. Epigynum, ventral view; 143. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 192. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 144-148 & 193: Neoscona nautica (L. Koch, 1875): 144. Dorsal habitus; 145. Chelicerae, ventral view; 146. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 147. Epigynum, ventral view; 148. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 193. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 149-154 & 194: Neoscona punctigera (Doleschall, 1857): 149. Dorsal habitus; 150. Chelicerae, ventral view; 151. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 152. Epigynum, lateral view; 153. Epigynum, ventral view; 154. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 194. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 155-160 & 196: Neoscona theisi (Walckenaer, 1841): 155. Dorsal habitus; 156. Chelicerae, ventral view; 157. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 158. Epigynum, lateral view; 159. Epigynum, ventral view; 160. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 196. General habitus, Photographic image.

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Figs. 161-165 & 198: Araneus mitificus (Simon, 1886): 161. Dorsal habitus; 162. Chelicerae, ventral view; 163. Maxillae, labium and sternum, ventral view; 164. Epigynum, ventral view; 165. Internal genitalia, dorsal view; 198. General habitus, Photographic image

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PLATE I

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PLATE II

Fig. 175 A & B: Chorizopes quadrituberculata Roy et al, 2014: General habitus, Photographic image

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PLATE III

Fig. 195: Neoscona yptinika Barrion & Litsinger, 1995: General habitus, Photographic image.

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PLATE IV

Fig. 195: Neoscona yptinika Barrion & Litsinger, 1995: General habitus, Photographic image.

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PLATE V

Fig. 197: Gibbaranea indiana Roy et al., 2015: General habitus, Photographic image.

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