The orb-weaving spider genus Larinia in Australia (Araneae: Araneidae)

Abstract

Despite some dispute on the validity of the genera in the “Larinia-group” (as defined by Grasshoff in 1970), Larinia Simon, 1874 and Lipocrea Thorell, 1878 have been maintained as separate genera. Our review does not allow sustaining a separation of these two genera in Australia taking into account morphological variability within and between the species. We accept a commonly employed broader concept of Larinia and recognise fi ve Australian species. Larinia montagui Hogg, 1914 (revalidated) is the most common representative of the genus in Australia, with records from all mainland states and many offshore islands. Larinia phthisica (L. Koch, 1871) and L. tabida (L. Koch, 1872) occur sympatrically along the coast in the northern two thirds of Australia, with L. phthisica also being present in South Australia. Larinia jamberoo sp. nov. has been reported from New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. The synonymy of Larinia delicata Rainbow, 1920, currently only known from Lord Howe Island, with Lipocrea diluta Thorell, 1887 is disputed and the species revalidated.