New data on Anatolidion Wunderlich, 2008, Neottiura Menge, 1868, and Theridion Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae: Theridiidae) from the South Caucasus

Abstract

In this paper, we present new taxonomic and faunistic data on the genera Anatolidion Wunderlich, 2008, Neottiura Menge, 1868, and Theridion Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae: Theridiidae) occurring in the South Caucasus. Four species of Theridion are described as new to science: Th. absheronicum sp. nov. (♂♀; Azerbaijan), Th. araratense sp. nov. (♂♀; Armenia), Th. caucasicum sp. nov. (♂♀; Armenia, Azerbaijan), and Th. huseynovi sp. nov. (♂♀; Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran); DNA barcodes are provided for the latter species. A new combination, Anatolidion arsia (Zamani & Marusik, 2021) comb. nov. (ex Theridion), is proposed; this species is newly recorded from the Caucasus, and its male is described for the first time. Additionally, Th. betteni Wiehle, 1960 is recorded from the South Caucasus for the first time, and N. suaveolens (Simon, 1880) is newly recorded in Azerbaijan. Distribution records for all treated species in the South Caucasus are mapped.