Two new species of the spider genus Putaoa (Araneae, Linyphiidae) from southern China.

Two new species of the genus Putaoa Hormiga and Tu, 2008 from southern China are described, Putaoa annulata n. sp. (♂♀) and Putaoa titanoverpa n. sp. (♂♀), for a total number of five described species in this genus. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the two new species are provided. A map of collecting localities is also provided for all five Putaoa species.

Two species of hackled-orb web spider genus Hyptiotes (Araneae, Uloboridae) from Guangxi, China.

Two species of the genus Hyptiotes Walckenaer 1837 are described from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, including a new species, Hyptiotes nonggang n. sp. (♂♀), and a known species, Hyptiotes paradoxus (C. L. Koch, 1834) (♂♀) which is the type species. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the two species are provide, and a map of collecting localities of them in China is also provided.

A survey of the Phrurolithidae (Arachnida: Araneae) of Damingshan National Natural Reserve, south China.

Species of the spider family Phrurolithidae of Damingshan National Natural Reserve, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China are surveyed. Five species from two genera are described as new to science, accompanied with photographs, SEM images and line drawings: Grandilithus bialatus sp. nov. (♀), Otacilia damingshanica sp. nov. (♂, ♀), O. haitun sp. nov. (♂, ♀), O. longissima sp. nov. (♂, ♀), and O. tingwei sp. nov. (♂, ♀). Furthermore, G. nonggang (Liu, Xu, Xiao, Yin & Peng, 2019) is recorded in this reserve. Distributions records of all treated species are mapped.

A review of the genus Bifidocoelotes Wang, 2002, with the description of three new species from China (Araneae, Agelenidae).

Three new species of the agelenid spider genus Bifidocoelotes Wang, 2002 are described from the mainland of China: Bifidocoelotes elongatus sp. nov. (♀; Guangxi, south China), B. mammiformis sp. nov. (♀, ♂; Guangdong, south China) and B. quadratus sp. nov. (♀; Guangxi, south China). The generic diagnosis is revised, and with the discovery of the three new species, the number of species in Bifidocoelotes doubles to six. Descriptions and illustrations of the three new species, a key to all the six species, and a distribution map for the genus are provided.

Description of three new species of the genus Cicurina Menge, 1871 from Guangdong, China (Araneae, Hahniidae).

Three new species of Cicurina Menge, 1871 are described based on specimens collected from Guangdong, China: C. bifurca Liao & Xu, spec. nov. (male), C. spiralis Liao & Xu, spec. nov. (male) and C. tetragongylodes Liao & Xu, spec. nov. (female). Detailed descriptions, photographs, drawings, and a distribution map of the three new species are provided, as well as a phylogenetic tree including the new species.

New species of the pirate spider genus Mimetus Hentz, 1832 from China with a cladistic hypothesis on their phylogenetic placement (Araneae, Mimetidae).

Five new species of mimetid spiders from China are described: Mimetus subulatus n. sp., M. clavatus n. sp., M. dentatus n. sp., M. niveosignatus n. sp. and M. uncatus n. sp. The phylogenetic placement of these new species is inferred based on a cladistic analysis of an expanded version of the morphological dataset of Benavides and Hormiga (2020). The new species form a clade that can be distinguished from other Mimetus species by the presence of a subtegular apophysis between paracymbium and subtegulum, pilose cuticular projections on the membranous part of the conductor in the male palp and by a bicameral structure of the spermathecae in females. The new species are part of a clade that includes Mimetus syllepsicus Hentz, 1832, the type species of the genus. The genus Mimetus as currently circumscribed is not monophyletic, as the clade that includes all the Mimetus species also includes the genera Australomimetus Heimer, 1986 and Anansi Benavides and Hormiga, 2017, corroborating the results of Benavides and Hormiga (2020).

Three species of hackled-orb web spider genus Miagrammopes from China (Araneae, Uloboridae).

Three species of the genus Miagrammopes O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1870 are described from China, including two new species, M. rutundus Liang Xu, n. sp. from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and M. auriculatus Cai Xu, n. sp. from Tibet Autonomous Region, and one known species, M. bifurcatus Dong, Yan, Zhu Song, 2004. The female of M. bifurcatus is described for the first time. Both detailed illustration and a distribution map of the three species are provided.

Taxonomic notes on a pirate spider occurring in China (Araneae, Mimetidae).

Based on molecular analysis (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA and histone H3) and morphological characters, it was found that Ero juhuaensis Xu, Wang Wang, 1987 is misplaced and belongs to Mimetus Hentz, 1832. A new combination is suggested, Mimetus juhuaensis (Xu et al., 1987) new combination. The male of M. juhuaensis is described for the first time. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of both sexes, as well as a distribution map of all known species of Mimetidae Simon, 1881 from China are provided.

Comparative transcriptomics highlights convergent evolution of energy metabolic pathways in group-living spiders.

Although widely thought to be aggressive, solitary, and potentially cannibalistic, some spider species have evolved group-living behaviors. The distinct transition provides the framework to uncover group-living evolution. Here, we conducted a comparative transcriptomic study and examined patterns of molecular evolution in two independently evolved group-living spiders and twelve solitary species. We report that positively selected genes among group-living spider lineages are significantly enriched in nutrient metabolism and autophagy pathways. We also show that nutrient-related genes of group-living spiders convergently experience amino acid substitutions and accelerated relative evolutionary rates. These results indicate adaptive convergence of nutrient metabolism that may ensure energy supply in group-living spiders. The decelerated evolutionary rate of autophagy-related genes in group-living lineages is consistent with an increased constraint on energy homeostasis as would be required in a group-living environment. Together, the results show that energy metabolic pathways play an important role in the transition to group-living in spiders.

Redescription of types of three species of Leptonetidae Simon, 1890 from China (Arachnida, Araneae).

Three species of the genus Leptoneta Simon, 1872 deposited at Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China, are examined and redescribed. Two species are transferred from Leptoneta Simon, 1872 to Leptonetela Kratochvíl, 1978, and the following new combinations are proposed: Leptonetela trispinosa (Yin, Wang & Wang, 1984), comb. nov. (♀♂), and Leptonetela unispinosa (Yin, Wang & Wang, 1984), comb. nov. (♂). The generic placement of Leptoneta monodactyla Yin, Wang & Wang, 1984 is maintained. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and a distribution map for all three species are provided.

Two new species of Utivarachna Kishida, 1940 from southern China, with an updated key to the Chinese species (Araneae: Trachelidae).

Two new trachelid spiders were collected from Guangxi, southern China, and are described here as Utivarachna subfabaria sp. nov. (♂, ♀) and U. tangi sp. nov. (♀). Both species belong to the Utivarachna kinabaluensis-group. Detailed generic synapomorphies are deduced based on an assessment of all known Utivarachna species, and an updated key to the Utivarachna species from China is provided.

Redescription of holotypes of four Alopecosa species (Araneae, Lycosidae) from China.

The holotypes of four species of Alopecosa Sundevall, 1833 described from China, A. disca Tang, Yin & Yang, 1997 (♀); A. orbisaca Peng, Yin, Zhang & Kim, 1997 (♀); A. wenxianensis Tang, Yin & Yang, 1997 (♂), and A. xilinensis Peng, Yin, Zhang & Kim, 1997 (♀), are reexamined. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, remarks, and a distribution map of the three valid species are given. Alopecosa xilinensis syn. nov. is found to be junior synonym of Alopecosa licenti (Schenkel, 1953).

Six new species of Otacilia from southern China (Araneae: Phrurolithidae).

Six new ground sac spider species of the family Phrurolithidae were collected from southern China: Otacilia ailan sp. nov. (♀), O. daweishan sp. nov. (♂, ♀), O. fabiformis sp. nov. (♂, ♀) and O. jiandao sp. nov. (♀) from Hunan Province; and O. nonggang sp. nov. (♂, ♀) and O. yinae sp. nov. (♂) from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. All species are described and illustrated with photographs and line drawings.

A new record of the spider family Caponiidae from China (Arachnida, Araneae).

The family Caponiidae Simon, 1890 is reported for the first time from China. The total number of the known spider families from China increases to 72 with the addition of this family newly recorded in the present paper. Based on male and female specimens collected from Guangxi, China, Laoponiasaetosa Platnick & Jäger, 2008 is illustrated and a global distribution map is generated.

Description of three new species of spider genus Leptonetela Kratochvíl, 1978 from caves of Hunan Province, China (Araneae, Leptonetidae).

Three new species of the spider family Leptonetidae from caves in Hunan Province, China are described: Leptonetela biocellata sp. nov., Leptonetela latapicalis sp. nov. and Leptonetela tangi sp. nov. Detailed illustrations of the three new species are provided.

First description of the male of Draconarius jiangyongensis (Peng et al., 1996) (Araneae, Agelenidae).

The male of Draconarius jiangyongensis (Peng, Gong & Kim, 1996) is described for the first time from Xinning County, Hunan Province, China. Morphological descriptions and illustrations of both sexes of this species are given in this study. The placement of this species in Draconarius is doubted.

First description of the male of Hitobia makotoi Kamura, 2011 (Araneae, Gnaphosidae).

The male of Hitobia makotoi Kamura, 2011 is described for the first time from Hengshan Mountain, Hunan Province, China. This species was originally described from Amami-ôshim Island, Japan and has been recorded from Gaoligong Mountain, Yunnan Province, China. Morphological descriptions and illustrations of both sexes of this species are given.