Pilia malenadu Caleb, 2025

Pilia malenadu Caleb sp. nov.

Figs 1–30 View FIGURES 1–6 View FIGURES 7–14 View FIGURES 15–19 View FIGURES 20–23 View FIGURES 24–30

Types. Holotype: ♂ (ZSI-SRC-I/SP 50), INDIA: Karnataka, Chickmagaluru, Madugundi ( 13°07'58.6"N, 75°26'56.6"E), 785 m a.s.l., 23 Feb 2023, coll. Ajith Padiyar. GoogleMaps Paratype 1 ♀ (ZSI-SRC-I/SP 51) same details as holotype.

Additional material examined. 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ with same details as holotype.

Etymology. The specific epithet malenadu is treated as a noun in apposition and refers to the Malenadu region of Karnataka, India. Derived from Kannada— mala (hill) and nadu (land)—the name means “land of hills.” This biodiverse, forested area forms part of the Western Ghats. It is named in reference to its distinctive geographic and ecological origin.

Diagnosis. The male of the new species can be distinguished by the relatively longer and bent embolus with broad base arising from 11 o’clock position and directed toward 1 o’clock position (relatively smaller, almost straight with narrow embolic base and directed apically toward 12 o’clock position in P. escheri and P. saltabunda ); embolus arises slightly below the retrolateral shoulder of the tegulum (embolic base above retrolateral shoulder of tegulum in P. escheri ); distal portion of tegulum at embolic base rounded (narrow in P. escheri ); RTA as long as width of palpal tibia, directed ventrally narrow and thorn-like in retrolateral view (RTA shorter than tibial width, directed ventrally along base of the bulb in P. escheri ; broad and beak-like in P. saltabunda ) (cf. Figs 16–17 View FIGURES 15–19 , 20, 21 View FIGURES 20–23 with figs 13–15 in Prószyński (1983: 75) and illustrations in Prószyński (1987: 77)). The female can be recognized by the epigyne with circular lateral windows; copulatory ducts with one anterior loop leading to a posterior pyriform chamber and then to the elongated, U-shaped spermathecae ( Figs 18–19 View FIGURES 15–19 , 22–23 View FIGURES 20–23 ).

Description. Holotype male: total length 3.42; carapace 1.61 long, 1.58 wide; abdomen 1.81 long, 1.70 wide. Carapace brown, almost square, clothed with pale hairs; bunch of stiff dense hairs present along inner sides of each PLE ( Figs 1–3 View FIGURES 1–6 , 7 View FIGURES 7–14 ); thoracic slope steep ( Figs 2 View FIGURES 1–6 , 9 View FIGURES 7–14 ). Eyes surrounded by black regions; anterior eyes surrounded by white orbital setae ( Figs 3 View FIGURES 1–6 , 8 View FIGURES 7–14 ). Eye measurements: AME 0.42, ALE 0.26, PME 0.05, PLE 0.23; AER 1.50; PER 1.34; EFL 0.92. Clypeus height 0.06. Chelicera 0.39 long. Clypeus brown ( Figs 3 View FIGURES 1–6 , 8 View FIGURES 7–14 ). Chelicerae brown with one promarginal and one bicuspid retromarginal teeth. Sternum oval, brown; labium and maxillae brown. Abdomen oval, pointed posteriorly; brown with small white anterior patch of hairs, pair of white patches further medially, chevronshaped brown markings present along posterior half of mid-dorsal region ( Figs 1 View FIGURES 1–6 , 7 View FIGURES 7–14 ); lateral sides with yellow and brown streaks and a few white hairs ( Figs 2 View FIGURES 1–6 , 9 View FIGURES 7–14 ); venter yellow-brown. Spinnerets yellow-brown ( Fig. 9 View FIGURES 7–14 ). Leg I brown, robust with long coxae, trochanters, and patellae; enlarged tibiae with dense ventral fringe of hairs; femora enlarged, clothed with dense hairs dorsally and retrolaterally; legs II to IV with brown femora; patellae to metatarsi yellow with brown annulations at joints ( Figs 1–2 View FIGURES 1–6 , 7–10 View FIGURES 7–14 ). Palp and leg measurements: palp 1.44 (0.54, 0.17, 0.15, 0.58); leg I 4.89 (1.46, 1.02, 1.20, 0.89, 0.32); II 2.96 (0.92, 0.49, 0.54, 0.69, 0.32); III 2.76 (0.89, 0.44, 0.43, 0.70, 0.30); IV 3.03 (0.99, 0.48, 0.58, 0.69, 0.29). Leg formula 1423. Palp yellow-brown, femora, patellae and basal portion of tibia brown, clothed with pale hairs; apical 1/3 rd of cymbium bright yellow ( Figs 3 View FIGURES 1–6 , 8 View FIGURES 7–14 ); RTA long, thorn-like, with broad base, tapering toward tip, directed ventrad; bulbus rounded; embolus like mouse tail, arising between 11 to 12 o’clock position, tip directed at 1 o’clock position ( Figs 15–17 View FIGURES 15–19 , 20–21 View FIGURES 20–23 ).

Female ( paratype). Total length 3.61; carapace 1.46 long, 1.43 wide; abdomen 2.15 long, 2.13 wide. Eye measurements: AME 0.41, ALE 0.26, PME 0.06, PLE 0.22; AER 1.42 ; PER 1.34 ; EFL 0.87. Clypeus height 0.06. Chelicera 0.39 long. Palp and leg measurements: palp 1.25 (0.49, 0.23, 0.18, 0.35); leg I 3.71 (1.09, 0.77, 0.87, 0.67, 0.31); II 2.66 (0.82, 0.51, 0.49, 0.54, 0.30); III 2.69 (0.86, 0.47, 0.44, 0.63, 0.29); IV 3.23 (1.03, 0.47, 0.60, 0.77, 0.36). Leg formula 1432. Coloration pattern similar to male but differs in the following: abdomen rounded, and relatively lighter than male. Palps with bright yellow tibiae and tarsi. Femora I less hirsute than male ( Figs 4–6 View FIGURES 1–6 , 11–14 View FIGURES 7–14 ). Epigyne and internal structures as in Figs 18–19 View FIGURES 15–19 , 22–23 View FIGURES 20–23 .

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Karnataka, India) ( Fig. 31 View FIGURE 31 ).

Natural history. Between January 2024 and March 2025, a total of 24 individuals of Pilia malenadu sp. nov. were observed, comprising 17 males, 3 females, and 4 juveniles. All sightings occurred during daylight hours (10:00–17:00 hrs). Notably, individuals were exclusively found on two plant species, Memecylon umbellatum and Memecylon malabaricum , typically concealed between their leaves, suggesting strong microhabitat preference and a shy disposition. Female guarding egg sac with hatchlings was also recorded ( Figs 24, 25 View FIGURES 24–30 ).

A significant observation was made on 14 March 2025 in the Kudremukh region, where a male Pilia malenadu was found parasitized by the larva of an unidentified parasitoid wasp ( Fig. 28 View FIGURES 24–30 ), nestled between the leaves of M. malabaricum . This represents the first documented case of parasitoidism in this species and highlights a potentially novel hymenoptera-salticidae host-parasite interaction within the region’s tropical forest ecosystem.