Yunohamella mneon ( Bösenberg & Strand, 1906 ), Suzuki & Lee & Kumada, 2025

Yunohamella mneon ( Bösenberg & Strand, 1906) View in CoL , stat. rev.

[Japanese name: Haraobi-himegumo; Korean name: Heo-ri-ddi-kko-ma-geo-mi]

Figs 1A–C, F–H View FIGURE 1 ; 2A–C View FIGURE 2 ; 3A–C View FIGURE 3 ; 4A–C, G, H View FIGURE 4 ; 5 View FIGURE 5

Theridion mneon Bösenberg & Strand, 1906: 142 , pl. 12, fig. 286.

Theridion mneon Saito, 1941: 187 , fig. 217.

Keijia mneon Yoshida, 2001: 172–173 (transferred from Theridion View in CoL ).

Achaearanea mneon Ono, 2006: 264 (female; generic misplacement).

Platnickina mneon Koçak & Kemal, 2008: 3 View in CoL (transferred from Keijia View in CoL ).

Platnickina mneon Ono, 2011: 452–453 View in CoL (revalidation of P. adamsoni View in CoL ).

Platnickina mneon Dupérré, 2023: 231–232 View in CoL , fig. 73A–C (female; confirmed revalidation of P. adamsoni View in CoL based on the type specimen).

Takayus lyricus Shinkai & Tanikawa, 2006: 56 (male from Shimane Pref., Japan). Misidentification.

Yunohamella varietas Lee & Kim, 2021: 165–168 View in CoL , fig. 3A–H. Syn. nov.

Yunohamella lyrica Zhong et al., 2025: 79–83 View in CoL View Cited Treatment (junior synonym of Y. lyrica View in CoL ). Misidentification.

Type-material. Theridion mneon : ♀ holotype from Kompira , Saga, Northern Kyushu , Japan, deposited in Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt am Main ( SMF 3034 About SMF ), Germany [photograph examined via Dupérré (2023)]. Yunohamella varietas View in CoL : ♂ holotype from Ulsan, Korea, deposited in the National Institute of Biological Resources ( NIBRIV0000879011 ), Incheon, Republic of Korea [photographs and illustrations examined via Lee & Kim (2021)] .

Material examined. JAPAN, Akita Pref.: 1♀, Kisakata-machi, Nikaho-shi , 24.VII.1993, A. Fukushima leg. [reported as Y. lyrica in Fukushima (1997)] (NSMT-Ar 25444) . Ibaraki Pref.: 2♂, 1♀, lakeshore of Kasumigaura, Okijuku-machi, Tsuchiura-shi, 22. V .2019, Y. Suzuki leg. ( TKPM-AR 3251 ) . Chiba Pref.: 2♀, Risoukai-kinenshizen-koen Park, Yamazaki, Noda-shi , 11.VII.2010, A. Tanikawa leg. ( TKPM-AR 3264 ) ; 3♂, 2♀, same locality as previous, 16. V .2010, A. Tanikawa leg. ( TKPM-AR 3265 ) ; 2♂, 2♀, lakeshore of Tega-numa, Tobarishinden, Kashiwa-shi , 13.VII.2025, R . Serita leg. (RS, per. coll.); 1♀ with an egg sac, same locality as previous, 13.VII.2025, R . Hidaka leg. (RH, per. coll.). Saitama Pref.: 1♀ (collected as a juvenile and matured under rearing), riverbed of Edo-gawa River, Fukaishinden, Yoshikawa-shi , Saitama , 05.I.2024, A. Kikuchi leg. (AK, per. coll.) . Kanagawa Pref.: 1♂ (collected as a juvenile and matured under rearing), riverbed of Sagami-gawa River, Kawaraguchi, Ebinashi , 29.II.2024, A. Kikuchi leg. (AK, per. coll.) . Mie Pref.: 1♂, 4♀, riverbed under Machiya-bashi Bridge, Nao, Asahi-cho , Mie-gun , 29.VII.2023, T . Shiozaki leg. ( TKPM-AR 3201–3205 ) ; 1♀, Kawarada-cho, Yokkaichi-shi , 18.VII.1977, K. Kaihotsu leg. ( TKPM-AR 3215 ) ; 1♀, Oe, Minamiise-cho , Watarai-gun, 09. VI .2022, K. Kumada leg. ( TKPM-AR 3255 ) ; 1♂, Sekicho-shinjo , Kameyama-cho, 30. V .2006, K. Kumada leg. ( TKPM-AR 3256 ) . Shimane Pref.: 1♂, Isotake, Isotake-cho, Ota-shi , 23.VII.2006, A. Tanikawa leg. [reported as Takayus lyricus by Shinkai & Tanikawa (2006)] ( TKPM-AR 3263 ) . Tokushima Pref.: 1♂, 1♀, riverbed of Yoshino-gawa River , Tokushima-shi, 03. V .2023, Y. Suzuki leg. ( TKPM-AR 3194 ) ; 1♀, same data as previous ( TKPM-AR 3195 ) ; 2♀, same locality as previous, 18. V .2023, Y. Suzuki leg. ( TKPM-AR 3196 ) ; 1♀, same locality as previous, 13.X.2023, Y. Suzuki leg. ( TKPM-AR 3197 ) ; 1♂, 1♀, riverbed of Yoshino-gawa River under Nada-bashi Bridge, Nada , Tokumei , Aizumi-cho , Itano-gun , 18.IV.2024, Y. Suzuki leg. ( TKPM-AR 3257 ) ; 1♀, riverbed at estuary of Akui-gawa River, Fudohigashimachi, Tokushima-shi , 18.IV.2024, Y. Suzuki leg. ( TKPM-AR 3258 ) ; 1♂, riverbed at estuary of Katsuura-gawa River, Wadabarisoto, Ronden-cho , Tokushima-shi , 22.IV.2024, Y. Suzuki leg. ( TKPM-AR 3259 ) ; 2♂, 2♀, riverbed at Naka-gawa River , Sumiyoshi-cho, Anan-shi, 02. V .2024, Y. Suzuki leg. ( TKPM-AR 3260 ) . Saga Pref.: 1♂, 3♀, Kosegawa-choseichi balancing reservoir, Kinryu-machi Chifu, Saga-shi, 18. V .2025, A. Nakamura leg. ( TKPM-AR 3417 ) . Oita Pref.: 4♀, Otsuka, Nakatsu-shi, 21. VI .2020, A. Nakamura leg. ( TKPM-AR 3253 ) ; 2♀, Kaizaki, Saiki-shi , 27.VIII.2024, Y. Hino leg. ( TKPM-AR 3252 ) . Kumamoto Pref.: 1♂, 1♀, Iwasaka, Ozumachi , 21.VII.2024, A. Nakamura leg. ( TKPM-AR 3254 ) . REPUBLIC OF KOREA, Gyeongsangnam-do: 1♂, Gyeongsangnamdo Arboretum, Ibanseong-myeon, Jinju-si ( 35°09'40''N, 128°17'41''E), 1–17. VI GoogleMaps .2011, J.H. Hwang leg., Malaise trap. ( KNU) . Jeonbuk: 1♂, Kunsan National University, Miryong-dong, Gunsan-si ( 35°57'01"N, 126°40'55"E), 11–25.IV.2020, J.H. Sohn et al. leg., Malaise trap. ( KNU) GoogleMaps . Jeollanam-do: 1♂, Hakgu-ri, Seo-myeon, Suncheon-shi ( 35°02'29"N, 127°26'53"E), 03. V GoogleMaps –10. VI GoogleMaps .2021, S.W. Kim leg., Malaise trap. ( KNU) ; 1♂, same locality as previous, 10. VI –21.VII.2021, S.W. Kim leg. ( KNU).

Diagnosis. Yunohamella mneon is similar to Y. lyrica in the shape of the epigyne, sharing a pair of semicircular sclerotized epigynal processes and a broad atrium, but can be distinguished from the latter by the following characteristics: carapace pale yellowish brown with a dark brown spot anteriorly to the fovea and dark stains on the lateral margins ( Fig. 1B, C View FIGURE 1 ) (vs uniformly reddish brown in Y. lyrica ) ( Fig. 1D, E View FIGURE 1 ); dorsum of the abdomen pale yellowish brown with a longitudinal white band ( Fig. 1B, C, F–H View FIGURE 1 ) (vs dark reddish brown with a diamond-shaped whitish marking with pink spots, anterior side of abdomen with a pair of large blackish markings in Y. lyrica ) ( Fig. 1D, E, I View FIGURE 1 ); legs with dark brown annulations on the terminal region of each segment ( Fig. 1B, C, F–H View FIGURE 1 ) (vs annulations on both the terminal and middle regions of each segment in Y. lyrica ) ( Fig. 1D, E, I View FIGURE 1 ); male palp with conductor bearing a blunt, spoon-like tip ( Figs 2A–C View FIGURE 2 , 4A–C View FIGURE 4 ) (vs conductor twisted, flame-like, and with a distally sharper tip in Y. lyrica ) ( Figs 2D–F View FIGURE 2 , 4D–F View FIGURE 4 ); sperm duct more intricate, with tight loops ( Figs 2A View FIGURE 2 ; 4A View FIGURE 4 ) (vs sperm duct simpler, with more spread loops in Y. lyrica ) ( Figs 2D View FIGURE 2 , 4D View FIGURE 4 ); female genitalia with longer copulatory ducts (CDL/SW: 2.20), more convoluted, entering the spermathecae at an angle nearly parallel to the orientation of the basal portion of the fertilization ducts ( Figs 3B, C View FIGURE 3 , 4H View FIGURE 4 ) [vs relatively shorter (CDL/SW: 1.35), simple C-shaped trajectory, entering the spermathecae at an angle nearly orthogonal to the orientation of the basal portion of the fertilization ducts in Y. lyrica .] ( Figs 3D, E View FIGURE 3 , 4I View FIGURE 4 ).

Redescription. Male (TKPM-AR 3194). Measurements. Total length 2.24 long. Carapace 1.15 long, 0.96 wide. Eye diameter: AME, 0.124; ALE, 0.069; PME, 0.075; PLE, 0.078. Eye interdistances: AME-AME, 0.090; AME-ALE, 0.030; PME-PME, 0.085; PME-PLE, 0.085. Length of legs: I, 2.96 + 0.54 + 2.90 + 3.01 + 1.05 = 10.46; II, 1.97 + 0.53 + 1.47 + 1.77 + 0.77 = 6.51, III, 1.24 + 0.31 + 0.72 + 0.95 + 0.50 = 3.72; IV, 1.87 + 0.48 + 1.24 + 1.49 + 0.68 = 5.76. Abdomen 1.06 long, 0.89 wide.

Coloration and markings ( Fig. 1B, F View FIGURE 1 ). Carapace pale yellowish brown with a dark brown spot anteriorly to fovea and mottled dark on lateral margins; chelicerae and labium yellowish brown; sternum yellowish brown with dark margins; legs pale yellowish brown with dark brown annulations on terminal region of each segment; dorsum of abdomen pale yellowish brown with longitudinal white band and small blackish spots; ventral side of abdomen with a large black marking on middle part and black transverse band running laterally; spinnerets surrounded by black markings. Palp ( Figs 2A–C View FIGURE 2 , 4A–C View FIGURE 4 ). Tegulum large, covering most part of palpal bulb in ventral view; embolus almost straight and slightly curved, broad at base and pointed at tip; conductor broad, beak-like, conjugated with the tegulum; tip of the conductor concave, spoon-like; trajectory of sperm ducts intricate with tight loops; theridiid tegular apophysis large, strongly sclerotized with angular corner; median apophysis small, most portion hidden under the theridiid tegular apophysis; subtegulum distinct.

Female (TKPM-AR 3195). Measurements. Body 3.42 long. Carapace 1.25 long, 1.11 wide. Eye diameter: AME, 0.102; ALE, 0.092; PME, 0.101; PLE, 0.098. Eye interdistances: AME-AME, 0.095; AME-ALE, 0.036; PME-PME, 0.077; PME-PLE, 0.072. Length of legs: I, 2.13 + 0.51 + 1.92 + 2.03 + 0.81 = 7.40; II, 1.57 + 0.37 + 1.09 + 1.11 + 0.54 = 4.68; III, 0.97 + 0.33 + 0.57 + 0.66 + 0.45 = 2.98; IV, 1.32 + 0.35 + 1.07 + 1.09 + 0.61 = 4.44. Abdomen 2.00 long, 1.99 wide.

Coloration and markings ( Fig. 1C, G–H View FIGURE 1 ). Same as the male, slightly brighter. Genitalia ( Figs 3A–C View FIGURE 3 , 4D, E View FIGURE 4 ): epigyne with oval atrium; pair of semicircular, pigmented, sclerotized epigynal processes positioned anterolaterally on epigynal plate; copulatory openings located laterally on epigynal processes; copulatory ducts convoluted with tight loops, entering spermathecae at an angle nearly parallel to orientation of basal portion of the fertilization ducts; spermathecae spherical; fertilization ducts arising posteriorly from spermathecae, with simple curve and pointed tip.

Variations. Some female specimens collected in Saga and Oita, Kyushu, Japan, had darker markings on the cephalic region and dark annulations on the middle part of the femur of legs, as well as darker abdomen compared with those of the type specimen and specimens from other regions ( Fig. 5C View FIGURE 5 ) .

Remarks. Zhong et al. (2025) treated Yunohamella mneon as a junior synonym of Y. lyrica , based on the redescription made by Dupérré (2023), citing the similarity in the epigynal morphology. However, we argue that the type specimen of Y. mneon can be clearly distinguished from Y. lyrica based on several morphological features. Yunohamella mneon has a dark marking anteriorly to the fovea of the carapace, and mottled lateral margins, the blackish annulations on the middle portion of the leg segment are absent ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ; Bösenberg & Strand 1906, fig. 286; Dupèrrè 2003, fig. 73A), and has internal genitalia with more convoluted copulatory ducts with tight loops (Dupèrrè 2003, fig. 73B, C). On the other hand, females of Y. lyrica possess uniformly reddish-brown carapace, legs with dark brown annulations on both terminals and middle region of each segment, and relatively short and less convoluted copulatory ducts ( Figs 1D, E, I View FIGURE 1 , 3E, F View FIGURE 3 , 4J View FIGURE 4 ).

The type locality of Y. mneon is assumed to be Kinryu-cho, Saga Pref., where Kompira (Kotohira) Shrine is located ( Ichiba 1975, fig. 6). Additional specimens were collected from Kosegawa-choseichi balancing reservoir, only 4 km south from Kompira Shrine ( Fig. 6C View FIGURE 6 ). These specimens showed consistency in key morphological characters with the type specimen illustrated by Bösenberg & Strand (1906), with some intraspecific variations in coloration and markings, as described above.

In the molecular phylogeny ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 ), specimens of Y. mneon in both Japan and Korea formed a monophyletic group with high support values, and the p-distances between specimens in Korea and Japan varied between 0.0018 and 0.0091. Judging from both morphological comparison and molecular phylogenetic analysis among numerous Japanese and Korean specimens of Yunohamella species, males identified as Yunohamella varietas are well-grouped with the females of Yunohamella mneon ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 ). Therefore, they are considered conspecific, and Y. mneon should be treated as a senior synonym of Y. varietas syn . nov.

Natural History. In Japan, Y. mneon has primarily been found in grasslands on riverbeds and lakeshores, where it was observed constructing a tangle web between grasses near the ground. In the Republic of Korea, Y. mneon was collected from paddy fields and forest plantations ( Lee & Kim 2021; this study). In contrast, Y. lyrica and other Yunohamella species are typically associated with shaded, moist forest or cliffs and rocky walls along mountainous streams, and tree trunks ( Yoshida 1987, 2003). These observations suggest that Y. mneon prefers open landscapes, in contrast to at least some of its congeners.

Distribution. Republic of Korea ( Jeonbuk, Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangnam-do), Japan (Honshu to Kyushu) ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 ).