Heroic Orb-weaver Backobourkia heroine (L. Koch, 1871)
Fauna Portal species: 6400
Backobourkia heroine female, dorsal (WAM T68087)
Image: V.W. Framenau (2007)
Fauna Portal Image No. 2572Diagnosis
From Framenau et al. 2010: Male B. heroine differ from the very similar B. brounii in the shape of the conductor of the pedipalp in which the tip forms a much wider angle; females differ in the presence of large baso-lateral subtriangular fl aps at the epigyne in posterior view, which are much smaller or absent in B. brounii. In addition, the central division of the epigyne in posterior view forms a narrow V in B. heroine, whereas this division is much narrower in B. brounii and with a minor central gap. In addition, the spermathecae are comparatively smaller in B. heroine than in B. brounii. Overall, B. heroine are larger than B. brounii but size ranges overlap.
Abdomen colouration cannot be used to distinguish species of Backobourkia. Generally, examination of genitalia is required to identify Backobourkia species.
Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
Distribution
Backobourkia heroine occurs throughout Australia.
Similar Species
Publications
(2010): Systematics of the new orb-weaving spider genus Backobourkia (Araneae: Araneidae: Araneinae). Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny. 68: 79 - 111