Die Arten der Steatoda phalerata -Gruppe in Europa (Arachnida: Araneae, Theridiidae).

The phalerata-group of Steatoda in Europe (Araehnida: Araneae, Theridiidae). - The Steatoda phalerata graup apparently is more rich in species in southern Europe than previously assumed. S. phalerata (PANZER) is widely distributed in temperate and southern Europe. Three additional, closely related species occur in Mediterranean countries. S. meridionalis (KULCZYNSKI) is a south-eastern species, which is now known to occur between the Ukraine, Gruziya, Greece, Croatia, and Hungary, western-most localities close to the Austrian border near Sopran and in Moravia. S. italiea n.sp. is adriatomediterranean, occurring in mid- and northern Italy (Veneto) and in Corsica. In museum materials, single specimens have been found also in S. phalerata vials from "France" and from "Carnioie", so probably S. italiea exists also in southern France and in Siovenia. S. brignolii n.sp. is now known from two localities in Greece. Two former "subspecies", S. ph. eorsiea (SIMON) and S. ph. seraiensis (NOSEK) clearly belong to S. phalerata (nov. syn.). A close relative to the three mediterranean species exists in North America, S. amerieana (EMERTON), which was included for comparison. S. brignolii is known only from the female
the other species are characterized in both sexes. In addition, a key to this species group is given and information about copulatory behaviour is summarized. Copulation corresponds to that of Crustulina and differs strongly from other Steatoda species.