Venatrix ornatula (L. Koch, 1877)

Female of Venatrix ornatula [as illustrated in Koch (1877a)]. Cephalothorax length 4.5 mm.

Male (A-D) and female (E-F) of Venatrix ornatula [as illustrated in Framenau and Vink (2001)]. Scale bar A, B, 3.80 mm; C, D, 0.90 mm; E, F, 0.84 mm.

N.B.: Examination of both syntypes of Allocosa ornatula did not undoubtedly confirm a synonymy with Venatrix forsteri Framenau & Vink 2001.

Systematics and Taxonomy

Lycosa ornatula L. Koch, 1877a: 902-903, plate 77, figs 6, 6a-b.
Lycosa ornatula L. Koch.- Hogg, 1900: 76.
Lycosa ornatula L. Koch.- Rainbow, 1911: 270.
Allocosa ornatula (L. Koch).- Roewer, 1955c: 206.
Lycosa ornatula L. Koch.- Bonnet, 1957: 2656.
Allocosa ornatula (L. Koch).- Rack, 1961: 38.
Lycosa ornatula L. Koch.- McKay, 1973: 379.
Lycosa ornatula L. Koch.- McKay, 1985b: 81.

Venatrix forsteri Framenau and Vink, 2001: 955-956, figs 32a-f, 33. (new synonymy in Framenau, in press)
Venatrix ornatula (L. Koch).- Framenau, in press: ##-##.

Types

Synypes of Lycosa ornatula:

N.B. Koch (1877a) lists material from Rockhampton [23°22'S, 150°30'E, Queensland] and Bowen [20°00’S, 148°14’E, Queensland].

Female, Rockhampton [23°22'S, 150°30'E, Queensland], Museum Godeffroy Nr. 14555 (Zoologisches Institut und Zoologisches Museum, Universität Hamburg Rack (1961)-catalogue 471) (pers. observation).
Female, Bowen [20°00’S, 148°14’E, Queensland], Koch collection (British Museum of Natural History, London, 1919.9.18.712) (pers. observation).

Holotype of Venatrix forsteri:

Male, Berwah Forestry Reserve [26°51’S, 152°59’E, Queensland], 31. x. 1990, pitfall trap, heath, M. Glover (Queensland Museum, QM S45533).

Distribution

Queensland and Northern New South Wales [map as illustrated in Framenau and Vink (2001)]. Hogg's (1900) record from the Macedon Ranges in Victoria is doubtful.

Biology

In or near rainforests; other habitat descriptions include: “semi swamp”, “open woodland”, “beach”, “heathland”, but also “in house”; most records are from autumn until early spring (April – October) (Framenau and Vink, 2001).

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Latest changes: 27 October 2005.