A new record of Gea subarmata (Araneae: Araneidae) from Japan

Abstract

A small orb-web spider species, Gea subarmata Thorell 1890, was newly recorded from Japan. The previously known distribution of G. subarmata ranged from India to New Guinea, and its closest known habitat to Japan was in the Philippines. The specimen was collected at a resort hotel, and no other specimen could be found; therefore, it seemed that the species is not native, but rather introduced. The genus Gea was also newly recorded from Japan.