Herennia
Herennia is a genus of spiders in the family Nephilidae, found from India to northern Australia. While two species have been known since the 19th century, nine new species were described in 2005. Spiders in this genus are sometimes called coin spiders.
While H. multipuncta is invasive and synanthropic, all other known species are endemic to islands.
Like in the related genus Nephilengys, the much smaller males mutilate and sever their pedipalps, which are often found stuck in the epigynum or female genital openings. It is suggested that they act as mating plugs to prevent other males from mating with the female and thereby ensure the paternity of offspring. The males cannot mate subsequently and such "eunuch" individuals continue to stay near the female.
Name
Herennia Etruscilla was the wife of Trajan Decius. There are coins bearing her image, which were probably the source for Thorell to name the genus. The non-scientific name coin spiders was proposed because of this fact.
Species
, the World Spider Catalog accepted the following species:Herennia agnarssoni Kuntner, 2005 — Solomon IslandsHerennia deelemanae Kuntner, 2005 — BorneoHerennia etruscilla Kuntner, 2005 — JavaHerennia gagamba Kuntner, 2005 — PhilippinesHerennia jernej Kuntner, 2005 — SumatraHerennia milleri Kuntner, 2005 — New Guinea, New BritainHerennia multipuncta — India to China, Borneo, SulawesiHerennia oz Kuntner, 2005 — Northern TerritoryHerennia papuana Thorell, 1881 — New GuineaHerennia sonja Kuntner, 2005 — Kalimantan, SulawesiHerennia tone Kuntner, 2005 — Philippines