Araneus grossus

Araneus grossus (C.L. Koch, 1844) (Fig. 2) Material examined. 1♀, KOSOVO, Veriq, Istog municipality (42°45'19.37''N, 20°33'12.71''E), 15-V-2021; 1♀, KOSOVO, Bistricë e Shalës, Leposaviq municipality (43°1'48.23''N, 20°53'25.51''E), 12-VII-2023; 1♀, KOSOVO, Selacë, Mitrovicë municipality (43°01'48.23''N, 20°53'25.51''E), 8-VI-2023, Coll. Donard Geci. Distribution. West Palaearctic: Europe to Central Asia (World Spider Catalog, 2024). Diagnostic note. Habitus: Carapace light brown, with pale margins. Opisthosoma dorsally distended, yellowish-brown, with brown pattern. Tubercles with a yellowish hue. Eye region mostly yellow, with dense bright hairs. Chelicerae brown. Legs brown, indistinctly annulated. Body length: female: 15–25 mm (Nentwig et al., 2024). Epigyne: Scapus covers the genital openings, joined to a basal zone that covers the copulatory ducts and the spermathecae made up of several sclerites. Laterally, the base of the epigyne is flanked by a pair of lamellae. In ventral view, the length and wrinkles of the scapus vary among individuals of the same species, perhaps due to a different folding of it. The scapus is always long and wide. Epigyne is very dark due to intense sclerotization (Morano & Mora-Rubio, 2021) (Figs 2A–C).