Genus  Marpissa  C.L.Koch, 1846

The genus, based on Marpissa muscosa (Clerck,1758) as type species, is characterized by flattening of the lateral surface of palpal cymbium in males and by complicated coils of epigyne in females.
The genus as outlined here, consisits of two distinct groups of species, often considered to be separate genera.
The Marpissa proper (M.dybowski, M.pulla and other) has broad, flattened abdomen, bulbs rounded with embolus encircling it, cymbium very broad and usually rounded.
The second group of species (M.elongata, M.magister, M.pulchra and others) is characterized by elongate narrow abdomen, short embolus, epigyne consisting of two posteriorly opened grooves separated by a median ridge; the canals make compact knots.
That group has been often named Hyctia Simon, 1876[type species Hyctia nivoyi (Lucas,1846)], 
Mithion Simon,1884 (type species Mithion semiargenteus Simon,1884), Icidella Strand in Bosenberg et Starnd,1906 [type species Icidella interrogationis Bosenberg et Strand,1906=Marpiisa magister (Karsch,1879)(?)].
Usage of two first of these names has some merits, however, the relationship of Hyctia nivoyi to Marpissa needs further research.
The best known South European species of Mithion - Mithion canestrinii (Ninni in Canestrini et Pavesi,1868) is certainly congeneric with Marpissa magister and other related species.
Both groups are certainly very closely related and do form a continuous chain of forms in North America and Palaearctic.
Calling them a single genus stresses these relationships although may create troubles in writing identification keys.
As the type species of the genus Mithion Simon,1884 - Mithion semiargenteus Simon,1884 belongs in fact to genus Thyene Simon,1885(Proszynski 1987) there are no more species left in Mithion.
That name should become a synonym of Theyne, which contains numerous speciemen three continents in spite of one year priority of Mithion.
Other choice - remaining all Thyene species would cause to much nomenclatorical confusion.
Very useful comparison of external characters in Marpissa magister, Marpissa elongata, Marpissa pulchra (marked No.3 but not named) and a new species, for males and females, as well as ventral abdominal markings, outlines of epigyne and lateral view of the palpal organ give Chikuni and Yaginuma (1976: 33-34).
  

Species  Marpissa pulchra  Proszynski,1976

Material. 1 female - holotypus, 1 female - paratypus - Japan: Nagano Pref., leg.T.Yaginuma, det.Proszynski. Numerous females and males - paratypi - North Korea: Phjongjang, Songmun-ri, Myohjansang-san Mts, Musu-tong valley, Hjangam-ri, Hjansan-chon, Tongeong-ho, Onpho-ri, Dzuyr, Thomak-tong, leg.1959 B.Pisarski et J.Proszynski, 1965 M.Mroczkowski et A.Riedel, 1966 C.Dziadosz et H.Szelegiewicz, 1970 R.Bielawski et M.Mroczkowski - coll.IZ PAN -  Warzsawa.

 The species has been proposed by Proszynski (1976: 187, ff.412-414, map 123) on the basis of above listed Japanese and North Korean specimens.
 The original description was limited to taxonomic drawings, reprinted here and used also by subsequent authors, name, quotation of label and map of distribution.
 There was no description of characters in words, however, the most important characters in this group and this species are shown on drawings and the descriptions in words play accesory part only.
 The species was quoted by Chikuni and Yaginuma (1976) and redescribed by Wesolowska (1981a: 66-67), on the basis of the Korean paratypes, who considered it the first valid description.
 The nomeclatorical problem is reduced then to acceptation of the description by Proszynski (1976) as valid one or rejection.

 The female can be recognized by unusually rich coloration of abdomen (fig.134) consisiting of median white streak (anteriorly blunish) extending two third of abdomen gradually narrowing and followed by 2 small white median spots.
 White streak is followed laterally and posteriorly down to spinnerets by an area covered with golden gleaming scales.
 There are four pairs of almost rectangular velvety black (on long preserved specimen faded to brown) marginal spots, two last separated by a white dot, remaining by golden dots, underlined by thin marginal white line.
 This character is strikingly different in other Japanese species: 
pale yellowish abdomen with two parallel brownish grey streaks in Marpissa magister 
or brown with transverse white lines or spots of scales in male of Marpissa elongata which resembles in this respect some other related Palaearctic species.
 Male of Marpissa magister has greyish yellow abdomen with very thin median line.
 All these species have, however, abdomens long, narrow and pointed posterioly, in which they differ from broad abdomens of such species as Marpissa pulla, M.dybowskii or M.muscosa.
 
 Cephalothorax of Marpissa pulchra is rather usual - brown, flat, long, covered densely with adpressed whitish fine and short setae.
 There are 2 pairs of long bent tufts of setae under eyes lateral, resembling that in Thyene.
 Clypeus covered with white and dense beard of particulary long setae, similar also in Marpissa magister female.
 Chelicerae "unidentati" with long setae postriorly.
 Sternum elongate oval, brown lighter mottled, with long setae.

 Anterior legs particulary long and robust, dark brown.
 Epigyne shown on figs.132-133.
 Measurements:
 Length of cephalothorax 2.98-3.41,
 length of abdomen  5.32-5.68,
 length of eye field 1.28-1.49,
 width of eye field I 1.63-1.77, width of eye field III 1.63-1.77,
 height 0.99-1.21.
 Length of segments of legs:
 I  0.78-0.99+1.21-1.63+1.77-2.41+1.35-1.70+1.92-2.48;
 II 0.71-0.78+0.85-1.06+0.92-1.14+0.85-1.06+1.21-1.77;
III 0.78-0.92+0.85-1.06+0.85-0.92+0.78-0.99+1.34-1.77;
IV  0.78-0.85+1.21-1.35+1.28-1.63+0.85-1.21+1.56-1.92.
 Ratios:
 a 0.42-0.44;
 b 1.00-1.00;
 c 0.78-0.84;
 d 1.50-1.76;
 h 0.33-0.35.

  
(from Bohd. and Prosz.,1987)