The agelenid funnel-weaver family and the spider genus Cedicus in Israel (Araneae, Agelenidae and Cybaeidae)

The funnel-weaver spiders of the family Agelenidae in Israel are revised along with spiders of the excluded genus Cedicus , here placed in the Cybaeidae. Although the webs are conspicuous and abundant only very few members of these families have been reported thus far from the East Mediterranean fauna. Altogether 19 species of agelenids are described with detailed diagnostic illustrations, including eight new records and six species new to science. With the biological and zoogeographical information revised and all type and non-type material pertinent to the fauna reexamined, the occurrence of Lycosoides and Maimuna in the Middle East has been verified while Textrix is absent. Agelena is represented only by a single species. Two Mediterranean species are newly placed in Benoitia , and a new genus Agelescape has been erected to accommodate three species. Tegenaria proves to be the largest indigenous genus and includes some of the long-legged spiders in Israel. The relationships of Cedicus and its two species in Israel are addressed. The new species described are: Agelescape gideoni, Maimuna carmelica, M. meronis, Tegenaria mediterranea, T. epacris, T. angustipalpis and Cedicus israeliensis .     

Manipulation of araneid spider web architecture by the polysphinctine parasitoid Zatypota picticollis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae)

We found that the koinobiont ectoparasitoid wasp Zatypota picticollis is exclusively associated with three orb weaving spiders Cyclosa conica, Mangora acalypha and Zilla diodia from the family Araneidae. Under the influence of the parasitoid's final instar larva the spiders built a specific web architecture, which differed considerably from the capturing orb web. Manipulated webs of C. conica and M. acalypha lacked the spiral, stabilimentum and central hub, and the radials were reduced in number. The manipulated web of Z. diodia consisted of one strong horizontally oriented thread.     

The Spider Genera Singa and Hypsosinga (Araneae, Araneidae) in Israel

Israeli spiders of the orb-weaver genera Singa and Hypsosinga (Araneidae) have been revised. New and updated information on the little known Mediterranean spider fauna, pertaining to European species as well, is presented. Some of the species have never been adequately described or illustrated. All the species previously described from the Middle East and adjacent countries were re-examined. Aranea neta is newly placed in Singa and the following new synonyms are defined: Lithyphantes sepfemguffafus Simon, 1873, along with Araneus decorus (Simon, 1891) and Lithyphantes pollocki Denis, 1956 = Singa neta (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872); Singa afjinis O. P.-Cambridge, 1876 along with Singa attica Simon, 1884 = Hypsosinga albovittata (Westring, 1851). The presence of three species formerly reported from Israel, including one erroneously determined, has been confirmed, and the occurrence of another three species previously unknown from this country has been proved. All are newly described. Keys, detailed illustrations of diagnostic characters and records of -distribution are provided for each species.     

The spider genus Enoplognatha (Araneae: Theridiidae) in Israel

Israeli theridiid spiders of the genus Enoplognatha are revised. Five species, four of them new, each represented by the two sexes, are recognized, and their affinities with similar species from adjacent regions are discussed. All species previously described from this region have been re-examined. The occurrence of E. mandibularis , formerly reported from Israel, has been confirmed, while the record of E. ovata has proved erroneous. A key to the species is provided.     

Spiders of the genus Lachesana and a new storenoid genus from Israel (Araneae: Zodariidae)

Zodariid spiders of two genera in Israel are revised. The genus Lachesana is represented by two species. Only one male of these was ever depicted while the females of both and their hitherto unknown retreats were never described. Pax gen. nov. has been erected to accommodate five species, some of which have formerly been placed in Slorena, Selamia or Habronestes . Diagnostic characters of the West Mediterranean Selamia and the Australian Habronestes are newly illustrated. No drawings of Pax libani and P. islamita were ever published; the male of the latter is described here for the first time. Pax palmonii sp. nov. and P. engediensis sp. nov. are described and affinities of all taxa are discussed. Illustrations, records of distribution and keys to the species are provided.     

The Comb-footed spider genera Theridion, Achaearanea and Anelosimus of Israel (Araneae: Theridiidae)

Israeli thendiid spiders of the genera Theridion, Achaearanea and Anelosimus have been revised. A relative richness in species is presented providing thereby updated information on the little known Mediterranean spider fauna. All type and non-type material previously described from the Middle East, deposited in several European collections has been re-examined, along with species from adjacent regions considered pertinent to the study undertaken. Altogether 21 species are recognized. Systematic, ecologic and all available zoogeographic information on taxa treated are discussed along with recent, pertaining literature. The presence of seven species formerly reported from Israel has been confirmed and the occurrence of another four species unknown hitherto from this region, has been proved. Some of these have never been adequately described or illustrated.
Ten new species are described: Theridion ochreolus, T. agaricographus, T hierwhonticus, T. jordanensis, T. negebensis, T. gekkonicus, T. dafnensis, T. vallisalinarum, T. pustiliferus and Anelosimus giladensis. The male of Theridion melanostictum is described for the first time. Keys, illustrations of diagnostic characters and records of distribution are provided for each species, all readily applicable also in adjacent countries. These may provide clues for better understanding of zoogeographic patterns of the Palearctic fauna, including those of the Old World Desert belt extending south and east of the Mediterranean region.     

Three new species of Euathlus Ausserer, 1875 (Araneae,Theraphosidae) from Argentina

ABSTRACT

Euathlus

Ausserer, 1875 is a South American genus of spiders of the family Theraphosidae known from Chile and Argentina. Three new species from Argentina: Euathlus mauryi sp. n. (from San Juan province), Euathlus grismadoi sp. n. (from La Rioja province), and Euathlus pampa sp. n. (from Salta province) are described here. New records of the previous species Euathlus diamante and Euathlus tenebrarum are contributed. The distribution of these new species expands the geographical distribution of the genus along the Andean hills, with Salta province as the northernmost record of the genus. A key is provided for identification of Euathlus species as well as a map with all the records in Argentina.     

The family of huntsman spiders in Israel with annotations on species of the Middle East (Araneae: Sparassidae)

The spiders of the family Sparassidae in Israel have been described and species of the Middle East and from adjacent faunae have been revised. They are amongst the main predatory spiders of the Old World deserts although some also occur in less arid environments. Systematic and ecological information is presented and patterns of their zoogeographic distribution are discussed. Type and non-type material pertinent to the faunae investigated, deposited in a great number of European collections, has been re-examined. Nearly all species have never been adequately described or illustrated. The genus Cerbalus , species of which have never before been recorded in Asia, is revised. Nonianus is likewise a new Asiatic record while Olios and Heteropoda are reported for the first time from Israel. The African Micrommata longipes Bösenberg & Lenz, 1895 is transferred to Pseudomicrommata, Cerbalus concolor Denis,1947 is newly placed in Cerbalopsis , and a new synonymy of the genus Marmarica Caporiacco,1928 with Cerbalus Simon, 1897 has been proved. The following new synonyms are defined: Heteropoda civilis (Reuss, 1834) together with Sparassus tersus (C. L. Koch, 1838), S. validus Thorell, 1875, S. cognatus O.P.-Cambridge, 1876, 5. fontanieri Simon, 1880, and Eusparassus kronebergi Denis,1958 = Sparassus walckenaeri (Audouin, 1827); Cerbalus angustifrons Denis,1960, and C. sahariensis Jézéquel & Junqua,1966 = Cerbalus pulcherrimus (Simon, 1880); Olios impediens Denis,1947 = Olios suavis (O.P.Cambridge, 1876), new combination; Cebrennus sparassoides Caporiacco, 1921 = Cebrennus castaneitarsis Simon, 1880. Two new species are described: Cerbalus psammodes and C. negebensis. Key to the genera and detailed illustrations of diagnostic characters are provided for each species, and are readily applicable to species of adjacent countries.     

Additional records of the Ring-necked Parakeet,Psittacula krameri,from Egypt and the Middle East

Abstract

Additional new records and references from the literature are given for the Ring-nek-ked Parakeet, Psittacula krameri, in Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Syria. The species only succeeds in surviving in areas where there is little pressure from hunting, for example the city area of Cairo and several localities in Israel.     

Web-building management in an orb-weaving spider, Zygiella x-notata: influence of prey and conspecifics

According to optimal foraging theory, spiders should adapt their web building to environmental variations. Until now, there was no data on the influence of simultaneous information coming from different environmental factors on web building behaviour. Under laboratory conditions, we studied the behaviour of Zygiella x-notata in the presence of prey, conspecifics, or both simultaneously. There was a stimulating effect of prey, but web building was not affected by the presence of conspecifics. When spiders and prey were present simultaneously, the effect was similar to that of prey alone; it seemed that there was no interactive influence of both factors. We discussed about the use of environmental information by spiders in foraging behaviour.     

晶圆盘菌属的中国新记录种(英文)

晶圆盘菌属Hyalorbilia是圆盘菌科Orbiliaceae成员,目前中国已报道8个种,报道了3个中国新记录种,其中两个建议为新组合。     

Web-building behaviour in the orb-weaving spider Zygiella x-notata: influence of experience

Zygiella x-notata is an orb-weaving spider that often renews its trap daily. Web building has associated costs and benefits, and building successive webs may have consequences for lifetime reproductive success. In the laboratory, we tested the ability of Z. x-notata to modify its building behaviour in response to various stages in predation (prey detection, capture and ingestion) experienced with a previous web. We determined which stages provided information for the spiders. Spiders that detected, captured and ingested prey and then rebuilt their web used less silk and made a smaller capture area than in the previous web. There was no effect of prey detection alone on the next web. Capture without feeding gave the same results as capture followed by feeding. The spiders that ate prey without detection and capture (feeding by hand) had the same energetic gains as spiders that caught prey but delayed building a new web. The spiders thus showed plasticity in web-building behaviour and in the amount of silk used (energetic investment) in the short term (from one web to the next). Changes in body condition may therefore influence web construction. Moreover, information gained during prey capture appeared to influence the size and structure of the next web. This ability should enable spiders to adapt their web building to maximize their fitness. Copyright 2000 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.     

Revision of the Widow-spider genus Latrodectus (Araneae:Theridiidae) in Israel

The six species of Widow-spiders ( Latrodectus ) found in Israel are revised. Three of them are reported for the first time from this region. The Mediterranean L.tredecimguttatus is maintained as a distinct species differing from the American L.mactans , while evidence on the occurrence in Israel of a distinct population, close to the American L.hesperus is provided. Five sympatric species of Latrodectus are found in the more arid zones of Israel and one allopatric population of the cosmotropical L.geometricus occurs in the Mediterranean Coastal Plain. A conspectus on the systematics alongside distribution and ecological records of each species is given. The biological and morphological distinctive characters separating the species are then assessed in an extended discussion. Illustrations and a key to the species are provided.     

皖南低山丘陵农业生态系统土壤蜘蛛研究初报

报道皖南低山丘陵农业生态系统土壤蜘蛛调查结果,目前已发现的蜘蛛计23科68属97种,其中未定种10种,安徽新纪录种10种。     

A checklist of Dryinidae (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea) from Cambodia,with new records

A checklist of Dryinidae from Cambodia is provided. Fourteen species are listed, of which twelve are new records from Cambodia. Distribution and recorded hosts for each species are provided. A key to the species known from Cambodia is also provided.     

中国云南獾蛛属一新种(蜘蛛目,狼蛛科)

记述了采自云南的獾蛛属Trochosa C.L. Koch,1848 1新种:长獾蛛Trochosa longa sp.nov.,并提供了详细的描述、图版和分布数据.模式标本保存在湖南师范大学生命科学学院.     

Small Organic Solutes in Sticky Droplets from Orb Webs of the Spider Zygiella atrica (Araneae; Araneidae): β‐Alaninamide Is a Novel and Abundant Component

In northeastern North America, Zygiella atrica often build their orb webs near the ocean. We analyzed individual field‐built Z. atrica webs to determine if organic low‐molecular‐mass solutes (LMM) in their sticky droplets showed any unusual features not previously seen in orb webs of other species living in less salty environments. While two of the three most abundant organic LMM (putrescine (butane‐1,4‐diamine) and GABamide (4‐aminobutanamide)) are already well‐known from webs of inland spiders, the third major LMM, β‐alaninamide (3‐aminopropanamide), a homolog of GABamide, has not been detected in sticky droplets from any other araneoid spiders (27 species). It remains to be established, however, whether or not use of β‐alaninamide is related to proximity to saltwater. We observed variability in organic LMM composition in Z. atrica webs that appeared to be influenced more by an undetermined factor associated with different collecting locations and/or collection dates than by different genders or instars. Shifts in composition when adult females were transferred from the field to the laboratory were also observed. Structural similarities and inverse correlations among β‐alaninamide, GABamide, and N‐acetylputrescine suggest that they may form a series of LMM fulfilling essentially the same, as yet unknown, role in the webs of those species in which they occur.     

A synopsis of East-Mediterranean Synaphris Simon, 1894 (Araneae, Synaphridae) with a description of a new species from Israel

Three species of Synaphris occurring in the East Mediterranean - Synaphris orientalis Marusik & Lehtinen, 2003, Synaphris lehtineni Marusik, Gnelitsa & Kovblyuk, 2005 and Synaphris letourneuxi (Simon, 1884) - are surveyed; and a new species - Synaphris wunderlichisp. n. - is described from southern Israel on the basis of males. The new species differs from other East- Mediterranean congeners by its smaller size, a smaller lamella with fewer ridges, and a thick palpal femur. Comparative figures are provided for all species from the East Mediterranean.