Argyrodes

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Dewdrop spiders
File:Argyrodes Kaldari 01.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Suborder:
Family:
Genus:
Argyrodes

Simon, 1864
Species

A. argentatus
A. argyrodes
A. chionus
A. cognatus
A. colubrinus
A. flavescens
A. furcata
A. gibbosus
A. incursus
A. fissifrons
A. fissifrontellus
A. rostratus
 many more

Diversity
95 species

Lua error in Module:Taxonbar/candidate at line 22: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

Spiders of the genus Argyrodes (Theridiidae), also called dewdrop spiders, occur worldwide. They are best known as kleptoparasites: they steal other spiders' prey. They invade and reside in their host's web even though they can spin their own webs.[1] However, the relationship can sometimes be commensal or even mutual since the dewdrop spider can feed on small trapped insects that are not eaten by the host.[2] Some species can even prey upon the host.[1] Many species are black with silvery markings. Most species are relatively small. For example, A. incursus has a body length of 3–4.5 mm[3] while A. fissifrons has a body length of about 12 mm.[2]

Distribution

Most Argyrodes are found in the tropics although 15 species are found in the United States.[1] Dewdrop spiders prefer large webs and clustered webs compared to small and isolated ones. Large webs tend to have more kleptoparasites than smaller ones. Isolated webs tend to have lesser number of kleptoparasites compared to clustered webs of the same size.[4]

Name

The genus name is derived from Greek argyros "silver" and -odes "like".

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Guarisco 1999
  2. 2.0 2.1 Tso 2000
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Agnarsson 2003

References

Further reading

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Argyrodes from Portugal

<templatestyles src="Asbox/styles.css"></templatestyles>