Argyrodes argyrodes

Argyrodes argyrodes
Female from France
Female from Italy
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Theridiidae
Genus: Argyrodes
Species:
A. argyrodes
Binomial name
Argyrodes argyrodes
Synonyms[2]
  • Linyphia argyrodes Walckenaer, 1841
  • Linyphia gibbosa Lucas, 1846
  • Argyrodes epeirae Simon, 1866
  • Argyrodes gibbosus Simon, 1873
  • Argyrodina argyrodes Strand, 1928
  • Conopistha argyrodes Exline, 1945
  • Argyrodes ammonia Denis, 1947

Argyrodes argyrodes is a species of spider in the family Theridiidae.[2]

Distribution

Argyrodes argyrodes is found throughout the Mediterranean region and West Africa. It has been introduced to St. Helena, Seychelles, and Hawaii.[2]

In South Africa, this introduced species is recorded from the provinces Eastern Cape, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal. Locations include Seekoeivlei, Roodeplaatdam Nature Reserve, Pretoria/Tshwane, Tswaing Nature Reserve, and Hluhluwe Nature Reserve.[3]

Description

Habitat and ecology

These spiders are kleptoparasites, usually found on the webs of other spiders. They steal prey from the webs of other spiders. Only a few spiders from this genus catch prey in their own webs.[3]

The species has been sampled at altitudes ranging from 1247 to 1303 m in South Africa.[3]

Conservation

Argyrodes argyrodes is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide range. The species has a wide distribution and there are no significant threats to this species. It is undersampled in South Africa.[3]

Taxonomy

Argyrodes argyrodes was originally described by Walckenaer in 1841 as Linyphia argyrodes.[1] The species is known from both sexes.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Walckenaer, C.A. (1841). Histoire naturelle des Insects. Aptères. Tome deuxième. Paris: Roret. p. 549. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.61095.
  2. ^ a b c "Argyrodes argyrodes (Walckenaer, 1841)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Theridiidae of South Africa. Part 1 A-P. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 10. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7515890. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.