Ero cambridgei

Ero cambridgei is a pirate spider species with Palearctic distribution. It is notably found in Lithuania.[1]

Ero cambridgei
E. cambridgei, adult male
E. cambridgei, adult female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Arachnida
Order:
Araneae
Suborder:
Araneomorphae
Family:
Mimetidae
Genus:
Ero
Species:
E. cambridgei
Binomial name
Ero cambridgei
Kulczynski, 1911


This species of Pirate Spider does not weave its own web. Instead, it leads a nomadic lifestyle. As opposed to hunting methods involving trapping and ambushing, this spider will visit other webs and stealthily 'pluck' at the silk threads in order to attract its occupant. The web owner, thinking it has caught prey or attracted a mate, will investigate. This gives the Pirate Spider an opportunity to bite into the femur of the victim. The Pirate Spider injects a highly potent venom, specialised to kill other species of spider, leading to an almost instant death. In order to obtain nutrients, the Pirate Spider then sucks the prey's internal juices out from a hole it has made[2].


The Pirate Spider is found amongst low vegetation, trees and bushes. The spider is wide spread, fairly common, and with no web spends the majority of its time wandering in the hope of finding another's web[3].


See also

References
  1. The checklist of Lithuanian spiders (Arachnida: Araneae). Marija Biteniekytė and Vygandas Rėlys, Biologija, 2011, Vol. 57, No. 4, pages 148–158, doi:10.6001/biologija.v57i4.1926
  2. Stephen Dalton; Spiders The Ultimate Predators ISBN 978-1-408-10697-6
  3. Stephen Dalton; Spiders The Ultimate Predators ISBN 978-1-408-10697-6

"Ero cambridgei" at the Encyclopedia of Life


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