Argyrodes fissifrons

Argyrodes fissifrons (split-faced silver spider) is a species of spider of the genus Argyrodes. It is found in Sri Lanka to China and Australia.[1]

Split-faced silver spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Arachnida
Order:
Araneae
Family:
Theridiidae
Genus:
Argyrodes
Species:
A. fissifrons
Binomial name
Argyrodes fissifrons
O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1869

Description

Female is larger than the male, about 12mm. Abdomen is triangular, and spinnerets pointing downwards and the hind-end pointing backwards. The body has silvery spots and has long and thin legs. Male has bumps on their head. After mating, male seals the epigyne of the female with a resin plug to inhibit further copulation.[2]

Ecology

A kleptoparasitic spider, it sometimes preys upon its host spider Agelena limbata, during or just after molting of the host. However, this species is much smaller than the host.[3] Recently, scientists found that their association with Cyrtophora spider webs, from Orchid Island, of Taiwan. Scientists finally found that A. fissifrons scavenge on webs of Cyrtophora hosts by collecting small preys ignored by the hosts.[4][5]

Subspecies

See also

References
  1. "Argyrodes fissifrons O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1869". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  2. Koh, Joseph K. H. (2000). "Split-Faced Silver Spider". A Guide to Common Singapore Spiders. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  3. "Rate of Predation by a Kleptoparasitic Spider, Argyrodes fissifrons, upon a Large Host Spider, Agelena limbata". 12: 363–367. JSTOR 3705367. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. "Argyrodes fissifrons inhabiting webs of Cyrtophora hosts : Prey size distribution and Population Characteristics" (PDF). zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  5. Peng, P; Blamires, SJ; Agnarsson, I; Lin, HC; Tso, IM (2013). "A color-mediated mutualism between two arthropod predators". Curr. Biol. 23: 172–6. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2012.11.057. PMID 23260470.
  6. "Argyrodes fissifrons terressae Thorell, 1891". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 22 May 2016.


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