Wikipedia

Scytodes

Scytodes is a genus of spitting spiders that occur all around the world. The most widely distributed species is Scytodes thoracica, which originally had a palearctic distribution, but has been introduced to North America, Argentina, India, Australia, and New Zealand.[1] The genus was first described by Pierre André Latreille in 1804.[2] Spitting spiders have pale yellow bodies with black spots on their cephalothorax, and legs that are characterized by black bands.

Scytodes
Temporal range: Cretaceous–Present
Scytodes thoracica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Scytodidae
Genus: Scytodes
Latreille, 1804[1]
Type species
Scytodes thoracica
(Latreille, 1802)
Species

220, see text

Behavior

edit

Reproduction

edit

Scytodes species are typically solitary until mating or hunting due to their aggressive nature. Males are cautious when trying to find a mate. Females carry their eggs until they hatch, typically under their body or in their chelicerae. This is the most vulnerable stage in life, the egg-carrying period. Upon hatching, the juvenile spiders remain in their mother's web. They cooperatively capture and feed on prey caught in the web. Upon reaching sexual maturity, the young spiders leave the web, move a short distance away and exhibit solitary behavior.[3] The genus exhibits sexual dimorphism, males range in size from 3.5 to 4 mm while females are slightly larger ranging from 4 to 4.5 mm. These spiders do not die post-mating; males live 1.5–2 years and females live 2 to 4 years.

Spitting

edit

The spitting from which its name derives is used as a method of trapping prey[4] or escaping predators.[5] Sticky gum is expelled from their fangs and can be shot up to ten body lengths from the spider.[4] When the string of venomous substance is shot, anywhere from 5 to 17 parallel overlapping bands cover the meal and kill it.

Species

edit

As of November 2022 Scytodes contains 219 species and 1 subspecies. Spitting spiders often are found in temperate and terrestrial habitat regions such as forests in South America, the Caribbean, Central America, Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, Oceania, and on the Pacific Islands:.[1] In the presence of humans, these spiders are found in dark corners, cellars, cupboards, and closets of houses.

 
Scytodes glabula
 
Scytodes intricata

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Gen. Scytodes Latreille, 1804". World Spider Catalog Version 25.0. Natural History Museum Bern. 2024. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  2. ^ Latreille, P. A. (1804). "Tableau methodique des Insectes". Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. 24: 129–295.
  3. ^ Li, Daiqin; Jackson, Robert R.; Barrion, Alberto T. (March 1999). "Parental and predatory behaviour of Scytodes sp., an araneophagic spitting spider (Araneae: Scytodidae) from the Philippines". Journal of Zoology. 247 (3): 293–310. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1999.tb00993.x.
  4. ^ a b McAlister, W. (1960). "The spitting habit in the spider Scytodes intricate Banks (Family Scytodidae)". Texas Journal of Science. 12: 17–20.
  5. ^ Gilbert, C.; Rayor, L.S. (1985). "Predatory behavior of spitting spiders (Araneae: Scytodidae) and the evolution of prey wrapping" (PDF). Journal of Arachnology. 13: 231–241. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  • Scytodes, Animal Diversity, 2014
  • Suter, Robert (2009), "Spitting Performance Parameters and Their Biomechanical Implications in the Spitting Spider, Scytodes", Journal of Insect Science, 9: 1–15, doi:10.1673/031.009.6201, PMC 3011943, PMID 20050781
  • Belosludtsev, E.A.; Gasilin, V.V. (2018), "Cosmopolitan Distribution of the Spitting Spider Scytodes thoracica Latreille, 1802 (Aranei, Scytodidae) and Its New Findings in the Northern Parts of the Range", Contemporary Problems of Ecology, 11 (2): 123–136, doi:10.1134/S1995425518020038, S2CID 4953468
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scytodes&oldid=1216360452"