Agelenids of the World

Systematics and Taxonomy of Agelenidae, a Worldwide distributed Spider Family

On kleptoparasitic stilt bugs (Insecta, Heteroptera: Berytidae) in spider funnel-webs (Arachnida, Aranea: Agelenidae), with notes on their origin

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2007
Authors:C. Morkel
Journal:Mainzer Naturwissenschaftliches Archiv Beiheft
Volume:31
Pagination:129-143
Date Published:2007
ISBN Number:0174-6626
Keywords:Agelena orientalis (Araneae)., Agelena orientalis [Food robbing / Kleptoparasitism / Hemipteran, Apoplymus pectoralis, Apoplymus pectoralis (Berytidae)., Arachnid hosts, distribution & morphological adaptations]., Eurasia, Feeding behaviour, Foraging, General morphology, kleptoparasites distribution & morphological adaptations]., kleptoparasitism / Arachnid host] [Food robbing / Kleptoparasitism /, Land zones, Metacanthus annulosus, Metacanthus annulosus (Berytidae)., morphological adaptations] [Turkey / / Kleptoparasites, Neides, Neides aduncus, Neides aduncus (Berytidae)., Neides tipularius (Berytidae)., Nutrition, on arachnid hosts, Palaearctic region, parasite morphological adaptations] [Turkey / / Hemipteran, tipularius [General morphology / Morphological adaptations for
Abstract:

Stilt bug populations of Neides aduncus, Neides tipularius, Apoplymus pectoralis and Metacanthus annulosus are reported to occur in funnel-webs of Agelena orientalis. Specimens of Neides spp. were only found occasionally at the adult stage. The larvae of A. pectoralis and M. annulosus are obviously capable of feeding on prey caught in the investigated spider webs. While A. pectoralis is also able to develop on plants, M. annulosus seems to be obligately associated with web-building spiders. Because of the stilt bugs' long, slender body and legs, the synapomorphic character of dentate claws within the Pentatomomorpha and the plesiotypic trophoecological behavior of the observed taxa, it is hypothesized that the ancestral berytid was living zoophagous as a commensal in spider webs.

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