Soil Preference and Burrow Characteristics of Two Theraphosidae Species in Penang Island, Malaysia

  Soil Preference and Burrow Characteristics of Two Theraphosidae Species in Penang Island, Malaysia Abstract Tarantulas play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by regulating insect populations. However, little is known about the soil preferences and burrow structures of tarantulas in Malaysia. This study aims to determine the soil preference as well as the burrow structure of  Coremiocnemis cunciularia  and  Chilobrachys andersoni  from Penang Island. The soil characteristics of the soil samples collected around the burrows of  Coremiocnemis cunciularia  (n = 30) and  Chilobrachys andersoni  (n = 30) were determined using soil texture analysis. The measurements and burrow structures from adults and juveniles of  Coremiocnemis cunciularia  and  Chilobrachys andersoni  were determined. It was revealed that the moisture content and clay percentage in the soil samples around burrows of  Chilobrachys anderso...

Description of the female of Actinopus balcarce Ríos-Tamayo & Goloboff, 2018 (Araneae, Actinopodidae), with comments on its natural history

 


Description of the female of Actinopus balcarce Ríos-Tamayo & Goloboff, 2018 (Araneae, Actinopodidae), with comments on its natural history

Abstract

Trapdoor spiders are known for digging deep burrows into the ground closed with a thick trapdoor. Actinopus balcarce Ríos-Tamayo & Goloboff was described based on two males from Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina. In a recent survey in the type locality, we found females probably belonging to this species. Morphology of the females found allowed us to attribute them to Actinopus balcarce, which are described for the first time. Photographs of the spermathecae are presented along with comments on the natural history of the species. Some morphological insights on the female of this species are also discussed.

Millenpeier, M., Ferretti, N. E., & Nicoletta, M. (2023). Description of the female of Actinopus balcarce Ríos-Tamayo & Goloboff, 2018 (Araneae, Actinopodidae), with comments on its natural history. Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics9(4), 809–817. Retrieved from https://www.biotaxa.org/jibs/article/view/83909