The largest fossil of the segmented spider Parvithele muelleri Wunderlich, 2017 (Mesothelae: Parvithelidae) from Cretaceous Burmese amber

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  The largest fossil of the segmented spider Parvithele muelleri Wunderlich, 2017 (Mesothelae: Parvithelidae) from Cretaceous Burmese amber Abstract A new specimen of the fossil spider Parvithele muelleri Wunderlich, 2017 (Araneae: Mesothelae) is described from the mid-Cretaceous (ca. 99 Ma) Burmese amber of Myanmar. Like the original holotype, the new specimen is a mature male, which clearly preserves a series of tibial macrospines, similar to the condition in the extant genus Liphistius Schiødte, 1849. Given that the single extant mesothele family, Liphistiidae, is predicted to have radiated ca. 39–58 million years ago, the occurrence of somewhat modern-looking male pedipalp spination in older fossil mesotheles is of considerable interest. The new specimen also shows spinnerets in a relatively posterior position, although variability observed in extant species suggests that this trait may be of limited systematic value. Of particular note is the presence of a large and well-dev...

Scientific Note: Predation of Morpho helenor (Cramer, 1776) by Trichonephila clavipes (Linnaeus, 1767) (Nephilidae, Arachnida)

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Scientific Note: Predation of Morpho helenor (Cramer, 1776) by Trichonephila clavipes (Linnaeus, 1767) (Nephilidae, Arachnida)

Abstract

Helenor Blue Morpho butterfly, Morpho helenor (Cramer, 1776), and Golden Silk Orb Weaver spider, Trichonephila clavipes (Linnaeus, 1767) (Araneae, Nephilidae), are large, easily observable, and abundant arthropods in the Neotropics. Despite Morpho butterflies being a potentially important food resource for Orb Weavers, accounts about butterfly predation have focused mostly on vertebrates as predators, and accounts of the diet of Nephilidae are biased towards small prey. At best, there seem to be only observation records of M. helenor wings in T. clavipes webs. Here, we provide apparently the first published report with evidence of this specific interaction, highlighting that T. clavipes might be a relevant predator of large understory butterflies, including other Morpho species as well as brassolines.

A borboleta azul, conhecida como azulão ou capitão-do-mato, Morpho helenor (Cramer, 1776), e a aranha fio-de-ouro ou aranha-de-teia-dourada, Trichonephila clavipes (Linnaeus, 1767) (Araneae, Nephilidae), são artrópodes grandes, facilmente observáveis ​​e abundantes nos Neotrópicos. Apesar das borboletas do gênero Morpho serem um recurso alimentar potencialmente importante para a aranha-fio-de-ouro, relatos sobre a predação de borboletas focam principalmente em vertebrados como predadores, e relatos sobre a dieta de Nephilidae tendem a se concentrar em presas pequenas. Na melhor das hipóteses, parece haver apenas registros de observação de asas de M. helenor nas teias de T. clavipes. Na presente contribuição, fornecemos provavelmente a primeira evidência na literatura acadêmica dessa interação específica, destacando que T. clavipes pode ser um predador relevante de grandes borboletas do sub-bosque, incluindo outras espécies de Morpho, bem como brassolíneos.

Shirai, Leila Teruko, et al. “Scientific Note: Predation of Morpho Helenor (Cramer, 1776) by Trichonephila Clavipes (Linnaeus, 1767) (Nephilidae, Arachnida).” Tropical Lepidoptera Research, journals.flvc.org/troplep/article/view/135507. Accessed 9 Apr. 2024.