The neonicotinoid imidacloprid impairs the predatory performance and functional response of the jumping spider Helpis minitabunda (Araneae, Salticidae)

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  The neonicotinoid imidacloprid impairs the predatory performance and functional response of the jumping spider Helpis minitabunda (Araneae, Salticidae) Abstract The neonicotinoid imidacloprid can cause lethal and sublethal effects in non-target organisms, including impaired behavior, reduced fertility, disrupted locomotion, and reduced predatory performance in arthropods. Spiders are among the most abundant arthropod predators in terrestrial ecosystems, including agricultural ecosystems, yet the effects of neonicotinoids on the predatory function of jumping spiders remain poorly understood. The functional response of a predator describes how predation rates change with prey density and is key to understanding predator–prey dynamics. We tested whether acute exposure to a commercial formulation of imidacloprid at field-recommended concentrations alters the functional response of the Aussie bronze jumping spider, Helpis minitabunda (L. Koch, 1880). We compared the predation of treat...

Description of a new genus and two new species of Ornithoctoninae from Southeast Asia (Araneae: Theraphosidae)

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Description of a new genus and two new species of Ornithoctoninae from Southeast Asia (Araneae: Theraphosidae)

Abstract
A new genus, Aspinochilus gen. n., belonging to the subfamily Ornithoctoninae (Araneae: Theraphosidae) is described, with type species Aspinochilus rufus sp. n. from East Java. An additional new species, Phormingochilus hatihati sp. n., is described from West Sulawesi. The external morphological characters and genitalia structures of the new taxa are illustrated and compared to those of closely related species. 

Müller, Simon & Wanke, Dominic & Wirth, Volker & Wendt, Ingo. (2024). Description of a new genus and two new species of Ornithoctoninae from Southeast Asia (Araneae: Theraphosidae). Integrative Systematics Stuttgart Contributions to Natural History. 7. 23–39. 10.18476/2024.122121.