A Remarkable Discovery: Exploring a Rare Eresus and Spider Wasp Interaction

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  Photo Credit: © Antonino Rametta . All photographs are used with permission. No part of these images may be reproduced, distributed, or used in any form without the prior written permission of the photographer. A Remarkable Discovery: Exploring a Rare Eresus and Spider Wasp Interaction One of the most rewarding aspects of maintaining Arácnido Taxonomy is hearing from naturalists and photographers around the world who take the time to share their discoveries. Every so often, an email arrives that immediately captures your attention. Not because it claims to rewrite what we know about biodiversity, but because it documents something that very few people have the opportunity to witness. Recently, I was contacted by a naturalist in Sicily who shared a series of exceptionally high-quality photographs of a female ladybird spider ( Eresus ) during what appeared to be an interaction with a spider wasp. Along with the images came a simple question: "Could this be scientifically import...

The natural history of the Australian garden orb-weaving spiders Hortophora biapicata and H. transmarina (Araneae: Araneidae)

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The natural history of the Australian garden orb-weaving spiders Hortophora biapicata and H. transmarina (Araneae: Araneidae)

Abstract

Australia is home to an incredible diversity of spiders, but much of their biology remains unstudied. The orb-weaving spiders (family Araneidae) are especially diverse and frequently encountered, yet the ecology of very few species has been explored. The common name “Australian garden orb-weaver” refers to several species, including Hortophora transmarina (Keyserling, 1865), found mostly along Australia's east coast, and Hortophora biapicata (L Koch, 1871), found mostly along Australia's south and south-eastern coasts. These two similar species are large, nocturnal orb-weavers that occupy a wide range of both natural and anthropogenically disturbed habitats. Here, I describe the general morphology, habitat use, diet and foraging behavior, key predators, laboratory rearing, and mating dynamics of these common but understudied spiders. This information was gathered via field observations, laboratory experiments, and literature reviews. These spiders provide a useful system for studying a number of aspects of spider biology, including mating systems, predation, anti-predator defences, and nocturnal behaviors.

Nikolas J. Willmott "The natural history of the Australian garden orb-weaving spiders Hortophora biapicata and H. transmarina (Araneae: Araneidae)," The Journal of Arachnology, 52(3), 199-209, (5 January 2025) https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-22-061