New data on the distribution of Aguapanela arvi Perafán, Cifuentes & Estrada, 2015 in Colombia through collections and citizen science, with notes on the natural history (Araneae: Theraphosidae)

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  New data on the distribution of Aguapanela arvi Perafán, Cifuentes & Estrada, 2015 in Colombia through collections and citizen science, with notes on the natural history (Araneae: Theraphosidae) Abstract This paper expands the known distribution of Aguapanela arvi Perafán, Cifuentes & Estrada, 2015 in Colombia by reporting its presence for the first time in the departments of Caldas, Quindío, and Risaralda. Additionally, new aspects of its natural history are documented, including parasitic interactions involving a parasitoid wasp and an arthropod-pathogenic fungus. These findings are based on field observations, specimens deposited in biological collections, and citizen science records. Aguirre-Cano, D., Moreno-García, R., Parra-Giraldo, A., Carmona-Aguirre, B., Palacios-Castro, S. and Álvarez-Arellano, D. (2026) “New data on the distribution of Aguapanela arvi Perafán, Cifuentes & Estrada, 2015 in Colombia through collections and citizen science, with notes on the ...

Abdominal pattern polymorphism and distribution of the giant golden orb-weaving spider, Nephila pilipes (Fabricius, 1793) (Araneae: Araneidae), in the Philippines

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Abdominal pattern polymorphism and distribution of the giant golden orb-weaving spider, Nephila pilipes (Fabricius, 1793) (Araneae: Araneidae), in the Philippines

Abstract 
The giant golden orb-weaving spider, Nephila pilipes (Fabricius, 1793), is notable for its color polymorphism. Here, we report the pattern polymorphism of this species. A Nephila species with unusual abdominal patterning from the Philippines is confirmed herein as N. pilipes based on its somatic structures and genitalia. The abdominal pattern consists of rows of subquadrate yellow spots on the dorsum, which is distinct from the typical longitudinal yellow stripes in N. pilipes. We provided the distribution of the spotted variant based on citizen science data on the internet, suggesting that this particular variation may be regionally endemic in the Philippines. Keywords: aposematism, arachnids, citizen science, intraspecific variation, Nephilinae. 


Acuña, Darrell & Maglangit, Erl Pfian & Santiago, Myla & Guevarra Jr, Leonardo. (2025). Abdominal pattern polymorphism and distribution of the giant golden orb-weaving spider, Nephila pilipes (Fabricius, 1793) (Araneae: Araneidae), in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology. 18. AZ-BB. 10.26757/pjsb202418006.