Sex Role–Dependent Behavioral and Architectural Divergence in a Jumping Spider

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  Sex Role–Dependent Behavioral and Architectural Divergence in a Jumping Spider ABSTRACT Sex differences in behavior and functional traits are often attributed to differences in mating effort intensity, but the role of sex-specific parental demands remains poorly understood. Using the jumping spider Toxeus maxillosus —where males engage in mate searching and courtship without providing parental care, while females provide extended maternal care from egg attendance to offspring maturity (around 3 months)—we conducted an exploratory investigation into whether these distinct selective pressures led to divergence in spatial behaviors and nest architecture. Results revealed that males and females showed equivalent accuracy, latency, and learning-related performance in both a route-planning test under water stress and a color-pattern associative memory task. In contrast, during nest-construction assays, females built complex, multi-entrance structures that closely matched the container'...

Trapdoor spiders of the family Nemesiidae Simon, 1889 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from Kosovo

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Trapdoor spiders of the family Nemesiidae Simon, 1889 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from Kosovo

Abstract
The Balkans is a recognized biodiversity hotspot. Yet, for many parts of this region, knowledge about the diversity of many taxa is limited. This is particularly true for the spiders of Kosovo, for which increased efforts to elucidate the actual diversity have been started only recently. Here, based on traditional morphological analyses and DNA barcoding data, we present the first records of Nemesiidae Simon, 1889 from Kosovo, including the descriptions of Brachythele kosovarica Geci & Sherwood sp. nov. and Nemesia dukagjinica Geci & Sherwood sp. nov.

I’d like to sincerely thank Danniella Sherwood for kindly sharing this manuscript with me through ResearchGate.

Geci, Donard & Ibrahimi, Halil & Bilalli, Astrit & Musliu, Milaim & Koblmüller, Stephan & Sherwood, Danniella. (2025). Trapdoor spiders of the family Nemesiidae Simon, 1889 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from Kosovo. Arachnology. 20. 281-286.