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

Posted by
  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...

Arthropod-related vehicle collisions increase harvestmen populations along road verges

Posted by

 


Arthropod-related vehicle collisions increase harvestmen populations along road verges

Abstract

The expansion of road networks has been instrumental in facilitating human mobility and economic development. However, this infrastructure presents significant challenges to ecological systems. While most research focusses on the ecology of vertebrates, the potential effects on invertebrates remain understudied. This study investigated the impact of roads on the abundance and diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods, specifically harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) and ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). The results showed that the distance from the road positively influenced the abundance (but not diversity) of beetles, while both the abundance and diversity of the harvestmen were highest near the roads. Further analysis revealed that dead insects were significantly more common near high-speed road sections compared to low-speed sections, probably due to increased road collisions. The abundance of harvestmen (but not beetles) was significantly affected by the presence of dead insects. Mediation analysis showed that high speed roads influence harvestmen abundance indirectly through its effect on dead insects abundance. It seems that the carabid beetles avoided the high-speed sections of the roads. Our findings suggest that roads causes mortality of flying insects via collisions but also serve as an important food source for scavengers such as harvestmen. Thus, road collisions with arthropods generate conditions similar to those observed for vertebrate scavengers feeding on roadkill.
Litavský, J., Prokop, P., Majzlan, O., & Žarnovičan, H. (2025). Arthropod-related vehicle collisions increase harvestmen populations along road verges. Acta Oecologica, 128, 104114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2025.104114