First insular record and DNA barcoding of Euscorpius vailatii Tropea & Fet, 2015 from Trizonia Island (Fokida, Greece)

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  First insular record and DNA barcoding of Euscorpius vailatii Tropea & Fet, 2015 from Trizonia Island (Fokida, Greece) Abstract Euscorpius vailatii Tropea & Fet, 2015 (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), originally described from Aitoloakarnania and Fokida (Greece), is herein reported from Trizonia Island in the Gulf of Corinth, representing the first insular record for the species. The examined specimens are consistent with the diagnostic morphology of E. vailatii . The first molecular data for the species are provided, based on both mainland and insular populations. Comparative analyses further highlight the distinctiveness of E. vailatii from geographically close congeners, while phylogenetic results indicate a sister-taxon relationship with E. erymanthius , supporting a Quaternary biogeographic history shaped by the evolution of the Gulf of Corinth system. Kalaentzis, K., Frigioni, F., Panagiotopoulos, A., Tzoras, E., Minoudi, S., & Triantafyllidis, A. 2026 . First insul...

Behavioural variation in the invasive cellar spider Pholcus manueli (Araneae: Pholcidae)

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Behavioural variation in the invasive cellar spider Pholcus manueli (Araneae: Pholcidae)

Abstract

Behaviours such as boldness and exploration are highly plastic and as such, we expect differences between populations, especially for invasive species. In particular, populations at the leading edge of an invasion front may display differences in these behaviours relative to long established core populations as they are often key to their dispersal and invasion success. Likewise, in species with sexual dimorphism, the importance of these behaviours to invasion success may differ for males and females. Here we report on an invasive cellar spider, Pholcus manueli (Araneae: Pholcidae), that is expanding westward across the United States. We investigated whether boldness in response to simulated predator cues (physical and airborne disturbances) and exploration of a novel environment varied across P. manueli’s invasive range and between males and females. We found significant differences in the reaction to the simulated predator cues, but not in exploration. Although there was variation between the leading edge and core, the greatest differences lay between males and females from core populations when exposed to a puff of air. We additionally investigated whether females would be less selective of a potential mate at the leading edge. We found marginal support for this and uncovered interesting details regarding P. manueli’s mating system, wherein smaller females were more likely to mate than large ones. Overall, we found boldness and mating behaviour differences between the leading edge and core, but our data suggests greater differences lay between the sexes.
Salazar, A. R., & Rypstra, A. L. (2025). Behavioural variation in the invasive cellar spider Pholcus manueli (Araneae: Pholcidae). Behavioural Processes, 105259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2025.105259