Hidden in the wrack: spider (Arachnida, Araneae) diversity and new records for Italy from Posidonia banquettes

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  Hidden in the wrack: spider (Arachnida, Araneae) diversity and new records for Italy from Posidonia banquettes ABSTRACT Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile beach wrack deposits (banquettes) are a characteristic coastal habitat of the Mediterranean Sea, yet their invertebrate communities remain poorly studied. Here we report the results of a survey from January to November 2024 of the spider fauna (Order Araneae) associated with Posidonia banquettes at Sant’Agostino beach (Civitavecchia, Latium, central Italy), using four complementary sampling methods (surface and underground pitfall traps, Berlese-Tullgren funnel extraction, and visual census). A total of 161 specimens were collected, with 17 species assigned to 11 families among adult individuals. The dominant families were Argyronetidae (39.4%), represented exclusively by Chaerea maritimus Simon, 1885, and Gnaphosidae (33.8%). Three species are recorded for the first time in Italy: Dysdera gamarrae Ferrández 1984, Gnaphosa jucu...

Parasteatoda tabulata (Levi, 1980), a new cobweb spider species in the Hungarian fauna (Araneae: Theridiidae)

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Parasteatoda tabulata (Levi, 1980), a new cobweb spider species in the Hungarian fauna (Araneae: Theridiidae)

Abstract
Parasteatoda tabulata (Levi, 1980) (Araneae: Theridiidae), a cobweb spider species of Asian origin, is reported for the first time from Hungary. Specimens were collected in and around the outdoor area of a garden centre in Budapest. Photographs of the copulatory organs and the habitus of voucher specimens from Hungary are provided.

Takács, Mátyás & Tamas, Szuts & Horváth, Dávid & Mezőfi, László. (2025). Parasteatoda tabulata (Levi, 1980), a new cobweb spider species in the Hungarian fauna (Araneae: Theridiidae). Folia Entomologica Hungarica. 86. 221-226. 10.17112/FoliaEntHung.2025.86.221.