A pseudoscorpion clinging to a cave salamander: phoresy or failed predation?

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  A pseudoscorpion clinging to a cave salamander: phoresy or failed predation? Abstract Pseudoscorpions are well known for phoretic associations with arthropods, but interactions with amphibians are rarely documented. Here we report a pseudoscorpion attached to the left palpebral region of an adult male Italian cave salamander, Speleomantes italicus , observed during a visual survey in a karst cave in Tuscany, Italy. The pseudoscorpion, assigned on the basis of visible morphology and locality to Chthonius cf. elongatus , was grasping a minute cutaneous fold on the lower margin of the left upper eyelid with one chela while the salamander moved slowly over the rock surface. No handling was performed and the initial contact between the two animals was not observed. The event therefore cannot be interpreted unambiguously, but may represent opportunistic phoresy or defensive attachment following a failed predation attempt. To our knowledge, this is the first published observation of a ...

A Checklist and Bibliography of Florida Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae)

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A Checklist and Bibliography of Florida Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae)

ABSTRACT 

Spiders (order Araneae) are among the most diverse and ecologically significant groups of arthropods, with over 53,000 described species worldwide. Florida’s unique geographical position makes it a key region for understanding spider diversity in North America. Here we provide the first comprehensive checklist of Florida spiders, integrating historical literature, records from the Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA), and more recent fieldwork. Distribution records by county are provided, species known to be adventive or of uncertain origin are indicated, and undescribed species are documented where known. We find a total of 834 species for Florida, though this falls short of the predicted 900+ species based on regional richness and habitat diversity. This discrepancy may be, in part, a result of under-sampling in Florida’s panhandle and limited revisionary work in hyper-diverse families with many undescribed taxa. The checklist also highlights the growing number of exotic species in the state, though most appear confined to synanthropic or disturbed habitats. This foundational checklist lays the groundwork for advancing future research in taxonomy, ecology, biogeography, and conservation.

Edwards GB, Powell EC. 2025. A Checklist and Bibliography of Florida Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae). Occasional Papers of the Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Volume 14: 1–44.https://doi.org/10.64338/fsca.op.14.aur4y.