Hidden diversity in plain sight: four new species of Nemesia (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from the Córdoba Province of Spain

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  Hidden diversity in plain sight: four new species of Nemesia (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from the Córdoba Province of Spain Abstract A taxonomic revision of the species of Nemesia Audouin, 1826, distributed in the vicinity of Córdoba City, southern Spain, is presented. Four new species are described: Nemesia morana sp. nov. (female), N. kodama sp. nov. (male and female), N. rosae sp. nov. (male and female), and N. tamajoni sp. nov. (male and female). These species are distinguished by distinct morphological characters, including the shape of the spermathecae, palpal bulbs, and spinnerets, as well as by burrow architecture. Fieldwork was conducted across two of the three major habitat types in the region—the humid, forested mountains of Sierra Morena and the croplands and riparian forests of the Guadalquivir Valley—while the third, the “campiña”, which is mainly composed of agricultural landscapes, remains poorly explored. Sampling methods included pitfall trapping and the direct e...

Adoption behavior and physiological stress responses following offspring loss in Pardosa lugubris spider

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By Fritz Geller-Grimm - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1501346

Adoption behavior and physiological stress responses following offspring loss in Pardosa lugubris spider

Abstract

Parental care increases offspring survival and thus contributes to the reproductive success of a species. However, offspring loss may induce behavioral and physiological stress responses in parents. By examining stress markers—heat shock proteins and reactive oxygen species—alongside behavioral observations, we analyzed the stress responses in Pardosa lugubris females following the removal of their egg sacs or juveniles. Stress markers were measured in both females and juveniles. Behavioral trials were conducted to assess maternal responses to egg sac loss: unfertilized females, females adopting foreign egg sacs, and females given a choice between their own and a foreign sac. The results indicate that fertilized females tend to adopt egg sacs after offspring loss, even when the sac is not their own. Offspring removal induced measurable stress responses in both mothers and juveniles, which decreased over time. These findings highlight how offspring loss affects maternal behavior and stress physiology in Pardosa lugubris, offering insight into the mechanisms underlying parental investment and resilience in invertebrates.

Sawadro, M., Czerwonka, A., Łozowski, B., Glenszczyk, M., Porc, W., & Babczyńska, A. (2025). Adoption behavior and physiological stress responses following offspring loss in Pardosa lugubris spider. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-30418-2