First record of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) (Diptera: Phoridae) infestation in captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae

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  First record of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) (Diptera: Phoridae) infestation in captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae Abstract Flies of the genus Megaselia Rondani, 1856 exhibit exceptional ecological flexibility, with certain species acting as facultative parasites. This study presents the first documented cases of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) infesting captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae, Ceratogyrus darlingi Pocock, 1897 and Psalmopoeus irminia Saager, 1994) in terrarium settings. Our observations demonstrate that M . abdita colonise artificial habitats and exploit spider hosts similarly to Megaselia scalaris . Citation: Szymański, D.M., Szymański, D., Kłonowski, P. (2026). First record of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) (Diptera: Phoridae) infestation in captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae). Dipteron, 42, 25-29. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23137389

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