DNA barcoding of scorpions from Kosovo, with the first record of Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco) (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae)

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  DNA barcoding of scorpions from Kosovo, with the first record of Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco) (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) ABSTRACT This study presents DNA barcoding data for Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco) and Euscorpius hadzii Caporiacco. Barcode sequences were compared with publicly available reference data to support species identification, together with the evaluation of diagnostic morphological characters. Alpiscorpius dinaricus is recorded from Kosovo for the first time, representing a new national record and contributing to the knowledge of euscorpiid diversity in the region. Diagnostic illustrations of A. dinaricus are provided to facilitate reliable identification and to support future faunistic, taxonomic, and biogeographic studies. Euscorpius hadzii , previously known only from Prizren district, is now reported also from Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mountains (Western Kosovo). Geci, D., Ibrahimi, H., Bilalli, A., Musliu, M., Strohmeier, T., Koblmüller, S., … S...

Jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) attacking and eating vertebrates: an update

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Jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) attacking and eating vertebrates: an update

Abstract

In this study, we provide an update on the knowledge of vertebrate-eating jumping spiders. Twenty-four reports of jumping spider predation on vertebrates are known, which are attributed to seven species: Hyllus diardi (Walckenaer, 1837), H. semicupreus (Simon, 1885), H. treleaveni GW Peckham & EG Peckham, 1902, Paraphidippus cf. aurantius, Phidippus bidentatus FO Pickard-Cambridge, 1901, P. regius CL Koch, 1846, and an unknown species apparently related to Hasarius Simon, 1871. In addition, several unsuccessful predation attempts by Phidippus audax (Hentz, 1845) on hummingbird and chickadee nestlings are documented. Furthermore, an incident of Phidippus otiosus (Hentz, 1846) feeding on an oversized gecko carcass (likely a case of scavenging) is reported. Overall, incidents of vertebrate predation by salticids are likely to be, in most cases, very rare chance encounters between a tiny vertebrate and a hungry spider. In contrast, the case of Phidippus regius is unique for salticids as—to the current state of knowledge—this is the only salticid species in which vertebrate consumption has been reported numerous times (n = 18) and in many different locations (11 different Florida counties, USA).

Martin Nyffeler, Alireza Zamani, Bruce Cutler, Kenneth L. Krysko "Jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) attacking and eating vertebrates: an update," The Journal of Arachnology, 53(2), 143-149, (10 December 2025) https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-23-034