Seasonal Variation in Whole-Body Elemental Concentrations and Excreta Production of a Riparian Orb-Weaving Spider (Larinioides cornutus)

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  Seasonal Variation in Whole-Body Elemental Concentrations and Excreta Production of a Riparian Orb-Weaving Spider (Larinioides cornutus) ABSTRACT Predators influence nutrient cycling by assimilating elements from their prey and returning nutrients to ecosystems via excretion and discarded prey remains. However, seasonal variation in the contribution of predators to nutrient cycling remains poorly understood, particularly for terrestrial arthropod predators such as spiders. We examined temporal variation in whole-body elemental concentrations, excreta C and N concentrations, and cumulative excreta output in a riparian orb-weaving spider ( Larinioides cornutus ) across the growing season of 2024. Adult females were collected across seven sampling periods spanning mid-June to early October, and whole-body concentrations of macronutrients (carbon [C], nitrogen [N], phosphorus [P]) and multiple trace elements were quantified. Whole-body N and P concentrations, and several trace elemen...

Taxonomic revision of the spider genus Azilia Keyserling, 1881 (Araneae: Tetragnathidae)

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Taxonomic revision of the spider genus Azilia Keyserling, 1881 (Araneae: Tetragnathidae)

Abstract

The species of the spider genus Azilia Keyserling, 1881 from the Americas are revised. Cardimia Mello-Leitão, 1940 is removed from the synonymy with Azilia and is newly synonymized with Diphya Nicolet, 1849, with its type species, Cardimia eximia Mello-Leitão, 1940, considered synonymous of Diphya bicolor Vellard, 1926. The genus type species, Azilia formosa Keyserling 1881 described from Peru is redescribed. The type material is considered lost, but here a neotype is designed based on specimens next to the type locality in Peru. Azilia boudeti Simon, 1895, Azilia marmorata Mello-Leitão, 1948, Arochoides integrans Mello-Leitão, 1935 and Cyrtophora vachoni Caporiacco, 1954 had their types examined and are synonymized with Azilia histrio Simon, 1895. The males of Azilia formosa and A. histrio are described for the first time. Azilia affinis O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1893, A. guatemalensis O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1889, A. rojasi Simon, 1895 and A. montana Bryant, 1940 are redescribed and illustrated. Finally, eight new species are described based on males and females, including six from Brazil: Azilia arrebitada sp. nov.; A. catita sp. nov.; A. fabulosa sp. nov.; A. guapa sp. nov.; A. joinha sp. nov.; A. supimpa sp. nov. and two from Mexico: Azilia esplendida sp. nov., and A. hermosa sp. nov.

Brescovit, A. D., Rodrigues, E. N. L., Álvarez-Padilla, F. & Ott, R. (2025b). Taxonomic revision of the spider genus Azilia Keyserling, 1881 (Araneae: Tetragnathidae). Megataxa 18(1): 188-261. doi:10.11646/megataxa.18.1.2