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...

On the synonymization of Lipocrea and Lariniaria with Larinia (Araneae: Araneidae) using molecular systematics

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By Akio Tanikawa - http://spider.fun.cx/okinawa/List.htm, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3513715

On the synonymization of Lipocrea and Lariniaria with Larinia (Araneae: Araneidae) using molecular systematics

Abstract
Molecular phylogenetic analyses, Bayesian inference and Maximum Likelihood, were conducted using datasets of five genes to assess the validity of the genera Lipocrea Thorell 1878 and Lariniaria Grasshoff 1970. While the genus Larinia Simon 1874 sensu lato was initially suspected to be polyphyletic, the results showed that the target species of this study, including the ones of Lipocrea and Lariniaria, formed a monophyletic group. Thus, both genera should be considered junior synonyms of Larinia as a separation from the latter is unnecessary. Nonetheless, the analysis reaffirmed concerns regarding the potential polyphyly of Larinia sensu lato and indicated the need for further investigation. 
Akio Tanikawa, Thanakron Into, Booppa Petcharad, On the synonymization of Lipocrea and Lariniaria with Larinia (Araneae: Araneidae) using molecular systematics, Acta Arachnologica, 2025, Volume 74, Issue 2, Pages 85-89, Released on J-STAGE December 11, 2025, Online ISSN 1880-7852, Print ISSN 0001-5202, https://doi.org/10.2476/asjaa.74.85, https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/asjaa/74/2/74_85/_article/-char/en