The pholcid spiders of Tunisia (Araneae: Pholcidae): new species, new records, and deep COI divergence in Holocnemus reini

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  The pholcid spiders of Tunisia (Araneae: Pholcidae): new species, new records, and deep COI divergence in Holocnemus reini Abstract Tunisia features a rapid transition between Mediterranean and Saharan biogeographical zones, resulting in a high degree of environmental heterogeneity. Despite this ecological diversity, Tunisian spiders have received limited attention compared to those of neighboring Maghreb countries. Here we combine the results of recent collections in Tunisia focusing on Pholcidae with a comprehensive review of previously published information, resulting in a total of six genera and eleven species. We present first records of the genera Micropholcus Deeleman-Reinhold & Prinsen, 1987 and Spermophorides Wunderlich, 1992 for Tunisia, represented by four new species: M. kahinae Huber sp. nov., M. echebbii Huber sp. nov., S. nabilae Huber & Kmira sp. nov., S. bchirae Huber sp. nov.; in addition, we redescribe S. huberti (Senglet, 1973) from Tunisian specimens,...

First record of Tropicosa thorelli (Araneae: Lycosidae) attacking the dragonfly Rhionaeschna marchali (Odonata: Aeshnidae)

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First record of Tropicosa thorelli (Araneae: Lycosidae) attacking the dragonfly Rhionaeschna marchali (Odonata: Aeshnidae)

Abstract 

This study records thirteen predation attempts by the wolf spider Tropicosa thorelli (Keyserling) on males of the aeshnid dragonfly Rhionaeschna marchali (Rambur) in a protected area of the Colombian Andes. All events occurred on macrophyte vegetation near the shoreline of the Tominé Reservoir, at the locality of Club Náutico El Muña. For each event, we recorded perch height, time of occurrence, attack duration, and ambient temperature. The observations took place between 11:01 and 11:47 h during the dry season, under temperatures ranging from 21.2 to 23.7 °C. The mean duration of attack events was 12.72 ± 2.41 min. In all cases, the attacks were interrupted by the arrival of R. marchali males, although the mechanisms underlying this behavior remain unclear. These observations suggest that perch characteristics, particularly perch height, may influence the vulnerability of R. marchali males to predation by sit-and-wait spiders. 

Palacino Rodríguez, F., & Palacino-Penagos, D. A. (2026). Primer registro de Tropicosa thorelli (Araneae: Lycosidae) atacando a la libélula Rhionaeschna marchali (Odonata: Aeshnidae). Biota Colombiana, 27, e1300. https://doi.org/10.21068/2539200X.1300