Two New Lynx Spider Species of Hamadruas and Oxyopes and the First Record of Hamadruas Thorell, 1887 (Araneae: Oxyopidae) from Wai, Maharashtra, India

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  Two New Lynx Spider Species of Hamadruas and Oxyopes and the First Record of Hamadruas Thorell, 1887 (Araneae: Oxyopidae) from Wai, Maharashtra, India Abstract The present study reports two oxyopid spider species from Wai, Satara District, Maharashtra, India, based on morphological examination of specimens collected from the Kisan Veer Mahavidyalaya campus. The specimens were collected using hand-collection and sweep-net methods, preserved in 70% ethanol, and examined under a stereotrinocular microscope. Diagnostic structures, including the female epigyne and male palp, were studied after dissection, and distribution maps were prepared using QGIS. Hamadruas kvmensis sp. nov. is characterised by distinct dark elongated spermathecal lobes, a rounded central region forming the median fertilisation duct, curved copulatory ducts, and a male palp with an elongated curved cymbium, large bulb, prominent tegulum, slender embolus, conductor, tibial apophysis and sensory setae. Oxyopes wai...

Suitable habitats for Ebrechtella tricuspidata (Araneae, Thomisidae) in China under climate change: implications for biological control

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Image Credit: By Lucarelli - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10441504

Suitable habitats for Ebrechtella tricuspidata (Araneae, Thomisidae) in China under climate change: implications for biological control

Abstract

The crab spider Ebrechtella tricuspidata is a vital indigenous natural enemy in China’s agroecosystems, yet its potential distribution dynamics under changing climates remain unquantified. We utilized optimized Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) models—configured with Hinge-Product-Threshold feature classes and a regularization multiplier of 1.5 based on AICc selection—to identify key distributional drivers and project future range shifts. The model demonstrated high discriminatory ability (mean AUC = 0.886). Annual Precipitation (Bio12) and Mean Temperature of the Warmest Quarter (Bio10) were identified as the primary environmental determinants, with the species exhibiting a distinct preference for warm (20–28 °C) and humid (> 500 mm) habitats. Under current conditions, the total suitable habitat is approximately 2.15 × 106 km2. Future projections indicate a robust northward and westward expansion, with high-suitability core habitats projected to increase nearly fourfold by the 2070s under the high-emission SSP5-8.5 scenario. Crucially, we emphasize that realized colonization will be contingent upon the species' dispersal capabilities, phenological synchronization with floral resources, and complex biotic interactions. These findings provide a potential spatial-temporal framework for “climate-smart” pest management, suggesting that proactive habitat manipulation could facilitate the long-term efficacy of this predator in a warming climate.

Liu, T., Cong, C., Feng, X. et al. Suitable habitats for Ebrechtella tricuspidata (Araneae, Thomisidae) in China under climate change: implications for biological control. Environ Monit Assess 198, 624 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-026-15484-x