Description of a new species of Zodarion Walckenaer (Araneae: Zodariidae) from Turkey

Posted by
  Description of a new species of Zodarion Walckenaer (Araneae: Zodariidae) from Turkey Introduction Zodariidae Thorell, commonly known as ant-eating spiders, is one of the most diverse spider families, comprising over 1300 species across 90 genera (World Spider Catalog  Citation 2026 ). Members of the family are distributed worldwide, mostly in tropical and subtropical regions (World Spider Catalog  Citation 2026 ). Within this large family, the genus Zodarion Walckenaer, is represented by 176 species (World Spider Catalog  Citation 2026 ). Currently, 157 Zodarion species are known from Europe (Nentwig et al .  Citation 2026 ). In Turkey, the family Zodariidae comprises 37 species in four genera. Most of them, 34 species, belong to the genus Zodarion (Danışman et al. ,  Citation 2025 ). Within the genus, eight species of the ‘ germanicum ’ species group are found in Turkey: Zodarion abantense Wunderlich, Z. bigaense Bosmans, Özkütük, Varlı, and Kunt, ...

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

Posted by

 

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