A pseudoscorpion clinging to a cave salamander: phoresy or failed predation?

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  A pseudoscorpion clinging to a cave salamander: phoresy or failed predation? Abstract Pseudoscorpions are well known for phoretic associations with arthropods, but interactions with amphibians are rarely documented. Here we report a pseudoscorpion attached to the left palpebral region of an adult male Italian cave salamander, Speleomantes italicus , observed during a visual survey in a karst cave in Tuscany, Italy. The pseudoscorpion, assigned on the basis of visible morphology and locality to Chthonius cf. elongatus , was grasping a minute cutaneous fold on the lower margin of the left upper eyelid with one chela while the salamander moved slowly over the rock surface. No handling was performed and the initial contact between the two animals was not observed. The event therefore cannot be interpreted unambiguously, but may represent opportunistic phoresy or defensive attachment following a failed predation attempt. To our knowledge, this is the first published observation of a ...

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