An unusually complex venom system in araneophagous palp-footed spiders (Palpimanidae)

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  An unusually complex venom system in araneophagous palp-footed spiders (Palpimanidae) Venoms are key adaptive traits in many animal lineages, yet their structural and functional diversity in spiders remains poorly investigated. Here, we present an initial characterization of the venom system of palp-footed spiders (Palpimanidae), a family specialized in hunting other spiders. Using micro-computed tomography, we found that the venom glands of the single species examined, Palpimanus gibbulus , exhibit a complex, multi-lobed morphology that is unusual among araneomorph spiders. Proteo-transcriptomic analyses of two Palpimanus venoms ( P. gibbulus and P. cyprius ) revealed highly diverse putative toxin repertoires comprising hundreds of peptides and proteins, including numerous novel putative neurotoxins, cytotoxins, enzymes, and allergens. Five major families of cysteine-rich palpitoxins were identified as the dominant putative neurotoxic components in both species, displaying con...

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