Scorpio basraensis sp. n. from southern Iraq (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae)

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  Scorpio basraensis sp. n. from southern Iraq (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) Abstract A new scorpion species, Scorpio basraensis sp. n. , is described and illustrated from Basra Province, southern Iraq. Scorpio basraensis sp. n. is compared with all known species of the genus Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758 occurring in countries surrounding Iraq. The new species can be distinguished by the circular genital operculum in males and the cordiform genital operculum in females (not posteriorly elongated), a densely hirsute body, appendages and metasoma, a distinctly elongated telson vesicle, discrete granules on the external surface of the chela manus that are not flattened, and pectinal tooth counts of 11–13 in males and 9–11 in females. With the description of this species, the number of scorpion species known from Iraq increases to 22, whereas the number of recognized species in the genus Scorpio reaches 33. Yağmur, Ersen A.; Makki, Jafar A.; and Najim, Shurooq A. (2026) " Scorpio basraen...

Description of the male of Kaira candidissima with notes on its natural history (Araneae: Araneidae)

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Description of the male of Kaira candidissima with notes on its natural history (Araneae: Araneidae)

Abstract

Kaira Pickard-Cambridge, 1889 is a genus of Neotropical spiders that currently includes seventeen species, eight of which are known only from females. These araneids do not make orbicular webs to catch prey but use pheromone-like substances to attract male moths. In this work, the male of K. candidissima (Mello-Leitão, 1941) is described for the first time and individuals of K. gibberosa O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1890 are recorded, based on specimens from La Pampa, Argentina. The first scanning electron micrographs of male palps of the genus are provided for both species along with illustrations of the unknown male of K. candidissima. The males of K. candidissima can be differentiated from others of the genus by the shape of opisthosoma which is white and has one anterior hump and two lateral tubercles. Kaira candidissima becomes active at dusk and presumably remains so throughout the night. Active individuals were observed hanging from trapezoidal webs extending 1–2 cm from grass leaves, 35-65 cm above the ground, with legs I and II extended. Concentrations of tangled threads can be seen located in the lines of the trapezoidal webs. A juvenile female was observed capturing and consuming a male Cecidomyiidae (Diptera: Nematocera) and an adult female was observed feeding on a lepidopteran. The distribution of these species extends from north-eastern Argentina to north-east of La Pampa province, in central Argentina, representing the southernmost record for the genus.

Peralta-Seen, N., Esquivel, C.A., Blas, G.S. & Diez, F. (2026) Description of the male of Kaira candidissima with notes on its natural history (Araneae: Araneidae). Zootaxa, 5862 (2), 333–346. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5862.2.7