First record of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) (Diptera: Phoridae) infestation in captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae

Posted by
  First record of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) (Diptera: Phoridae) infestation in captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae Abstract Flies of the genus Megaselia Rondani, 1856 exhibit exceptional ecological flexibility, with certain species acting as facultative parasites. This study presents the first documented cases of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) infesting captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae, Ceratogyrus darlingi Pocock, 1897 and Psalmopoeus irminia Saager, 1994) in terrarium settings. Our observations demonstrate that M . abdita colonise artificial habitats and exploit spider hosts similarly to Megaselia scalaris . Citation: Szymański, D.M., Szymański, D., Kłonowski, P. (2026). First record of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) (Diptera: Phoridae) infestation in captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae). Dipteron, 42, 25-29. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23137389

Leg Autotomy and Regeneration in Crab Spiders Ebrechtella tricuspidata (Araneae: Thomisidae)

Posted by

 

Leg Autotomy and Regeneration in Crab Spiders Ebrechtella tricuspidata (Araneae: Thomisidae)

Abstract

Arachnids evade predation by intentionally sacrificing body parts, with leg autotomy playing a crucial role in their survival and reproductive strategies. Our study primarily employed field surveys and laboratory experiments to examine the frequency of autotomy and its effects on predation and mating in Ebrechtella tricuspidata (Araneae: Thomisidae). Leg loss was common in wild populations, with approximately 17.11% of all surveyed spiders missing at least leg, the most frequently lost leg is one of the second pair of appendages, and the highest rate of autotomy occurs in July. Additionally, we found that some individuals exhibit regenerative capacity following autotomy. We focused on the effects of leg autotomy on E. tricuspidata in two contexts: predation and mating. In laboratory conditions, the loss of two legs significantly impacted the individual’s predatory efficiency. Additionally, individuals missing two legs exhibited significantly poorer mating performance than intact individuals. We suggest that E. tricuspidata may employ a synergistic strategy of “autotomy-regeneration” to mitigate survival risks, thereby reducing the negative impacts of leg loss on predation and mating.

Li, X., Chen, X., Gong, Z., & Peng, Y. (2026). Leg Autotomy and Regeneration in Crab Spiders Ebrechtella tricuspidata (Araneae: Thomisidae). Insects, 17(8), 833. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17080833