Sex- and development-specific transcriptomic profiling of venom and silk genes in the wolf spider Pardosa astrigera provides insights into ecological adaptation and predatory strategies

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  Sex- and development-specific transcriptomic profiling of venom and silk genes in the wolf spider Pardosa astrigera provides insights into ecological adaptation and predatory strategies Abstract Spider venom and silk glands are two major secretory systems that contribute to prey capture, defense, and reproduction, but their sex- and development-specific molecular regulation in wandering wolf spiders remains poorly understood. Here, the transcriptome of Pardosa astrigera , an important agricultural natural enemy in China, revealed significant sex- and development-associated molecular differentiation among adult females, adult males, and spiderlings. A total of 100,025 unigenes were obtained, of which 23,852 were functionally annotated, providing a comprehensive transcriptomic resource for this species. Differential expression patterns showed marked variation among groups, with 531, 1792, and 832 DEGs detected in PAF vs PAS, PAM vs PAS, and PAF vs PAM, respectively. These genes we...

New data on Anatolidion Wunderlich, 2008, Neottiura Menge, 1868, and Theridion Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae: Theridiidae) from the South Caucasus

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Abstract

In this paper, we present new taxonomic and faunistic data on the genera Anatolidion Wunderlich, 2008, Neottiura Menge, 1868, and Theridion Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae: Theridiidae) occurring in the South Caucasus. Four species of Theridion are described as new to science: Th. absheronicum sp. nov. (♂♀; Azerbaijan), Th. araratense sp. nov. (♂♀; Armenia), Th. caucasicum sp. nov. (♂♀; Armenia, Azerbaijan), and Th. huseynovi sp. nov. (♂♀; Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran); DNA barcodes are provided for the latter species. A new combination, Anatolidion arsia (Zamani & Marusik, 2021) comb. nov. (ex Theridion), is proposed; this species is newly recorded from the Caucasus, and its male is described for the first time. Additionally, Th. betteni Wiehle, 1960 is recorded from the South Caucasus for the first time, and N. suaveolens (Simon, 1880) is newly recorded in Azerbaijan. Distribution records for all treated species in the South Caucasus are mapped.

Zamani, A., Seropian, A. & Marusik, Y.M. (2026) New data on Anatolidion Wunderlich, 2008, Neottiura Menge, 1868, and Theridion Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae: Theridiidae) from the South Caucasus. Zootaxa, 5866 (2), 231–252. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5866.2.2