Araneus coccinella

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Coccinella spider
Araneus coccinella 299185036 538998460.jpg
female
Araneus coccinella 313491393 566132027.jpg
female
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Araneidae
Genus: Araneus
Species:
A. coccinella
Binomial name
Araneus coccinella
Pocock, 1898 [1]

Araneus coccinella is a species of spider in the family Araneidae. [2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the coccinella spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Araneus coccinella is known from three provinces in South Africa, Gauteng, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal. The species was originally described from Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal. [3]

Habitat and ecology

This orb-web dwelling spider has been sampled mainly from three biomes. [3] The species mimics Coccinella beetles (ladybirds) in appearance. During long-term surveys in Irene, specimens were collected yearly in December and January. [3]

Description

The species is easily recognized by its distinct abdominal pattern. [3] Only the female is known, with the male remaining undescribed. [3]

Conservation

Araneus coccinella is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute despite being rare, due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in Lhuvhondo Nature Reserve. [3]

Etymology

The species name coccinella refers to its resemblance to Coccinella beetles (ladybirds). [3]

Taxonomy

The species was described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1898 from the type locality Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal. [1] Pocock speculated that this species might not belong to the genus Araneus. The species was previously misidentified in books. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 Pocock, R.I. (1898). "The Arachnida from the province of Natal, South Africa, contained in the collection of the British Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 2 (9): 197–226. doi:10.1080/00222939808678036.
  2. ↑ "Araneus coccinella Pocock, 1898". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N.; Webb, P. (2022). The Araneidae of South Africa. Version 2: part 1 (A-C). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 18. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6326922. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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