Archaeodictyna ulova

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Archaeodictyna ulova
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Dictynidae
Genus: Archaeodictyna
Species:
A. ulova
Binomial name
Archaeodictyna ulova
Griswold & Meikle-Griswold, 1987 [1]

Archaeodictyna ulova is a species of spider in the family Dictynidae. [2] It is commonly known as the ulova mesh-web sider and is endemic to South Africa. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Archaeodictyna ulova is known from three South African provinces: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo. [3] The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 37 to 1,742 m above sea level. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species has been sampled from grass and herb layers in grassland, thicket and savanna biomes. [3] Archaeodictyna ulova exhibits an unusual lifestyle as a kleptoparasite in the community nests of the eresid spiders Stegodyphus mimosarum and S. dumicola , feeding communally with their hosts on prey items caught by the eresids. [3]

Description

Archaeodictyna ulova is known from both sexes. [3]

Conservation

Archaeodictyna ulova is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographic range. [3] The species is protected in Addo National Park and Kruger National Park. [3]

References

  1. Griswold, C.E.; Meikle-Griswold, T. (1987). "Archaeodictyna ulova, new species (Araneae: Dictynidae), a remarkable kleptoparasite of group-living eresid spiders (Stegodyphus spp., Araneae: Eresidae)". American Museum Novitates. 2897: 1–11.
  2. "Archaeodictyna ulova Griswold & Meikle-Griswold, 1987". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Dictynidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 6. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6159874 . Retrieved 22 September 2025. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.