Euryopis episinoides

Last updated

Black Ant Eating Comb-Foot Spider
Euryopis episinoides 300892362 542176011.jpg
Female
Euryopis episinoides 300892362 542176556.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Theridiidae
Genus: Euryopis
Species:
E. episinoides
Binomial name
Euryopis episinoides
(Walckenaer, 1847) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Theridion acuminatumLucas, 1846
  • Argus episinoidesWalckenaer, 1847
  • Theridion scriptumO. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872
  • Euryopis tarsalisPavesi, 1875
  • Theridium acuminatumCanestrini, 1876
  • Euryopis quadrimaculataO. Pickard-Cambridge, 1876
  • Euryopis acuminataSimon, 1881
  • Euryopis scriptaSimon, 1881

Euryopis episinoides is a species of spider in the family Theridiidae. [2] It is native to the Mediterranean region and has been introduced to South Africa, where it is commonly known as the black ant eating comb-foot spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Euryopis episinoides is found in Cape Verde, the Mediterranean region to Turkey, Georgia, and Israel. It has been introduced to South Africa, Réunion, India, and China. [2]

In South Africa, the species is known from the provinces Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, and Western Cape. Notable locations include Addo Elephant National Park, Table Mountain National Park, and Kruger National Park. [3]

Habitat and ecology

Euryopis episinoides inhabits a large range at altitudes from 37 to 1909 m above sea level. [3] Ground-dwelling spiders associated with ants, they are sampled in high numbers from crops including cotton, minneola, maize, vineyards, and pear orchards. This species is common in the Mediterranean region. [3]

Description

Conservation

Euryopis episinoides is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species has been sampled from more than ten protected areas in South Africa. [3]

References

  1. ↑ Walckenaer, C.A. (1847). "Dernier Supplément". Histoire naturelles des Insects. Aptères. Tome quatrième: 365–596. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.61095.
  2. 1 2 3 "Euryopis episinoides (Walckenaer, 1847)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Theridiidae of South Africa. Part 1 A-P. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 32. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7515890. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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