Forsteropsalis pureora is a species of long-legged harvestman in the family, Neopilionidae.[1] This species is endemic to New Zealand, found in the North Island.[1] They are found in native forest, often resting on vegetation or stream banks.[2]
Adult male Forsteropsalis pureora. This is a small-bodied gamma male with small chelicerae.
This species is highly sexually dimorphic, with males and females differing in morphology.[3][4] Males have enlarged chelicerae used to fight other males in competition.[3] The pinching claw of the chelicera is used to grab and pin down the opponent.[3] Males may be one of three morphs that differ in chelicerae size, chelicerae shape, and body size.[3] Males and females also differ in color, known as sexual dichromatism.[5][6] Males are brown to black, with an orange stripe running dorsally down the body.[1][5] There is also an orange horseshoe-shaped marking around the eyes.[1][5] In the original species description, these markings are inaccurately described as white from the aged bleached specimens in ethanol.[1][5] The orange markings may range from dull yellow-orange to dark red-orange. Females are more cryptic in color with a mottled brown and black pattern and light yellow-orange markings. Juveniles have the same coloration as mature females.[5]
Diet and predators
A subadult male Forsteropsalis pureora
This species is a generalist opportunistic omnivore. In the wild, they have been observed eating a variety of insect prey (e.g., wētā, flies, beetles, dragonflies, caterpillars, adult moths, stink bugs, and cockroaches), spiders, and other invertebrates (e.g., amphipods), both captured live and scavenged.[2] They are highly opportunistic and have been found resting under spider webs collecting discarded pieces of prey as they fall from the web.[2]
New Zealand harvestmen are eaten by various vertebrate species, including introduced mammals (possums, hedgehogs, rats, stoats), bats, birds, frogs, tuatara, and fish (kōaro).[2] Invertebrate predators such as spiders also prey upon harvestmen and cannibalism occurs within the Neopilionidae.[2]Forsteropsalis pureora has been observed being eaten by Uliodon sp. vagrant spiders and Cambridgea sp. sheetweb spiders.[2]
1 2 3 4 5 Powell, E. (2020). The evolution and ecology of weapon polymorphic New Zealand harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones, Neopilionidae) (Doctoral dissertation, ResearchSpace@ Auckland).
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