Leucauge argyrescens

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Leucauge argyrescens
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Tetragnathidae
Genus: Leucauge
Species:
L. argyrescens
Binomial name
Leucauge argyrescens
Benoit, 1978 [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Leucauge russellsmithiLocket, 1980

Leucauge argyrescens is a species of spider in the family Tetragnathidae. [2]

Contents

Distribution

Leucauge argyrescens is found in Comoros, Seychelles, Eswatini, and South Africa. [2]

In South Africa, the species is recorded from Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Western Cape. Notable locations include Addo Elephant National Park, Diepwalle Forest Station, and various forest sites across the provinces. [3]

Habitat and ecology

This small spider species resides in orb-webs built on low bushes and plants near ground level. The species has been sampled sweeping vegetation from the Forest, Savanna and Thicket biomes at altitudes ranging from 19 to 1,327 m. [3]

Description

Conservation

Leucauge argyrescens is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in several forest stations and in Londolozi Game Reserve. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Pierre Benoit in 1978 from the Seychelles. [1] Saaristo in 2003 synonymized Leucauge russellsmithi with L. argyrescens. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 Benoit, P.L.G. (1978). "Contributions à l'étude de la faune terrestre des îles granitiques de l'archipel des Séchelles (Mission P.L.G. Benoit - J.J. Van Mol 1972). Tetragnathidae et Araneidae-Nephilinae (Araneae)". Revue Zoologique Africaine. 92: 663–674.
  2. 1 2 3 "Leucauge argyrescens Benoit, 1978". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. 1 2 3 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2023). The Tetragnathidae of South Africa. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 15. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7513261. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  4. ↑ Saaristo, M.I. (2003). "Tetragnathid spiders of Seychelles (Araneae, Tetragnathidae)". Phelsuma. 11: 13–28.
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