| Festiva Silver Vlei Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Tetragnathidae |
| Genus: | Leucauge |
| Species: | L. festiva |
| Binomial name | |
| Leucauge festiva | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Leucauge festiva is a species of spider in the family Tetragnathidae. [2] It is commonly known as the festiva silver vlei spider. [3]
Leucauge festiva has a widespread distribution throughout Africa, including Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Equatorial Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, and Madagascar. [2]
In South Africa, the species is found in all provinces. [3]
The species makes orb-webs, sometimes near water or in shaded damp areas. They are active during the day, hanging head down in their webs. [3]
L. festiva has been sampled from Fynbos, Forest, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Grassland, Nama Karoo, and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 15 to 1,999 m. [3] It has also been sampled from avocado and macadamia orchards as well as pumpkin and tomato fields. [3]
The species is medium-sized with an elongate abdomen featuring a brightly coloured mask-like pattern. The posterior end is blunt. [3]
The epigyne has a scape. [3] Male chelicerae have tubercles. [3]
Leucauge festiva is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. [3] The species is protected in more than ten protected areas. [3]
The species was originally described by John Blackwall in 1866 from Equatorial Africa as Tetragnatha festiva. [1]
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.