Arachnological information
https://arages.de/en/journal/arachnology-lettersLenzini L, Castellucci F, Poso M, Kulczycki A, Simeon E, Greco G, Piccinini A & Legittimo CM
First records of Anagraphis ochracea (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) for continental Italy and Sicily with new observations on its myrmecophilous lifestyle
Erster Nachweis von Anagraphis ochracea (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) für das italienische Festland und Sizilien, mit neuen Beobachtungen zum myrmekophilen Lebensstil der Art
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In the present study we describe and discuss for the first time the peculiar myrmecophilous habits of Anagraphis ochracea (L. Koch, 1867) and its strong association with the ant species Messor ibericus Santschi, 1931. The study is based on behavioural observations carried out both in the field and in captivity, and sheds light on the lifestyle of this poorly studied and rarely observed species. We also record the presence of A. ochracea on continental Italy and Sicily for the first time, provide a brief overview of its taxonomic history and present photographs of adult and juvenile specimens, the egg sac and the copulatory organs of both sexes. Finally, we provide a DNA-barcode (COI) for A. ochracea, which is the first for the genus Anagraphis as well.
ant, ant association, Arachnida, Messor ibericus, myrmecophily, spider, symbiosis