Goals

The Arachnologische Gesellschaft (AraGes) aims at increasing and distributing the knowledge about arachnids. Focussing on the arachnid fauna of Central Europe, it also supports arachnological research in this region.

The AraGes is a scientific institution incorporating a bridging function between interested amateurs, state authorities and academic research.

Its foremost activities are:

• the publication of a scientific journal (Arachnologische Mitteilungen),
• the organization of meetings and promotion of research (Konrad-Thaler Price),
• the distribution of knowledge (Spinnenwissen),
• the mobilization of data (e.g. literature, check lists and red lists, occurences and records, ecological traits) in an international network and virtual research environment.

Restrictions

Within the arachnids, scientific research on and communication concerning mites (Acari) is a vast field overtaken by specific organizations. Therefore, the tasks and activities of AraGes explicitly exlude the mites and concern the remaining arachnid orders only: spiders (Araneae), harvestmen (Opiliones), pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpiones), etc.

Furthermore, the AraGes is not concerned with terraristic matters, e.g the keeping and breeding of arachnids (such as tarantulas or scorpions).