The spider fauna of the epigeic and the shrub stratum of a thermophilic wood edge in Bavaria (Germany)

It has been widely accepted that the biology of Drapetisca socialis includes a pronounced stratum change of this species from the forest soil into the crowns of beech trees. On old pine trees, however, D. socialis never exceeded its activity range to heights greater than 10 metres. These results lead to an re-examination of existing results, and to a review of several studies on tree-dwelling spiders. A synopsis of all data revealed that D. socialis changes stratum along stems of trees into greater heights in forests, but only very seldom, and then obviously only by chance, reaches high tree crowns. Earlier results of a stratum change into the crowns of old beech are only assumptions. The requirement for studies including samples from the bottom to the top of trees is proposed.

In contrast to social spider webs aggregative spider webs are defined as incidental and non-functional. Three new records of large (3-10 meter) aggregative spider webs in Germany are presented. In one case (cut fir tree) 11 spider species were recorded from the same web. Two main reasons for the occurence of large aggregative webs are hypothesized: 1. Optimal (weather) conditions for ballooning behaviour may cause a mass occurrence of spiders, which are able to cover vegetation structures with their draglines. 2. Disturbances in the spider habitat (e.g. cutting trees) may cause a movement of spiders to higher (then absent) strata, which may cover also vegetation with huge webs. In both cases spiders may aggregate on the surface of vegetation structures and webs are more dense at their higher points. A parasocial aggregation cannot be excluded, but according to the new observations this seems to be unlikely.

Remarks on the rediscovery of two "lost" species and on one first record of a spider species in Brandenburg

Specimens of T. vulgaris were recently introduced in Germany with cricket boxes from southern United States. The species has been sent within Germany with post packages to different pet dealers. These samples represent probably the first confirmed records of T. vulgaris for Germany. Further observation could show, whether the populations are stabile in synanthropic habitats, especially inside bulidings. Female genitalia are illustrated. One structure is recognized as a glandular part of the spermathecae. Terminology of female genitalia is given in comparison of terms used in the past by different authors.

An anomaly of chaetotaxy of pedipalpal chela in Neobisium carcinoides (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones)

Spider of the year 2001 and 2002: Argiope bruennichi and Pisaura mirabilis

book review: Logunov, D.V. & Y.M. Marusik (2000): Catalogue of the jumping spiders of northern Asia (Arachnida, Araneae, Salticidae)

book review: J.-P. Kim (2002): [Coloured spiders of Korea].