Bridge spider
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Bridge spider ( Larinioides sclopetarius ), female |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Larinioides sclopetarius | ||||||||||||
| ( Clerck , 1757) |
The bridge spider or bridge spider ( Larinioides sclopetarius ) is a species of spider from the family of the real orb web spiders (Araneidae). The species was named after its preference for structures on or above the water and is widespread and common in Central Europe.
description
The bridge cross spider is slightly smaller than the well-known garden cross spider . The females reach a body length of 10–13 mm, the males 6–8 mm. The front body ( prosoma ) is a single color, dark red-brown. He is lightly haired; As with all species of the genus, the hairiness creates a “V” open to the front as well as a wider “U” that encompasses the legs of the V. In addition, the prosoma border is densely lightly haired and so clearly set off.
The basic color of the back of the body ( opisthosoma ) varies from light yellow-brown to almost black-brown. It almost always shows a broad, light-edged sheet drawing, interrupted in the front part, as well as an indicated, likewise interrupted central band. This leaf markings may almost have disappeared in very dark individuals; However, these individuals also always show a sharply defined V-mark typical of the species on the leading edge of the opisthosoma. The opisthosoma is clearly flattened compared to other representatives of the genus. The legs are not very conspicuously light-dark.
The males have a smaller rear body and longer legs than the females, the differences are otherwise small.
Similar species
The bridge spider can hardly be confused with other species of the genus Larinioides due to its pattern and its habitat in Europe . In particular, dark individuals can, however, be confused with the crevasse spider , whose opisthosoma is also strongly flattened and which occasionally shares the habitat of buildings with the bridge spider . However, the crevice spider always lacks the V-shaped hairstyle on the prosoma and the "V" on the leading edge of the opisthosoma.
distribution and habitat
The species inhabits the arctic to subtropical zones of the Holarctic from Iceland and Ireland to Japan , as well as Greenland and America from central Canada to Central America. It occurs all over Europe.
The species is closely specialized in terms of its habitat and almost exclusively inhabits rocks and structures on or over flowing water, especially bridges, but also residential buildings. It is therefore considered to be synanthropic in large parts of its range .
Way of life
The bridge spider almost always weaves its orb web in corners on bridges and buildings, often over the water and very often next to artificial light sources that attract insects at night. The animals can be found in high density on suitable structures. The spider only sits in the middle of the web at night. During the day it hides in a crack or - on smooth surfaces - in a covered web.
Danger
The species is widespread and common in suitable habitats. In Germany it is classified as "safe" in the Red List .
literature
- Heiko Bellmann : Cosmos Atlas Arachnids of Europe. Kosmos, Stuttgart 2006 (3rd edition). ISBN 978-3-440-10746-1 .
- Ralph Platen, Bodo von Broen, Andreas Herrmann, Ulrich M. Ratschker, Peter Sacher: Total species list and red list of spiders, harvestmen and pseudoscorpions of the state of Brandenburg (Arachnida: Araneae, Opiliones, Pseudoscorpiones) with information on frequency and ecology. in: Nature conservation and landscape management in Brandenburg. Potsdam 8.1999, no . 2 ( attachment ), ISSN 0942-9328 .
Web links
Larinioides sclopetarius in the World Spider Catalog
- Larinioides sclopetarius in the Atlas of Arachnids of Europe
Individual evidence
- ↑ Larinioides sclopetarius , araneae, accessed February 19, 2019.