Mountain trek spider
| Mountain trek spider | ||||||||||||
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Mountain Trekker Spider ( Tetragnatha montana ), female |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Tetragnatha montana | ||||||||||||
| Simon , 1874 |
The mountain trek spider ( Tetragnatha montana ) is a species of spider from the family of trek spiders (Tetragnathidae). The species mainly lives in the crowns of shrubs and trees near water. It is widespread and common in Central Europe .
description
The species is slightly smaller than the common stretch spider ; Males have a body length of 6 to 8 mm, females reach 7–10 mm. The front body ( prosoma ) and the legs are monochrome beige-brown in the female. The rear part of the body ( opisthosoma ) shows on a whitish ground on the upper side in the middle a sharply defined, broad, gold-colored band with a fine, dark network drawing. The males are generally a little darker and more reddish in color, but show the same pattern.
distribution and habitat
The species inhabits large parts of the Palearctic from Ireland and Portugal east to the Kuril Islands and the People's Republic of China . The distribution area includes the temperate to subtropical zone. Except for Iceland, it occurs all over Europe.
Tetragnatha montana inhabits areas close to the water, which can be both wooded and unforested. It populates there mainly the crown area of bushes and trees.
Way of life
Like all species of the genus, Tetragnatha montana sits tightly against the base when at rest, with the two pairs of forelegs stretched forward and the last pair of legs stretched backwards; the third pair of legs encircles the mat.
Sexually mature animals can be found from May to September. The males do not carry out an advertising ceremony, but take the partner directly with their chelicerae . Because of the grip of the male, the female is unable to attack it. After mating, the partners separate. The egg cocoon is placed on a flat surface - usually a leaf - and covered with white webbing.
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 . 3rd edition, 2006. Kosmos, Stuttgart, 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 maintenance in Brandenburg. 8, issue 2 (supplement); 1999.
