Hersilia arborea
| Long-spinneret Tree Spider | |
|---|---|
| Adult female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Hersiliidae |
| Genus: | Hersilia |
| Species: | H. arborea
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hersilia arborea Lawrence, 1928[1]
| |
Hersilia arborea is a species of spider in the family Hersiliidae.[2] It is endemic to southern Africa and is commonly known as the Long-spinneret tree spider.[3]
Etymology
The specific name arborea is derived from the Latin word for "tree", referring to the species' arboreal lifestyle on tree bark.[3]
Distribution
Hersilia arborea occurs in Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.[2] In South Africa, the species is recorded from four provinces at altitudes ranging from 271 to 1,535 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat
The species inhabits Grassland and Savanna biomes. It is a free-living bark dweller found on various tree species, though it does not appear to prefer specific tree types. Tree trunk size may influence habitat selection.[3]
Description
Hersilia arborea is known from both sexes. The species exhibits the characteristic flattened body form of the genus Hersilia, which allows it to press closely against tree bark for camouflage. Like other members of the family Hersiliidae, it possesses extremely long posterior spinnerets that are as long as the opisthosoma.[3]
Ecology
This species is cryptic in behaviour, remaining motionless with its body pressed against the substrate when at rest. When disturbed, it moves at great speed. Females construct flat, oval-shaped egg sacs on tree trunk surfaces, which are camouflaged with bits of bark. The female guards these eggs in an upside-down position until the young emerge.[3]
Conservation
Hersilia arborea is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide distribution range. The species is protected in several areas including Blouberg Nature Reserve, Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve, and Marakele National Park. No significant threats have been identified, and no conservation actions are currently recommended.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by R. F. Lawrence in 1928 from Namibia. It was subsequently revised by Foord & Dippenaar-Schoeman in 2006 as part of their comprehensive revision of Afrotropical Hersilia species.[4]
References
- ^ Lawrence, R.F. (1928). "Contributions to a knowledge of the fauna of South-West Africa VII. Arachnida (Part 2)". Annals of the South African Museum. 25: 217–312.
- ^ a b "Hersilia arborea Lawrence, 1928". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Hersiliidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 6. doi:10.5281/zenodo.5913607. Retrieved 21 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
- ^ Foord, S.H.; Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S. (2006). "A revision of the Afrotropical species of Hersilia Audouin (Araneae: Hersiliidae)". Zootaxa. 1347: 1–92. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1347.1.1.