Ebrechtella tricuspidata explained

Ebrechtella tricuspidata is a species of crab spiders belonging to the family Thomisidae. [1]

Subspecies

Subspecies include: [2]

Distribution

This species is widespread in the Palearctic realm (Europe, Turkey, Caucasus, Russia to Central Asia, China, Korea, and Japan).[3] [4] It is not found in Great Britain.[5]

Habitat

These medium-sized crab spiders inhabit dry meadows and sunny forest edges, waiting for prey well camouflaged in flower and foliage. [6]

Description

Ebrechtella tricuspidata can reach approximately a body length of 5- in females, while males are smaller, reaching a body length of 2.5-.[7] The cephalothorax (Prosoma) is light green in females, with sometimes indeterminate reddish markings on the back of the whitish-yellowish abdomen. These reddish markings usually consist of two broad rear-connected bands. Also legs are light green.

Males are clearly different-looking (sexual dimorphism). They have light brown cephalothorax with bright median stripe and the first two pairs of legs, while the bottle-shaped abdomen (Opisthosoma) is usually pale green, laterally with dark brown markings. [6]

Biology

Adults from both sexes can be found in May and June.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2011/search/all/key/ebrechtella+tricuspidata/match/1 Catalogue of life
  2. https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id842/ Biolib
  3. https://wsc.nmbe.ch/species/40711 World Spider Catalog Version 19.0
  4. https://fauna-eu.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/3a7a4485-ed90-498c-8230-55b16c9eb345 Fauna europaea
  5. http://srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p/summary/s/Ebrechtella%20tricuspidata Spider and Harvestman Recording Scheme website
  6. https://araneae.nmbe.ch/data/1266/Ebrechtella_tricuspidata Spiders of Europe
  7. Roberts M. J. (1995): Collins Field Guide. Spiders of Britain & Northern Europe