Masoncus Explained

Masoncus is a genus of North American dwarf spiders that was first described by Ralph Vary Chamberlin in 1949.^[1]

Species

it contains four species, found in Canada and the United States:^[2]

• Masoncus arienus Chamberlin, 1949 (type) – USA,
• Masoncus conspectus (Gertsch & Davis, 1936) – USA
• Masoncus dux Chamberlin, 1949 – Canada
• Masoncus pogonophilus Cushing, 1995 – USA. Known myrmecophilic association with Pogonomyrmex badius, this spider lives in the nest and feeds on springtails. ^[3]

See also

• List of Linyphiidae species (I–P)

Notes and References

1. Chamberlin. R. V.. 1949. On some American spiders of the family Erigonidae. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 483–562. 41. 4. 10.1093/aesa/41.4.483. Ralph_Vary_Chamberlin.
2. Gen. Masoncus Chamberlin, 1949. World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. 2019-06-15. 2019. Natural History Museum Bern. 10.24436/2.
3. Book: Tschinkel . Walter R. . Ant architecture : the wonder, beauty, and science of underground nests . 2021 . Princeton University Press . Princeton, New Jersey . 9780691179315 . 37.