''Leucauge'' () is a spider genus of
long-jawed orb weavers, with over 160 species and fully
pantropical distribution.
The genus was first documented in Scottish zoologist
Adam White's 1841 ''Description of new or little known Arachnida''.
Charles Darwin had suggested the name of the genus and collected the first specimen in May 1832, later named ''L. argyrobapta''.
A vague description and the loss of the only specimen left the genus ill-defined. ''Leucauge'' developed into something of a
wastebasket taxon containing 300 loosely related species, until research in the year 2010 resolved ''L. argyrobapta'' as a synonym of the quite common ''
L. venusta'' and allowed revision and reclassing of the genus. However, a 2018 paper restored ''
Leucauge argyrobapta'' as a separate species.
The body and leg shapes and the silver, black and yellow markings of ''Leucauge'' females make identification of the genus relatively easy. They have two rows of long, slender curved hairs on the femurs of the fourth leg. In most cases the web is slanted rather than vertical and the spider rests in the middle of the web with its underside facing upwards.
Selected species
The
World Spider Catalog accepted 167 species in the genus . This number includes:
* ''
Leucauge argyra''
* ''
Leucauge argyrobapta''
* ''
Leucauge celebesiana''
* ''
Leucauge decorata''
* ''
Leucauge digna'' (worthy orb-weaver) – ''
Saint Helena
Saint Helena () is a British overseas territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote volcanic tropical island west of the coast of south-western Africa, and east of Rio de Janeiro in South America. It is one of three constitu ...
''
* ''
Leucauge dromedaria'' (silver orb-weaver, horizontal orb-weaver)
* ''
Leucauge mabelae''
* ''
Leucauge mariana''
* ''
Leucauge subblanda
''Leucauge subblanda'' is one of several species of orchard spider found in Russia (Far East), China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6534007
subblanda
Spiders described in 1842
Chelicerates of Japan
Spiders of Asia ...
''
* ''
Leucauge subgemmea''
* ''
Leucauge tessellata''
* ''
Leucauge undulata''
* ''
Leucauge venusta'' (orchard spider, orchard orb-weaver)
Name
Greek λευκός (''leukos'') means "white", while αὐγή (''augḗ'') means "
dawn," so called because ''Leucauge'' spiders build their first
web
Web most often refers to:
* Spider web, a silken structure created by the animal
* World Wide Web or the Web, an Internet-based hypertext system
Web, WEB, or the Web may also refer to:
Computing
* WEB, a literate programming system created by ...
before dawn.
Gallery
File:Leucauge sp, Kaeng Krachan National Park (1).jpg, L. sp., Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand
File:Leucauge sp, Kaeng Krachan National Park (2).jpg, L. sp., Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand
File:Spider wyn2.jpg, ''L. tessellata'' or related species
File:Mabel orchard spider (Leucauge mabelae).jpg, Mabel orchard spider, ''L. mabelae'', Jamaica
File:Leucauge mariana dorsal PC020091BESTDOR.jpg, Dorsal view of a mature female '' Leucauge mariana''
References
Further reading
* "Riparian insects and the diet of the riparian spider ''Leucauge celebisiana'' (Araneae: Tetragnathidae)".
PDF
External links
about to be eaten by ''
Anolis carolinensis''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2108621
Araneomorphae genera
Pantropical spiders