Zodarion styliferum is a species or Araneomorph spider that belongs to the family Zordariidae (ant spiders). It is native to the Iberian Peninsula being found in Portugal, Spain and Madeira.[1]
| Zodarion styliferum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A juvenile Zodarion styliferum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Zodariidae |
| Genus: | Zodarion |
| Species: | Z. styliferum |
| Binomial name | |
| Zodarion styliferum (Simon, 1870) | |
| Subspecies | |
| |
Taxonomy
editZodarion styliferum is an Araneomorph spider that belongs to a family of spiders known as ant spiders, Zordariidae. This family is one of the most species-rich families of spiders containing more than 940+ species that are distributed across the Mediterranean region of Europe and the Iberian Peninsula.[2] The genus it belongs to (Zodarion) is a very diverse genus being one of the most species-rich genera of the family containing more than 160+ species.[1] Thid means that it has been divided into several species groups where Zodarion styliferum is a member of the styliferum species group. This group includes Z. algarvense, Z. gregua, Z. jozefienae , Z. merlijni, Z. rudyi and Z. segurense.[3][4]
There are two recognized subspecies within this species. These two are listed below:[2]
• Z. styliferum styliferum
• Z. styliferum extraneum
Distribution
editThis species is distributed in Western Europe and more specifically the Iberian Peninsula. Their range includes Portugal, Spain and Madeira (including the island of Porto Santo).[5]
Behavior
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Similarly to other members of its own genus, they remain in igloo-shaped retreats during the day. These retreats are often found attached to the undersides of rocks or dead pieces of wood. These igloo-retreats provides this species protection against unfavorable environmental conditions and potential predators such as ants.[6]
Parasitism
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Parasitism amongst Hymenoptera is common with several groups of Hymenopterians developing parasitic behaviors on spiders. This is especially seen with several wasp groups which parasitize on a wide range of spider species and behaviors from ground-dwelling, fast moving predators such as wolf spiders (Lycosidae) to web-inhabiting spiders such as orb-web weavers (Araneidae).[6]
In the past, records of parasitism for Zodarion styliferum has only been tentatively identified. This was until (Korenko et al. 2013) discovered that two parasitoid species of wasps have been associated with Zodarion styliferum. It is now known that this species currently has two species of parasitoid wasps associated with this species, they are Calymmochilus dispar and Gelis apterus. There seems to be little information known about the biology and host associations of wasps of the genus Calymmochilus. The larvae of Calymmochilus dispar do not create their own cocoon during pupation. Instead C. dispar will rather use the spider igloo already built by Zodarion styliferum to help protect their exposed larvae from environmental conditions and potential predators. Females of the species Gelis apterus will attack female spiders while in their spider igloos using their long ovipositors to penetrate the igloo. Once inside, larvae will make their cocoons before pupation.[6]
References
edit- 1 2 "World Spider Catalog". wsc.nmbe.ch. Retrieved 2026-05-04.
- 1 2 Pekar, Stano & Cardoso, Pedro & Barriga, Javier & Carvalho, José. (2011). Update to the zodariid spider fauna of the Iberian Peninsula and Madeira (Araneae: Zodariidae). Zootaxa. 2814. 19-32. 10.11646/zootaxa.2814.1.2.
- ↑ Bosmans, R. (1994b). Revision of the genus Zodarion Walckenaer, 1833 in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands (Araneae, Zodariidae). Eos
- ↑ Shafaie, Sepideh & Pekar, Stano & Ortiz, David. (2025). Integrative taxonomy of the Iberian Zodarion species of the rubidum and styliferum groups (Araneae: Zodariidae). Zootaxa. 5624. 1-69. 10.11646/zootaxa.5624.1.1.
- ↑ Luís, Carlos & Crespo, & Cardoso, Pedro & Henriques, Sérgio & Gaspar, Clara. (2009). Spiders (Araneae) from Porto Santo (Madeira, Portugal): Additions to the current knowledge. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomologica Aragonesa. 45.
- 1 2 3 Hymenopteran parasitoids of the ant-eating spider Zodarion styliferum (Simon) (Araneae, Zodariidae). Korenko S, Schmidt S, Schwarz M, Gibson G and Pekar S, ZooKeys, 2013, 262, pages 1-15, doi:10.3897/zookeys.262.3857
External links
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"Zodarion styliferum". The Encyclopedia of Life.
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