Trichobothrial patterns during postembryonic development of Cyclosa conica (Pallas, 1772) (Araneae, Araneidae)

B.D Dudic,V.T Tomic,L.R Lucic

doi:10.2298/abs1102441d

Abstract

The trichobothrial pattern was studied during the postembryonic development of Cyclosa conica. Juvenile and adult specimens have the same trichobothrial pattern but a different number of setae. The considerable difference in the number of trichobothria on the tibias of immature specimens allowed separation into four groups. The distinction in trichobothrial number and pattern between pedipalps of adult male and female spiders is also noted. Mature and immature specimens have the same number of trichobothria on metatarsi I and II.

Highlights

Trichobothriotaxy, the presence and arrangement of trichobothria on the integument of arthropods, has been widely used in phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of arthropods with gradual larval development (Nayrolles and Betsch 1993, Pomorski 1996, Vachon 1972, 1974)
There is a considerable difference between the trichobothrial patterns of immature and adult arthropods and trichobothriotaxy has been argued to represent a good character set for postembryonic and taxonomic studies (Bonaric, Emerit and Calderon 1986, Pomorski, 1996)
The objective of this study was to provide the first description of trichobothrial pattern observed during the postembryonic development of Cyclosa conica, to propose a nomenclature of particular trichobothria and to create a description model of the immature stages based on the average number of trichobothria for future studies

Summary

Introduction

Trichobothriotaxy, the presence and arrangement of trichobothria on the integument of arthropods, has been widely used in phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of arthropods with gradual larval development (Nayrolles and Betsch 1993, Pomorski 1996, Vachon 1972, 1974). There is a considerable difference between the trichobothrial patterns of immature and adult arthropods and trichobothriotaxy has been argued to represent a good character set for postembryonic and taxonomic studies (Bonaric, Emerit and Calderon 1986, Pomorski, 1996). Investigations of the trichobothriotaxy of spiders have focused mainly on trichobothrial patterns which serve as an important tool in identification at the species level and are a suitable feature in higher level systematics (Lehtinen 1980, Scioscia 1992). Studies of the correlation between trichobothrial patterns and suitable postembryonic stages in the development of spiders are rare. The objective of this study was to provide the first description of trichobothrial pattern observed during the postembryonic development of Cyclosa conica, to propose a nomenclature of particular trichobothria and to create a description model of the immature stages based on the average number of trichobothria for future studies.

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Conclusion