taxonomic_comments |
The type for this species, Linyphia (Leucauge) argyrobapta White,1841, was based on a specimen collected by Charles Darwin (the only spider he's known to have documented!) during the voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle, which specimen was subsequently lost after publication of its description.
A neotype was not established until 2010 when one based on specimens collected in the type locality was established. At that time, L. argyrobapta was declared a junior synonym of venusta, but in 2018 it was removed from that synonymy, and is again recognized as a separate species. These two species are grossly differentiated by geographic range (argyrobapta being typically more tropical and coastal, while venusta is more northern and found in temperate climes.)
Although there may be some generalized marking difference, more precise determination requires microscopic examination of the genitalia. "Surprisingly," according to Ballesterosa and Hormiga, 2018,these are not sister species, as their "estimated age of divergence implies that the morphologies in this two species...have remained seemingly invariable for at least 10 million
years.
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Photo Gallery for Leucauge argyrobapta a longjawed orbweaver |
| Recorded by: Ralph Tramontano Carteret Co. Comment: These are seen quite frequently, both in my yard and in the forests of the Croatan NF | | Recorded by: Ralph Tramontano Carteret Co. Comment: These are seen quite frequently, both in my yard and in the forests of the Croatan NF |
| Recorded by: Ralph Tramontano Carteret Co. Comment: These are seen quite frequently, both in my yard and in the forests of the Croatan NF | | Recorded by: Jared Barrier Sampson Co. Comment: |
| Recorded by: Jared Barrier Sampson Co. Comment: | | Recorded by: J. Pilkington Beaufort Co. Comment: GOCR - Mabel's Orchard Orbweaver/Orchard Orbweaver |
| Recorded by: J. Pilkington Beaufort Co. Comment: GOCR - Mabel's Orchard Orbweaver/Orchard Orbweaver | | Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment: Two reddish spots at end of opisthosoma on dorsal surface (these become bright red later in year).
Same red chevron as L. venusta on ventral surface. |
| Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment: Two reddish spots at end of opisthosoma on dorsal surface (these become bright red later in year).
Same red chevron as L. venusta on ventral surface. | | Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Dare Co. Comment: |
| Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Dare Co. Comment: | | Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment: Assume this is a male, was in same web as much larger bodied female. |
| Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment: Juveniles and adults present. | | Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment: Juveniles and adults present. |
| Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment: | | Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment: |
| Recorded by: John Petranka and Chuck Smith Bladen Co. Comment: | | Recorded by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment: male |
| Recorded by: Donald Zepp Pamlico Co. Comment: Cellphone photo of juvi feeding in web on rear ladder of "permanently" parked RV. (Extremely windy conditions, to boot!) | | Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Pender Co. Comment: |
| Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Scotland Co. Comment: | | Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Scotland Co. Comment: |
| Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Scotland Co. Comment: | | Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Scotland Co. Comment: |
| Recorded by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment: | | Recorded by: R. Newman Carteret Co. Comment: FOMA |
| Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Beaufort Co. Comment: | | Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Beaufort Co. Comment: |
| Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment: | | Recorded by: Morgan Freese New Hanover Co. Comment: |
| Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther Columbus Co. Comment: These are seen frequently at this site. | | Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther Columbus Co. Comment: These are seen frequently at this site. |
| Recorded by: R. Newman Carteret Co. Comment: FOMA | | Recorded by: Morgan Freese Brunswick Co. Comment: |
| Recorded by: Morgan Freese Brunswick Co. Comment: | | Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment: |
| Recorded by: C. Bennett, A. bilewski Dare Co. Comment: JORI - Seen behind visitor center | | Recorded by: Emily Wilkie New Hanover Co. Comment: CABE - Student with the UNCW Island Ecology Class found this spider along the flytrap trail. @ -77.914010, 34.047052 |
| Recorded by: K. Bischof Beaufort Co. Comment: GOCR - Obs. along the Palmetto Boardwalk. | | Recorded by: Dorothy E. Pugh and Karl D. Gottschalk New Hanover Co. Comment: CABE |
| Recorded by: Newman, Randy & Corey, Ed Carteret Co. Comment: THRO - Roosevelt Trail | | Recorded by: Matt Windsor, Jennifer Thoburn Dare Co. Comment: RUHI - female in maritime shrub swamp |
| Recorded by: Newman, Randy Carteret Co. Comment: FOMA - Along roadside between soundside residence and top of ridge approx. 50 yards past residence. | | Recorded by: R. Newman Carteret Co. Comment: FOMA - Beside roadside at old Eliason House site location. |
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