Ascyltus pterygodes

Ascyltus pterygodes
A. pterygodes photographed in Hawaii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Family:	Salticidae
Genus:	Ascyltus
Species:	A. pterygodes
Binomial name
Ascyltus pterygodes Koch, 1865

Ascyltus pterygodes is a cosmopolitan jumping spider of the Pacific. The spider belongs to the genus Ascyltus, a group of jumping spiders easily identified both by their relatively large size.

Description

A. pterygodes can be differentiated from other fissidentate Pacific genera by the antero-lateral "cheek" areas of the carapace. These areas are filled with iridescent scales. These areas are often larger than other Pacific genera. They usually begin to be detectable in half-grown juveniles. Other identifying features include the absence of lateral spines on the first metatarsi, first coxae separated by more than the diameter of one of them, eyes in normal three rows instead of four (the second row midway between the first and third), pedicel concealed by abdomen in dorsal view, and cheliceral promargin in males with a large multicusped tooth. Species limits are not clear and the actual number of distinct species is unknown. Palpal structures are rather similar in all species.

A. pterygodes photographed in Maui, HI

Behavior

Pterygodes are a rare sighting during most parts of the year but seem to go into hiding during the spring where none were found to be observed.

Diet

Pterygodes have been found to be opportunistic omnivores. Meaning they will eat plants or other insects depending on which presents itself first. A. pterygodes will not limit itself to just insects, rather it will eat insects, bugs and even its own kind. In its plant-based diet A. pterygodes prefers to eat nectar and pollen. Ascyltus pterygodes is also known to controlled the outbreak of coconut moths in Fiji.

[“It is my impression that this jumping spider or a relative was once cited as being of considerable economic importance as a control agent. It is said to be a predator on a certain moth in the Fiji Islands that does great damage to the coconut palms."]

Habitat

Many found specimens of A. pterygodes have been found in the Laupahoehoe area. This area includes the forests of ‘ohi‘a and koa. These forests are wet and mountainous regions with some being poorly drained portions. Due to this, they contain wet grasslands and small montane lakes with numerous streams running throughout the forests. Laupahoehoe is located in the North Hilo District on the island of Hawaii and stretches from just above 1,600 feet to about 4,600 feet elevation. Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to Laupahoehoe Reserve and protects habitats for local wildlife Many of the A. pterygodes, when located, can be found on things like leaves and bushes. These include common shrubs and plants like the banana plant. They have also been found inside of people’s homes but this occurrence is not a common one.<Laupahoehoe. (2018, January 2). Retrieved March 19, 2020, from Laupahoehoe. (2018, January 2). Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/nars/hawaii-island/laupahoehoe-2/>

Taxonomy

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
 Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
  Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
   Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
    Order Araneae (Spiders)
     Infraorder Araneomorphae (True Spiders)
      No Taxon (Entelegynae)
       Family Salticidae (Jumping Spiders)
        Classification within the spiders (Araneae)

A. pterygodes is part of the order Araneae family Salticidae, and the genus Ascyltus. Ascyltus pterygodes is the type species of its genus, being the first one described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch.

Name

Previously named Hyllus pterygodes by L. Koch, the spider was placed into Ascyltus in 1878 by F. Karsch.

References

Laupahoehoe. (2018, January 2). Retrieved March 19, 2020, from Laupahoehoe. (2018, January 2). Retrieved March 19, 2020, from https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/nars/hawaii-island/laupahoehoe-2/

Paul, R. (2018, February 20). Arthropods Important for Pest Control: Agriculture. Retrieved April 1, 2020, from http://www.agricultureinindia.net/pest-control/arthropods-important-for-pest-control-agriculture/15926

(size and features) Berry, J., Beatty,J., Proszynski, J., (1997) The Journal of Arachnology, Salticidae of the Pacific Islands, Volume 1, Page 111

External links

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237662111_Salticidae_of_the_pacific_islands_II_Distribution_of_nine_genera_with_descriptions_of_eleven_new_species

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phidippus_audax https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salticinae