Dispatch from the field II: the mystery of the red and blue Opadometa male (Araneae, Tetragnathidae, Opadometa sarawakensis)

Miller JA 1 , Freund C 2 , Rambonnet L 3 , Koets L 3 , Barth N 3 , van der Linden C 4 Show all authors , Geml J 1 , Schilthuizen M 1 , Burger R 5 , Goossens B 5

Affiliations 

  • 1 Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, Netherlands
  • 2 Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
  • 3 Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
  • 4 Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
  • 5 Danau Girang Field Centre, Sabah, Malaysia
Biodivers Data J, 2018.
PMID: 29674940 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.6.e24777

Abstract

Background: Males of Opadometa are difficult to associate with conspecific females, and sex-matching errors may persist in the taxonomic literature. Recommended best practices for definitive sex matching in this genus suggest finding a male in the web of a female, or better yet, mating pairs.

New information: A male Opadometa was observed hanging on a frame line of the web of a female Opadometa sarawakensis, a species for which the male was previously undescribed. This occurred during a tropical ecology field course held at the Danau Girang Field Centre in Sabah, Malaysia. A taxonomic description was completed as a course activity.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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