Zodarion rubidum
| Zodarion rubidum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Suborder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Zodariidae |
| Genus: | Zodarion |
| Species: | Z. rubidum |
| Binomial name | |
| Zodarion rubidum Simon, 1914 | |
Zodarion rubidum is a spider species of the Zodariidae family.
Like most Zodariidae, Z. rubidum is an ant-eating spider. It resembles ants structurally and behaviorally. Z. rubidum specifically mimics red ants, such as Myrmica sabuleti. It often feeds on Tetramorium caespitum or Lasius platythorax.
Z. rubidum is up to 5mm in size. Like many other zodariid spiders, it moves across open ground in the evening and at night.
Distribution
Z. rubidum originally occurred in southwestern France, but has spread during the last few decades into central Europe, and has been introduced to U.S. and Canada.
References
- Pekar, S. & Kral, J. (2002) Mimicry complex in two central European zodariid spiders (Araneae: Zodariidae): how Zodarion deceives ants. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 75:517–532. Abstract