Evarcha is a genus of spiders in the family Salticidae (jumping spiders) with 85 species (and one recognized subspecies) distributed across the world.[1]

Evarcha
Evarcha albaria (female)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Salticidae
Subfamily: Salticinae
Genus: Evarcha
Simon, 1902[1]
Type species
Araneus falcatus
Clerck, 1757
Diversity
85 species

Habitat

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These spiders are often found on shrubs and short plants in damp areas, resting in silken cells.

Description

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Spiders in this genus generally look rather sturdy and are not very colorful, often brownish.

Evarcha culicivora can be an uncommon predator due to the fact it feeds on vertebrate blood by choosing blood-carrying mosquitoes as well-liked prey.[2]

Distribution

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Most species occur in Asia, Africa and parts of Europe, with E. amabilis and E. hoyi found only in the United States. E. proszynskii is found from Russia to Japan and Canada to United States.

Species

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E. proszynskii from California

As of April 2024, the World Spider Catalog accepted the following species:

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gen. Evarcha Simon, 1902", World Spider Catalog, 25.0, Natural History Museum Bern, doi:10.24436/2, retrieved 24 April 2024
  2. ^ Fiona R. Cross & Robert R. Jackson (2009), "Odor-mediated response to plants by Evarcha culicivora, a blood‐feeding jumping spider from East Africa", New Zealand Journal of Zoology 36(2):75–80

Further reading

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  • Fiona R. Cross, Robert R. Jackson & Simon D. Pollard (2008), "Complex display behaviour of Evarcha culicivora, an East African mosquito‐eating jumping spider", New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 35(2), 151–187, doi:10.1080/03014220809510112
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