my-server
← Wiki

Microdipoena guttata

Microdipoena guttata is a species of true spider in the family Mysmenidae. It is found in a range from the United States to Paraguay.

Taxonomy

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Arachnida
  • Order: Araneae (spiders)
  • Family: Mysmenidae
  • Genus: Microdipoena
  • Species: Microdipoena guttata

The family Mysmenidae comprises very small spiders, many of which are poorly studied due to their size and cryptic habitats.

Characteristics

Microdipoena guttata is extremely small, consistent with other mysmenid spiders:

  • Body size: typically under 2 mm
  • Coloration: generally pale to brownish, often with distinct spotted or mottled markings (reflected in the species name guttata, meaning "spotted")
  • Body form: compact, with relatively short legs compared to larger web-building spiders.

Due to their small size, detailed identification often requires microscopic examination, especially of genital structures.

Habitat

The species is associated with humid, sheltered microhabitats, including leaf litter, low shrubs, and ground vegetation, and forest understory environments. Like other members of Mysmenidae, it constructs very small, irregular orb webs or reduced web structures close to the ground. They prey on tiny insects and micro-arthropods, capturing them using fine, delicate silk webs.

Geography

Microdipoena guttata is known from parts of Europe, with records showing sightings in parts of Central and Eastern Europe, and regions with temperate forest ecosystems. Exact distribution is not comprehensively documented, reflecting the limited sampling of very small arachnid species.

References