rośliny-i-grzyby: Arachnid

Evidence: 100 • authority: 72

Arachnids are arthropods in the class Arachnida () of the subphylum Chelicerata. Arachnida includes, among others, spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, camel spiders, whip spiders and vinegaroons. Adult arachnids have eight legs attached to the cephalothorax. In some species the frontmost pair of legs has converted to a sensory function, while in others, different appendages can grow large enough to take on the appearance of extra pairs of legs. Almost all extant arachnids are terrestrial, living mainly on land. However, some inhabit freshwater environments and, with the exception of the pelagic zone, marine environments as well. They comprise over 110,000 named sp…

Evidence: 47 • authority: 92

Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of elongated solifuge sensilla to mechanical stimuli.. A fundamental understanding of animal sensory systems is crucial for comprehending their interactions with the environment and with other conspecifics. However, knowledge gaps persist, particularly in arachnids like the order Solifugae. While certain solifuge setae and palpal papillae have been studied structurally and electrophysiologically, providing evidence of chemoreception and mechanoreception, the sensilla on their walking legs remain unexplored. Notably, elongated sensilla on the femur and tibia of the 4th walking legs resemble trichobothria in other arachnid orders yet their functio…

Evidence: 47 • authority: 72

Centipedes (from Neo-Latin centi- 'hundred' and Latin pes, pedis 'foot') are predatory arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda, an arthropod group which includes millipedes and other multi-legged animals. Centipedes are elongated segmented (metameric) animals with one pair of legs per body segment. All centipedes are venomous and can inflict painful stings, injecting their venom through pincer-like appendages known as forcipules or toxicognaths, which are actually modified front legs instead of fangs. Despite the name, no species of centipede has exactly 100 legs; the number of pairs of legs is an odd number that ranges from 15 pairs to 191 pairs. Less common…

Evidence: 41 • authority: 88

The function of web decorations in orb web spiders. Visual signal, mechanical reinforcement, protein storage, or non-functional stress response? Web decorations constructed by a number of orb web spider species puzzle behavioural ecologists. While some species use a variety of construction materials, it seems particularly difficult to solve the issue for silk decorations. The visual pattern of decoration structures has sparked the researchers’ imagination, and the conclusion that they act as signals is unsurprising. For over a century, however, we have not found a conclusive answer on a specific signal function of silk decorations. More recent studies even suggest that the construction mode…

Evidence: 41 • authority: 92

Leg Autotomy and Regeneration in Crab Spiders <i>Ebrechtella tricuspidata</i> (Araneae: Thomisidae).. Arachnids evade predation by intentionally sacrificing body parts, with leg autotomy playing a crucial role in their survival and reproductive strategies. Our study primarily employed field surveys and laboratory experiments to examine the frequency of autotomy and its effects on predation and mating in Ebrechtella tricuspidata (Araneae: Thomisidae). Leg loss was common in wild populations, with approximately 17.11% of all surveyed spiders missing at least leg, the most frequently lost leg is one of the second pair of appendages, and the highest rate of autotomy occurs in July.…

Evidence: 35 • authority: 92

Insecticidal activity of the linear pseudoscorpion venom peptide Ammogarypin revealed by functional profiling.. Some pseudoscorpions produce venom to subdue prey and their venom components may be of translational interest in agronomy and beyond. However, only very few pseudoscorpion venom peptides have been functionally characterized as of yet. Here, we carry out a bioactivity profiling of Ammogarypin, a linear venom peptide recently identified in the venom of Ammogarypus lawrencei . We show, that the peptide causes signs of spastic paralysis and fatalities when injected in Drosophila suzukii flies and low toxicity when injected in Myzus persicae aphids, while no effects were recovered when…

Evidence: 35 • authority: 92

Influence of light levels and predator characteristics on the functional response of the European harvestman (Opiliones: Phalangiidae).. Subject Editor: Rachid HannaPredatory interactions form food webs and shape ecosystems. Such predator-prey relationships underlie the survival, fitness, and landscape utilization of predatory arthropods. Synanthropic arthropod species thrive in agroecosystems and in other landscapes transformed by human activity. Understanding the characteristics of synanthropic arthropod predator-prey relations is crucial to understanding and mitigating their impacts in nonnative ranges. One way to quantify predation is via the functional responses, which describe the str…

Evidence: 35 • authority: 72

Solifugae is an order of arachnids known variously as solifuges, sun spiders, camel spiders, wind scorpions, and jerrymanders. The order includes more than 1,000 described species in about 147 genera. Despite their common names, they differ from both order Araneae (spiders) and order Scorpiones (scorpions). Most species of solifuges live in dry climates and feed opportunistically on ground-dwelling arthropods and other small animals. The largest species grow to a length of 12–15 cm (5–6 in), including legs. A number of urban legends exaggerate the size and speed of solifuges, and their potential danger to humans, which is negligible.