Archaeodictyna ulova


Archaeodictyna ulova is a species of spider in the family Dictynidae. It is commonly known as the ulova mesh-web sider and is endemic to South Africa.

Distribution

Archaeodictyna ulova is known from three South African provinces: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo. The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 37 to 1,742 m above sea level.

Habitat and ecology

The species has been sampled from grass and herb layers in grassland, thicket and savanna biomes. Archaeodictyna ulova exhibits an unusual lifestyle as a kleptoparasite in the community nests of the eresid spiders Stegodyphus mimosarum and S. dumicola, feeding communally with their hosts on prey items caught by the eresids.

Description

Archaeodictyna ulova is known from both sexes.

Conservation

Archaeodictyna ulova is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographic range. The species is protected in Addo National Park and Kruger National Park.