Box kite spider
Box kite spiders is a genus of Afrotropical orb-weaver spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1885. Like the spiny orb-weavers they have six prominent spines on their abdomen. They are small spiders, measuring across. Isoxya have a sclerotised abdomen which is typical of the Gasteracanthinae.
Description
These spiders have a carapace that is usually as wide as it is long. Their abdomen is brightly decorated with yellow, red or black and white patterns. The dorsal part is hardened to form a rigid scutum bearing large spots and depressions, often prolonged laterally and posteriorly in spine-like extensions.The spinnerets are surrounded by a sclerotised ring. Legs are relatively short. The eight eyes are in two rows. Males are much smaller than females and differ in color and shape.
Lifestyle
During the day box kite spiders can be found in large orb-webs usually made high between trees. The web is usually decorated with small silk tufts. The egg sacs are covered with silk and they attach it to vegetation.Species
, this genus includes seventeen species:- Isoxya basilewskyi Benoit & Emerit, 1975 – Rwanda, DR Congo
- Isoxya cicatricosa – Central, East, Southern Africa, Yemen
- Isoxya cowani – Madagascar
- Isoxya kochi – West, Central, East Africa
- Isoxya mahafalensis Emerit, 1974 – Madagascar
- Isoxya manangona Agnarsson, Starrett, Babbitz, Bond, Gregorič, Raberahona, Williams & Kuntner, 2023 – Madagascar
- Isoxya milloti Emerit, 1974 – Madagascar
- Isoxya mossamedensis Benoit, 1962 – Angola, South Africa
- Isoxya mucronata – Sudan, DR Congo, South Africa
- Isoxya nigromutica – East Africa
- Isoxya reuteri – Madagascar
- Isoxya semiflava Simon, 1887 – West, Central Africa
- Isoxya somalica – Somalia
- Isoxya stuhlmanni – DR Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Eswatini
- Isoxya tabulata – DR Congo, Malawi, Tanzania, Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Eswatini
- Isoxya testudinaria – West, Central, East Africa
- Isoxya yatesi Emerit, 1973 – South Africa