Meta (spider)


Meta is a genus of long-jawed orb-weavers that was first described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1835. They are often associated with caves, caverns, and recesses, earning some of them the name "cave orbweavers"

Distribution

Spiders in this genus are found worldwide.

Description

Meta species have a carapace slightly longer than wide with eyes in two rows, evenly spaced. The abdomen is long and oval, decorated with spots and silver coloration.

Life style

The inclination of Meta webs varies from vertical to horizontal, most often at a sharp angle to the vertical. The hub is open with widely spaced viscid spirals. Most species spin their webs in shadowy, dark and damp places such as caves and shaded ravines. They are more common at higher altitudes.

Species

, this genus includes 33 species:Meta abdomenalis Patel & Reddy, 1993 – IndiaMeta birmanica Thorell, 1898 – MyanmarMeta bourneti Simon, 1922 – Europe, Georgia, North AfricaMeta bowo Wang, Irfan, Chen & Zhang, 2022 – ChinaMeta cona Wang, Irfan, Chen & Zhang, 2022 – ChinaMeta dolloff Levi, 1980 – United StatesMeta gyirong Wang, Irfan, Chen & Zhang, 2022 – ChinaMeta hamata Wang, Zhou, Irfan, Yang & Peng, 2020 – ChinaMeta hongyuan Wang, Irfan, Chen & Zhang, 2022 – ChinaMeta japonica Tanikawa, 1993 – JapanMeta longlingensis Wang, Zhou, Irfan, Yang & Peng, 2020 – ChinaMeta manchurica Marusik & Koponen, 1992 – Russia, KoreaMeta menardi – Europe, Turkey, Iran Meta meruensis Tullgren, 1910 – Tanzania, South AfricaMeta mixta O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1885 – PakistanMeta monogrammata Butler, 1876 – Australia Meta montana Hogg, 1919 – Indonesia Meta nebulosa Schenkel, 1936 – ChinaMeta nigridorsalis Tanikawa, 1994 – China, JapanMeta obscura Kulczyński, 1899 – MadeiraMeta ovalis – Canada, United StatesMeta qianshanensis C. D. Zhu & S. F. Zh, 1983 – ChinaMeta serrana Franganillo, 1930 – CubaMeta shenae Zhu, Song & Zhang, 2003 – ChinaMeta simlaensis Tikader, 1982 – IndiaMeta stridulans Wunderlich, 1987 – MadeiraMeta tangi Wang, Zhou, Irfan, Yang & Peng, 2020 – ChinaMeta tibet Wang, Irfan, Chen & Zhang, 2022 – ChinaMeta turbatrix Keyserling, 1887 – Australia Meta wanglang Wang, Irfan, Chen & Zhang, 2022 – ChinaMeta weining Wang, Irfan, Chen & Zhang, 2022 – ChinaMeta yani Wang, Zhou, Irfan, Yang & Peng, 2020 – ChinaMeta yinae Wang, Zhou, Irfan, Yang & Peng, 2020 – China

Synonyms

Synonyms include:
  • Meta americana Marusik & Koponen, 1992 = Meta ovalis
  • Meta milleri Kratochvíl, 1942 = Meta bourneti Simon, 1922

Dubious names

Nomina dubia include: