For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Dwarf Round-headed Spider (Oecobius navus)

The Oecobiidae is a small family of spiders found throughout the world and represented by 7 genera. From Southern Africa, 4 genera and 8 species are known.


Common names:
Flat-mesh weavers or ant-eaters (Oecobiidae); dwarf round-headed spiders (Oecobius); house ant-eater (Oecobius navus); rock ant-eaters (Paroecobius); desert round-headed spiders (Uroctea).
 Lifestyle

Web dwellers (signal-web): small flat sheets are made over different types of substances or multi-layered signal-webs are made under stones (Uroctea); abundance: common (some species) to rare.

Body size:

3-5 mm(males slightly smaller); Uroctea (6-14 mm).

Genera

Oecobius navus (cosmopolitan); Paroecobius (2 spp. & undescribed spp.); Uroecobius ecribellatus; Uroctea (4 spp.).
Info: