Plexippus paykulli : Scientific Classification, Habit and Habitat, Food Habit, Identifying Characters

Plexippus paykulli : Scientific Classification, Habit and Habitat, Food Habit, Identifying Characters

Plexippus paykulli ♀

Plexippus paykulli ♂

Scientific Classification

Kingdom:        Animalia

Phylum:          Arthropoda

Subphylum:   Chelicerata

Class:             Arachnida

Order:             Araneae

Family:           Salticidae

Genus:           Plexippus

Species:         paykull

Habit and Habitat:

• Commonly seen on house walls and tree trunks.
• Very active during daytime.
• Builds silk retreats corners and crevices of walls and tree trunks.

Food Habit: The spider feeds on small insects, which include Mosquito, Mealybugs, Aphids, Fly, Bees, Moths, etc. Spiders jumped towards their prey from greater distances on a non-camouflaging background. They stalk their prey by approached more slowly when camouflaged.

Identifying Characters:

1. Size: Female 7-10 mm, Male 7-9 mm.
2. Cephalothorax slightly elongated, pale beige coloured with a white mid dorsal white line in male. Two dark brown bands present on either side of the white line. Lateral margins of the cephalothorax with white bands.
3. Cephalothorax of female is pale yellowish brown coloured with a light dorsal band in the cephalic area.
4. Eight eyes present.
5. Abdomen oval with a narrowing tip, pale beige colour in male and pale yellowish brown colour in female. Abdomen of male has a white longitudinal band with dark brown bands on either side and white lines on the lateral margins.
6. Legs long, covered with hairs and spines and with black small lines in male.

References:

· https://asbb.assam.gov.in/sites/default/files/swf_utility_folder/departments/asbb_lipl_in_oid_7/portlet/level_2/Common%20Spiders%20from%20select%20PAs%20of%20Upper%20Assam.pdf