Metaltella simoni
(Keyserling, 1878)
South American Toothed Hacklemesh Weaver
Metaltella simoni is a small hacklemesh weaver spider native to South America (Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil), introduced to North America through human commerce. First recorded in Louisiana in 1944, it has become established in the southeastern United States and coastal southern California, with subsequent records in Canada. The builds sheet webs with a retreat and exhibits distinctive including leaving the retreat when threatened, which increases vulnerability to .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Metaltella simoni: /mɛˈtæl.tɛl.lə sɪˈmoʊ.ni/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Females 8–9 mm, males 7–8.5 mm. Both sexes brown with darker front, leg ends, and . mottled grey to grey-black with indistinct paler chevrons posteriorly. Males distinguished by orange-yellow area on carapace, darkening to brown anteriorly. Lateral larger than eyes in both sexes.
Images
Habitat
Found under logs at ground level; builds sheet webs with retreat. In introduced range, occurs in coastal and urban environments.
Distribution
Native: Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil. Introduced: United States (first record Louisiana 1944, established in Mississippi, Louisiana, widespread in coastal southern California by 2008), Canada.
Behavior
Exhibits risky when threatened: leaves retreat, approaches intruders, and touches invaders. Performs defensive behaviors including moving hind legs and defensive displays. Vulnerable to araneophagy when displaying risky behaviors; survival rate 67% when using defensive behaviors versus 55% mortality with risky behaviors.
Ecological Role
Prey in intraguild ; for spitting spider Scytodes globula. Coexisting in introduced spider .
Human Relevance
Accidentally introduced to North America via commercial and trade activities; established in urban and coastal environments.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Publications | Entomology Research Museum
- Risky behaviors by the host could favor araneophagy of the spitting spider Scytodes globula on the hacklemesh weaver Metaltella simoni
- METALTELLA SIMONI (KEYSERLING, 1878) (AMAUROBIIDAE) NEW TO CANADA, AND RECORDS FOR TEGENARIA GIGANTEA CHAMBERLIN AND IVIE, 1935, (AGELENIDAE) IN ALBERTA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA (ARACHNIDA: ARANEIDA)