Dictyna

Sundevall, 1833

Dictyna is a of araneomorph in the Dictynidae, comprising approximately 118 . These spiders are characterized by their irregular hackled webs used for capture. Some species exhibit social , with females showing gregarious tendencies in web . The genus serves as for including Zatypota anomala.

Common Spiders U.S. 479-1 Dictyna foliacea by James Henry Emerton (1847 – 1931). Used under a Public domain license.Dictyna foliacea by Gergin Blagoev, Biodiversity Institute of Ontario. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.Dictyna longispina by Pierre-Marc Brousseau. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Dictyna: //dɪkˈtaɪ.nə//

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Identification

Dictyna possess -producing structures, producing irregular webs with two distinct components: hackled threads for capture and thin-threaded retreats. Species identification often requires examination of ; such as D. armata and D. ottoi form recognized species groups based on morphological similarity.

Images

Habitat

leaves; artificial structures including window frames and roadside guardrails. Specific microhabitat preferences vary by .

Distribution

Documented from Japan, Italy, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Caucasus region, and parts of North America including Vermont. GBIF records indicate presence in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Diet

snared in webs. Specific preferences vary by and .

Host Associations

  • Zatypota anomala - of Dictyna pusilla, first recorded in Italy

Behavior

Dictyna foliicola exhibits strong gregariousness among females, with individuals positioned 1–2 mm apart; males show uniform spatial distribution. Web is driven by abundance of attracted to light sources.

Ecological Role

for ; contributes to through .

Human Relevance

Occupies artificial environments such as building structures. Serves as research subject for studies of social in and - relationships.

Similar Taxa

  • MallosBoth in Dictynidae; comparative studies document differences in capture and predatory . Mallos exhibits more pronounced social colony formation than most Dictyna .
  • Dictyna armata closely related to D. ottoi; both belong to the uncinata group and require detailed morphological examination for separation.

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Sources and further reading