Diplocephalus
Bertkau, 1883
Species Guides
1- Diplocephalus subrostratus(dwarf spider)
Diplocephalus is a of dwarf spiders in the Linyphiidae, Erigoninae, first described by Philipp Bertkau in 1883. The genus contains 49 and one with a wide geographic distribution. Males of at least some species possess specialized glandular structures that produce secretions transferred to females during courtship to trigger copulation. The genus is part of the diverse sheet-weaving spider fauna.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Diplocephalus: /ˌdɪploʊˈsɛfələs/
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Distribution
Widely distributed across the Palearctic region. recorded from Europe (including Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway, Sweden), North Africa, the Caucasus, Turkey, and East Asia. Individual species show varying ranges: D. guidoi is Mediterranean; D. alpinus, D. altimontanus, D. montanus, and D. montaneus indicate montane distributions; D. sphagnicola and D. uliginosus suggest wetland associations.
Behavior
Males of D. permixtus possess a deep groove in the ocular region containing secretory glands. During courtship, females sink their into this groove and ingest a secretion that is necessary and sufficient to trigger male copulatory and female acceptance. This -mouth contact primarily stimulates male mating behavior rather than female attraction. Sexual has not been observed in this .
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Species diversity
As of May 2021, the contains 49 and one (D. connatus jacksoni). New species continue to be described, including D. guidoi (2012), D. inanis (2014), D. komposchi (2017), and D. toscanaensis (2011).