Mermessus bryantae
(Ivie & Barrows, 1935)
dwarf spider
Mermessus bryantae is a of dwarf in the Linyphiidae, first described by Ivie & Barrows in 1935. Originally described as Eperigone bryantae, this species has a broad distribution across North America, Cuba, and Venezuela, and has been to the Azores archipelago. As a member of the Linyphiidae, it belongs to one of the most species-rich spider families, commonly known as sheet-web weavers or money spiders. The Mermessus is part of an emerging research system for studying heritable bacterial in spiders.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Mermessus bryantae: /mɛrˈmɛsəs ˈbraɪ.ənˌti/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Distribution
to North America, Cuba, and Venezuela. to the Azores archipelago, with records from Faial, Flores, Graciosa, Pico, and São Jorge islands.
More Details
Related Research Systems
While Mermessus bryantae itself has not been studied for biology, the Mermessus fradeorum serves as an emerging model system for studying heritable bacterial symbiont in . M. fradeorum can up to five simultaneous heritable symbionts, including Rickettsiella (a -inducing symbiont), three strains of , and Tisiphia. This research system demonstrates the potential for Mermessus to harbor complex microbial communities with manipulative effects on host .