Mythoplastoides
Crosby & Bishop, 1933
dwarf spiders
Mythoplastoides is a of dwarf in the Linyphiidae, first described by C. R. Crosby and S. C. Bishop in 1933. The genus contains two , both restricted to the United States: M. erectus and M. exiguus (the species). As members of Linyphiidae, these spiders are small-bodied and build sheet webs. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with minimal ecological or behavioral data available.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Mythoplastoides: //ˌmɪθoʊplæˈstɔɪdiːz//
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Identification
Mythoplastoides are distinguished from other linyphiid by genitalic , particularly male and female epigynal structures. The genus is characterized by a distinctive shape and arrangement typical of the Erigoninae. Definitive identification requires microscopic examination and comparison with .
Distribution
to the United States. M. erectus occurs in the eastern United States (originally described from Massachusetts), while M. exiguus has been recorded from the eastern and central United States.
Ecological Role
As of small , in this contribute to regulation of soil and litter . Their sheet webs capture crawling in ground-level .
Similar Taxa
- ErigoneBoth are erigonine linyphiids with similar small body size and ground-dwelling habits; distinguished by Mythoplastoides' distinctive genitalic and proportions.
- OedothoraxShares Erigoninae and general habitus; Mythoplastoides differs in male structure and female epigynal configuration.
More Details
Taxonomic history
The was established by Crosby and Bishop in 1933 to accommodate previously placed in other erigonine genera. The species, M. exiguus, was originally described as Erigone exigua by Banks in 1892.
Conservation status
No formal assessments have been conducted for either in this . Both are considered data deficient due to limited collection records and ecological information.