Schizocosa crassipalpata
Roewer, 1951
Schizocosa crassipalpata is a of wolf spider ( Lycosidae) described by Roewer in 1951. It belongs to the Schizocosa, which comprises medium-sized wolf spiders often recognized by their distinct color patterns. The species is known from the United States and Canada, though specific details about its remain limited in published literature. It has been documented as a for the mantidfly Climaciella brunnea, whose larvae parasitize wolf spider sacs.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Schizocosa crassipalpata: //ˌskɪtsəˈkoʊsə ˌkɹæsɪpælˈpeɪtə//
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Identification
Members of Schizocosa are characterized by a distinctive pattern typically featuring stripes on the and a dark cardiac mark on the . S. crassipalpata specifically is distinguished from by its thickened (crassus) palps, as indicated by its specific epithet. Accurate identification to level requires examination of male and female under magnification.
Distribution
United States and Canada. Documented from Alberta and Manitoba in Canada. GBIF records confirm presence in North America.
Host Associations
- Climaciella brunnea - Mantidfly larvae parasitize sacs of wolf spiders; S. crassipalpata recorded as in Illinois (Redborg and Redborg, 2000)
Similar Taxa
- Schizocosa ocreataOverlapping geographic range and similar preferences; distinguished by male courtship and morphological details of reproductive structures
- Other Schizocosa speciesShared characteristics including patterning; specific identification requires genitalic examination
More Details
Taxonomic note
The specific epithet 'crassipalpata' refers to the thickened (crassus) palps characteristic of this .
Host record context
S. crassipalpata was recorded as a for Climaciella brunnea in a study of mantidfly resource partitioning in Illinois woodlands, though the specimen was not identified to at the time of that publication (Redborg and Redborg, 2000).