Multi-symbiont-system
Guides
Mermessus fradeorum
Mermessus fradeorum is a small sheet-weaving spider (family Linyphiidae) originally described from North America and subsequently introduced to multiple regions worldwide. The species has gained scientific attention as an emerging model organism for studying heritable bacterial symbiont communities. Individual spiders can simultaneously host up to five distinct maternally transmitted bacteria, including Rickettsiella, Wolbachia, and Tisiphia, making this species valuable for research on multi-symbiont interactions and temperature effects on symbiont community dynamics.