Two new species of social crab spiders of the genus Diaea from eastern Australia, their natural history and distribution

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 1 decade ago

Abstract: Two new species of social, Eucalyptus leaf weaving thomisids are described. Social Diaea are large for the genus; twice the size of solitary congenerics. D. ergandros sp. nov. is found in sclerophyllous forests in Victoria, along the Great Dividing Range through New South Wales to Queensland. It is also found in Tasmania. D. megagyna sp. nov. is found along the Great Dividing Range in New England, New South Wales and southern Queensland. The group living habit of these species appears similar to that of D. socialis from southwestern Western Australia, and social behaviour and life history patterns of all three species are briefly compared and discussed.