Über eine bemerkenswerte Verhaltensweise von Scotophaeus scutulatus (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)

Abstract

It is described, how an adult female of Scotophaeus scutulatus killed an also adult female of Tegenaria atrica in the web of the latter species. According to published and unpublished data, a web-invading behaviour is known in 4 gnaphosid species (Poecilochroa senilis, Poechilochroa pugnax, Scotophaeus blackwalli, Taieria erebus), an araneophagic behaviour is also known in 4 species (Drassodes lapidosus, Poecilochroa senilis (auspex), Scotophaeus scutulatus, Taieria erebus). the question, wether these behaviour patterns are typical for soil-dwelling gnaphosids, remains open until further observations and investigations.

Keywords

• web-invading behaviour
• araneophagic behaviour
• Gnaphosidae
• Scotophaeus scutulatus