New Spider Species Named After Pink Floyd Discovered in Colombia
The newly described species, Pikelinia floydmuraria, is a member of the crevice weaver spider family. Its species name references the rock band Pink Floyd and the Latin word muraria, meaning "wall."
A team of researchers from South American institutions has formally described a new species of spider, Pikelinia floydmuraria, found in Colombia. The same study also provided the first full anatomical description of a related spider species endemic to the Galapagos Islands. The research was published in the open-access journal Zoosystematics and Evolution.
Discovery and Naming
The newly described species, Pikelinia floydmuraria, is a member of the crevice weaver spider family. Its species name references the rock band Pink Floyd and the Latin word muraria, meaning "wall." This name reflects the spider's observed habitat in the walls of buildings.
Characteristics of Pikelinia floydmuraria
Size and Habitat: The spider measures 3 to 4 millimeters in length and is classified as synanthropic, meaning it lives in association with humans in urban environments.
Dietary Analysis: Analysis of the diet of P. floydmuraria and a related Pikelinia population in Armenia, Colombia, found it consists primarily of insects from three orders:
- Hymenoptera (including ants)
- Diptera (including flies and mosquitoes)
- Coleoptera (including beetles)
Hunting Observations: Researchers observed these spiders capturing and consuming ants up to six times the size of their own prosoma (body). Their diet includes urban pests such as mosquitoes (family Culicidae) and houseflies (family Muscidae).
Proposed Hunting Strategy: The researchers propose that by constructing webs near artificial lights, the spiders may efficiently trap phototactic insects, which are attracted to light.
Related Research on Galapagos Species
The published study also included significant morphological work on a different species, Pikelinia fasciata, which is endemic to the Galapagos Islands and was first discovered in 1902.
Anatomical Description: The research provided the first full description and illustration of the female internal genitalia of Pikelinia fasciata.
Morphological Similarities: The study noted morphological similarities between P. fasciata and the newly described P. floydmuraria, including nearly identical male palpal structures.
These similarities suggest a close evolutionary relationship between the two species, which are geographically separated by the Pacific Ocean.
Evolutionary Questions: The researchers state it remains undetermined whether the shared traits result from shared ancestry or from similar ecological adaptations.
Research Context and Proposed Future Studies
Pikelinia floydmuraria is recorded as only the second species of the Pikelinia genus found in Colombia. The researchers involved in the study have advocated for further investigation, specifically suggesting molecular and DNA-based dietary analyses.
These proposed studies aim to:
- Map the evolutionary history of the spider.
- Determine its biogeographic origin.
- Quantify its potential role as a natural regulator of urban pest populations.