Scytodes thoracica (Latreille, 1802)
Description
Male
Bulbus with a long, tapering embolus. Prosoma 2 mm long. Prosoma yellowish, equally large or larger than opisthosoma, dorsal line ascending posteriorly, pattern brown-black. Chelicerae weakly developed. Legs yellow-brown to black, annulated. Opisthosoma yellowish with brown-black pattern.
Body length male: 3.5-4.0 mmFemale
Prosoma 3 mm long. Cephalothorax almost as large as opisthosoma. Prosoma pale yellowish, with black pattern. Sternum pale yellow, labium slightly darker. Legs pale yellowish. Opisthosoma pale yellowish, with pairs of black patches on midline, and small black blotches on the side.
Body length female: 4.0-5.5 mmAdditional information
Outdoor in the southern parts of Europe, in heathland, scrub, rocky littoral, gardens, under stones, mainly in buildings, active during the night. Slow and skulking movements, does not build webs, but spits poison and adhesive from modified poison glands through large cheliceral opening on prey up to 20 mm away, which then is stuck to the surface.
Since a few decades, this species shows some spreading tendencies within Europe. Nevertheless, it shall not be listed as alien or invasive because it is native for Europe.
Distribution
Phenology
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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Figures
Pedipalp
(Loksa 1969)
Pedipalp
(Locket & Millidge 1951)
Pedipalp
(Bürgis 1990)
Pedipalp
(Roberts 1995)
Pedipalp
(Wiehle 1953)
Pedipalp, retrolateral view
(Rozwałka & Czaja 2021a)
Pedipalp
(Locket & Millidge 1951)
Epigyne
(Bürgis 1990)
Epigyne
(Wiehle 1953)
Epigyne
(Rozwałka & Czaja 2021a)
Epigyne
(Taberlet unpubl.)
Vulva
(Wiehle 1953)
Vulva, dorsal view
(Rozwałka & Czaja 2021a)
Vulva, ventral view
(Taberlet unpubl.)
Vulva, anterior view
(Taberlet unpubl.)
Vulva, posterior view
(Taberlet unpubl.)
Habitus
(Locket & Millidge 1951)
Habitus
(Loksa 1969)
Prosoma, lateral view
(Brændegaard 1966)
Prosoma, lateral view
(Loksa 1969)
Eyes, dorsal view
(Loksa 1969)
Eyes, dorsal view
(Wiehle 1953)
Sternum and coxae
(Wiehle 1953)
Sternum
(Locket & Millidge 1951)
Chelicerae, ventral view
(Wiehle 1953)
Chelicerae, ventral view
(Loksa 1969)
Chelicerae, ventral view
(Locket & Millidge 1951)
Habitus
(Bürgis 1990)
Habitus
(Bürgis 1990)
Habitus
(Wiehle 1953)
Habitus, dorsal view
(Rozwałka & Czaja 2021a)
Distribution List
"No references" does not mean that the species does not occur in this country, but that we have not yet inserted the reference for it. We are working on it.
References
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Blick T, Finch O-D, Harms K H, Kiechle J, Kielhorn K-H , Kreuels M, Malten A, Martin D, Muster C, Nährig D, Platen R, Rödel I, Scheidler M, Staudt A, Stumpf H, Tolke D (2016) Rote Liste und Gesamtartenliste der Spinnen (Arachnida: Araneae) Deutschlands. 3. Fassung, Stand April 2008, einzelne Änderungen und Nachträge bis August 2015. Naturschutz und Biologische Vielfalt 70/4: 383-510
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Bosmans R, Van Keer J, Russell-Smith A, Hadjiconstantis M, Komnenov M, Bosselaers J, Huber S, McCowan D, Snazell R, Decae A, Zoumides C, Kielhorn K-H, Oger P (2019c) Spiders of Cyprus (Araneae). A catalogue of all currently known species from Cyprus. Newsletter of the Belgian Arachnological Society 34, Suppl. 1: 1-173
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Brændegaard J (1966) Edderkopper: Eller Spindlere I Danmarks Fauna 72: 1-224
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Taberlet J-P (unpubl.)
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Updates
| 23-12-2025 | Distribution insert | Detail |
| 14-07-2025 | Distribution update | Detail |
| 10-06-2025 | Distribution update | Detail |
| 08-06-2025 | Distribution update | Detail |
| 21-05-2023 | Distribution update | Detail |
| 16-07-2021 | Image insert | |
| 16-07-2021 | Gallery image insert | |
| 20-06-2021 | Distribution update | Detail |
| 20-06-2021 | Distribution insert | Detail |
| 09-05-2021 | Image insert | |
| 09-05-2021 | Distribution update | Detail |
| 08-06-2020 | Distribution update | Detail |
| 06-05-2020 | Distribution update | Detail |
| 01-05-2020 | Distribution update | Detail |
| 16-05-2018 | Distribution update | Detail |