Ero aphana (Walckenaer, 1802)
Description
Male
Cymbium oval, flat with retrolateral hook-like process. Conductor with a prolateral furrow, additionally round at the end. Embolus originates proximally and ends distally convoluted. Paracymbium with 3-4 pointed processes. Mostly bright coloured species, whitish to light grey with numerous brown and black spots on entire body, sometimes also appearing dark due to fusion of larger, red brown spots. Opisthosoma with 4 tubercles on the back.
Body length male: 2.5 mmFemale
Epigyne with circular copulatory openings separated by a slender septum. The entrance ducts diverge strongly and end in large, round receptacula.
Body length female: 3.0-4.2 mmAdditional information
On bushes at coniferous forest edges, mostly in warmer areas.
Distribution
Phenology
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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Figures
Pedipalp
(Thaler et al. 2004)
Pedipalp, ventral view
(Roberts 1995)
Pedipalp, ventral view
(Wiehle 1953)
Pedipalp, ventral view
(Wiehle 1953)
Pedipalp, ventral view
(Thaler et al. 2004)
Pedipalp
(Heimer & Nentwig 1991)
Pedipalp
(Merrett & Snazell 1975)
Pedipalp, retrolateral view
(Rehfeldt & Cassar 2024)
Pedipalp, ventral view
(Rehfeldt & Cassar 2024)
Tip of embolus
(Thaler et al. 2004)
Cymbium
(Merrett & Snazell 1975)
Cymbium
(Thaler et al. 2004)
Tibia
(Thaler et al. 2004)
Epigyne
(Merrett & Snazell 1975)
Epigyne
(Roberts 1995)
Epigyne
(Wiehle 1953)
Epigyne, ventral view
(Thaler et al. 2004)
Epigyne, dorsal view
(Thaler et al. 2004)
Epigyne, ventral view
(Thaler et al. 2004)
Epigyne, apical view
(Thaler et al. 2004)
Vulva
(Wiehle 1953)
Habitus, lateral view
(Heimer & Nentwig 1991)
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
Arnold K (2001) Beitrag zur Spinnenfauna (Arachnida, Araneae) des Fürstentums Liechtenstein. Berichte der Botanisch-Zoologischen Gesellschaft Liechtenstein-Sargans-Werdenberg 28: 211-244 
Benhacene R, Adjami A, Hadjeb A, Kermiche K, Ouakid M L (2023) Bibliographic checklist of the Algerian spider fauna (Araneae). Zootaxa 5352: 301-357
Blagoev G, Deltshev C, Lazarov S, Naumova M (2018) The spiders (Araneae) of Bulgaria. Version: August 2018. National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Online at http://www.nmnhs.com/spiders-bulgaria/ (accessed on 10.9.2018)
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
Bosmans R, Chatzaki M (2005) A catalogue of the spiders of Greece – a critical review of all spider species cited from Greece with their localities. Nieuwsbrief van de Belgische arachnologische Vereniging 20 (2, suppl.): 1-124
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
Bosmans R, Van Keer K (2017) Een herziene soortenlijst van de Belgische spinnen (Araneae). Nieuwsbrief van de Belgische Arachnologische Vereniging 32: 39-69
Branco V V, Morano E, Cardoso P (2019) An update to the Iberian spider checklist (Araneae). Zootaxa 4614: 201-254
Danışman T, Kunt K B, Özkütük R S, Coşar İ (2025a) The checklist of the spiders of Turkey. Version 2025 [last updated 01 December 2025], online at http://www.spidersofturkey.info
Demircan Aksan N, Topçu A (2022c) A preliminary checklist of the spider fauna of European Türkiye. Serket 19: 39-56
Demircan N, Topçu A (2016) First records for spider fauna of the European part of Turkey (Araneae). Serket 15: 85-91
Esyunin S L, Efimik V E (1996a) Catalogue of the spiders (Arachnida, Aranei) of the Urals. KMK Scientific Press, Moscow, 228 pp.
Gajdoš P, Svatoň J, Sloboda J (1999) Katalóg pavúkov Slovenska. Catalogue of Slovakian spiders. Ústav kr. ekol. SAV, Bratislava, 337 pp.
Grbić G, Hänggi A, Krnjajić S (2021) Spiders (Araneae) of Subotica Sandland (Serbia): additional arguments in environmental protection. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 67: 15-61
Heimer S, Nentwig W (1991) Spinnen Mitteleuropas. Paul Parey Berlin
Helsdingen P J van (2025a) Catalogus van de Nederlandse spinnen. Versie 2025.1. 249 pp.
Isaia M, Tolve M, Pantini P (2025) Araneae.it: 2.0: the new updated version of the digital catalog of the Italian spiders and other arachnids (Arachnida: Araneae, Opiliones, Scorpiones, Pseudoscorpiones, Palpigradi, Solifugae). Fragmenta Entomologica 57: 197-204
Komnenov M (2014) Spider fauna of the Osogovo Mt. Range, Northeastern Macedonia. Fauna Balkana 2: 1-267
Kostanjšek R, Kuntner M (2015) Araneae Sloveniae: a national spider species checklist. ZooKeys 474: 1-91
Kreuels M, Staudt A, Christian S (2019) Die Spinnenfauna von Luxemburg – eine Zusammenstellung der Nachweise aus den Jahren 1906-2018 (Arachnida: Araneae). Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 121: 203-230
Lavery A (2019) A revised checklist of the spiders of Great Britain and Ireland. Arachnology 18: 196-212
Le Peru B (2007) Catalogue et répartition des araignées de France. Revue Arachnologique 16: 1-468
Lissner J, Scharff N (2019) Danish Spiders. Formerly online at http://www.danmarks-edderkopper.dk
Maurer R, Hänggi A (1990) Katalog der schweizerischen Spinnen. Documenta Faunistica Helvetiae 12
Merrett P, Snazell R G (1975) New and rare British spiders. Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 3: 106-112
Milosevic B (2002) Aranea – Popis vrsta – Checklist. Hrvatsko entomološko društvo – Inventar entomofaune Hrvatske [Aranea – List of species – Checklist. Croatian Entomological Society – Inventory of Croatian entomofauna].
Otto S (2022) Caucasian spiders. A faunistic database on the spiders of the Caucasus Ecoregion. Database version 02.2022. Internet: caucasus-spiders.info.
Polchaninova N, Prokopenko E (2019) An updated checklist of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of Left-Bank Ukraine. Arachnologische Mitteilungen 57: 60-64 & App
Ponomarev A V (2022) Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of the southeast of the Russian Plain: catalogue, the fauna specific features. SSC RAS Publishers, Rostov-on-Don, 640 pp.
Rehfeldt S, Cassar T (2024) A contribution to the arachnofauna (Arachnida: Araneae, Opiliones) of the Maltese Islands, with two new records for Europe. Arachnologische Mitteilungen 67: 18-47
Roberts M J (1995) Collins Field Guide: Spiders of Britain & Northern Europe. HarperCollins, London, 383 pp.
Rozwałka R, Stanska M (2008) Check-list of spiders (Araneae) of Poland. 1. December 2008. online at http://www.arachnologia.edu.pl/en/species/8-spiders-of-poland.html
Růžička V, Řezáč M (2022a) Seznam pavouků České republiky. List of spiders of the Czech Republic. Online at https://www.arachnology.cz/seznam-pavouku-cr-26.html and https://www.arachnology.cz/en/seznam-pavouku-cr-26.html
Samu F, Szinetár C (1999) Bibliographic check list of the Hungarian spider fauna. Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 11: 161-184
Sawers M A R, El-Bishlawy S M O, Hassan M F, Sallam G M S (2023) The first record of Ero aphana (Araneae: Mimetidae) in Egypt. Arab Journal of Plant Protection 41: 15-17
Thaler K, Harten A van, Knoflach B (2004) Pirate spiders of the genus Ero C.L. Koch from southern Europe, Yemen, and Ivory Coast, with two new species (Arachnida, Araneae, Mimetidae). Denisia 13: 359-368
Thaler K, Knoflach B (2002b) Zur Faunistik der Spinnen (Araneae) von Österreich: Atypidae, Haplogynae, Eresidae, Zodariidae, Mimetidae. Linzer Biologische Beiträge 34: 413-444
Weiss I, Petrișor A (1999) List of the spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from Romania. Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa” 41: 79-107
Wiehle H (1953) Spinnentiere oder Arachnoidea (Araneae), IX. Orthognatha-Cribellata-Haplogynae, Entelegynae (Pholcidae, Zodariidae, Oxyopidae, Mimetidae, Nesticidae). Die Tierwelt Deutschlands 42: 1-150
WSC (2026) World Spider Catalog. Version 27. Natural History Museum Bern, online at http://wsc.nmbe.ch (13.2.2026) doi: 10.24436/2
Zarikian N A, Propistsova E A, Marusik Y M (2022) On spider families (Arachnida: Araneae) new to Armenia. Israel Journal of Entomology 51: 103-117
Updates
| 04-07-2025 | Distribution update | Detail |
| 07-02-2025 | Distribution update | Detail |
| 21-06-2024 | Image insert | |
| 17-06-2024 | Distribution insert | Detail |
| 02-09-2023 | Distribution insert | Detail |
| 18-04-2023 | Distribution insert | Detail |
| 18-04-2023 | Distribution update | Detail |
| 26-05-2022 | Distribution insert | Detail |
| 06-05-2020 | Distribution insert | Detail |
| 16-05-2018 | Distribution update | Detail |
| 24-01-2017 | Distribution update | Detail |