A team of researchers from institutions across South America have expanded scholarly knowledge of the Pikelinia spider genus, with their recent discovery of a new crevice weaver species: Pikelinia floydmuraria. The new species name is a creative tribute to the legendary rock band Pink Floyd, while simultaneously referencing the spider's specific habitat. "Muraria," derived from the Latin word for "wall", reflects the species' tendency to reside in the walls of buildings, though indeed also alludes to the iconic Pink Floyd album, The Wall. The research was published in the open-access journal Zoosytematics and Evolution .
Hunting strategy
Despite measuring only 3 to 4 millimeters in length, these synanthropic (urban-dwelling) spiders may play a significant role in managing household pests. Dietary analyses of P. floydmuraria and a related Pikelinia population in Armenia, Colombia, revealed a diet heavily consisting of Hymenoptera (such as ants), Diptera (flies and mosquitoes), and Coleoptera (beetles).
Remarkably, the researchers observed the Pikelinia spiders capturing and consuming ants up to six times their own prosoma (body) size. Furthermore, the study noted that these spiders consistently prey upon known urban pests, including mosquitoes (Culicidae) and houseflies (Muscidae). The researchers propose that by building their webs near artificial lights, the spiders have developed a strategic adaptation to efficiently trap phototactic (light-attracted) insects, maintaining a healthier balance in the urban environment.
Solving a Galapagos Mystery
In addition to describing the new Colombian species, the study also provided important insights into a related spider from the Galapagos Islands. For the first time, researchers fully described and illustrated the female internal genitalia of Pikelinia fasciata, an endemic Galapagos species originally discovered in 1902. The morphological similarities between the Galapagos species and the newly discovered Colombian species - such as nearly identical male palpal structures - suggest a close evolutionary relationship, despite the Pacific Ocean separating them. However, it remains a mystery as to whether these traits reflect shared ancestry or similar ecological adaptations.
Looking Forward
The discovery of P. floydmuraria marks only the second recorded species of the Pikelinia genus in Colombia. The researchers advocate for further molecular and DNA-based dietary analyses to map the spider's evolutionary history, definitively determine its biogeographic origin, and quantify its full potential as a natural regulator of urban pests.
