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Thomisus ghesquierei
Thomisus ghesquierei is a species of crab spider in the family Thomisidae. It was first described from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has since been recorded from South Africa.
From the article Thomisus ghesquierei on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), quoted section by section
Description
Females measure 5.3–6.6 mm in total length. The cephalothorax is translucent in live specimens with distinctive curved dark mediolateral bands. The cephalic region appears fawn-coloured in preserved specimens, with the clypeus suffused with white. The eye region is elevated with distinct eye tubercles that are directed more dorsally than in related species. The opisthosoma is white with scattered dark patterns and spots, showing considerable variation in colouration between individuals and populations. Some specimens appear almost entirely white, while others display darker markings or yellowish tones. The abdominal tubercles are blunt and decorated with small black markings. The legs are coloured similarly to the cephalothorax, with legs I and II distinctly banded. The femora of legs I and II bear brown bands medially, while the tibiae have white and black spots. The metatarsi and tarsi show distinct banding patterns. The epigyne is oval-shaped, distinguishing it from the closely related T. citrinellus, which has two circular openings in the epigynal structure. Males of this species remain unknown.
Range & habitat
Thomisus ghesquierei is known from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa. In South Africa, it has been recorded from five provinces: Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.
Wikipedia: “Distribution”
What it does
Thomisus ghesquierei is a plant-dwelling species frequently found on flowers, where it employs sit-and-wait predation tactics typical of crab spiders. Egg sacs have been observed constructed within folded leaves, providing protection for the developing offspring. The species has been collected by beating shrubs and sweep netting grasses, shrubs, and trees, indicating its arboreal lifestyle.
Wikipedia: “Ecology and behaviour”
In human culture
The specific epithet ghesquierei honours Jean Ghesquière, a Belgian entomologist who collected in the Congo region during the early 20th century.
Wikipedia: “Etymology”
Where it lives
Recorded sightings
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geo-referenced records in GBIF, from museums, herbaria and field observers.
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In the stacks
Searching the stacks…
Every page naming Thomisus ghesquierei in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
This page is assembled live from iNaturalist, GBIF, Wikipedia, the Source Library and the Internet Archive. It is not yet part of the hand-edited codex. iNaturalist taxon 843963.