Neoscona rapta

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Neoscona Orb-Web Spider
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Araneidae
Genus: Neoscona
Species:
N. rapta
Binomial name
Neoscona rapta
(Thorell, 1899)[1]
Synonyms
  • Araneus lambarenensis Simon, 1907

Neoscona rapta is a species of spider in the family Araneidae.[2] It has a wide global distribution throughout the Afrotropical Region.[3]

Distribution

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Neoscona rapta is widespread throughout Africa.[3]

In South Africa, the species is recorded from eight provinces including nine protected areas at altitudes ranging from 4 to 1,557 m above sea level.[3]

Habitat and ecology

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Neoscona rapta makes orb-webs in vegetation at night. The species has been sampled from all the floral biomes except the Desert and Succulent biomes. The species was also sampled from pistachio orchards.[3]

Description

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See also: Glossary of spider terms

Neoscona rapta is known from both sexes. These spiders measure 7-8 mm in body length.[3]

Conservation

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Neoscona rapta is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. There are no significant threats to the species. The species is protected in seven protected areas including Silaka Nature Reserve, Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve, Kalkfontein Dam Nature Reserve, Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, Ngome State Forest, uMkhuze Game Reserve, and Kgaswane Nature Reserve.[3]

Taxonomy

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The species was originally described by Thorell in 1899 as Aranea rapta from Cameroon. It was revised by Grasshoff in 1986, who synonymized Araneus lambarenensis with this species.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Thorell, T. (1899). "Araneae Camerunenses (Africae occidentalis) quas anno 1891 collegerunt Cel. Dr Y. Sjöstedt aliique". Bihang till Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar. 25: 1–105.
  2. ^ "Neoscona rapta (Thorell, 1899)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N.; Webb, P. (2022). The Araneidae of South Africa. Version 2: part 3 (Ne-Z). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 12. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6326991. Retrieved 21 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  4. ^ Grasshoff, M. (1986). "Die Radnetzspinnen-Gattung Neoscona in Afrika (Arachnida: Araneae)". Annalen Zoologische Wetenschappen. 250: 1–123.