Leucauge festiva
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Festiva Silver Vlei Spider | |
|---|---|
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| female | |
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| male | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Tetragnathidae |
| Genus: | Leucauge |
| Species: | L. festiva |
| Binomial name | |
| Leucauge festiva | |
 | |
| blue: reported countries (WSC) green: observation hotspots (iNaturalist) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Leucauge festiva is a species of spider in the family Tetragnathidae.[2] It is commonly known as the festiva silver vlei spider.[3]
Leucauge festiva has a widespread distribution throughout Africa, including Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Equatorial Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, and Madagascar.[2]
In South Africa, the species is found in all provinces.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species makes orb-webs, sometimes near water or in shaded damp areas. They are active during the day, hanging head down in their webs.[3]
L. festiva has been sampled from Fynbos, Forest, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Grassland, Nama Karoo, and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 15 to 1,999 m.[3] It has also been sampled from avocado and macadamia orchards as well as pumpkin and tomato fields.[3]
Description
Conservation
Leucauge festiva is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range.[3] The species is protected in more than ten protected areas.[3]
