Artema nephilit Aharon, Huber & Gavish-Regev, 2017 - Cyprus

Family Pholcidae

Photos at Geri, 29/10/2014 by George Konstantinou

The genus Artema Walckenaer, 1837 includes some of the largest pholcid spiders, with most species distributed from northern Africa to the Middle East. These pholcids inhabit dark and sheltered habitats such as caves, holes and crevices as well as man-made habitats like bunkers, buildings and basements (Aharon 2016; Huber & Kwapong 2013). The genus is widely known due to the widespread synanthropic species Artema atlanta Walckenaer, 1837. However, the systematics of the genus that previously included six species (World Spider Catalog 2017) (now eight) is chaotic and obscure. Most species are impossible to identify from the existing literature, no revision has ever been made of the genus, and illustrations are often of poor quality or not available at all (Thorell 1881; Spassky 1934; Roewer 1960; Tabrizi et al. 2014).

Etymology of species name:

The species epithet is derived from the feminine singular noun of the biblical name “Nephilim”, the giants who were seen by the twelve people sent by Moses to scout the Land of Canaan. It refers to the large size of the spider. Noun in apposition.

The text and map are from the species description paper: Aharon S., Huber B.A. & Gavish-Regev E. 2017. Daddy-long-leg giants: revision of the spider genus Artema Walckenaer, 1837 (Araneae, Pholcidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 376: 1–57. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2017.376 .

Ελληνικό, μεταφρασμένο κείμενο:

Το γένος Artema Walckenaer, 1837 περιλαμβάνει μερικές από της μεγαλύτερες αράχνες της οικογένειας Pholcidae, με τα περισσότερα είδη να εξαπλώνονται από την βόρεια Αφρική ως την Μέση ανατολή. Αυτά τα είδη κατοικούν σε σκοτεινούς και προστατευμένους βιότοπους, όπως σπηλιές, τρύπες και σχισμές, καθώς και τεχνητούς βιότοπους, όπως αποθήκες, κτίρια και υπόγεια (Aharon 2016, Huber & Kwapong 2013). Το γένος είναι ευρέως γνωστό λόγω του ευρέως διαδεδομένου είδους Artema atlanta Walckenaer, 1837, που κατοικεί συχνά κοντά στον άνθρωπο. Ωστόσο, η συστηματική του γένους που περιελάμβανε έξι είδη (World Spider Catalog 2017) (τώρα οκτώ) είναι χαοτική και ασαφής. Τα περισσότερα είδη είναι αδύνατο να ταχτοποιηθούν από την υπάρχουσα βιβλιογραφία, δεν έχει ποτέ γίνει αναθεώρηση του γένους και οι εικόνες είναι συχνά κακής ποιότητας ή δεν είναι διαθέσιμες καθόλου (Thorell 1881, Spassky 1934, Roewer 1960, Tabrizi κ.ά., 2014).

Ετυμολογία του ονόματος του είδους:

Το όνομα του είδους προέρχεται από το θηλυκό μοναδικό ουσιαστικό όνομα της βιβλικής ονομασίας "Nephilim", οι γίγαντες που είδαν οι δώδεκα άνθρωποι που έστειλε ο Μωυσής για να αναζητήσουν τη χώρα της Χαναάν. Αναφέρεται στο μεγάλο μέγεθος της αράχνης. 

Το κείμενο και ο χάρτης προέρχονται από την δημοσίευση της περιγραφής του είδους: Aharon S., Huber B.A. & Gavish-Regev E. 2017. Daddy-long-leg giants: revision of the spider genus Artema Walckenaer, 1837 (Araneae, Pholcidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 376: 1–57. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2017.376 .

Photos at Geri, by Michael Hadjiconstantis. 

Cyprus stonecrop - Sedum cyprium (A. K. Jacks. & Turrill) - Σέδον το κύπριον - Endemic to Cyprus

SEE ALSO - ΛΊΣΤΑ ΕΝΔΗΜΙΚΏΝ ΦΥΤΏΝ ΤΗΣ ΚΎΠΡΟΥ - LIST OF ENDEMICS PLANTS OF CYPRUS

Endemic to Cyprus

Sedum cyprium, Cyprus stonecrop is an erect, monocarpic, succulent herb with an unbranched stem, 10-30 cm high. Leaves succulent, simple and entire reddish in sunny positions, the basal leaves in rosettes, hairless, spathulate, 3-6 x 1-2 cm, the higher leaves are thinly glandular and spirally arranged. the numerous actinomorphic flowers are greenish or reddish, gathered in a cylindrical panicle. Flowers June-Sep. Fruit a many -seeded follicle.
Rock crevices and walls mostly on igneous formations at 150-1650 m altitude.
A Cyprus endemic, locally very common in the broader Troödos Mountains, especially in the Paphos Forest-Akamas, Ayia, Stavros Psokas, Ayios Merkourios, Fleyia, Alonoudhi, Kryos Potamos, Makria Kontarka (Troödos), Evrykhou, Kalopanayiotis, Alona, Palekhori..From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Kalopanagiotis, 8/7/2015 by George Konstantinou

Red star-thistle and purple starthistle - Centaurea calcitrapa subsp. angusticeps (H. Lindb.) Meikle - Κενταύρεια η πεδιλοπαγής υποείδ. η στενή - Endemic to Cyprus

Endemic to Cyprus

See also - Λίστα Ενδημικών Φυτών της Κύπρου - List of Endemics plants of Cyprus

Centaurea calcitrapa is a species of flowering plant known by several common names, including red star-thistle and purple starthistle. It is native to Europe but is rarely found there, it is known across the globe as an introduced species and often a noxious weed. The species name calcitrapa comes from the word caltrop, a type of weapon covered in sharp spikes.

In western Crete, Greece a local variety called gourounaki (γουρουνάκι - little pig) has its leaves eaten boiled by the locals. A south Italian variety of the species is also traditionally consumed by ethnic Albanians (Arbëreshë people) in the Vulture area (southern Italy). In the Arbëreshë communities in Lucania the young whorls of Centaurea calcitrapa are boiled and fried in mixtures with other weedy non cultivated greens. According to a research by A. Pieroni, V. Janiak, C. M. Dürr, S. Lüdeke, E. Trachsel and M. Heinrich (2002) in the Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy (The School of Pharmacy, University of London) "the antioxidant activity of the young whorlsof Centaurea calcitrapa, both in the DPPH and in the lipid peroxidation inhibition assays, are very interesting and the species should be investigated phytochemically and biochemically focusing on these properties". Extracts from Centaurea calcitrapa found to have significant xanthine oxidase (XO)-inhibiting activity and showed significant antioxidant activity too..From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Filia, 15/7/2015 by George Konstantinou

Black horehound - Ballota nigra subsp. uncinata (Fiori & Bég.) Patzak - Cyprus

Ballota nigra (black horehound) is a perennial herb of the family Lamiaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region and to central Asia, and it can be found throughout Europe. It is also naturalized in Argentina, New Zealand, and the Eastern United States. It blooms in the Northern Hemisphere from May to August.
Ballota nigra has a very strong smell, and can be recognised by its clusters of hairy, reddish-purple flowers. It can grow up to 3 feet in height.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Kalopanagiotis, 8/7/2015 by George Konstantinou

Pericyma squalens (Lederer, 1855) - Cyprus

See also 

List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

All about Cyprus - Όλα για την Κύπρο

Pericyma squalens is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in south-eastern Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon,Cyprus, Israel and Jordan.

There are multiple generations per year. Adults are on wing from March to August.

The larvae possibly feed on Alhagi species. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ηostplant

Camelthorn, camelthorn-bush, Caspian manna, and Persian mannaplant - Alhagi maurorum Medik

Photos Nicosia, 15/7/2015 by George Konstantinou

Peucetia arabica Simon, 1882 - Cyprus

Peucetia is a genus of lynx spiders that is found worldwide.

While P. viridana is found only in Asia, the similar named P. viridans (Green Lynx Spider) occurs only from the southern United States to Venezuela.

The only Peucetia species to occur in the United States, apart from P. viridans (which occurs in the south from coast to coast) is P. longipalpis, which occurs in the southwestern US to Belize.

Photos Agios Sozomenos by George Konstantinou

Araneus diadematus (Clerck,1758) - European garden spider - Crowned orb weaver - Cyprus

Family: Araneidae

The spider species Araneus diadematus is commonly called the European garden spider, diadem spider, cross spider, or crowned orb weaver. It is an orb-weaver spider found in Europe and North America.
A. diadematus is found throughout Europe and across North America, from southern Canada to Mexico, and from British Columbia to Newfoundland.

Individual spiders' colourings can range from extremely light yellow to very dark grey, but all A. diadematus have mottled white markings across the dorsal abdomen, with four or more segments forming a cross. The markings are formed in cells filled with guanine, which is a byproduct of protein metabolism.

Adult females range in length from 6.5 to 20 mm (0.26 to 0.79 in), while males range from 5.5 to 13 mm (0.22 to 0.51 in). Occasionally, the female will eat the male directly after mating. 

The legs of orb-weaver spiders are specialized for spinning orb webs. The webs are built by the larger females who hang head down in the center of the web or remain hidden in nearby foliage, with one claw hooked to a signal line connected to the main orb waiting for a disturbance to signal the arrival of prey. Prey is then quickly bitten and wrapped in silk before being stored for later consumption. The initial bite serves to paralyze the prey and minimize the danger of the spider herself being stung or bitten, and the enzymes thus injected serve to begin liquefaction of the prey's internal structures.

A. diadematus is a reclusive creature and only bites humans if cornered or otherwise provoked. The bite is not unlike a mild bee sting. Some orb-web spiders (e.g., Neoscona arabesca) routinely recycle the metabolically costly silk by disassembling and eating their webs in the morning or evening, depending on the species' diurnal or nocturnal nature, or in anticipation of a thunderstorm. This complex process can take just a few minutes. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos at Xalefka, by George Konstantinou

Next Photos at Stroumpi, 20 June 2018, By Michael Hadjiconstantis

Synema globosum (Fabricius, 1775) - Cyprus

Synema globosum is a species of 'crab spiders' belonging to the family Thomisidae.

This species is present in most countries of Europe and in the eastern Palearctic ecozone. It is especially common throughout the Mediterranean region

The adult males reach 2–4 millimetres (0.079–0.157 in) of length, while females are 7–8 millimetres (0.28–0.31 in) long. They can mostly be encountered from May through August on flowering plants (especially yellow or red Apiaceae species), waiting for their preys.

The two pairs of the front legs, used for hunting the flower-feeding insects, are more developed than the rear ones, which have a predominant motor function.

The main peculiarity of this species is the basic coloration of the abdomen, that can be red, orange, yellow or white, with a black pattern. Some people have found in these markings a certain resemblance to the silhouette of Napoleon.  Prosoma and legs are black or dark brown.

Like other species of the family Thomisidae these spiders do not make a web, but actively hunt their preys.

 It is sometimes called the Napoleon spider, because of a supposed resemblance of the markings on the abdomen to a silhouette of Napoleon.

 Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Latsia by George Konstantinou