Biodiversity of Cyprus by NGO Protection of the Natural Heritage and the Biodiversity of Cyprus

Family: Myrmecophilidae

Male

Female

Myrmecophilus or ant crickets, is a genus of orthopteran insects in the family Myrmecophilidae. This genus contains the majority of symbiotic 'ant-loving' species in this small, obscure family. Text from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrmecophilus

Myrmecophilus cyprius Stalling, 2017 is an endemic species to Cyprus. This species descried in 2017 from specimens found from the nests of the ant species Messor structor (Latreille, 1798). The species belongs to the subgenus Myrmophilina Silvestri, 1912. The specimens photographed were also found from Messor structor nests.

The family Myrmecophilidae

The ant-loving crickets are rarely encountered relatives of crickets, and are obligate inquilines within ant nests. They are very small, wingless, and flattened, therefore resembling small cockroach nymphs. There are a few genera, containing fewer than 100 species. Ant Crickets are yellow, brown, or nearly black in color. They do not produce sound, and lack both wings and tympanal organs ("ears") on the front tibia. Text from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant_cricket

Ελληνικό Κείμενο

Το Myrmecophilus cyprius Stalling, 2017 είναι ένα ενδημικό είδος γρύλου στην Κύπρο. Το είδος αυτό ανήκει στην οικογένεια Myrmecophilidae. Αυτό το είδος περιγράφηκε το 2017 από δείγματα που βρέθηκαν σε φωλιές του μυρμηγκιού Messor structor (Latreille, 1798). Το είδος ανήκει στο υποείδος Myrmophilina Silvestri, 1912. Τα άτομα που φωτογραφήθηκαν, βρέθηκαν επίσης σε φωλιές του Messor structor.

Η οικογένεια Myrmecophilidae περιλαμβάνει κυρίως είδη που ζουν μέσα στις φωλιές των μυρμηγκιών. Είναι πολύ μικρά, χωρίς φτερά και πεπλατυσμένα, οπότε μοιάζουν με μικρές νύμφες κατσαρίδων. Υπάρχουν λίγα γένη, που περιέχουν λιγότερα από 100 είδη. Το χρώμα τους μπορεί να είναι κίτρινου, καφέ ή σχεδόν μαύρου. Δεν παράγουν ήχο και δεν έχουν τόσο φτερά όσο και ακουστικά όργανα ("αυτιά") στην μπροστινή κνήμη.

Photos at Lakatamia, October 2017 by Michael Hadjiconstantis.

Aphantaulax trifasciata is a species of ground spider in the genus Aphantaulax, family Gnaphosidae

Aphantaulax trifasciata can reach a length of 6–10 millimetres (0.24–0.39 in) in females, of 4–7 millimetres (0.16–0.28 in) in males. The body is oblong-oval shaped, narrow and pointed at the back. The body color is black, with a broad transverse band of white hairs on the fore margin of abdomen, a second interrupted transverse band in the middle of the abdomen and a longitudinal white stripe on the cephalothorax. On the extremityof the abdomen sometimes there are two white spots. Legs are yellow-brown.

This species is present in the palearctic ecozone. It is absent from Central Europe, Britain and Scandinavia.

These spiders can be found under rocks and leaves, mainly on sea coasts or riverbanks. They usually hunt at night.

Subspecies
Aphantaulax trifasciata trifasciata (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872) (Palearctic)
Aphantaulax trifasciata trimaculata Simon, 1878 (France)
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphantaulax_trifasciata

Photo Geri 23/7/2006 by George Konstantinou