Rugathodes bellicosus

Rugathodes bellicosus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Theridiidae
Genus:	Rugathodes
Species:	R. bellicosus
Binomial name
Rugathodes bellicosus (Simon, 1873)
Synonyms
Theridion bellicosum Theridion instabile bellicosum Enoplognatha bellicosa Enoplognatha bellicosum Rugathodes bellicosum

Rugathodes bellicosus is a small theridiid spider that occurs in Europe, including Russia. It is usually found on high ground, but also occurs on coasts. They live under large stones.

In Czechoslovakia, spiders at low altitude are only found in small caves. These specimens are not very pigmented. Other specimens that live in higher elevations live more in the open and are generally darker in color. The variation seems to be genetic rather than environmentally induced.[1]

Name

The species name is derived from Latin bellicosus "bellicose".

References

1. Ružička, V. (1988). Problems of Bathyphantes eumenis and its occurrence in Czechoslovakia (Araneae, Linyphiidae). Věstn. Česk. Spol. Zool. 52:149-155.