Observations on the habitat and feeding behaviour of the hypogean genus Eukoenenia (Palpigradi, Eukoeneniidae) in the Western Italian Alps

By

Balestra, Valentina
Lana, Enrico
Vanin, Stefano

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022

Original Publication

Subterranean Biology

Volume

42

Pages

23--41

Subjects

Arachnida , Caves , microwhip scorpions , Subterranean Biology

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.42.75784

 

Abstract

The order Palpigradi includes species characterized by millimetric size and a characteristic flagellum with bristles at the end of the opisthosoma. They represent one of the less well-known and obscure arachnid orders. In this paper, observations were made on the ecology and feeding behavior of species belonging to the genus Eukoenenia Börner, 1901, from the Western Italian Alps. Direct observations and photographic documentation of 141 individuals in their cave habitat, allowed the recording of data on the physical and trophic conditions such as the presence/absence of trophic resources, temperature and relative humidity, of the underground environment in which they were found. Results showed that the species of this taxon are not as rare as previously reported and that their presence is mainly influenced by temperature, relative humidity, trophic resources and the presence of two speleothems: rimstone dams and rafts. The combination of our observations as well as data previously published highlights that the taxon can have predatory and saprophagous feeding behavior depending on the availability of the food resources. This work represents the starting point for a further investigation of the taxon.