Praestigia Explained

Praestigia is a genus of sheet weavers that was first described by Alfred Frank Millidge in 1954.^[1]

The defining characteristic of Praestigia is a projection issuing from the ocular region in males, which varies in form depending on the species, and bears a cap at its distal end. The cap is composed of a series of interconnected fibers glued to the projection with a waxy substance. The cap itself is easily dislodged and lost, and where it originates from is unclear.^[2]

The generic name is a combination of Latin prae, meaning "in front" or "before" and Greek stigios, meaning "an awl," a reference to the above-described projection.

Species

it contains eight species:^[3]

• Praestigia duffeyi Millidge, 1954 (type) – Europe
• Praestigia eskovi Marusik, Gnelitsa & Koponen, 2008 – Russia
• Praestigia groenlandica Holm, 1967 – Canada, Greenland
• Praestigia kulczynskii Eskov, 1979 – Russia, Japan, Canada
• Praestigia makarovae Marusik, Gnelitsa & Koponen, 2008 – Russia
• Praestigia pini (Holm, 1950) – Sweden, Finland, Russia, Mongolia
• Praestigia sibirica Marusik, Gnelitsa & Koponen, 2008 – Russia, USA (Alaska)
• Praestigia uralensis Marusik, Gnelitsa & Koponen, 2008 – Russia

See also

• List of Linyphiidae species (I–P)

Notes and References

1. Millidge. A. F.. 1954. On a new species and genus of spider. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 253–256. 7. 12. 10.1080/00222935408651727. A._F._Millidge.
2. Marusik. Yuri M.. Gnelitsa. Valeri A.. Koponen. Seppo. July 2008. A Survey of Holarctic Linyphiidae (Araneae). 3. A Review of the Genus Praestigia Millidge, 1954. Arachnology. en. 14. 5. 213–231. 10.13156/arac.2008.14.5.213. 130796884. 2050-9928.
3. Gen. Praestigia Millidge, 1954. World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. 2019-06-23. 2019. Natural History Museum Bern. 10.24436/2.