Zodarion rubidum

Zodarion rubidum
Z. rubidum, adult male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Zodariidae
Genus:	Zodarion
Species:	Z. rubidum
Binomial name
Zodarion rubidum Simon, 1914

Zodarion rubidum is a spider species of the family Zodariidae.

Like most Zodariidae, Z. rubidum is an ant-eating spider. It resembles ants structurally and behaviorally. Z. rubidum specifically mimics red ants, such as Myrmica sabuleti. It often feeds on Tetramorium caespitum or Lasius platythorax.

Zodarion rubidum is up to 5mm in size. Like many other zodariid spiders, it moves across open ground in the evening and at night.

Distribution[]

Zodarion rubidum originally occurred in southwestern France, but has spread during the last few decades into central Europe, and has been introduced to U.S. and Canada.

References[]

• Pekar, S. & Kral, J. (2002) Mimicry complex in two central European zodariid spiders (Araneae: Zodariidae): how Zodarion deceives ants. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 75:517–532. Abstract