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Sidymella trapezia (L. Koch, 1874) Trapezoid Crab Spider

A pale, semi-transparent spider usually found on foliage, with a trapezium shaped abdomen. Darker markings follow the line of the body within the margins. Widespread and common across Australia from west to east including islands. Females to 7mm, males to 4mm. Smaller than Sidymella longipes and with more equally sized legs. Originally placed in Stephanopis by Koch in 1874, then into Sidyma by Simon in 1908, but that generic name was preoccupied and the name Sidymella was erected in 1942 by Strand.

Female from above, facing


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

From above front legs together


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female close-up


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female from above


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female, Hunter Region Botanical Gardens


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Mike Boyce

Female from above from arachnologist Pawel Szymkowiak, for comparison


Photo of the female deposited in Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France.

Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Pawel Szymkowiak

Female from above showing leg setae well


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male, showing palps and macro setae on legs


Sidymella trapezia male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male, side on, male front legs are generally darker than female's


Sidymella trapezia male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male face on, upside down, from above


Sidymella trapezia male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male, from above, paler specimen


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male adult from above, dark legs


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female, strong patterned, from above


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female, 7mm body length, from above


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female, 7mm body length, side view


sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female, 7mm body length, from above, facing down

Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female adult, from above, darker markings


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Dr Greg Anderson

Male adult closeup of face


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female adult closeup of face from Pawel Szymkowiak for comparison


Photo of the female deposited in Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France.

Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Pawel Szymkowiak

Male adult closeup of palps from above showing tibial apophysis


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male adult closeup of palp from side showing structures


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male adult closeup of palp from side showing embolus


Sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male adult closeup of both palps from underneath showing embolus


sidymella trapezia
Photo: Robert Whyte

Drawing by L. Koch, 1874


Sidymella trapezia
Image: L Koch

 
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