Don't want to see ads? Sign up...




Alpaida gallardoi

Alpaida gallardoi

(Levi, 1988)
Araña Tejedora Roja

Family: Araneidae
Order: Araneae
Class: Arachnida
Phylum / Division: Arthropoda
Kingdom: Animalia

 Request change



Filters


Records from Villa de las Rosas


Description


Possesses a relatively small body size with a marked sexual dimorphism where adult females reach a total length of 6 to 8 mm, while males are significantly smaller and slender, measuring between 4 and 5 mm. This arachnid features a smooth, bright yellowish-brown prosoma, which tends to be slightly darker around the ocular region. The opistosoma or abdomen is oval and slightly elongated, distinguished by a dorsal pattern of pale yellow, light green, and dark longitudinal bands running along the sides and posterior area. The legs are slender, covered with fine spines, and exhibit a coloration ranging from translucent yellow to pale brown, perfectly adapted for agile movement across silk threads. The chelicerae are robust and brown, equipped with venom glands used solely to paralyze prey.

Geographical distribution: Is mainly distributed across the southern regions of South America. Its range encompasses extensive humid zones in northeastern Argentina, specifically within the provinces of Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, Corrientes, and Buenos Aires. Furthermore, stable populations have been recorded in several localities across Uruguay, southern Brasil (most notably in the state of Rio Grande do Sul), and eastern regions of Paraguay. Its presence is closely tied to the vast basins of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers.

Habitat: Prefers to inhabit riparian ecosystems, gallery forests, wetlands, and humid grasslands associated with freshwater bodies. It is commonly found on low-growing shrubs, tall grasses, and along the edges of native forests within the Delta and Pampean ecoregions. Its optimal microhabitat is determined by the presence of dense herbaceous vegetation that provides stable anchor points for its webs, along with a consistently high level of ambient humidity.

Feeding: Acts as a generalist insectivorous predator, basing its diet on a wide variety of small flying and crawling arthropods. Its primary prey consists of dipterans, microlepidopterans, hymenopterans, and small beetles that become trapped in its sticky web. It utilizes an exceptionally efficient passive hunting strategy, detecting vibrations transmitted through the silk strands to quickly locate trapped prey, which is then swiftly wrapped in silk and injected with digestive enzymes for subsequent consumption.

Behavior: Is characterized by its ability to construct elaborate vertical orb webs composed of concentric threads and precise radial lines during twilight hours. Throughout the day, this taxon typically remains motionless at the hub of its web or concealed within a retreat made of leaves folded and bound with silk in the surrounding foliage to evade predation by birds and spider wasps. It displays low intraspecific aggressiveness outside the mating season, though it maintains strict territorial defense over the physical space of its web.

Reproduction: Occurs primarily during the warm months of spring and summer. Upon reaching sexual maturity, males abandon their own webs to actively search for females, guided by chemical signals and pheromones left on the female´s silk lines. The courtship ritual is complex and precise, with the male producing rhythmic, species-specific vibrations on the outer threads of the female´s web to appease her and prevent sexual cannibalism. Following successful copulation, the female constructs a dense silken egg sac, whitish or yellowish in color, wherein she deposits dozens of eggs, securely attaching it to nearby vegetation to protect the offspring.

Conservation status: Has not yet been formally evaluated at a global level by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), therefore lacking an official status on the Red List. Nevertheless, local populations face ongoing threats due to wetland degradation, gallery forest deforestation, agricultural runoff, and rapid urbanization within the Río de la Plata basin, highlighting the critical importance of preserving riverine habitats.



Compilation and publication: EcoRegistros – 06/08/2026




Geographic distribution


Loading map...




Species photographs

Last published photographs




 View all photographs of the species




 Add a photography of this species






Species vocalizations

Last vocalizations published



 Add an audio of this species





Species videos

Last filmings published




 Add a film of this species





Species reports



 Detail of places sorted by number of records








Page 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
67733603/12/2017ArgentinaCórdobaLas chacras Norte, Villa de las RosasSantiago M Cabrera Bustos
Page 1

 Add a record of this species

📖
Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Alpaida gallardoi – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 20/09/2026.