Arachnida, Araneae, Metidae, Meta menardi (Latreille, 1804) - This Arachnid is a well-known troglophile spider, with wide Italian distribution, except the island and the warmer zones. It is easy to find it in the inside zones near the entrance of the caves, but also in all those places, for instance of anthropical origin, that have features of darkness, humidity and temperature suited to its ecological necessities. They are spiders of remarkable size (until to 5 cm of legspan), that pray usually Diptera, but also any Arthropod flying or jumping that falls in their cobwebs situated in strategic places near the vault of the caves. Among the preys of Meta menardi, the author has recently (Aug. 2000 and Jan. 2001) documented predations of troglophile grasshoppers (Dolichopoda ligustica). Very characteristic is the eggsack, with pendant shape and size of about 2 cm; it has white color and usually are hanged to the vault of the caves by means of a silk peduncle. Inside this structure there is the true sack of the eggs with spherical shape and yellowish color. (Real size of the body: about 15-20 mm).

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