Characterization of morphological properties of dysdera crocata c. l. koch, 1838 spider species with scanning electron microscope (Arachnida: Araneae)

This study is concerned with the external morphology of the sensory structures on the body of Dysdera crocata C. L. Koch, 1838 spider. Magnified pictures are taken at different powers using TEM in order to show the density, distribution, and types of trichobothria on the different parts of the spider. Through making observations on the trichobothria on different parts of its body. Different patterns were observed, which varied mainly based on the body part and location. Different morphological characteristics are linked to the type of spider. The external morphology and the patterns of the trichobothria vary between hunting and web-building spiders. Dysdera crocata C. L. Koch, 1838 is a hunting spider, where trichobothria are not used to locate prey on the web, but it is used to maneuver, sense surroundings and surfaces, while other sensory parts such as the eyes are more important to locate pries. The concentration of the trichobothria at the lower parts of the legs and their significant increase in density and size in the back legs may reflect the need of the spider to move fast on surface through pushing with the back legs. The motion of the spider requires rapid movement and sense of the surfaces that allows it to chase prices and escape from predators. In particular, the chelicerea, pedipalp, walking legs and the cututicular structures on their appendages are investigated by using SEM in the present study. This study, which is thought to provide important contributions to the morphology of this species, has discussed the probable functions of the some structures studied.