Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
O. annulipes
Explanation of Names
Author of species name: John Blackwall. First year published: 1859, as Oecobius navus.
Identification
The pattern on the carapace (dark central stripe, three dashes or dots on either side) should be characteristic of this species in this region. For additional information, you can check
Shear 1970.
However, do note that some of the recently introduced species documented on BugGuide (e.g. O. amboseli and O. annulipes) do look similar. The full extent and range of the introduced species is not fully known at this time.
Of note, preserved specimens of O. navus can rarely lack the dashes and dots and show unmarked carapaces, superfically resembling O. putus (in California) or other spp. In examining a large sample of seventy-seven specimens collected in central California recently, I found one male with a virtually unmarked carapace and several with very faint markings. These specimens had the typical genitalia and eye arrangement of O. navus however (K. Schneider, unpub. obs., August 2015). Shear does mention lightly marked males in his revision.
Range
Cosmopolitan/Pantropical; a highly synanthropic, non-native species. Shear (1970) examined specimens from all over the world and found very little variation, and there is little evidence as to the point of origin.
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