Peponocranium ludicrum  (LINYPHIIDAE)

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Peponocranium ludicrum is one of the so-called money spiders and is around 2 mm in length. It is fairly common throughout the UK, inhabiting moss and grass at ground level, and may also be found in bushes. In common with some other linyphiids (such as Walckenaeria antica) the male of the species has an enlarged frontal lobe, with the eyes distributed upon it.


Front view of a male Peponocranium ludicrum showing the raised lobe. Note the six eyes more or less in a row, with the remaining two higher up the lobe. Lateral view of the carapace of a male Peponocranium ludicrum. Note that in this image the lobe is slanting backwards more than it does in real life. Left Pedipalp (male sexual organ) of Peponocranium ludicrum

View of the carapace of a female Peponocranium ludicrum, illustrating the lack of a lobe in the female. Spinnerets of a male Peponocranium ludicrum Epigyne (female sexual organ) of Peponocranium ludicrum