A newly discovered spider species named in tribute to rock band Pink Floyd has been found to actively hunt urban pests many times its size, according to researchers who expanded knowledge of the Pikelinia genus in South America.
The species, Pikelinia floydmuraria, was described by a team of scientists studying crevice-dwelling spiders. Its name references both its wall-dwelling behaviour and the band’s iconic album The Wall, with “muraria” derived from the Latin word for wall.
Measuring just 3 to 4 millimetres, the spider lives in human-made environments and appears to play a role in controlling common household pests.
Dietary analysis of P. floydmuraria and a related population in Armenia, Colombia, showed that the spiders feed heavily on ants, flies, mosquitoes, and beetles. Researchers observed them capturing ants up to six times the size of their body.
The study reported in phys.org, found that the spiders often build webs near artificial lights, a behavior believed to help them trap insects attracted to light sources. This adaptation allows them to target phototactic species, including mosquitoes and houseflies, which are common urban pests.
The research, published in Zoosystematics and Evolution, also provided new insights into a related species from the Galápagos Islands, Pikelinia fasciata, first identified in 1902. Scientists were able to fully describe and illustrate the female internal genitalia of the species for the first time.
Morphological similarities between the Galápagos spider and the newly discovered Colombian species suggest a close evolutionary link, though researchers say it remains unclear whether this is due to shared ancestry or similar environmental adaptation.
Only the second recorded Pikelinia species in Colombia, P. floydmuraria highlights how little is still known about urban-dwelling spiders. Researchers say further genetic and molecular studies are needed to better understand its evolution and its potential role as a natural control for insect populations in cities.
