Harpactea is a genus in the family Dysderidae (woodlouse hunting spiders). Harpactea is a replacement name published by W. S. Bristowe in 1939 for the unavailable name "Harpactes" published by R. Templeton in 1835, which had already been used for a genus of birds. They are non-web building predators that forage on the ground and on tree trunks at night, mainly in xerothermic forests. During the day, they hide in silk retreats they build under rocks or bark.
Harpactea sadistica was found to use traumatic insemination, the arthropod behavior of directly inserting its sperm into the body cavity of females. It is the first time it has ever been observed in spiders.
Description Like all woodlouse hunters, Harpactea have six eyes. The type species, H. hombergi, can grow up to a body length of . Males and females are similar, but the female has no epigyne.
Like the rest of their family, they are nocturnal. Unlike them, Harpactea do not specialize on hunting woodlice. H. rubicunda also hunts Drassodes and other spiders, but most Harpactea feed on insects in addition to woodlice.
Taxonomy In 1835, the name "Harpactes" was published by R. Templeton for a taxon split off from the related genus Dysdera. Subsequent authors used this genus name for many years, but when published, Harpactes had already been used for a bird genus, so it was not available. Accordingly, in 1939, W. S. Bristowe published the replacement name Harpactea. The type species is Dysdera latreillei, synonym "Harpactes" latreillei, now accepted as a synonym of Harpactea hombergi.
Templeton did not explain his choice of genus name, but Greek , , means 'snatcher', 'plunderer', 'pillager' or 'thief'.
Species Almost all species of this genus appear to be endemic to small regions of the Mediterranean. , the World Spider Catalog accepted 213 species from Europe and Northern Africa to Turkmenistan and Iran:
Harpactea abantia (Simon, 1885) – Greece Harpactea abasgiana Zamani & Marusik, 2024 – Georgia Harpactea achsuensis Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan Harpactea acuta Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria Harpactea adicensis Řezáč, 2023 – Portugal Harpactea aeoliensis Alicata, 1973 – Italy Harpactea agnolettii Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey Harpactea alanyana Özkütük, Elverici, Marusik & Kunt, 2015 – Turkey Harpactea albanica (Caporiacco, 1949) – Albania Harpactea alexandrae Lazarov, 2006 – Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia (Caucasus) Harpactea algarvensis Ferrández, 1990 – Portugal Harpactea alicatai Brignoli, 1979 – Italy (Sardinia) Harpactea angustata (Lucas, 1846) – Algeria Harpactea antoni Bosmans, 2009 – Greece (Lesbos) Harpactea apollinea Brignoli, 1979 – Greece Harpactea arguta (Simon, 1907) – France, Italy Harpactea armenica Dunin, 1989 – Armenia, Iran Harpactea arnedoi Kunt, Elverici, Özkütük & Yağmur, 2011 – Turkey Harpactea asparuhi Lazarov, 2008 – Bulgaria Harpactea ataturi Lazarov, 2026 – Turkey https://araneae.nmbe.ch/data/6851/Harpactea_ataturi Harpactea auresensis Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria Harpactea auriga (Simon, 1911) – Algeria Harpactea aurigoides Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria Harpactea azerbajdzhanica Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan Harpactea azowensis Charitonov, 1956 – Ukraine, Russia (Europe) Harpactea babori (Nosek, 1905) – Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey Harpactea ballarini Kunt, Özkütük & Elverici, 2013 – Turkey Harpactea bilecenoglui Kunt & Özkütük, 2023 – Turkey Harpactea bilgenur Kunt & Özkütük, 2023 – Turkey Harpactea blasi Ribera & Ferrández, 1986 – Spain Harpactea brachati Wunderlich, 2020 – Turkey Harpactea buchari Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan Harpactea bulgarica Lazarov & Naumova, 2010 – North Macedonia, Bulgaria Harpactea caligata Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria Harpactea carusoi Alicata, 1974 – Italy, Tunisia Harpactea catholica (Brignoli, 1984) – Greece (Crete) Harpactea caucasia (Kulczyński, 1895) – Russia (Caucasus), Georgia Harpactea cecconii (Kulczyński, 1908) – Cyprus, Greece? Harpactea cesari Van Keer, 2009 – Greece (Lesbos) Harpactea chaniaensis Bosmans, 2023 – Greece (Crete) Harpactea chreensis Bosmans & Beladjal, 1989 – Algeria Harpactea christae Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria Harpactea christodeltshevi Bayram, Kunt & Yağmur, 2009 – Turkey Harpactea clementi Bosmans, 2009 – Greece, Turkey Harpactea coccifera Brignoli, 1984 – North Macedonia, Greece (Crete) Harpactea colchidis Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey Harpactea complicata Deltshev, 2011 – Serbia Harpactea corinthia Brignoli, 1984 – Greece Harpactea corticalis (Simon, 1882) – France, Italy Harpactea crespoi Řezáč, 2023 – Portugal Harpactea cressa Brignoli, 1984 – Greece (Crete) Harpactea cruriformis Bosmans, 2011 – Greece (Chios) Harpactea damini Pavlek & Arnedo, 2020 – Croatia Harpactea dashdamirovi Dunin, 1993 – Azerbaijan Harpactea decebali Nae, 2021 – Romania Harpactea deelemanae Dunin, 1989 – Armenia Harpactea deltshevi Dimitrov & Lazarov, 1999 – Bulgaria Harpactea dianae Gavalas & Bosmans, 2023 – Greece (Iraklia) Harpactea digiovannii Gasparo, 2014 – Greece Harpactea diraoi Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey Harpactea dobati Alicata, 1974 – Turkey Harpactea doblikae (Thorell, 1875) – Bulgaria, Ukraine Harpactea dolanskyi Řezáč, 2023 – Portugal Harpactea dufouri (Thorell, 1873) – Spain Harpactea dumonti Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria Harpactea dunini Zamani & Marusik, 2024 – Azerbaijan Harpactea elvericii Kunt & Özkütük, 2023 – Turkey Harpactea eskovi Dunin, 1989 – Georgia, Armenia Harpactea fageli Brignoli, 1980 – Portugal, Spain Harpactea fontetareja Wunderlich, 2024 – Portugal Harpactea forceps Varol & Danışman, 2018 – Turkey Harpactea forcipifera (Simon, 1911) – Algeria Harpactea gaditana Pesarini, 1988 – Portugal, Spain Harpactea galatica Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey Harpactea gennargentu Wunderlich, 1995 – Italy (Sardinia) Harpactea globifera (Simon, 1911) – Algeria Harpactea gobustanica Nuruyeva & Huseynov, 2022 – Azerbaijan Harpactea golovatchi Dunin, 1989 – Armenia Harpactea gridellii (Caporiacco, 1951) – Italy Harpactea grisea (Canestrini, 1868) – Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Slovenia Harpactea gunselorum Gücel, Fuller, Göçmen & Kunt, 2018 – Cyprus Harpactea hamidae Beladjal & Abrous, 2023 – Algeria Harpactea hauseri Brignoli, 1976 – Greece Harpactea heizerensis Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria Harpactea heliconia Brignoli, 1984 – Greece Harpactea henriquesi Řezáč, 2023 – Portugal Harpactea henschi (Kulczyński, 1915) – Bosnia and Herzegovina Harpactea herodis Brignoli, 1978 – Israel Harpactea hispana (Simon, 1882) – Spain, France Harpactea hombergi (Scopoli, 1763) (type species) – Europe Harpactea hyrcanica Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan Harpactea iasoni Gavalas & Bosmans, 2023 – Greece (Iraklia) Harpactea ice Komnenov & Chatzaki, 2016 – Greece Harpactea incerta Brignoli, 1979 – Greece Harpactea incurvata Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria Harpactea indistincta Dunin, 1991 – Russia (Caucasus), Azerbaijan Harpactea innupta Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria Harpactea isaurica Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey Harpactea johannitica Brignoli, 1976 – Greece Harpactea kalaensis Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria Harpactea kalavachiana Gücel, Charalambidou, Göçmen & Kunt, 2019 – Cyprus Harpactea kankilicorum Kunt & Özkütük, 2023 – Turkey Harpactea karabachica Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan Harpactea karaschkhan Kunt, Özkütük, Elverici, Marusik & Karakaş, 2016 – Turkey Harpactea kareli Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria Harpactea kencei Kunt, Elverici, Özkütük & Yağmur, 2011 – Turkey Harpactea konradi Lazarov, 2009 – Bulgaria Harpactea korenkoi Řezáč, 2023 – Portugal Harpactea korgei Brignoli, 1979 – Turkey Harpactea krejcii Řezáč, 2023 – Portugal Harpactea krueperi (Simon, 1885) – Greece Harpactea krumi Lazarov, 2010 – Bulgaria Harpactea kubrati Lazarov, 2008 – Bulgaria Harpactea kulczynskii Brignoli, 1976 – Albania, Greece Harpactea lazarovi Deltshev, 2011 – Bulgaria Harpactea lazonum Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey Harpactea lepida (C. L. Koch, 1838) – Europe Harpactea loebli Brignoli, 1974 – Greece Harpactea logunovi Dunin, 1992 – Russia (Caucasus), Georgia Harpactea longitarsa Alicata, 1974 – Algeria, Tunisia Harpactea longobarda Pesarini, 2001 – Spain (Balearic Is.), Italy, Ukraine Harpactea lucdevosi Bosmans, 2023 – Greece (Iraklia) Harpactea maelfaiti Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria Harpactea magnibulbi Machado & Ferrández, 1991 – Portugal Harpactea major (Simon, 1911) – Algeria Harpactea mariae Komnenov, 2014 – North Macedonia Harpactea martensi Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan Harpactea mateparlovi Pavlek & Arnedo, 2020 – Croatia Harpactea mcheidzeae Dunin, 1992 – Georgia Harpactea medeae Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey Harpactea mehennii Bosmans & Beladjal, 1989 – Algeria Harpactea mentor Lazarov & Naumova, 2010 – North Macedonia, Bulgaria Harpactea mertensi Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria Harpactea minoccii Ferrández, 1982 – Portugal, Spain Harpactea minuta Alicata, 1974 – Tunisia Harpactea mithridatis Brignoli, 1979 – Turkey, Georgia Harpactea mitidjae Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria Harpactea modesta Dunin, 1991 – Caucasus (Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan) Harpactea monicae Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria Harpactea mouzaiensis Bosmans & Beladjal, 1989 – Algeria Harpactea muscicola (Simon, 1882) – France (Corsica) Harpactea nachitschevanica Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan Harpactea nausicaae Brignoli, 1976 – Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Greece Harpactea nenilini Dunin, 1989 – Armenia Harpactea nuragica Alicata, 1966 – Italy (Sardinia) Harpactea oglasana Gasparo, 1992 – Italy Harpactea oranensis Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria Harpactea ortegai Ribera & De Mas, 2003 – Spain Harpactea osellai Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey Harpactea ouarsenensis Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria Harpactea ovata Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria Harpactea paradoxa Dunin, 1992 – Georgia Harpactea parthica Brignoli, 1980 – Iran, Turkmenistan? Harpactea pekari Řezáč, 2023 – Portugal Harpactea persephone Gasparo, 2011 – Greece (Crete) Harpactea petrovi Lazarov & Dimitrov, 2018 – Bulgaria Harpactea piligera (Thorell, 1875) – Italy Harpactea pisidica Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey Harpactea planembolus Wunderlich, 2024 – Portugal Harpactea popovi Dimitrov, Deltshev & Lazarov, 2019 – Bulgaria Harpactea proxima Ferrández, 1990 – Portugal Harpactea pugio Varol & Akpınar, 2016 – Turkey Harpactea punica Alicata, 1974 – Algeria, Tunisia Harpactea reniformis Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria Harpactea rubicunda (C. L. Koch, 1838) – Europe, Caucasus (Russia, Georgia) Harpactea rucnerorum Polenec & Thaler, 1975 – Croatia Harpactea ruffoi Alicata, 1974 – Tunisia Harpactea rugichelis Denis, 1955 – Lebanon Harpactea sadistica Řezáč, 2008 – Israel Harpactea saeva (Herman, 1879) – Slovakia, Hungary, south-eastern Europe to Ukraine Harpactea salvatorei Platania & Arnedo, 2020 – Italy Harpactea samuili Lazarov, 2006 – North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece Harpactea sanctaeinsulae Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey Harpactea sanctidomini Gasparo, 1997 – Italy Harpactea sardoa Alicata, 1966 – Italy Harpactea sbordonii Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey Harpactea sciakyi Pesarini, 1988 – Spain Harpactea secunda Dunin, 1989 – Armenia Harpactea senalbensis Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria Harpactea serena (Simon, 1907) – Spain, France Harpactea sicula Alicata, 1966 – Italy (Sicily), Malta Harpactea simovi Deltshev & Lazarov, 2018 – Bulgaria Harpactea sinuata Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria Harpactea spasskyi Dunin, 1992 – Ukraine (Crimea), Caucasus (Russia, Georgia) Harpactea spilioioannis Bosmans & Gavalas, 2023 – Greece (Iraklia) Harpactea spirembolus Russell-Smith, 2011 – Greece (Chios) Harpactea srednagora Dimitrov & Lazarov, 1999 – Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria Harpactea stalitoides Ribera, 1993 – Portugal Harpactea stoevi Deltshev & Lazarov, 2018 – Bulgaria Harpactea strandi (Caporiacco, 1939) – Italy Harpactea strandjica Dimitrov, 1997 – Bulgaria, Turkey Harpactea strinatii Brignoli, 1979 – Greece Harpactea sturanyi (Nosek, 1905) – Greece, Turkey, Georgia Harpactea subiasi Ferrández, 1990 – Portugal