About Hygropoda higenaga (Kishida, 1936)
This species is scientifically named Hygropoda higenaga (Kishida, 1936). It exhibits the typical characteristics of nursery web spiders, with elongated legs and a streamlined body form. H. higenaga shows sexual dimorphism, with females generally larger than males. Based on the original species description, females have a body length of approximately 9.2 mm; their cephalothorax measures 4.30 × 3.70 mm, and their abdomen measures 5.20 × 2.40 mm. Males are smaller overall, with a body length of about 10.4 mm and a cephalothorax measuring 4.80 × 4.20 mm. The species displays brownish coloration with distinctive markings. Its cephalothorax is yellowish-brown with darker lateral bands, while the abdomen has complex patterns including cardiac markings and lateral stripes. Like other members of its genus, H. higenaga has the characteristic three claws on each tarsus, and well-developed chelicerae with three teeth on both the anterior and posterior margins. H. higenaga is found across East Asia, with confirmed records from China, Taiwan, and Japan. In China, it has been documented from multiple provinces including Yunnan. Like other nursery web spiders, H. higenaga typically occurs in terrestrial environments where it can construct protective webs for its offspring. Members of the genus Hygropoda are known to inhabit areas near water sources and vegetation. As a nursery web spider, female H. higenaga exhibit characteristic maternal care behavior. They carry their egg sacs in their chelicerae until the eggs are ready to hatch, at which point they construct a protective nursery web. The female guards this nursery web until the spiderlings are ready to disperse after their first molt. This species is an active hunter that does not build prey-capture webs, instead relying on ambush tactics to capture small arthropod prey.
