Harvestmen (Opiliones) of CanadaHarvestmen (Opiliones) of Canada

Robert HolmbergCentre for ScienceAthabasca UniversityAthabasca, Alberta T9S 3A3, CanadaE-mail: robert@athabasu.ca

Robert HolmbergCentre for ScienceAthabasca UniversityAthabasca, Alberta T9S 3A3, CanadaE-mail: robert@athabasu.ca

17th International Congress of Arachnology, Brazil, 200717th International Congress of Arachnology, Brazil, 2007

Harvestmen as They Appear to Most PeopleHarvestmen as They Appear to Most People

Characteristics of OpilionesCharacteristics of Opiliones

• prosoma and opisthosoma broadly fused

• no venom nor silk glands

• no extra-oral digestion

• tracheal respiration

• 3rd largest arachnid order

• prosoma and opisthosoma broadly fused

• no venom nor silk glands

• no extra-oral digestion

• tracheal respiration

• 3rd largest arachnid order Palpatores, Phalangiidae: Rilaena triangularis

from Hillyard & Sankey 1989

Characteristics of Opiliones

• palps leg-like, swollen, or raptorial

• palps leg-like, swollen, or raptorial

• 2 medial eyes• 2 medial eyes

Palpatores, Sabaconidae:Sabacon #1 by Nadine Duperre

• chelate chelicerae• chelate chelicerae

Characteristics of OpilionesCharacteristics of Opiliones

• pair of scent glands• pair of scent glands

Palpatores, Phalangiidae: Phalangium opilio; from Holmberg 1970

Characteristics of OpilionesCharacteristics of Opiliones

• sperm transfer by penis

• females with ovipositor

• sperm transfer by penis

• females with ovipositor

Palpatores, Phalangiidae: Oligolophus tridens from V. Silhavy 1956

Opiliones of Canada – West Coast & MountainsOpiliones of Canada – West Coast & Mountains

Opiliones BC ABTriaenonychidae

Paranonychus brunneus +

Sclerobunus robustus +

Ischyropsalidae

Hesperonemastoma modesta

+

Taracus sp. + +

Laniatores

Taracus sp. – very large chelicerae

Photo: D.J. Buckle

Opiliones of Canada – West Coast & Mountains (continued)

Opiliones of Canada – West Coast & Mountains (continued)

Opiliones BC ABLeptobunidae

Leptobunus parvulus +

Leuronycus pacificus +

Nemostomatidae

Dendrolasma mirabilis +

Ortholasma pictipes +

Dendrolasma mirabilis – hood areaDendrolasma mirabilis – hood area

Photo by Aldo Pelegrin

Opiliones of Canada – West Coast & Mountains (continued)

Opiliones of Canada – West Coast & Mountains (continued)

Opiliones BC ABPhalangiidae

Liopilio glaber + +

Odiellus pictus + +

Oligolophus tridens +

Opilio parietinus + +

Paroligolophus agrestis + +

Phalangium opilio + +

Rilaena triangularis +

Kakwa Wildland Park, Alberta, July 2006

Liopilio glaber and habitat

Opiliones of Canada – West Coast & Mountains (concluded)

Opiliones of Canada – West Coast & Mountains (concluded)

Opiliones BC ABSabaconidae

Sabacon occidentalis +

Sabacon #1 + +

Sclerosomatidae

Hadrobunus grandis ?

Leiobunum aldrichi ?

Leiobunum exilipes ?

Nelima paessleri + +

Togwoteeus biceps + +

Totals (7 families) 19+ 9

Nelima paessleri – overwintering

behaviour

Nelima paessleri – overwintering

behaviour

From Holmberg et al., 1984.

Opiliones SK MBPhalangiidae

Odiellus pictus + +

Opilio parietinus + +

Phalangium opilio + +

Sclerosomatidae

Leiobunum calcar + +

Leiobunum crassipalpe

+

Leiobunum vitattum + +

Togwoteeus biceps +

Totals (2 families) 6 6

Opiliones of Canada – Central PlainsOpiliones of Canada – Central Plains

Palpatores, Sclerosomatidae Togwoteeus biceps; from Holmberg & Cokendolpher, 1997

Distributions & Habitats:

patchy knowledge for most species

Distributions & Habitats:

patchy knowledge for most species

Opiliones of Canada – Great Lakes and EastOpiliones of Canada – Great Lakes and East

Opiliones ON QCCaddidae

Acropsopilio boopis + +

Caddo agilis + +

Caddo pepperella +

Ceratolasmatidae

Crosbycus dasycnemus +

Nemostomatidae

Nemastoma bimaculatum +

Opiliones of Canada – Great Lakes and East (continued)

Opiliones of Canada – Great Lakes and East (continued)

Opiliones ON QCPhalangiidae

Mitopus morio +

Odiellus pictus + +

Oligolophus tridens +

Opilio parietinus + +

Phalangium opilio + +

Sabaconidae

Sabacon cavicolens + +

Opiliones of Canada – Great Lakes and East (continued)

Opiliones of Canada – Great Lakes and East (continued)

Opiliones ON QCSclerosomatidae

Hadrobunus maculosus +

Leiobunum aldrichi +

Leiobunum bracchiolum +

Leiobunum calcar + +

Leiobunum crassipalpe +

Leiobunum elegans + +

Leiobunum flavum +

Leiobunum formosum + +

Opiliones of Canada – Great Lakes and East (concluded)

Opiliones of Canada – Great Lakes and East (concluded)

Opiliones ON QCSclerosomatidae

Leiobunum nigripes ?

Leiobunum politum + +

Leiobunum ventricosum + +

Leiobunum verrucosum +

Leiobunum vitattum + +

Totals (6 families) 17 18

Opiliones of Canada – MaritimesOpiliones of Canada – MaritimesOpiliones NB NS PE NFCaddidae

Acropsopilio boopis +

Caddo agilis + + +

Nemostomatidae

Nemastoma bimaculatum +

Phalangiidae

Mitopus morio + + +

Odiellus pictus + + + +

Oligolophus tridens + + + +

Paraoligolophus agrestis +

Phalangium opilio + + + +

Female (above) and male (to the right) of Phalangium opilio

Species Introductions to Canada

Photo; D.J. Buckle

Introductions from EuropeIntroductions from Europe

Opiliones Date Location

Nemastoma bimaculatum <1977 Quebec

Oligolophus tridens <1947 East & west coasts

Paroligolophus agrestis <1950 East & west coasts

Rilaena triangularis <1953 West & east coasts

Opilio parietinus <1868 Across NA

Phalangium opilio <1890 Across NA

Opilio parietinus female

Opiliones of Canada – Maritimes (concluded)Opiliones of Canada – Maritimes (concluded)

Opiliones NB NS PE NFSabaconidae

Sabacon cavicolens +

Sclerosomatidae

Leiobunum calcar + + +

Leiobunum elegans + + +

Leiobunum politum +

Leiobunum ventricosum +

Totals (5 families) 9 10 3 8

Opiliones of Canada – Northern TerritoriesOpiliones of Canada – Northern Territories

Opiliones YK NT NU

Phalangiidae

Liopilio yukon +

Mitopus morio +

Phalangium opilio + +

Totals (1 family) 2 1 1

Distribution of Mitopus morio

Known Species of Opiliones from Canada

Known Species of Opiliones from Canada

Family SpeciesCaddidae 3

Ceratolasmatidae 1

Ischyropsalidae 2

Leptobunidae 2

Nemostomatidae 3

Phalangiidae 10

Sabaconidae 3

Sclerosomatidae 16

Triaenonychidae 2

Total (9 families) 42+

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Questions?Questions?