Plebs is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by M. M. Joseph & V. W. Framenau in 2012. Though many of its species have been moved around, a 2012 taxonomic revision suggested that these spiders comprise a monophyletic genus of closely related spiders that evolved in Australia and, through subsequent movements, spread into parts of Asia and Pacific islands.
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Etymology
"Plebs" is Latin for "common people" and refers to this genus being common in Australia.
Description
Plebs can be recognised by the unique pattern on the underside of the abdomen: a light inverted U shape, followed by two light spots anterolateral to the spinnerets. Spiders of this genus have a typical "eriophorine" genital morphology: the male pedipalp has a paramedian apophysis and an elongated transverse median apophysis, while the female epigyne has an elongated scape without terminal pockets.
Behaviour
These spiders are mainly diurnal, unlike most Araneinae which are mainly nocturnal. They build regular orb-webs with vertical stabilimenta (web decorations used by this and other diurnal orb-weavers). Their webs are generally built in grass and low shrubs.
Species
As of April 2019 it contains twenty-two species. Seven are found in Australia, thirteen in Asia, one on New Caledonia, and one endemic to Vanuatu.
Plebs arleneae Joseph & Framenau, 2012 – Australia (Queensland, New South Wales)
Plebs arletteae Joseph & Framenau, 2012 – Australia (Lord Howe Is.)
Plebs astridae (Strand, 1917) – China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan
Plebs aurea (Saito, 1934) – Japan
Plebs baotianmanensis (Hu, Wang & Wang, 1991) – China
Plebs bradleyi (Keyserling, 1887) – Southeastern Australia, Tasmania
Plebs cyphoxis (Simon, 1908) – Australia (Western Australia, South Australia)
Plebs eburnus (Keyserling, 1886) (type) – Eastern Australia, Tasmania
Plebs himalayaensis (Tikader, 1975) – India
Plebs mitratus (Simon, 1895) – India
Plebs neocaledonicus (Berland, 1924) – New Caledonia
Plebs oculosus (Zhu & Song, 1994) – China
Plebs opacus Joseph & Framenau, 2012 – Vanuatu
Plebs patricius Joseph & Framenau, 2012 – Australia (Victoria, Tasmania)
Plebs plumiopedellus (Yin, Wang & Zhang, 1987) – China, Taiwan