Interactions Between the Chilean Recluse Spider (Araneae: Sicariidae) and an Araneophagic Spitting Spider (Araneae: Scytodidae)

Journal of Medical Entomology
Mauricio CanalsRigoberto Solís

Abstract

In Chile, all necrotic arachnidism is attributed to the Chilean recluse spider, Loxosceles laeta Nicolet, a species that shares the microenvironmental habitats with the spitting spider Scytodes globula Nicolet. The latter species has been proposed as a potential predator of L. laeta. For this research, we studied the interaction between both species during individual encounters to assess the possibility of population regulation of L. laeta cohorts exposed to this potential predator. We found that in most encounters S. globula prevailed. Also, S. globula preys on spiderlings of L. laeta, with a population effect on cohorts of this species. These findings suggest that S. globula may be influencing L. laeta populations in central Chile. The population regulation of L. laeta by predation would be important because this species, in the absence of predators, has a high reproductive rate, and it can maintain populations of large size. However according to our results, although S. globula may aid in the reduction of both spiderling and adult L. laeta populations, and perhaps other Loxosceles species, it is insufficient for biological control of Loxosceles species. Its presence together with other control measures such as hygiene of the...Continue Reading

References

Nov 1, 1989·Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De São Paulo·H SchenoneF Villarroel
May 1, 1970·The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·H SchenoneG Suarez
Jan 1, 1964·The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·H W LEVI, A SPIELMAN
Aug 31, 2004·Revista médica de Chile·Mauricio CanalsMilenko Aguilera
Sep 24, 2004·Revista médica de Chile·Hugo Schenone

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