First winter record of Latrodectus mirabilis (Araneae: Theridiidae) in arid Patagonia: A consequence of climate change and urbanization?

Autor: Zaffaroni FT; Instituto Patagónico Para el Estudio de Los Ecosistemas Continentales (IPEEC-CONICET), Boulevard Almirante Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn U9120, Argentina., Sandoval AE; Departamento de Zooantroponosis, Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Chubut, Mariano Moreno 555, Rawson U9103, Argentina., Marti GA; Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CCT- La Plata-CONICET-UNLP), Boulevard 120 1900, La Plata B1900, Argentina., Cheli GH; Instituto Patagónico Para el Estudio de Los Ecosistemas Continentales (IPEEC-CONICET), Boulevard Almirante Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn U9120, Argentina; Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Boulevard Almirante Brown 3051, Puerto Madryn U9120ACD, Argentina. Electronic address: cheli@cenpat-conicet.gob.ar.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Acta tropica [Acta Trop] 2024 Apr; Vol. 252, pp. 107147. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Feb 10.
DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107147
Abstrakt: Cases of araneism reported in the province of Chubut (Argentina) have tripled in the last two decades, and almost 80 % of them involve Latrodectus mirabilis (Holmberg) (Araneae: Theridiidae). According to descriptions of the life cycle of this species in Argentina, the low temperatures typical of autumn-winter cause the death of all adult spiders, so that no adult specimens of L. mirabilis are observed in winter. Field samplings, observations by the Grupo de Entomología Patagónica (GENTPAT, IPEEC CCT CENPAT CONICET), and citizen reports for more than 15 years suggested a similar cycle in northeastern Patagonia. However, for the last three consecutive years, we have recorded adult females in the field throughout the Patagonian winter. Some of these individuals even survived the winter and were alive the following spring. The purpose of this note is to report the field presence of adult female specimens of L. mirabilis in the outskirts of the city of Puerto Madryn (Chubut, Argentina) during the last three consecutive winters corresponding to the years 2021, 2022 and 2023; and to note that at least two of them survived the winter, arriving alive (and in good condition) the following spring. Given the medical importance of this spider, the publication of this information, the context of the findings, and their ecological implications will help to prevent its spread and reduce the likelihood of accidents.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
(Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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