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BLACK WIDOW SPIDER Latrodectus mactans Fab. -- Araneida, Theridiidae (Contacts) ------ CLICK on Photo to enlarge &
search for Subject Matter with Ctrl/F. GO TO ALL: Bio-Control Cases The
black widow spider, a poisonous species, is widely distributed in America
especially in regions with warm climates.
There are frequent reports of humans being bitten by this spider,
especially in California (Herms et al. 1965, McMurtry 1978). It invaded Hawaii around 1935 and became a
problem in the warmer drier sections of the islands (Pemberton 1948a). Hermes et al. (1935) and Pierce (1942) discuss its
biology.
An egg parasitoid, Baeus latrodecti
Doz. (= B. californicus Pierce) was discovered
parasitizing black widows in a small area with sand dunes in southern
california (Pierce 1942). Parasitized
eggs were shipped by Pierce to Hawaii, where a rearing program was initiated
and over 32,000 B. latrodecti were liberated
during 1939-40 (Pierce 1942, Pemberton 1948). Bianchi (1945) reported that a search on the island of Hawaii
failed to reveal the parasitoid, but it was later found to be established on
Maui. Eurytoma latrodecti Full. was introduced
from Hawaii to Kwajalein in 1950 for control of black widow spider, and was
reported to be established (Pemberton 1954).
REFERENCES: [Additional references may be
found at: MELVYL
Library ] Bianchi, F. A.
1945. Notes on the abundance
of the spiders Lactrodectus mactans, L. geometricus
and Agriope avara, and of their parasites
on the Island of Hawaii. Hawaii. Ent.
Soc. Proc. 12: 245-47. Hermes, W. B, S. F. Bailey & B. McIvor. 1935.
The black widow spider. Calif.
Agric. Expt. Sta. Bull. 591. 30 p. McMurtry, J. A. 1978. Araneida,
Theridiidae. In: C. P. Clausen
(ed.), Introduced Parasites and Predators of Arthropod Pests and Weeds: A world Review. U. S. Dept. Agriculture, Agric. Handbk. No. 480. 545 p. Pemberton, C. E.
1948. History of the
Entomology Department Experiment Station, H.S.P.A. 1904-1945. Hawaii.
Planters' Rec. 52: 53-90. Pemberton, C. E. 1954. Invertebrate
consultants committee for the Pacific, report for 1949-1954. Natl. Acad. Sci. Natl. Res. Council
Pacific Sci. Board. 56 p. Pierce, W. D. 1942. Utilization of the black widow parasite,
and further data on spiders and parasites.
So. Calif. Acad. Sci. Bull. 41:
14-28. Sweetman, H. L.
1958. The Principles of
Biological Control. William Brown,
Iowa. 560 p. |