Additional records of red-backed spider, Latrodectus hasselti Thorell (Araneae: Theridiidae) in Gujarat state, Western India

Abstract

The widow spiders, of the genus Latrodectus are amongst the best known spiders on the earth, all members of this genus are considered venomous and largest amongst the comb-footed spiders. In India, four species are recorded from the genus, including Latrodectus hasselti. The species L. hasselti is considered to be a rare species and this species was recorded from most parts of Gujarat State. As this spider has medical significance due to its neurotoxins reporting of its habitat occupancy and geographic location becomes important for taking up any mitigation action in future. Recently the species was seen in ten different localities of South Gujarat. Out of ten records, two are from forest area, two from wasteland, four from residential area, one from agricultural land and one from grassland. The earlier published records and present records of the species show that this species is very widely distributed in entire Gujarat State, within various types of habitats from dry-arid to moist forests and grassland to agricultural land and further within human habitats, too.