Population structure and habitat use by the spider Latrodectus katipo along the Manawatu-Wanganui coastline Journal Paper
- Author
- Costall, J.A.; Death, R.G.
- Year
- 2009
- Journal / Source
- New Zealand Journal of Zoology
- Volume
- 36
- Number
- 4
- Pages
- 407-415
- Species
- Ammophila arenaria, marram, marram grass
- Keywords
- arachnid, Araneae, coastal dunes, Latrodectus katipo, Steatoda capensis, Theridiidae
- Summary
- A survey of habitats likely to support the widow spider, Latrodectus katipo (Theridiidae), endemic to New Zealand, was carried out at seven locations along the Manawatu-Wanganui coastline. Altogether, 151 juvenile, 74 female and 14 male katipo were found, with considerable differences in population structure between sites. The lack of juveniles at some sites suggests there is low reproductive output, but continued monitoring will be needed to confirm this. Most individuals were found on driftwood. Fewer were found occupying debris and vegetation. There is substantial overlap between the sizes of driftwood refuges occupied by katipo and by Steatoda capensis, an introduced theridiid spider from South Africa. We conclude that katipo populations along the Manawatu-Wanganui coastline are threatened by a range of human activities, and that management action may be required to prevent local extinctions of this charismatic invertebrate.