The faunistic diversity of the spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of the Waterberg District in the Limpopo Province of South Africa

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  The faunistic diversity of the spiders ( Arachnida , Araneae ) of the Waterberg District in the Limpopo Province of South Africa Abstract The South African National Survey of Arachnida ( SANSA ) has conducted surveys in the Waterberg District of the Limpopo Province, South Africa, over more than 40 years. The first annotated checklist for the Waterberg District is provided here, along with the global distributions, endemicity and conservation assessments for each species, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) criteria. A total of 54 families, 292 genera and 600 species were recorded. The study highlights species of special conservation concern, as well as the nine species endemic to the Waterberg District. Salticidae (95 species), followed by Thomisidae (80 species), Araneidae (53 species) and Gnaphosidae (48 species), are the most species-rich families. In contrast, single species represent 14 families. Most species (546; 91.2%) are widely distr...

Caught in the web: Exploring spider predation on bats in Europe

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Caught in the web: Exploring spider predation on bats in Europe


Abstract

The intricate interplay between predators and prey has long fascinated ecologists, with bats and their diverse prey offering insight into co-evolutionary dynamics. While bats have evolved sophisticated strategies for prey capture, they also face predation pressure. Among their predators, spiders stand out for their diversity of predatory tactics, ranging from hunting assaults and web ensnarement to the deployment of venom. Yet, bat predation records by spiders are mostly from tropical regions, and cases remain notably scarce in temperate regions. Here, we report four new incidences of bat predation and mortality by spiders and their webs in Europe. Our observations include detailed photograph and video documentation of the first record of a spider capturing and consuming a bat pup in Spain, as well as accounts of bats entangled in spider webs on a building and inside bat boxes in the United Kingdom. These findings shed light on understudied predator–prey dynamics, offering valuable insights into spider predation on bats in European ecosystems. Our study emphasises the importance of continued research to improve our understanding of ecological interactions between these elusive and primarily nocturnal taxa.


Ruiz-Villar, H., Montauban, C., Pino-Blanco, A., & Tena, E. (2024). Caught in the web: Exploring spider predation on bats in Europe. Ecology and Evolution, 14(6), e11474. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11474