Passive transponder implantation in Theraphosidae: A tool for traceability and conservation

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  Passive transponder implantation in Theraphosidae: A tool for traceability and conservation Abstract Illegal wildlife trade represents a major global threat to biodiversity, with tarantulas among the most heavily trafficked invertebrate groups due to increasing demand in the international pet market, highlighting the urgent need for effective regulatory frameworks and reliable specimen-level traceability systems to distinguish legally bred individuals from illegally sourced ones. Individual identification is essential to support legal trade, strengthen enforcement mechanisms and reduce illegal trafficking; therefore, this study evaluated the feasibility and safety of passive integrated transponder microchip (PIT TAG) implantation for individual identification in multiple tarantula species under controlled laboratory conditions. Post-implantation parameters assessed included anaesthesia recovery time, feeding behaviour, ecdysis frequency, PIT TAG retention across successive moults...

Analysis of potential host spider(s) of Pepsis elegans Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae: Pepsini)

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Analysis of potential host spider(s) of Pepsis elegans Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae: Pepsini)

Abstract

Five families of spiders (Araneae: Araneomorphae, Mygalomorphae) are reviewed and analyzed as potential hosts of Pepsis elegans Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae: Pepsini). Lycosidae and Atypidae were the least likely host families, afer analysis, with Euctenizidae, Antrodiaetidae, and Halono¬proctidae as more likely host families. Species of Ummidia Torell (Halonoproctidae) and Eucteniza relata (O. P.-Cambridge) (Euctenizidae) were the most likely host genera and species of P. elegans based on myga¬lomorph relationship, equivalent size, and morphological, geographical, ecological, and biological attributes. Smaller sized genera and species of Euctenizidae and Antrodiaetus Ausserer (Antrodiaetidae) were less likely host possibilities.

Kurczewski FJ. 2026. Analysis of potential host spider(s) of Pepsis elegans Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae: Pepsini). Insecta Mundi 1168: 1–8. https://doi.org/10.64338/im.1168.5stu4