New Publication: Hybridisation in the Tarantula Hobby

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  New Publication: Hybridisation in the Tarantula Hobby I am pleased to share the publication of my latest paper, “Hybridisation in the Tarantula Hobby: Ethical Boundaries and Biological Consequences,” in the Journal of the British Tarantula Society , Volume 41, No. 1, September 2026. The paper addresses an issue that deserves serious consideration within the tarantula community: hybridisation and its potential long-term effects on the integrity of captive lineages. More Than a Breeding Decision The tarantula hobby has changed considerably over the past several decades. What was once a relatively small community has grown into an international network of keepers, breeders, vendors, researchers, and societies. Captive breeding has contributed enormously to that growth, improving husbandry knowledge and increasing the availability of captive-bred animals. With that success comes responsibility for the lineages we maintain. Hybridisation may seem like an isolated breeding experiment,...

Integrative taxonomy for widow spiders (Araneae: Theridiidae) surveillance in Mexico City, Mexico

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Integrative taxonomy for widow spiders (Araneae: Theridiidae) surveillance in Mexico City, Mexico

Abstract

The spiders of the genus Latrodectus (Theridiidae), commonly known as widow spiders, includes species of medical importance due to the high toxicity of their venom. Envenomation can range from mild to severe, occasionally resulting in fatal outcomes. In Mexico, four Latrodectus species have been recorded: L. mactans Fabricius, L. geometricus C. L. Koch, L. hesperus Chamberlin and Ivie, and L. occidentalis Valdez and Espinosa. Until recently, only L. mactans had been reported in Mexico City, though its range appears limited to the Tamaulipecan province and Sierra Madre Oriental. This study reports, for the first time, the presence of L. hesperus and a novel lineage designated as Latrodectus sp. 2 in Mexico City. Spider specimens were collected from 14 localities across Mexico City and identified using both morphological keys and molecular methods. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (CO1) was amplified via conventional PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and sequenced to confirm species identity. Of the 24 spiders analyzed, 10 were identified as L. hesperus and 14 as Latrodectus sp. 2. Phylogenetic analyses validated the presence of both taxa.

Salceda-Sánchez, B. ., Sánchez-Montes, S. ., Ibarra-Anaya, A. L. ., Zazueta-Islas, H. M. ., Landa-Flores, M. G. ., Orantes-Ramírez, V. J. ., Mejía-Guevara, M. D. . ., Alarid-Villa, B. G. ., & Huerta, H. . (2025). Integrative taxonomy for widow spiders (Araneae: Theridiidae) surveillance in Mexico City, Mexico. Revista Chilena De Entomología, 51(4). Retrieved from https://www.biotaxa.org/rce/article/view/88152