Current range of the marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei (Scopoli, 1763) (Araneae: Pholcidae) in south-western Ukraine

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  Current range of the marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei (Scopoli, 1763) (Araneae: Pholcidae) in south-western Ukraine Abstract The marbled cellar spider (Holocnemus pluchei) is a pholcid species considered nonnative in various parts of Europe and North America. We recently observed intensive dispersal of this species into south-western Ukraine, where it has been recorded for the first time in the Ukrainian Danube region, with increased abundance in the south of the region. Males were observed in the study area from March to September, with highest numbers recorded between May and July. Females were found from April to November, peaking in June and July. The maximum number of egg sacs was recorded at the end of July, and the minimum in August. In south-western Ukraine, the species shows high habitat plasticity, providing advantages in hunting and protection from predators. This, in turn, facilitates expansion of the species’ range, not only in south-western Ukraine but also ...

Forty New Faunistic Records of Spiders (Araneae: Araneomorphae) for the Republic of Kosovo

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Forty New Faunistic Records of Spiders (Araneae: Araneomorphae) for the Republic of Kosovo

Simple Summary

The Republic of Kosovo is a landlocked country in the Balkan Peninsula, characterised by large mountainous borders and divided by three distinct ecoregions. As with many aspects of its invertebrate biology, Kosovo is a hitherto poorly-studied country for arachnids, especially spiders (Araneae). Consequently, several years of fieldwork by the authors has aimed to sample spiders from as many localities, habitats and microhabitat types as possible. Voucher specimens were taken for all morphospecies and compared against the published literature and online resources such as the World Spider Catalog and Araneae: Spiders of Europe. Consequently, this work reports 40 species of spider newly recorded from within the borders of the Republic of Kosovo, significantly expanding knowledge of the faunistic diversity and distribution of spiders within the country. The habitus and genitalia of all species are illustrated to justify the identifications made and to provide reference images for other workers in the Balkans to aid in their identification of faunistically widespread species.

Abstract

This study presents new faunistic records of spiders (Araneae) from Kosovo. A total of 40 species are reported for the first time from the country, simultaneously being the first country records for 14 genera, two of which also being newly recorded families. All newly recorded taxa are documented with photographs of the genital organs to facilitate identification and verification. These findings significantly increase knowledge of the distribution and diversity of spiders in Kosovo, highlighting how unexplored the arachnofauna of Kosovo is in comparison to neighbouring countries in the Balkans. Our results emphasise the importance of continued faunistic surveys and taxonomic studies in the region in order to improve our understanding of species diversity and biogeographic patterns.


Geci, D., Hoerrmann, T., Ibrahimi, H., Bilalli, A., Musliu, M., Grapci-Kotori, L., & Sherwood, D. (2026). Forty New Faunistic Records of Spiders (Araneae: Araneomorphae) for the Republic of Kosovo. Animals, 16(17), 2748. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16172748