New data on introduced and rare synanthropic spider species (Arachnida: Araneae) in Poland (II)

Over the last decades, a large number of introduced spider species (Araneae) has been noted in Europe. Some of these newcomers have been introduced incidentally. However, the others develop permanent populations, for example in greenhouses or botanical gardens, and become synanthropic species. Introduction and synanthropization of new spider species also occurs in Poland. New records presented herein extend the list of introduced arachnofauna by seven species: Aphantaulax trifasciata, Cheiracanthium furculatum, Cyrtophora citricola, Olios argelasius, Nurscia albomaculata, Phoneutria boliviensis and Triaeris stenaspis. In addition, new posts of rarely reported so far in Poland synanthropic spiders such as: Amaurobius ferox, A. similis, Cheiracanthium mildei, Hasarius adansoni, Holocnemus pluchei, Nesticella mogera, Psilochorus simoni, Pseudeuophrys lanigera, Scytodes thoracica and Uloborus plumipes are presented. The data complement the deployment of these species in Poland as well as indicate their potential expansion routes

Zelotes erebeus (Thorell, 1871) (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in Poland and its distribution in Europe

Zelotes erebeus (Thorell, 1871) is a thermophilic species occurring in southern, western and central Europe. It was excluded from the checklist of Polish spiders because of synonymization issues. This paper corrects the published data and lists new localities in western and central Poland. The sites of Z. erebeus discovered near Swinoujscie, Czarnków and Torun, move northwards the northern range limit of this thermophilous species in Europe. Data on the distribution of this species in eastern Europe and the Caucasus are also corrected - these records relate to the closely related species Z. khostensis Kovblyuk & Ponomarev, 2008. Figures of female and male genitalia of Z. erebeus are presented

Nowe stanowiska Spilostethus saxatilis (Scopoli, 1763) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) w Polsce

This note presents new records of Spilostethus saxatilis in Poland, including the first records in Western Beskidy and Wyżyna Krakowsko- Wieluńska

Spiders in caves: the CAWEB project

World experts of different disciplines, from molecular biology to macroecology, recognize the value of cave ecosystems as ideal ecological and evolutionary laboratories. Among other subterranean taxa, spiders stand out as intriguing model organisms for their ecological role of top-predators, their unique adaptations to the hypogean medium and their sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbance. Here, we provide a general overview of the spider families recorded in hypogean habitats in Europe–20 families including nearly 500 species, most of them with restricted distributions. We also review the different adaptations of hypogean spiders to subterranean life and summarize the information gathered so far about their origin, population structure, ecology and conservation status. Taxonomic knowledge on subterranean spiders in Europe appears to be well, but not exhaustively documented. The origin of the European assemblages is mostly explained by past climate dynamics, although other factors are likely to be involved. Most of the macroecological issues related to spiders in European caves are based on qualitative assessments or have been quantified only at a sub-regional scale. In order to shed light on cave spiders’ biogeography and the macroecological patterns driving the diversity of European subterranean spiders we created the CAWEB network, a spontaneous collaboration between subterranean arachnologists from 30 different European countries. We here present the team and provide some preliminary results, which highlight Southern Europe as an important hot-spot for the European subterranean spider diversity

New data on introduced and rare synanthropic spider species (Arachnida: Araneae) in Poland

In Central Europe, as well as in Poland many introduced spider species have been recorded in the past decades. Most of them are from areas with warm climate, and spreading mainly in synanthropic environment, rarely colonizing natural habitats. Results of research, presented in this paper extend the list of Polish synanthropic araneofauna by four species: Latrodectus mactans, Cheiracanthium mildei, Heteropoda venatoria and Heliophanus cf. apiatus. In addition, new findings of rare or rarely collected synanthropic spider species (Nesticella mogera, Scytodes thoracica, Psilochorus simoni, Uloborus plumipes, Parasteatoda tabulata, Steatoda triangulosa, Mermessus trilobatus, Ostearius melanopygius, Hasarius adansoni, Leptorchestes berolinensis, Pseudeuophrys lanigera) are discussed. Presented data enrich our knowledge about distribution of these species in Poland and show new pathways of potential expansion. For Uloborus plumipes and Hasarius adansoni presence of stable, permanent populations is shown. Findings of Mermessus trilobatus and Ostearius melanopygius in open country suggest that these alien species are gradually colonizing natural biotopes.W Europie Środkowej, w tym także w Polsce, w ciągu ostatnich dekad zanotowano szereg gatunków pająków pochodzących z innych stref klimatycznych, które zostały introdukowanei rozprzestrzeniają się w środowiskach synantropijnych. Zaprezentowane w niniejszej pracy wyniki badań wydłużają listę stwierdzonych w Polsce przedstawicieli synantropijnej araneofauny o cztery gatunki: Latrodectus mactans, Cheiracanthium mildei, Heteropoda venatoria oraz Heliophanus cf. apiatus. Oprócz tych gatunków omówiono nowe stanowiska sporadycznie lub rzadko dotychczas wykazywanych w Polsce pająków synantropijnych takich jak: Nesticella mogera, Scytodes thoracica, Psilochorus simoni, Uloborus plumipes, Parasteatoda tabulata, Mermessus trilobatus, Ostearius melanopygius, Hasarius adansoni, Leptorchestes berolinensis i Pseudeuophrys lanigera. Przedstawione dane uzupełniają stan poznania rozmieszczenia tych gatunków w Polsce o nowe lokalizacje oraz wskazują drogi potencjalnej ekspansji. Dla Uloborus plumipes i Hasarius adansoni wykazano istnienie dużych, rozmnażających się w Polsce, trwałych populacji

Nowe dane o introdukowanych i rzadkich gatunkach pająków synantropijnych (Arachnida: Araneae) w Polsce

In Central Europe, as well as in Poland many introduced spider species have been recorded in the past decades. Most of them are from areas with warm climate, and spreading mainly in synanthropic environment, rarely colonizing natural habitats. Results of research, presented in this paper extend the list of Polish synanthropic araneofauna by four species: Latrodectus mactans, Cheiracanthium mildei, Heteropoda venatoria and Heliophanus cf. apiatus. In addition, new findings of rare or rarely collected synanthropic spider species (Nesticella mogera, Scytodes thoracica, Psilochorus simoni, Uloborus plumipes, Parasteatoda tabulata, Steatoda triangulosa, Mermessus trilobatus, Ostearius melanopygius, Hasarius adansoni, Leptorchestes berolinensis, Pseudeuophrys lanigera) are discussed. Presented data enrich our knowledge about distribution of these species in Poland and show new pathways of potential expansion. For Uloborus plumipes and Hasarius adansoni presence of stable, permanent populations is shown. Findings of Mermessus trilobatus and Ostearius melanopygius in open country suggest that these alien species are gradually colonizing natural biotopes.W Europie Środkowej, w tym także w Polsce, w ciągu ostatnich dekad zanotowano szereg gatunków pająków pochodzących z innych stref klimatycznych, które zostały introdukowanei rozprzestrzeniają się w środowiskach synantropijnych. Zaprezentowane w niniejszej pracy wyniki badań wydłużają listę stwierdzonych w Polsce przedstawicieli synantropijnej araneofauny o cztery gatunki: Latrodectus mactans, Cheiracanthium mildei, Heteropoda venatoria oraz Heliophanus cf. apiatus. Oprócz tych gatunków omówiono nowe stanowiska sporadycznie lub rzadko dotychczas wykazywanych w Polsce pająków synantropijnych takich jak: Nesticella mogera, Scytodes thoracica, Psilochorus simoni, Uloborus plumipes, Parasteatoda tabulata, Mermessus trilobatus, Ostearius melanopygius, Hasarius adansoni, Leptorchestes berolinensis i Pseudeuophrys lanigera. Przedstawione dane uzupełniają stan poznania rozmieszczenia tych gatunków w Polsce o nowe lokalizacje oraz wskazują drogi potencjalnej ekspansji. Dla Uloborus plumipes i Hasarius adansoni wykazano istnienie dużych, rozmnażających się w Polsce, trwałych populacji

Xerophilic Alopecosa sulzeri (Pavesi, 1873) (Araneae: Lycosidae)-a new wolf spider species in Poland

Hajdamowicz, Izabela, Rozwałka, Robert, Stańska, Marzena, Rutkowski, Tomasz, Sienkiewicz, Paweł (2020): Xerophilic Alopecosa sulzeri (Pavesi, 1873) (Araneae: Lycosidae)-a new wolf spider species in Poland. Zootaxa 4899 (1): 175-185, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4899.1.

First data about cave fauna from the Albanian Alps

In September of 2021, a Polish expedition took place in the Valbona Valley in the Albanian Alps (Kocot-Zalewska et al. 2021) During the expedition, a project study of invertebrate cave fauna had begun. The main purpose of this presentation is to show the preliminary results of a study on the invertebrate fauna in the Albanian Alps. Within 14 days, arthropods were collected in subterranean habitats between 1500 and 2300 m a.s.l. The study was led on the left and right sides of the Valley. On the left side of the Valley, we explored bauxite mines and Spella Huxhise Cave; on the right side, the Ice Cave, Spella de Akullt, Spella e Valbones, and Spella Sportive caves were explored. Mainly, the direct searching method was used. However, pitfall traps with baits were used in one cave and one tunnel. Altogether, from five caves and a complex of four tunnels, 102 arthropods belonging to insects (beetles, flies, and crickets), millipedes, spiders, harvestmen, and springtails, have been collected. Flies and beetles are the most numerous groups. The majority of the collected specimens have been determined to the species level. Among these, many are new to Albanian fauna. Particular attention should be paid to the species highly related to the subterranean environment and those found in ice caves. This project will continue in the year 2022. We plan to explore the next caves in the studied area and re-examine the previously visited sites