SANSA NEWS South African National Survey of Arachnida

JAN-JUNE 2013 No. 18

FIRST NATIONAL ARACHNID SPECIES LISTS

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is coordinating the compilation of the first national check lists of South Africa’s animals for dissemination through the Biodiversity Advisor. The lists, once compiled, will be regularly updated by specialists according to the latest taxonomic literature. The check- lists are being incorporated into the South African Biodiversity Information Facility (SABIF) and Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) infrastructure/portals. A national list of species names arranged according to an accepted classification system provides an essential framework for a range of projects, products and processes in the biological sciences including the Encyclopedia of Life, SABIF, iSpot, virtual Inside this issue: museums, Red List assessments, primary databases, and for use by a wide range of researchers using species names.

First national species lists ………...…1 The arachnologists at Biosystematics participated in this project and, in a joined team effort, compiled the 19th International Congress……….....2 first national lists for all nine Arachnida orders occurring in South Africa, a total of 3935 species. With the Role of photographers …………….....3 species names, information was also provided on synonyms, distribution and common names. Interesting Virtual Museum stories…..4 New books on spiders……………..….5 Contact: Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman at [email protected] Visitors from abroad ………………….6-7 Type list …………………………….….7 Cyrtophora citricola………. …………..8 Limbovane outreach project………….9 Sampling in the Northern Cape.…….10 New records for South Africa………..11-12 Publications……………………….. …13 Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve …..14 Beautiful spiders ….………………….15

Peter Webb Peter Webb

Opiliones (196 spp., 8 families) Scorpiones (101 spp., 3 families)

Editorial team:

Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman ARC-PPRI, Private Bag X134 Queenswood 0121 South Africa Aart Louw Email: [email protected] Amblypygi (3 spp., 1 family) Pseudoscorpiones (145 spp., 15 families) Charles Haddad Email: [email protected]

Robin Lyle Email: [email protected]

Petro Marais Email: [email protected]

Peter Webb Peter Webb

Araneae (2030 spp., 70 families) Solifugae (141 spp., 6 families) SANSA NEWS 18

th 19 International Congress of Arachnology CONGRATULATIONS

From 23–28 June 2013 a delegation of South African researchers attended the 19th International Congress of Arachnology at the How- ard Beach Resort, Kenting National Park in Taiwan. The congress was very well organised by I-Min Tso and his team, and was attended by 231 delegates from 42 countries. Two of the plenary talks had some bearing on South African spiders: Yael Lubin presented on group living in spiders, including some reference to social Stegody- phus species, while Matjaz Kuntner presented on the phylogenetic Charles Haddad was elected on history of nephilid spiders. The South African researcher’s presenta- the ISA council for the next tions were well received and considerable feedback was received three years on SANSA and other projects. One of the highlights of the congress was Gonzalo Giribet’s presentation on the first phylogenetic analysis of Palpigradi, which attracted a large audience. This included two South African palpigrades, whose collecting localities are unfor- tunately unknown!

On Wednesday, the traditional break day from congress activities, excursions were organised for the Nan-Jen Lake Ecological Re- serve, Sheding Park and the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium. This gave delegates the opportunity to experience the tropical forests of Taiwan and collect some exotic spiders. Since no formal activities were planned for the evenings, except the congress dinner on Thursday, delegates were able to spend a lot of Jan-Andries Neethling received time at the Night Market in Kenting, where a wide variety of foods the second prize for best stu- and stalls were available. dent paper in the Systematics and Evolution category On a positive note, Jan-Andries Neethling received the second prize for student presentations in the category “Systematics and Evolu- tion” for his work on South African Geogarypidae pseudoscorpions. During the meeting of the International Society of Arachnology, Charles Haddad was elected to the Council of the Society and will serve for the next three years. The next congress will be held in the U.S.A. in 2016. The following posters and papers dealt with South African arachnid fauna:

PRESENTATIONS

DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN, A.S., LYLE, R.*, HADDAD, C.R., FOORD, S.H. & LOTZ, L.N. The South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) – the way forward.

FOORD, S.H.* & DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN, A.S. Drivers of spider diversity along an altitudinal transect in a floristic kingdom sensitive to climate change.

GIRIBET, G.*, CHRISTIAN, E., FRANCKE, O.F., HARVEY, M.S., KOVAC, L., McCUTCHEN, L., SOUZA, M.F.V.R., FERREIRA, R.L. & ZAGMAJSTER, M. The first phylogenetic analysis of Palpigradi – the most enigmatic arthropod order.

HADDAD, C.R.*, DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN, A.S., FOORD, S.H., LOTZ, L.N. & LYLE, R. The faunistic diversity of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of the Grassland Biome in South Africa.

KUNTNER, M. A model spider lineage: reconstructing its past and predicting its future.

LOTZ, L.N. The family Agelenidae (Araneae) in the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) Atlas.

LUBIN, Y. Group living in spiders, revisited.

NEETHLING, J.A.*, HADDAD, C.R. & HARVEY, M.S. A revision of the South African Geogarypidae (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones).

POSTER

LYLE, R.* & DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN, A.S. A taxonomic revision of Afrotropical genera of the trapdoor spider family Idiopidae Robin Lyle and Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman’s poster on the Idiopidae. Most of the images were provided by Peter Webb. (Araneae: Idiopinae).

2 SANSA NEWS 18

THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF GOOD PHOTOS IN SCIENCE

The digital camera has opened up a new world in science. As Some images from Vida van der Walt’s jumper gallery part of the Virtual Museum of SANSA we are receiving the most incredible photos of spiders from areas throughout the country. Not only do the photographers contribute by photographing specimens, but each record also contributes to documenting the distribution of the species for the Spider Atlas and Red Listing projects that are presently underway. These images have enabled us to publish a number of good science handbooks, including “Spiders of the Kalahari”, “Spiders of the Savanna Biome”, and “Spiders of the Grassland Biome” (in prep.), “Crab spiders of South Africa” (in prep) and the new “Spider Field Guide” to be published Decem- ber 2013, which includes > 2000 photographs. We are also pro- ducing the SANSA news, fact sheets, poster series, spider of the week etc. using these photos. All this information will eventually feed into the Encyclopedia of Life and the Red Listing projects of Baryphas ahenus SANBI, where a page for each species is planned. Images are also needed for each specimen submitted for DNA barcoding. SANSA is still actively sampling and documenting our arachnid fauna and any photographs are very welcome.

The identification of spiders from images is not always easy, and a lot of changes are taking place in spider classification as a result of new revisions. With the Virtual Museum being a database, we are trying to update data regularly, as can be seen with name changes in the Corinnidae and Salticidae, for example.

We have extensive photographic documentation from several Dendryphantes rafalskii areas in South Africa. From Mpetsane Conservation Estate near Clocolan in the Free State we have >1500 photographs of grassland spiders taken by Allen Jones. He also recorded the first Cyrtarachne sp. in his garden showing their “spanning web” (see SANSA news 8:15). He also has excellent photographs of a large number of orb-web dwellers, not only documenting their webs but interesting behaviour (see SANSA news 16:6-7). He was also the first to record a fiscal shrike feeding on baboon spiders and soli- fugids (see SANSA news 9:12).

From the Irene grasslands Peter Webb has recorded >2000 photographs, recording a number of “firsts” for the area. Peter ob- Phlegra karoo served for the first time the “cheliceral flashing defense behaviour“ of the burrowing wolf spiders (Hogna spp.) (see p 4) and the “web turn-around” of Argiope spiders (see SANSA 8:10 ). Peter is also helping document the arachnid fauna in different parts of the country, e.g. the Northern Cape (see p 10). Linda Wiese has created an excellent photographic database on the spiders of the Eastern Cape, especially from Jeffrey’s Bay and the Addo Nation- al Park. Esther van der Westhuizen used photography to help record the spiders sampled for the DNA barcoding project, etc.

Other photographers have an interest in certain spider families, such as Vida van der Walt with her love for jumping spiders. Vida, with the help of Charles Haddad and Peter Webb, is building up Hyllus argyrotoxus an excellent database of the Salticidae of South Africa. This data was extensively used in the production of the new Field Guide and will be of great value for the newly proposed Salticidae project between South Africa and Russia. Martie Rheeder focuses her attention on the thomisid crab spiders. We are still looking for good photographs, especially of rare spiders, We are very grateful for all the photographers who share their contributions with us, and who allow the data to be used to docu- for the Spider Field Guide. Anybody ment and learn more about our spiders. Every contribution is valuable, whether it comes from Modimolle or Kommetjie; some- interested in participating and shar- where it will fit in to help complete the puzzle. ing their photographs with us can There has been some delay in adding new images to the SANSA please forward them to Ansie. Virtual Museum. ARC now has a new server and is currently upgrading to new software for the database. We hope to have the Thank you! Virtual Museum running without problems as soon as possible.

THANKS AGAIN TO ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHERS, YOU ARE MAKING VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE. Contact: Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman at [email protected]

3 SANSA NEWS 18

INTERESTING NEW VIRTUAL MUSEUM RECORDS

OBSERVATIONS ON THE SINGLE-LINE WEB SPIDER, MIAGRAMMOPES

“I caught this little chap in the garden last night, and while watching him through the camera to take some shots, I noticed it was always fiddling with its legs. “As soon as it moved it fid- dled and at first I thought there was something wrong with it. Then I looked at a shot I had taken and noticed a ball of silk, so I watched some more and it seemed to create a ball of silk whenever it moved”. I think this ball is just extra "line" that it releases, which allows it to move up and down the line at speed. “If so, the big question is why the silk doesn't get knot- ted like a ball of fishing line”. It would fiddle, create the ball, pass it from foot to foot and then place it strategically on the line.”

Observation by Peter Webb

P. Webb

DEFENCE MECHANISM IN BURROW-DWELLING WOLF SPIDERS

P. Webb

FLASHING CHELICERAE

Many of the burrow-dwellers that do not close the burrow with a trapdoor use other defense mechanisms to warn predators and defend themselves. There are some members of the Lycosidae (Hogna spp.) that are able to change the colour of the hairs on their chelicerae by tilting the carapace. The chelicerae are normally the same colour as the carapace, but when in danger they tilt the carapace backwards and the hairs on the chelicerae become a flaming orange-red colour. This acts as a warning to intruders. This has been observed in several Hogna spp. Even in the old molted skin, the red cheliceral hairs can be seen.

Another observation by Peter Webb

MORE ON THE TWIG SPIDER

In Cyphalonotus (Araneidae) the eyes are slightly sepa- rated and are on a forward protruding eye tubercle, and both lateral eyes are close together at the base of the eye tubercle. This differs from Poltys, where the posteri- or lateral eyes are wide apart. When viewing the twig spider from the side, the abdomen appears to be trian- gular with the dorsal part of abdomen having a large hump. The legs are long with the third pair shortest.

After dark they weave a large orb-web. The spider hangs in the centre with the legs spread out. When disturbed, P. Webb the legs are pulled together. The web is taken down during the day, when they rest on bark with the legs Observation by Peter Webb protruding into the air and arranged around the body. Only one species has been recorded in South Africa. 4 SANSA NEWS 18

NEW BOOKS

ISBN: 978-1-86849-421-7 AUTHORS: Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman, Stefan Foord and Charles Haddad BOOK LAUNCH FORMAT: flexi bind: 170X242 mm; full colour PAGES: 134 The new spider book was PRICE: R195.00 (excluding postage) launched at the University PUBLICATION DATE: 15 April 2013 of Pretoria. The function LANGUAGE: English was organised by the Royal This new book is the first to provide information on the 62 spider Society of South Africa and families, 381 genera and 1230 species found in the Savanna Bi- about 80 people attended ome of South Africa. A total of 23 739 records from 1260 localities the launch. The 22nd of have so far been recorded from the Savanna Biome, of these, 308 May was also the Interna- are endemic to the biome. The purpose of this book is primarily to tional Day of Biodiversity provide baseline information on diversity in an area that has previ- and this gave the group a ously been poorly sampled. Most sampling and taxonomic re- chance to celebrate our rich search on South African arachnids, undertaken between 1820 and diversity as well. Ansie 1960, was based on the fauna of the coastal provinces, as most of gave a talk on the spider the arachnologists were stationed there. It was only in the late diversity of Savanna Biome. 1970s that more intensive sampling started in the central and northern provinces of South Africa.

Contact Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman at DippenaarA@arc. agric.za or Dr Stefan Foord at [email protected]

Penney, D. (ed) 2013. Spider Research in the 21st Century. Siri Scientific Press, Manchester. 320 pp. ISBN 978-0-9574530-1-2.

CONTENTS Preface by David Penney; Foreword by Norman I. Platnick. Contributors  Chapter 1 Biodiversity: An African perspective: R. Jocqué, M. Alderweireldt, A. Dippenaar- Schoeman  Chapter 2 Systematics: Progress in the study of spider diversity and evolution: I. Agnarsson, J.A. Coddington, M. Kuntner  Chapter 3 Evolutionary Ecology: Linking traits, selective pressures and ecological factors; J. Moya Laraño, M.W. Foellmer, S. Pekár, M.A. Arnedo, T. Bilde, Y. Lubin  Chapter 4 Biogeography: From testing patterns to understanding processes in spiders and related arachnids; R.G. Gillespie  Chapter 5 Genetics and Genomics: The arrival of a new molecular era of spider research; S.L. Goodacre  Chapter 6 Agroecology: Trait composition, spatial relationships, trophic interactions: K. Birkhofer, M.E. Entling, Y. Lubin  Chapter 7 Behaviour: Why are spiders good models for research? M.E. Herberstein, E. Hebets  Chapter 8 Spider Silk: An ancient biomaterial for the 21st century: J. Garb  Chapter 9 Palaeontology: Interpretation and application of the spider fossil record: D. Penney

“SPIDERS OF THE GRASSLAND BIOME”, A NEW FIELD GUIDE FOCUSED ON THE A FIELD GUIDE TO ALL THE SPI- GRASSLAND BIOME, IS IN AN ADVANCED DERS OF SOUTH AFRICA, TO BE STAGE OF PRODUCTION AND MAY BE PUBLISHED BY LAPA PUBLISHERS, AVAILABLE IN OCTOBER 2013 IS IN PRODUCTION FOR THE CHRISTMAS MARKET. WATCH THIS SPACE!

We are still looking for good photographs. Anybody interested in participating and sharing their photographs can please forward them to Ansie.

5 SANSA NEWS 18

VISITORS FROM ABROAD VISITING THE FREE STATE

During March 2013, four researchers from the Masaryk University in Many of the specimens we collected for these experiments originated Czech Republic visited the Arachnid Systematics and Ecology group from the Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve near Theunissen, and the Na- at the University of the Free State to conduct with Charles Haddad tional Botanical Gardens in Bloemfontein. This was not without its own predation experiments on four spider families regarded as predatory hazards, with Prof. Pekar nearly standing on a huge 1 m+ puff adder specialists of termites, spiders and ants. The group was headed up by while turning rocks under a tree. Prof. Stano Pekár, and included his former PhD student and current post-doc in Prague, Dr Stanislav Korenko, and his two current PhD These experiments, performed mainly on three species of Diores, were students, Lenka Sentenska and Eva Liznarova. conducted in 5 cm diameter Petri dishes, as used previously by Prof. Pekár in experiments with various European and Asian zodariids. Sev- Trophic specialists are characterised by possessing a series of spe- eral different species of ants commonly found in the central Free State cialised adaptations on cognitive, morphological, behavioural, physio- were assessed as potential prey of these spiders. Diores were found to logical and venomic level. This research aimed to provide data on be capable of killing various ant species in the Myrmeciinae and other Afrotropical members of four spider families (Ammoxenidae, Zo- subfamilies, although the paralysis latency was shortest when captur- dariidae, Salticidae and Palpimanidae), which are currently very poorly ing ants of the Camponotus maculatus-species group. These are the studied and understood. In a series of different field and laboratory ants that these spiders mimic, and this is further supported by the reg- experiments, we investigated the integration in trophic adaptations in ular capture of the spiders in their igloo retreats under rocks in close selected prey-specialised spider species. proximity to Camponotus nests in the field.

Ammoxenus sp. egg cocoons Ammoxenus sp. feeding on a Diores sp. feeding on a termite termite The experiments on Heliophanus termitophagus, a termite-feeding Ammoxenus amphalodes spiders are trophic specialists supposedly jumping spider, were preliminary as only a few individuals could be feeding only on termites, especially Hodotermes mossambicus and collected, but these results indicate that they do prey on Triner- Trinervitermes trinervoides. We tested their fundamental and realised vitermes and Hodotermes workers, but avoid Trinervitermes soldiers, trophic niches by collecting specimens in the field (Amanzi Private probably due to the defensive chemicals produced by this caste. They Game Reserve, Brandfort and Langenhoven Park, Bloemfontein). can also feed on other ground-dwelling arthropods such as crickets, so Individuals were tested in laboratory acceptance experiments where are not exclusively termitophagous. they were provided with three termite species (H. mossambicus, T. trinervoides and Odontotermes sp.) and various other ground-dwelling Experiments on the feeding behaviour of arachnophagous palpimanid arthropods, including ants and beetles. Actual prey captured in the spiders (Palpimanus and Diaphorocellus) will be conducted in the field was also noted. Detailed observations of the capture behaviour Czech Republic. Most of the Diaphorocellus collected were adult fe- enabled us to reveal specific morphological and behavioural adapta- males with egg sacs. The spiderlings will be used to determine wheth- tions. This required several modifications of the initial experimental er their diet is immediately arachnophagous when emerging from the setup, as Petri dishes proved too small and shallow for these very eggs, or whether alternative prey such as springtails are consumed active, fast spiders. We subsequently used larger bottles with a 2 cm and arachnophagy develops later on. layer of soft sand, allowing the spiders a day to acclimatise to the setup. This resulted in much greater success in the predation experiments and showed that these spiders are particularly efficient at cap- turing Hodotermes termites, although they also captured Triner- vitermes and Odontotermes workers. The paralysis latency on Hodotermes was clearly shorter than in the case of the other two termite genera, supporting published data that Hodotermes are their preferred prey. We also confirmed that the adapted chelicerae and legs of Ammoxenus are critical in their feeding behaviour, by facilitat- ing rapid digging and submergence of the spiders beneath the soil surface with their prey.

Egg sacs of A. amphalodes collected in the field were taken to the Czech Republic, where the immature spiderlings that emerge will be tested to assess whether they show an immediate preference for termite prey, or whether other small arthropods occurring in their habitats can be captured with similar efficiency, i.e. is termitophagy an inherit- ed or learned response.

Experiments were conducted on ant-eating spiders (Zodariidae) to assess their fundamental and realised trophic niches, with particular reference to the subfamilies or species of ants that are fed on Visiting researchers and UFS staff (L to R): Stano Pekar, Charles (oligophagy or monophagy) and details of the prey-capture behaviour. Haddad, Jan-Andries Neethling, Lenka Sentenska, Eva Liznarova and Stanislav Korenko. 6 SANSA NEWS 18

VISITORS FROM ABROAD continued Electronic type list now available from ARC website

Further experiments on the venomic adaptations of the ammoxenid Natural history collection staff are not only responsible for the curation, and zodariid spiders, as well as salticid, palpimanid and caponiid spi- preservation and management of specimens in their care but also ders, is now being conducted in the Czech Republic. This research will have to look after the type specimen collection. According to recom- involve analysis of the venom glands of the spiders, as well as the mendation 72F, article 72 of the International Code of Zoological No- protein profiles of the venoms of different species. We hypothesise menclature, there are some obligations for the institution in which type that specialist predators will have a profile consisting of only a few specimens are deposited, namely to: prominent proteins that are specifically adapted for the immobilisation  ensure that all (type specimens) are clearly marked so that they of one or a few prey items that form part of their specialised diet, while will be unmistakably recognised as name-bearing types; generalist predators should have a much broader range of proteins  capable of immobilising a variety of different prey species. take all necessary steps for their safe preservation;  make them accessible for study; Some of the live specimens captured in the field were given to Dr Jiri  publish lists of name-bearing types in their possession or custody Kral (Laboratory of Arachnid Cytogenetics, Charles University, Pra- and; gue, Czech Republic) as part of his work on spider chromosome evo-  lution and karyology. This contributes to a 10-year collaborative pro- so far as possible, communicate information concerning name- ject on spider karyology, with CH providing material of various South bearing types when requested. African spider families for Dr Kral’s work. The aim of this catalogue is to make an electronic version of the spider During their visit, the four researchers each presented a talk to the type specimens deposited in the NCA available to the research com- Department of Zoology & Entomology at the University of the Free munity. The catalogue includes all the spider types, preserved in 70% State on their research. This was a very stimulating session, and cov- alcohol and deposited in the NCA (Figs 1 & 2). Each entry lists the ered topics such as the evolution of predatory specialisation, predator- current name of the spider species, followed by the authority, date and prey density response curves, sexual cannibalism in some ant- page number of the original description. Additional information relates mimicking spiders, and wasp parasitism of spiders. The feedback the category of the type specimen, number of specimens, locality with received from staff and students of the department was very positive. GPS co-ordinates, province and country, and NCA accession number. The electronic version of this catalogue is available on the ARC web- Fortunately, it was not all work for the visitors. During one of the field site and will be updated annually. Currently the NCA database con- work days at Amanzi Private Game Reserve they were treated to a 4- tains > 60 000 accessions, representing about 180 000 specimens. hour long game drive, seeing more than 20 species of antelope, as well and lions and buffalo. Like any good tourists, the cameras were The specimens housed at the NCA are fully digitised (including collect- rarely silent and batteries eventually went flat from all the photog- ing data and images) and all the this data is organised in a MySQL raphy! They also had the chance to see and touch some of Africa’s relational database. Data is standardised according to the Darwin Core (and elsewhere’s) wild cats at the Cheetah Experience outside Bloem- for sharing information on biodiversity. These records contain all the fontein. On the weekend following their presentations, I took them for taxonomic information as well as the biological and biogeographical field work near Kimberley, where they had the opportunity to visit an information for each specimen. The spider type collection in the NCA ancient glacier bed, see the Orange River and experience the land- currently contains 1 548 type specimens of 205 species from 33 fami- scapes of the Nama Karoo and arid savannas of the Northern Cape. lies and 97 genera, of which 139 specimens are primary types. They also managed to visit countless shops in Bloemfontein without successfully locating a single “African” curio. Hopefully they came right Contact: Petro Marais at [email protected] at OR Tambo airport!

All in all it was a very successful visit and will hopefully, result in trips in the future to continue this collaborative research. There is still an incredible shortage of knowledge on the biology of African spiders, and through this work some very interesting results are emerging.

Contact: Charles Haddad at [email protected]

Fig. 1. Cabinet containing types

Eva busy feeding the spiders

Fig. 2. Container with types 7 SANSA NEWS 18

ONE OR MORE SPECIES? DNA USED TO SOLVE A TAXONOMIC PROBLEM

The correct identification of many spider species is still problemat- ic due to complex variation in morphology and sexual dimorphism. The tropical tent-web spiders (Araneidae: Cyrtophora) specimens are frequently recorded during surveys in South Africa. Owing to the wide range of morphological variation in colour and shape between specimens (Fig. 2), the question was raised whether they all belong to one species, the cosmopolitan species C. citricola, or whether there are more species.

The tropical tent-web spiders make horizontal webs consisting of a very tightly woven mesh with a tight, permanent non-sticky spiral having a dome or bowl shape (Fig. 1). The web is semi-permanent with the hub open and irregular in shape and size. The open hub serves as a passage between the upper and lower level of the web. The webs are usually arranged one above the other with irregular barrier webs located above and below the layered webs. The adults sometimes build a retreat among the dried leaves and egg cocoons in the web.

They are commonly found in the field but are also very common in gardens where they attach their webs to man-made structures such as fences or plants like aloes, cacti and other ornamental shrubs, with threads anchoring them to the plants.

The spiders are diurnal and tend to stay at the hub, operating from underneath. Flying insects are initially caught in the upper webbing while the spider waits to kill the prey once it lands on the web. They repair their webs every day and renew the entire web infre- quently. When disturbed they immediately drop out of the web. At the same time the colour pattern of the abdomen changes rapidly A. Jones so that the spider blends in with its background. Fig. 1. The tent-web of Cyrtophora citricola Although they are usually solitary, many individuals are frequently found together to form a colony. Sometimes these colonies can cause problems to farmers when trying to harvest fruit and nut crops in orchards.

The egg cocoon is fastened to threads in the web. It is slightly flattened on one side and dome-shaped on the other. It is white with only the dome-shaped area decorated with green to brown blotches. The spider takes position on the flattened side of the sac with legs folded under the body. Small nectar-feeding birds are some of their main predators.

The aim of this study was to determine the species diversity of the genus Cyrtophora in South Africa. Using fresh and museum specimens sampled from 2006 to 2011, we combined DNA data - the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) and nuclear histone H3 genes - with morphological features of the genitalia to Fig. 2. This is all one species, the cosmopolitan Cyrtophora citricola investigate the question. The genetic analysis differentiated three to 10 potential species in our dataset based on H3 and CO1, re- spectively. Based on morphological characteristics, we found diverse abdominal colour variations but only two distinguishable genitalic shapes, suggesting that at least two species (Figs 2 & 3) occur in South Africa.

REFERENCE

FRANZINI, P.Z.N., DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN, A.S., YESSOUFOU, K. & VAN DER BANK, F.H. 2013. Combined analyses of genetic and morphological data indicate more than one species of Cyrtophora (Araneae: Araneidae) in South Africa. Inter- national Journal of Modern Biological Research 1: 21-34.

Contact: Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman at DippenaarA@arc. agric.za or Phillippa Franzini at [email protected]

P. Stephens

Fig. 3. The new Cyrtophora sp. from Mpumalanga

8 SANSA NEWS 18

IIMBOVANE OUTREACH PROJECT

Western Cape learners are contributing to the Spider Atlas. Western Cape teenag- ers literally have ants, participating in a project on these social insects and, in the process, are helping SANSA to obtain information on Arachnids. The by-catch of the ant project is presently been sorted in Pretoria.

Iimbovane, which means “ants” in isiXhosa, is a citizen-science project that com- bines biodiversity monitoring and science outreach for Grade 10 Life Science learners and teachers. Iimbovane focuses on ant diversity in different natural and modified landscapes, looking at how ant groupings change in space and over time.

To examine the ant variety in modified areas, the project uses school grounds as monitoring sites. The learners and teachers of these schools are being taught about local biodiversity, research techniques and data analysis. Learners help the project team to collect ants by planting pitfalls in their school grounds. Samples are returned to the Centre for Invasion Biology (CIB) at Stellenbosch University, where ants are sorted and identified by trained staff. The ant data are returned to the learners who use the data to analyse and interpret information on the variety of ants in their school grounds and the local natural areas.

To investigate ant diversity in natural areas, the project has monitoring sites in national parks, nature reserves and on private land. Among the natural areas being monitored are Bontebok National Park, West Coast National Park, Karoo National Park, Wilderness National Park and Table Mountain National Park.

Learners also get to identify the different ant species under the microscope when the project team visits the schools. To help the learners and teachers, 36 state-of- the-art microscopes, 13 laptops and 25 data projectors have thus far been donated to schools.

The project is currently implemented in 18 schools across the Western Cape, with a focus on previously disadvantaged schools. Annually the project trains approxi- mately 1200 Grade 10 Life Science learners and 25 teachers.

To date, 175 ant species from 39 collection sites across the Western Cape have been identified. Research outputs from the first few years of the Iimbovane project have added valuable knowledge about the diversity and distribution of ants in the Western Cape. So far, the combined efforts of this 10 year monitoring programme have led to 3 papers in important journals: the Journal of Insect Conservation, Bio- Science and PLoS One. In the most recent article, appearing in PLoS One in March 2012, the Iimbovane scientific team found that there’s nothing remarkable about the diversity of ant species in the Western Cape’s Fynbos and Succulent Karoo bi- omes, despite these regions having such an exceptional wealth of plant life.

Iimbovane is one of four long-term surveys managed by the DST-NRF Centre of Invasion Biology (CIB), with other long-term surveys taking place at sites in the Soutpansberg, Sani Pass in the Drakensberg, and in the Cederberg Mountains. Arachnids frequently form part of pitfall by-catches and, after the removal of all the ants, the Iimbovane project donates the rest of the sampled material to the South African National Survey of Arachnida. Petro Marais is presently sorting the material at the ARC.

The Iimbovane initiative is funded by AfriSam and the Rand Merchant Bank Fund, and is implemented with the assistance of the Western Cape Education Depart- ment. Project website: www.sun.ac.za/iimbovane.

Contact: Petro Marais at [email protected] or Dorette du Plessis at [email protected]

Learners participating in the project 9 SANSA NEWS 18

SAMPLING IN THE DIAMOND ROUTE RESERVES

A two-week collecting trip was undertaken in March to two De Beer’s reserves in the Northern Cape. The field trip was a joint effort between two units of the Biosystematics Division at the ARC -PPRI, namely Arachnida (Robin Lyle as team leader) and Michael Stiller (Insects). Nematode samples were also taken for the Nema- tode Unit. They were joined by another arachnologist, Leon Lotz of the National Museum in Bloemfontein, and a very prominent wildlife photographer, Peter Webb.

These surveys form part of the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) project for the Northern Cape, and collected Collecting in the field specimens are deposited in the National Collection of Arachnida (NCA). One of the aims of SANSA is to make an inventory of the arachnid fauna in the country. Through these surveys we are able to determine species currently being conserved within protected areas in the province.

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve (TKR) is the largest privately owned game reserve in South Africa. It covers an area of more than 100 000 hectares of pristine Kalahari vegetation. Three collecting trips to the reserve have been undertaken by members of the Arachni- da Unit to TKR since 2005, and every time more species are sampled. The current arachnid diversity of the reserve includes five orders, namely Araneae (spiders), Pseudoscorpiones (false scorpions), Scorpiones (scorpions), Solifugae (red romans) and Acari (mites). Spiders are the most diverse, comprising of 29 families represented by 56 genera and 71 species. At Tswalu, Robin Lyle presented a lecture to the staff members, informing them on the Eresidae (Dresserus sp.) more common species present. Peter Webb took > 600 photographs of some of the dominant species for a talk to be presented later at the De Beers congress. A small booklet is also planned for the reserve.

Rooipoort Game Reserve (RGR) was established in 1893, and is one of the oldest conservation areas in southern Africa. More than 40 000 ha in size and ranked among the largest private reserves in South Africa, is was declared the fourth South African Natural Heritage Site in 1985. Rooipoort is situated some 50 km to the west of Kimberley and is found at the convergence of three of southern Africa's major ecological systems, the Karoo, the Kalaha- Lycosidae (Evippomma sp.) ri and the Grassland Biome. The reserve conserves a unique diversity of vegetation types and plains game. It also boasts 32 km of riverine habitat along the banks of the Vaal River.

Contact: Robin Lyle at [email protected] or Ansie Dippenaar -Schoeman at [email protected] for more information.

Sicariidae (Loxosceles sp.)

The collecting team: Peter Webb, Robin Lyle and Michael Stiller Baboon spider from Rooipoort 10 SANSA NEWS 18

NEW RECORDS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

REVISION OF THE STONE HUNTSMAN SPIDERS NEW SPECIES OF CYRIOCTEA (ZODARIIDAE) (SPARASSIDAE: EUSPARASSUS) The spider genus, Cyrioctea is remarkable in having a transverse row of Members of the spider genus, Eusparassus Simon, 1903 sturdy spines between the eye rows. They are assumed to be burrowing (Sparassidae: Eusparassinae) are among the most conspicuous devices. They live underground and the females hardly ever emerge arachnid predators in arid and semi-arid deserts of Africa and most from their burrows and are rarely collected. They clearly belong to the parts of Eurasia. As these spiders inhabit stony habitats and build Zodariidae in having long anterior lateral spinnerets and lacking a serru- their retreats under large flat stones and also in the crevices of rocks, la. the common name “stone huntsman spiders” was proposed by Mo- radmand (2013) in his revision of the genus. The genus is found on three continents: Africa (7 spp.), South America (5 spp.) and Australia (1 sp.). The African species are restricted to the He described the following new species from southern Africa: southern parts of the continent and are represented in South Africa by E. jaegeri (male, female), which is very common in South Africa C. marken Platnick & Jocqué, 1992 and two new species, C. sawadee (Gauteng, Limpopo, Northern Cape, North-West) and Botswana, E. Jocqué, 2013 (Western Cape) and C. lotzi Jocqué, 2013 (Free State). jocquei (male, female) from Zimbabwe, E. borakalalo (female) from South Africa (Limpopo and Gauteng) and E. schoemanae (male, female) from South Africa (Northern Cape) and Namibia. REFERENCE

According to Moradmand (2013), Eusparassus is easily distinguisa- JOCQUÉ, R. 2013. Cyrioctea (Araneae, Zodariidae) in Africa: temperate ble from other members of subfamily Eusparassinae by the presence Gondwanaland relict, recent radiation, or both? European Journal of of two pairs of ventral tibial spines on legs I–IV. It can also be sepa- Taxonomy 47: 1-12. rated from the sparassine genus Olios, which it closely resembles, by the presence of intermarginal denticles on the chelicerae in some Eusparassus spp. and the presence of a single bristle (up to five) on the anterior margin of cheliceral basal segment below fangs (>10 in Olios). In Eusparassus the male palp is characterised by the embolus and tegulum being nearly equal in length and arranged as a U- shaped structure, while the female epigyne shows two large lateral lobes and simple straight copulatory ducts leading to a more complex turning loop.

REFERENCE

MORADMAND, M. 2013. The stone huntsman spider genus Euspar- assus (Araneae: Sparassidae): systematics and zoogeography with ASD revision of the African and Arabian species. Zootaxa 3675: 1-108.

REVISION OF COPA (CORINNIDAE)

The cryptic ground-dwelling castianeirine genus Copa Simon, 1885 (Araneae: Corinnidae) was recently revised in the continental Afrotropi- cal Region. The type species of the genus, C. flavoplumosa Simon, 1885, was redescribed and considered a senior synonym of C. benina Strand, 1916 and C. benina nigra Lessert, 1933. This species is widespread throughout the Afrotropical Region but has not been introduced to any of the associated regional islands. A new species, C. kei Haddad, 2013 was described from South Africa. Copa flavoplumosa is a charac- teristic species of leaf litter spider assemblages and is particularly preva- lent in savanna habitats on the continent, but also occurs in various forest types, grasslands, fynbos and semi-arid Nama Karoo habitats. In contrast, C. kei has only been recorded from Afromontane and coastal forests in south- P. Webb eastern South Africa.

Eusparassus jaegeri: Body uniformly coloured with pale brown- ish-grey hairs and a darker median stripe on the dorsal abdo- REFERENCE men.

HADDAD, C.R. 2013. A revision of the conti- C. Haddad nental species of Copa Simon, 1885 (Araneae, Corinnidae) in the Afrotropical Re- New species Copa kei gion. ZooKeys 276: 1-37.

C. Haddad Colour variations of C. flavoplumosa S. Neser 11 SANSA NEWS 18

NEW SALTICIDAE RECORDS FOR SOUTH AFRICA LATEST ON THE MEDICALLY IMPORTANT ARACHNIDS In this publication 19 new species and one new genus (Ureta) of Saltici- dae were described from South Africa. The unknown sexes of seven For the latest information on the medically important spiders and species were described and three new combinations were proposed. A scorpions, see the two articles produced by the team at Tygerberg further 12 species were recorded from South Africa for the first time, Poison Information Centre under leadership of Dr Gerbus Műller. and new provincial records were presented for the Eastern Cape (8 Although retired, Gerbus is still involved in activities at the centre. spp.), Western Cape (5 spp.), Limpopo (2 spp.), North West and Mpu- malanga Provinces (one species each). The two articles referred to summarize their experience working and treating wounds caused by venomous animals such as spiders and scorpions. Information is provided on the diagnosis and manage- REFERENCE ment of both neurotoxic and cytotoxic spiders and include: clinical features of latrodectism; differential diagnosis and management; WESOLOWSKA, W. & HADDAD, C.R. 2013. New data on the jumping cytotoxic spiders and the syndrome of necrotic arachnidism; clinical spiders of South Africa (Araneae: Salticidae). African Invertebrates 54: features of necrotic arachnidism, and differential diagnosis of necrot- 177-240. ic arachnidism.

REFERENCES MűLLER, G.J., WIUM, C.A., MARKS, C.J., DU PLESSIS, C.E. & VEALE, D.J.H. 2012. Spider bite in southern Africa: diagnosis and management. Continuing Medical Education 30: 356-361.

MűLLER, G.J., MODLER, H., WIUM, C.A., MARKS, C.J. & VEALE, D.J.H. 2012. Scorpion sting in southern Africa: diagnosis and management. Continuing Medical Education 30: 382-391.

V. vd Walt

Hasarius adansonii

Charissa J. Leeming

Brown button spider Brown button egg sacs

TWO NEW GENERA OF CASTIANEIRINAE V. vd Walt A monograph was recently published in Zootaxa that resolved the Brancus mustela (transferred from Evarcha) taxonomic placement of the corinnid genus, Messapus. Morphologi- cal characters and the first cladistic analysis focused on Afrotroopi- cal Castianeirinae indicates that Messapus belongs in Corinninae. Problems surrounding the type species were a result of Simon de- scribing the type species, M. martini, from a female and male that represent two different species. The new genus Copuetta was described for the misidentified male of M. martini, twelve new species were described and Copa lacustris was transferred to Copuetta. Five Copuetta species occur in South Africa: C. erecta (Kwa-Zulu- Natal, also Mozambique), C. lacustris (all provinces except Eastern Cape, widespread in southern and eastern Africa), C. lotzi (Free State, Gauteng, Western Cape and Mpumalanga), C. magna (KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, also Mozambique and Tanzania) and C. maputa (KwaZulu-Natal, also Mozambique). A second new V. vd Walt genus, Wasaka, is limited to tropical Africa. Copuetta lacustris is a common species in houses, and many readers are likely to have Dendryphantes rafalskii seen these spiders wandering around at night.

REFERENCE

HADDAD, C.R. 2013. Taxonomic notes on the spider genus Messa- pus Simon, 1898 (Araneae, Corinnidae), with the description of the new genera Copuetta and Wasaka and the first cladistic analysis of Afrotropical Castianeirinae. Zootaxa 3688: 1-79.

P. Webb

Afromarengo bimaculata (transferred from Copocrossa) Copuetta lacustris Copuetta erecta 12 SANSA NEWS 18

NEW PUBLICATIONS

AZARKINA, G.N. & FOORD, S.H. 2013. Redescriptions of poorly MARAIS, P., DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN, A.S., LYLE, R., ANDER- known species of jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) from South SON, C. & MATHEBULA, S. 2013. Catalogue of the spider type Africa and Namibia. Zootaxa 3686: 165-182. specimens deposited in the National Collection of Arachnida of the Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria (Arthropoda: Arachnida: CANNING, G., REILLY, B.K. & DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN, A.S. 2013. Araneae). ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Technical First description of the male of Nesiergus insulanus (Araneae: Thera- Communication version 1: 1-25. phosidae: Ischnolinae) from the Seychelles Archipelago. African Invertebrates 54: 241-244. MORADMAND, M. 2013. The stone huntsman spider genus Euspar- assus (Araneae: Sparassidae): systematics and zoogeography DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN, A.S., VAN DEN BERG, A.M., HADDAD, with revision of the African and Arabian species. Zootaxa 3675: 1- C.R. & LYLE, R. 2013. Spiders in South African agroecosystems: a 108. review (Arachnida, Araneae). Transactions of the Royal Society 68: 57–74. MűLLER G.J., MODLER, H., WIUM, C.A. MARKS, & VEALE, D.J.H. 2012. Scorpion sting in southern Africa: diagnosis and DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN, A.S., VAN DEN BERG, A., LYLE, R., management. Continuing Medical Education 30: 382-391. HADDAD, C.R., FOORD, S.H. & LOTZ, L.N. 2013. Die diversiteit van Suid-Afrikaanse spinnekoppe (Arachnida: Araneae): Dokumen- MűLLER G.J., WIUM, C.A., MARKS, C.J., DU PLESSIS C.E. & tering van ‘n nasionale opname. Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuur- VEALE, D.J.H. 2012. Spider bite in southern Africa: diagnosis and wetenskap en Tegnologie 32(#375): 1-7. management. Continuing Medical Education 30: 356-361. FOORD, S.H., DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN, A.S. & STAM, E.M. 2013. NEETHLING, J.A. & HADDAD, C.R. 2013. Arboreal spider assem- Surrogates of spider diversity, leveraging the conservation of a poorly blages associated with four tree species in the Grassland Biome known group of the Savanna Biome of South Africa. Biological Con- of central South Africa (Arachnida: Araneae). Transactions of the servation 161: 203-212. Royal Society of South Africa 68: 123-131. FOURIE, R., HADDAD, C.R., DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN, A.S. & GRO- ROETS, F. & PRYKE, J.S. 2013. The rehabilitation value of a small BLER, A. 2013. Ecology of the plant-dwelling spider (Arachnida: culturally significant island based on the arthropod natural capital. Araneae) of the Erfenis Dam Nature reserve, South Africa. Koedoe Journal of Insect Conservation 17: 53–65. 55(#1113): 1-9. NYFFELER, M. & KNÖRNSCHILD. M. 2013. Bat predation by spi- FRANZINI, P.Z.N., DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN, A.S., YESSOUFOU, K. ders. PLoS ONE 8(3): e58120. & VAN DER BANK, F.H. 2013. Combined analyses of genetic and morphological data indicate more than one species of Cyrtophora WESOLOWSKA, W. & HADDAD, C.R. 2013. New data on the jump- (Araneae: Araneidae) in South Africa. International Journal of Modern ing spiders of South Africa. African Invertebrates 54: 177-240. Biological Research 1: 21-34. HADDAD, C.R. 2013. A revision of the continental species of Copa Simon, 1885 (Araneae, Corinnidae) in the Afrotropical Region. ZooK- eys 276: 1-37. HADDAD, C.R. 2013. Taxonomic notes on the spider genus Messapus SPIDERS NAMED AFTER NELSON MANDELA Simon, 1898 (Araneae, Corinnidae), with the description of the new genera Copuetta and Wasaka and the first cladistic analysis of At least three spiders have been named after the for- Afrotropical Castianeirinae. Zootaxa 3688: 1-79. mer president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, in HADDAD, C.R., DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN, A.S., FOORD, S.H., recognition of the greatest moral leader of our time LOTZ, L.N. & LYLE, R. 2013. The faunistic diversity of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of the Grassland Biome in South Africa. Trans- actions of the Royal Society of South Africa 68: 97-122. Singafrotypa mandela Kuntner & Hormiga, 2002 is an orb-web spider of the family Araneidae from the HADDAD, C.R. & LOUW, S.vdM. 2012. A redescription of Merenius Western Cape. alberti Lessert, 1923 (Araneae: Corinnidae), with remarks on colour polymorphism and its relationship to ant models. African Inverte- brates 53: 571–591. Stasimopus mandelai Hendrikson & Bond, 2004 is a trapdoor spider of the family Ctenizidae from the JANSEN, R, MAKAKA, L., LITTLE I.T. & DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN, A.S. 2013. Response of ground-dwelling spider assemblages Great Fish River area in the Eastern Cape. ( Arachnida, Araneae) to Montane Grassland management practices in South Africa. Insect Conservation and Diversity doi: 10.1111/ Anelosimus nelsoni Agnarsson, 2006 is a web- icad.12013: 1-18. building Theridiidae with a wide distribution in South JOCQUÉ, R. 2013. Cyrioctea (Araneae, Zodariidae) in Africa: temper- Africa. ate Gondwanaland relict, recent radiation, or both? European Journal of Taxonomy 47: 1-12. KRÁL, J., KOŘÍNKOVÁ, T., KRKAVCOVÁ, L., MUSILOVÁ, J., ÁVILA HERRERA, I.M., FORMAN, M., VÍTKOVÁ, M., HADDAD, C.R., HE- DIN, M., HENRIQUES, S. & PALACIOS VARGAS, J.G. 2013. Differ- entiation of the karyotype, sex chromosome systems, and meiosis in the spider infraorder Mygalomorphae. Biological Journal of the Linne- an Society 109: 377-408. LYLE, R. 2013. A new species of the tracheline genus Fuchibotulus Haddad & Lyle, 2008 (Araneae: Corinnidae). African Invertebrates 54: 245-249. MAGOBA, R.N. & SAMWAYS, M.J. 2012. Comparative footprint of alien, agricultural and restored vegetation on surface-active arthropods. Biological Invasions 14: 165–177. 13 SANSA NEWS 18

MORE ABOUT OUR RESERVES

Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve - waiting to be sampled

This reserve is one of only a handful on the KZN South Coast. Initially a farm, this land was handed over in 1973 to the then Natal Parks Board (now Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife) and, with subsequent additions, is 2 189 ha in size. Only one third of this land is accessable by motor vehicles, so a good pair of hiking boots and walking stick is a must. Walking is en- couraged, and one does not need to worry about large dangerous mam- mals sneaking up on one. There are 52 mammal species listed, the largest being the blue wildebeest, zebra and bushbuck. The birdlife is abun- dant, with a special treat of observing the grey crowned cCrane’s antics during their mating dances or neurotically defending their chicks when Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve any potential threat gets too close. Another thrill is spotting one of the 31 species of raptor, soaring above or swooping low over the plains to catch a meal.

The flora can be quite breath taking at different times of the year, almost rivalling the Namaqualand. The reason for this is the presence of the KZN Sandstone Sourveld that is only conserved in Krantzkloof and Vernon Crookes, but has recently been shown to be one of the main components of a complex of Natal Group Sandstone underlain vegetation types, that support as many as 110 endemic plant species. On one visit the rolling hills will be a blaze of pink Watsonia confuse, the next visit there will be a blanket of yellow Senecio heliops or white Heli- chrysum panduratum, but when one walks into the grasslands, is when one sees so very much more. Each and every brightly coloured plant seems to attract or host an abundance of incredibly fascinating forms of life, spiders, beetles, caterpillars and butterflies. Even after a burn, the blackened earth reveals masses of orange fire lilies Cyrtanthus contrac- tus, and the earth mounds of Vernon’s giant earthworm, Microchaetus vernoni, endemic to the Reserve at over 2m in length and the thickness of one’s finger, one can only be enthralled.

A walk around one of the Reserves three dams, the marshes or along Kite spider one of the many streams one can find dragon and damsel flies with many other aquatic species to keep children and adults alike, occupied for many hours. On one side of the main dam, huge lichen encrusted boulders are the home for monitor lizards, agamas and skinks and amongst these rocks grow large bushes of Protea dracomontana, which are laden with blooms from November to March.

There are three large forests from which perennial streams originate, the Mthakathi, Mhlatikulu and the Enhlabeni. At times these forest floors are covered with white pentas Pentas micranthawhile and blue plectranthus Plectranthus ecklonii, while along the rock strewn streams one can see many gold flecked pebbles, be it actual gold or just pyrite, it never-the- less keeps the amateur guessing. Particularly, with the knowledge that the Reserve was once a site of three gold mines. These forested streams are the home of the very elusive endangered, Kloof frog Natalo- batrachus bonebergi, which are normally a grey/brown in colour but in some ponds where the water has been stained by a sulphur sediment which is from Pyrite bearing rocks, the frogs have a distinct yellow colour. Whether this is detrimental to their reproduction or not, we have yet Camelback spider to determine.

For many years the Reserve accommodation was exclusively used for researchers, but now is open to the public. The Nyengelezi Camp con- sists of five old-world style African thatched rondavels sleeping two each, a communal kitchen, ablutions, laboratory / conference room / dining room and then there is a rustic reed walled tree house/bunkhouse sleeping ten with its own ablution. All, so peacefully nestled in the forest. One can just feel the city life stresses just drain away.

Few Arachnida have so far been sampled from Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve. In the SANSA database there are about 80 specimens represented by 20 spider families and 43 species. A few of the interesting spiders are displayed here.

Contact: Lesley Bentley at [email protected]

Hermit spider Bark spider 14 SANSA NEWS 18

A beautiful Salticidae (Mexcala sp.) from Mozambique photographed by Len de Beer

The ghost huntsman spider (Sparassidae, Orchestrella longipes) from Namibia was sampled by Dawid Jacobs and photographed by Peter Webb.