Desarrollo de cohortes y parámetros poblacionales de la araña del rincón Loxosceles laeta / Development and population parameters of cohorts of the Chilean recluse spider Loxosceles laeta

Background: Despite the abundant eco-epidemiological knowledge of the Chilean reclusive spider, Loxosceles laeta, which causes all forms of loxoscelism in Chile, the main characteristics of this species its stages of development remains poorly known especially in the medical area. Objective: In this study we address these issues with the goal of providing clear images of the development of this species and for the first time on population projections as well as the relationship between mature and immature instars, useful data for the control and prevention of accidental bites. Results: We found that L. laeta is an r-selected species, with R0 = 2.1, a generation time of G = 2.1 years, with a concentration of the reproductive value of females between the first and second year of life. We determined the average sizes and development times of all instars. The first vary between 2.3 mm at birth and about 13 mm at adulthood. The total development time was about 1 year. Discussion: The population projection by Leslie matrix suggested great capacity for growth and dispersal with clear seasonal population fluctuations associated with reproduction. It also showed that the proportion of immature varied seasonally between 80 and 90 %, which means that a house with three or four visible adult spiders actually has a population between 20 and 40 spiders in total.

Introducción: A pesar del abundante conocimiento eco-epidemiológico de la araña del rincón, Loxosceles laeta, causante de todos los cuadros de loxoscelismo en Chile, sigue siendo una especie poco conocida en el ambiente médico, especialmente las características y tiempos de sus estados de desarrollo. Objetivo: En este estudio abordamos estos aspectos con el objetivo de aportar imágenes claras del desarrollo de esta especie y por primera vez de sus características y proyecciones poblacionales y de la relación entre estados maduros e inmaduros, datos útiles para el control y prevención de los accidentes por mordedura. Resultados: Loxosceles laeta es una especie r-estratega, con un R0 = 2,1, un tiempo generacional G = 2,1 años y con concentración del valor reproductivo de las hembras entre el primer y segundo año de vida. Determinamos los tamaños promedio y los tiempos de desarrollo de todos los estados. Los primeros varían entre los 2,3 mm al nacer y alrededor de 13 mm al estado adulto. Los tiempos totales de desarrollo son de aproximadamente un año. Discusión: La proyección de la población con matriz de Leslie sugiere una gran capacidad de crecimiento y dispersión, pero con claras fluctuaciones poblacionales estacionales asociadas a la reproducción. Además se muestra que la proporción de estados inmaduros fluctúa estacionalmente entre 80 y 90%, lo que implica que una casa con tres o cuatro arañas adultas visibles, en realidad tiene una población entre 20 y 40 arañas en total.

Development of Loxosceles intermedia Mello-Leitão (1934) (Araneae, Sicariidae) genital tract / Desenvolvimento do trato genital de Loxosceles intermedia Mello-Leitão (1934) (Aranea: Sicariidae)

We examined the post-embryonic development of the male and female genital apparatus of the brown spider, Loxosceles intermedia. The development of the genital apparatus for both sexes begins with the appearance of inner structures. In the male genital apparatus, formation of the testes occurs first, followed by differentiation of the duct, ampulla and vas deferens, and finally the formation of the genital opening and differentiation of the copulatory organ (secondary sexual characteristic). Similarly, the development of the female genital apparatus begins with the formation of the ovaries, followed by the appearance of oocytes in vitellogenesis, then the development of oviducts and uterus internus and, finally, the spermatheca. These data may be very important in further comparative studies on the development of the reproductive system of spiders.

Examinamos o desenvolvimento pós-embrionário do aparelho genital masculino e feminino da aranha-marrom Loxosceles intermedia. O desenvolvimento do aparelho genital de ambos os sexos começa com o aparecimento de estruturas internas. No aparelho genital masculino a formação dos testículos ocorre primeiro, seguida pela diferenciação do ducto, ampola e vas deferens e, finalmente, a formação da abertura genital e diferenciação do órgão copulador (característica sexual secundária). Da mesma forma, o desenvolvimento do aparelho genital feminino começa com a formação dos ovários, seguida pelo aparecimento de oócitos em vitelogênese, o desenvolvimento dos ovidutos e uterus internus e, finalmente, a espermateca. Esses dados podem ser muito importantes em estudos comparativos sobre o desenvolvimento do sistema reprodutivo de aranhas.

Loxosceles laeta: identificación y una mirada bajo microscopía de barrido / Loxosceles laeta: a looking over scanning microscope

Loxosceles laeta es una araña de importancia en Chile por su alta morbiletalidad en humanos. La gran mayoría de los pacientes con mordedura por esta araña consultan en servicios de atención primaria y de urgencia. Es relevante conocer su morfología para identificarla en forma precoz y tener una conducta médica adecuada a seguir. Se ilustra su morfología con fotos de microscopía de barrido destacando sus aspectos más fundamentales entre ellos sus seis ojos dispuestos en forma triangular

Natural history of Ctenus medius Keyserling, 1891 (Araneae, Ctenidae) I: observations on habitats and the development of chromatic patterns

Ctenus medius Keyserling, 1891 is a common species in several spots of Mata Atlântica, however there is a great lack of studies in all aspects of its natural history. This work aims to elucidate aspects of ecotope preference compared to large spiders, and to provide data on the development of chromatic patterns during its life cycle. The observations on the behavior of C. medius were done in the campus of Centro Universitário de Barra Mansa (UBM) by means of observations and nocturnal collections using cap lamps. For observations on the development of chromatic patterns, spiderlings raised in laboratory, hatched from an oviposition of a female from campus of UBM, and others spiderlings collected in field were used. The field observations indicate that: C. medius seems to prefer ecotopes characterized by dense shrub vegetation or herbal undergrowth; Lycosa erythrognatha and L. nordeskioldii seems to prefer open sites; Phoneutria nigriventer seems to prefer shrub vegetation and anthropogenic ecotopes as rubbish hills; Ancylometes sp. seems to prefer ecotopes near streams. Concerning chromatic patterns, it was observed that males and females show well distinct patterns during the last two instars, allowing distinction by sex without the use of a microscope. Through chromatic patterns it was also possible to draw a distinction between C. medius and C. ornatus longer that 3 mm cephalothorax width. 69 specimens of C. medius (males and females) collected in the campus of UBM did not show a striking polymorphism in chromatic pattern, but one among 7 adult females collected in National Park of Itatiaia, showed a distinct chromatic pattern

Life cycle of Misumenops pallida (Araneae, Thomisidae)

Postembryonic development of Misumenops pallida (Keyserling) (Araneae, Thomisidae), one of the most abundant predator species in soybean fields in Buenos Aires Province (Argentina) was studied. The life cycle was observed in the laboratory from egg sacs collected in the field, and from egg sacs spined in the laboratory by gravid females collected in the field. Results indicated that instar length and feeding rate increased throughout the life cycle being higher in females than in males. Greater mortality was observed to third and fourth instars decreasing thereafter. These results may contribute to deternmine the efficiency of this species as a natural enemy of insect pests of soybean