Probability of encounter of sites with Latrodectus mirabilis (Holmberg, 1876) (Araneae Theridiidae) in the Ernesto Tornquist Provincial Park (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina)

Abstract

Latrodectus mirabilis (Holmberg 1876), known as the Black Widow, is a spider of great health interest, both for humans and domestic animals. In Argentina it is the species with the largest distribution and the southernmost. In Sierra de la Ventana, Argentina, it has an annual cycle with adults during the warm months (December to April) and sac egg throughout the winter. Frangi and Bottino (1995) identified for this zone 16 plant units (UV). Species distribution models (SDM) hold that individuals of a species are distributed according to specific patterns that can be related to predictive environmental variables, in order to assess species presence patterns and habitat suitability. As natural reserves or parks are ideal places for this type of study, work was done in the E. Tornquist Provincial Park (Sierra de la Ventana, Buenos Aires) and the sites with the presence of adult individuals and sac egg of L. mirabilis were identified, analysed its distribution through the UVs described by Lizzi et al. 2007 and a species distribution model (SDM) was generated by using remote sensing and data collected in the Park.