Latrodectus renivulvatus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Central Button Spider | |
|---|---|
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| Female | |
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| Male | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Theridiidae |
| Genus: | Latrodectus |
| Species: | L. renivulvatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Latrodectus renivulvatus Dahl, 1902[1] | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Latrodectus renivulvatus is a species of spider in the family Theridiidae, found in Africa, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.[2] It is one of six species of Latrodectus found in southern Africa, four of which, including L. renivulvatus, are known as black button or black widow spiders. Like all Latrodectus species, L. renivulvatus has a neurotoxic venom. It acts on nerve endings, causing the very unpleasant symptoms of latrodectism when humans are bitten.[3]
Latrodectus renivulvatus is found in Saint Helena, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, and throughout Africa including Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Senegal, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.[2]
In South Africa, the species has been sampled from all nine provinces. Notable locations include Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Kruger National Park, and Karoo National Park.[4]
Habitat and ecology
The web is usually constructed close to the ground, seldom higher than half a meter. The refuge is in a tuft of grass or in a low shrub, in an empty burrow, or under a loose stone. The species is sometimes found in houses in Gauteng and the Free State.[4]
Latrodectus renivulvatus inhabits a large range at altitudes from 47 to 2020 m above sea level. The species has been sampled from the Grassland, Nama Karoo, Savanna, and Succulent Karoo biomes and is frequently sampled from crops including cotton, maize, strawberries, sugarcane, and vineyards.[4]
Description
female
female
female
male
