Laboratory refugia preferences of the brown widow spider, Latrodectus geometricus (Araneae: Theridiidae)

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Vetter, Richard S. Penas, Linda M. Hoddle, Mark S.
Copyright Year	2016
Abstract	Abstract During collecting episodes in urban southern California, brown widow spiders, Latrodectus geometricus C. L. Koch, 1841, were observed to reside most often in specific locations such as acute angles within patio furniture or on the underside of railings. In this laboratory study, we tested several variables to determine which factors brown widow females may use for web site selection. All tests were conducted with corrugated cardboard refugia in enclosed dome-shaped insect cages. Brown widows were found to significantly prefer: 1) 30º angles compared to 60º or 90º angles, 2) cavities of 75 and 100 mm depth compared to 25 or 50 mm depth, 3) cavities lined with single-faced corrugated cardboard compared to smooth surfaces, and 4) refuges that had previously housed a brown widow compared to similar but previously unoccupied refugia. These data provide unusually detailed information about microhabitat selection by an urban pest, with possible implications for the pest control industry for eradication or for home owners to avoid envenomations.
Starting Page	52
Ending Page	57
Page Count	6
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
DOI	10.1636/J15-58.1
Alternate Webpage(s)	http://biocontrol.ucr.edu/pdfs/vetter-brown-widow-refugia-2016.pdf
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://doi.org/10.1636/J15-58.1
Volume Number	44
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article