Bioecological observations on a species of the genus Latrodectus (Walckenaer, 1805) of the mactans group, from Sierra de la Ventana (Buenos Aires province, Argentina) (Aranae, Theridiidae), part 3. Post-embryonic development

Abstract

Bioecological observations on a species of the genus Latrodectus (Walckenaer, 1805) of the mactans group, from Sierra de la Ventana (Buenos Aires province, Argentina) (Aranae, Theridiidae), part 3. Post-embryonic development?. Ontogenic development of Latrodectus sp. (mactams group) from Sierra de la Ventana is studied. Females that were collected during summer time, made cocoons in the laboratory. The spiders have been reared from egg to adult stage. The length of each larval and nymphal instars and the changes occurred during the development are described. The principal findings were: 1) There are 3 post-embryonic stages. 2) Males reached the adult stage with 6 to 8 moults (mean 7) and females with 9 to 11 moults (mean 10).