La viuda negra en Costa Rica: información general
Abstract
La viuda café (Latrodectus geometricus) ha sido probablemente introducida a América desde la región mediterránea de África. Desde su llegada a Costa Rica, esta especie ha expandido su distribución rápidamente colonizando prácticamente todas las zonas urbanas y suburbanas del Valle Central, hasta una elevación de 1600 m sobre el nivel del mar. La viuda café construye telas tridimensionales en forma de maraña pegadas a las paredes, bajo puentes, bajo sillas u otros muebles e inclusive dentro de las casas. Esta especie ha llegado a ser muy abundante en el país y los encuentros con humanos son frecuentes, debido a su preferencia de hábitat. La viuda café muestra la tendencia de esconderse dentro del refugio de seda que construye en su tela con el menor disturbio (por ejemplo: caída de hojas o humanos que rocen la tela). Por lo tanto, este comportamiento evasivo y la baja toxicidad del veneno de la viuda café comparado con el veneno de otras viudas negras, reduce (pero no elimina) la probabilidad de accidentes a humanos causados por esta especie, a pesar de su gran abundancia.
The brown widow (Latrodectus geometricus) has likely been introduced to America from the Mediterranean region of Africa. Since its arrival to Costa Rica this species has rapidly expanded its distribution occupying nearly the entire urban and sub-urban areas of the Central Valley, and up to 1600 m a.s.l. The brown widow constructs cobwebs attached to walls, under bridges, under chairs and other pieces of furniture, and even inside houses. This species has become very abundant and encounters with humans are frequent, due to its habitat preferences. The brown widow tends to hide inside the silk retreat of its web at the least disturbance (e.g., a falling leaf or human touching the web). Hence, this evasive behavior and the lower toxicity of the brown widow in comparison with other black widows, reduce (but not eliminate) the probability of accidents by this species to humans, despite its high abundance.
The brown widow (Latrodectus geometricus) has likely been introduced to America from the Mediterranean region of Africa. Since its arrival to Costa Rica this species has rapidly expanded its distribution occupying nearly the entire urban and sub-urban areas of the Central Valley, and up to 1600 m a.s.l. The brown widow constructs cobwebs attached to walls, under bridges, under chairs and other pieces of furniture, and even inside houses. This species has become very abundant and encounters with humans are frequent, due to its habitat preferences. The brown widow tends to hide inside the silk retreat of its web at the least disturbance (e.g., a falling leaf or human touching the web). Hence, this evasive behavior and the lower toxicity of the brown widow in comparison with other black widows, reduce (but not eliminate) the probability of accidents by this species to humans, despite its high abundance.
Description
Keywords
Latrodectus geometricus, Lactrodectism, Range expansion, Habitat use, Latrodectus geometricus, Lactrodectismo, Expansión de ámbito, Uso de hábitat
Citation
https://investiga.uned.ac.cr/revistas/index.php/biocenosis/article/view/1429