Rick C. West

We redescribe and illustrate the male of Thrixopelma ockerti Schmidt, 1994 presenting the first analysis of keels on the palpal bulb. Additionally, a new species Thrixopelma kimraykawsaki sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Peru, along with data on its natural history. This new species is known from Abancay, department of Apurimac, can be di...

A cladistics analysis of the high-altitude tarantulas of the genus Hapalotremus was carried out for the first time with a matrix of 21 taxa and 69 morphological characters using both equal and implied weights. Two consistent topologies were obtained with a concavity = 10.541, resulting from a sensitivity analysis. Both cladograms suggest Hapalotrem...

A small population of Entypus ochrocerus Dahlbom, a predominantly Greater Antilles spider wasp (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae), is reported for the first time from the continental United States based on photographs and associated information from iNaturalist.org. The species was initially misidentified online as E. unifasciatus unifasciatus (Sa...

Mutualistic and similar ecological associations between tarantulas (Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae) and other animals are reviewed. Such associations are found to occur in at least nine theraphosid subfamilies. We present 63 new cases of theraphosid–anuran associations from 10 countries, documenting these interactions for the first time in Brazil, Ch...

ABSTRACT This work aims to describe a new species of Thrixopelma Schmidt, 1994 from southcentral Peru in the Department of Cusco. Thrixopelma choquequirao sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from congeneric species by the low number of labial cuspules, a very long palpal tibia, morphology of the male palpal bulb and female spermathecae. Currently...

We present new and atypical host records for 78 species, subspecies, species-groups, and variants of spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) from North America and South America. The records are listed in modified taxonomic order following the Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico, Volume 2, Apocrita (Aculeata) (Krombein 1979). These rec...

New data on the tarantula genus Chaetopelma Ausserer, 1871 are provided. A new species, Ch. persianum sp. nov., is described based on a single female specimen collected in northwestern Iran, which represents the easternmost record of the genus within its entire known range. Additionally, the correct publication date of Ch. olivaceum C.L. Koch, 1842...

The text below is a sensational discovery that describes in detail what, according to the first author, is the reason for the emergence of religiosity in Ancient Egypt, the connection of this massive phenomenon with the natural world, in particular, with representatives of the Insect class (Insecta). The authors, being qualified biologists, offer...

The use of common names for species and subspecies of North American spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) presents a variety of questions for pompilid specialists as most pompilid taxa are difficult to identify, even under the microscope. Some common names currently being used for spider wasp species are acceptable while others are misleading, un...

The nesting behavior of the spider wasp Calopompilus pyrrhomelas (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsini) is described for the first time based on independent observations and photographic series from Oakland, Alameda County, CA; Denio, Humboldt County, NV; and Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, Marin County, CA, respectively. The three wasps captured, immobili...

Chinchaysuyu gen. nov. is described as a new monotypic Theraphosidae genus from northern Peru, with distinct genitalic morphology. Males of Chinchaysuyu gen. nov. differ from all known species by having a palpal bulb organ with many conspicuous keels extending towards the subtegulum. Females differ by having two pairs of short and hyper-sclerotized...

Host records and nesting behavior of the Nearctic trapdoor spider-hunting spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) Calopompilus Ashmead and Priocnemissus Haupt (Pepsinae: Pepsini) and Aporus Spinola and Psorthaspis Banks (Pompilinae: Aporini) are reviewed, investigated, compared, and discussed. First time incidental trapdoor spider host records for P...

First host record, prey transport, and burrow excavation are described for Hesperopompilus sp., an undescribed, rare spider wasp (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) from Texas. Taxonomic, ecological, and behavioral examination of the genus subsequently led to an investigation of the previously related Perissopompilus Evans and Xerochares Evans. Taxonomic, ho...

The tarantula genus Tmesiphantes Simon, 1892 includes 20 valid species distributed in Argentina and Brazil. These spiders are distinguished from other Theraphosinae genera by the presence of an incrassate femur III, more evident in males, urticating hair types III and IV on the abdominal dorsum, few cuspules on the labium (0 to 30), maxillae with a...

The first host record for the North American spider wasp Cryptocheilus severini Banks (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae) from Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México is introduced with pertinent observation information. The genus Cryptocheilus Panzer in North America is briefly described, its nesting habitat and prey transport outlined, and host specificity det...

Abstract. We present 112 new and unusual host records for 63 species and subspecies of Pompilidae (Hymenoptera) from the Western Hemisphere in modified taxonomic order according to the Synoptic Catalog of Hymenoptera (Krombein 1979). These records supplement those reported in a recent study by Kurczewski et al. (2020b). New and atypical genus and s...

This paper is the sequel to a 20 year-long (2002–2021) study of geographic variation in host selec�tion in the common American spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) Entypus unifasciatus (Say) (Pepsini) and Tachypompilus ferrugineus (Say) (Pompilini) (rusty spider wasp). Geography and host spider family are strongly linked in both species when 3387...

Macrophotographs in series taken by Alice Abela on sandy coastal dunes in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, CA in 2010–2021 supplement and enhance F. X. Williams (1928) study of the ecol­ogy and nesting behavior of the trapdoor spider-hunting spider wasp Aporus (Plectraporus) hirsutus (Banks) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Aporini). Abela’s ma...

The holotype of Hapalotremus albipes Simon, 1903 is redescribed. Four new species of the genus Hapalotremus Simon, 1903 are described: Hapalotremus apasanka sp. nov., Hapalotremus hananqheswa sp. nov., and Hapalotremus kaderkai sp. nov. from Peru, and Hapalotremus yuraqchanka sp. nov. from Bolivia. Discussion on palpal bulb morphology, ontogenetic...

Antikuna, a new genus from Peruvian Andes, was proposed, diagnosed and described, to include seven new species: Antikuna cernickai sp. nov., A. cimrmani sp. nov., A. cyanofemur sp. nov., A. majkusi sp. nov., A. sapallanga sp. nov., A. urayrumi sp. nov. and A. valladaresi sp. nov. Antikuna gen. nov. is characterised by having the type III urticating...

New and unusual host records for 133 species and subspecies of Pompilidae predominantly from the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America are presented in modified taxonomic order. First-time species host records are given for Calopompilus Ashmead, Pepsis Fabricius, Hemipepsis Dahlbom, Priocnessus Banks, Entypus Dahlbo...

Four online photographs from Oaxaca, Mexico taken by N. R. Jenzen-Jones and posted on inaturalist.org reveal Selenops sp., probably S. mexicanus Keyserling (Arachnida: Araneae: Selenopidae), as a new host spider species, genus and family for the common and widespread American spider wasp Tachypompilus fer­rugineus (Say) (rusty spider wasp). The was...

Illegal transfer of wildlife has 2 main purposes: trade and scientific research. Trade is the most common, whereas scientific research is much less common and unprofitable, yet still important. Biopiracy in science is often neglected despite that many researchers encounter it during their careers. The use of illegally acquired specimens is detected...

The spider genus Bistriopelma Kaderka, 2015 is endemic to Peru and includes three species known to date: Bistriopelma lamasi Kaderka, 2015, B. matuskai Kaderka, 2015 and B. titicaca Kaderka, 2017. The present contribution diagnoses, describes and illustrates two new species of Bistriopelma from Peru: B. peyoi sp. nov. and B. kiwicha sp. nov., both...

Geography and host spider family are strongly linked in the spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) Entypus unifasciatus (Say) and Tachypompilus ferrugineus (Say) (rusty spider wasp) when 2031 host spider local­ity records from the years 1918–2020 are mapped. Entypus unifasciatus lycosid host records are plentiful from 43–44° N in the U.S. to northe...

In 2006, the Royal British Columbia Museum began systematically documenting the full diversity of British Columbia’s spider fauna. Initially, museum specimens and literature records were used to update an existing checklist and identify poorly sampled habitats in BC. Annual field surveys of spiders, primarily targeting alpine and subalpine habitats...

Spider material collected from Oman and Iran revealed a new species of the genus Ischnocolus Ausserer, 1871, which is described as I. vanandelae sp. n. New records of I. jickelii L. Koch, 1875 from Saudi Arabia, Yemen and United Arab Emirates show a larger distribution of this species than previously known. The natural history of I. vanandelae sp....

CITES is an international agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Regarding spiders, all species listed in CITES are tarantulas. They are included in Appendix II, meaning that they are species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction bu...

The purpose of this guide is to assist enforcement officers by providing the information required to identify specimens of tarantula species that are listed in the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The identifying characters of one species of Aphonopelma, 16 species of Brachyp...

New specimens of the genus Hapalotremus (Theraphosinae) are revised based on the examination of types and additional material collected in Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. A new generic diagnosis is proposed. New information and illustrations are provided for known species and seven new species were recognized and are newly described and illustrated. H...

This document is one of a set of five action plans that were prepared as part of a project by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) to promote legal, sustainable and traceable trade in selected North American species that are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (C...

In 2006, the Royal British Columbia Museum began systematically documenting the full diversity of British Columbia’s spider fauna. Initially, museum specimens and literature records were used to update an existing checklist and identify poorly sampled habitats in BC. Annual field surveys of spiders, primarily targeting alpine and subalpine habitats...

The tarantula genus Phlogiellus (Pocock 1897) is revised. The genus is diagnosed against all other selenocosmiine genera for the first time along with a new generic description. The tribe Yamiini (Kishida 1920) is diagnosed against all other selenocosmiine tribes. All Phlogiellus species are diagnosed from all congeners; all species are mapped. Com...

Notes: Taxonomy follows Norman I. Platnick's World Spider Catalog (http://research.amnh.org/iz/spiders/catalog/INTRO1.html). An asterisk (*) marks each of the over 50 species newly recorded for British Columbia and not included in the previous version (2012) of this list. As of May 2014, 781 spider species (including a few subspecies) have been rec...

A new species is described in the tarantula genus Lyrognathus Pocock 1895, being the first record of this taxon from Sumatra, Indonesia. Lyrognathus giannisposatoi sp. nov. is also unique in its habitat selection, being the first confirmed lowland species from this genus. A new key to Lyrognathus species is provided, and a biogeography of the group...

The selenocosmiine genus Psednocnemis gen. nov. is described from the Sundaland region of South-east Asia. The type species Psednocnemis davidgohi sp. nov., which the male was incorrectly identified as Coremiocnemis hoggi West & Nunn 2010, is herein described. Cladistic analyses of 46 morphological characters and 39 exemplar taxa from 12 genera wer...

The selenocosmiine genus Coremiocnemis Simon 1892 is revised for the first time with six new species included. Five new species are from West Malaysia: C. brachyramosa sp. nov. from Gunung Ledang, Johor; C. gnathospina sp. nov. and C. hoggi sp. nov. from Fraser's Hill, Selangor; C. jeremyhuffi sp. nov. from Tapah, Perak, Fraser's Hill, Selangor to...

The tarantula genus Lyrognathus Pocock 1895 is revised with three new species described: L. achilles sp. nov. from Gunung Nibung, Borneo; L. fuscus sp. nov. from Simpang Kubur, Borneo and L. lessunda sp. nov. from Lombok Island, Indonesia. The male of L. robustus Smith 1988 is described for the first time, the female is redescribed. L. crotalus Poc...

Summary We studied the structure and placement of retreats of the tarantula Ephebopus murinus (Walckenaer, 1837) in the field in French Guiana. We found that early-instar spiderlings construct above-ground silken tubular retreats among low vegetation, and shifted to a fossorial lifestyle when subadult. Discriminant analysis of microhabitat variable...

The tarantula genus Ephebopus Simon 1892 is reviewed and includes the type species, E. murinus (Walckenaer 1837), and E. uatuman Lucas, Silva & Bertani 1992, E. cyanognathus West & Marshall 2000, E. rufescens West & Marshall 2000 and Ephebopus foliatus, sp. nov., from Guyana. Ephebopus violaceus Mello-Leitão 1930 is transferred to Tapinauchenius Au...

Tarantulas are large hairy spiders that belong to the family Theraphosidae, which are kept as pets mainly by young people. We report an 18-year-old male with the primary complaint of tingling and numbing sensation in his fingertips after contact with a tarantula spider. Potassium hydroxide skin scraping examination of the tiny black spots on the pa...

This paper outlines a novel, non-invasive procedure to obtain DNA from Mexican tarantulas (Brachypelma spp.) using exuvia. These species are important in the pet trade and species identification is important for international wildlife law enforcement. Mitochondrial DNA sequence from the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene was used to investigate th...

Two new theraphosid species are described from the tropical deciduous forests and thorn forests of western Mexico.

A new species of theraphosid spider is described. The taxon was collected in the foothills of the Mountain Pine Ridge and the Vaca Plateau, Cayo District, Belize. It is distinguished from congeners by filiform plumose setae on the basoprolateral faces of both trochantera and femora I-II, and the presence of five prominent keels on the apical divisi...

A monotypic theraphosid spider genus, Crassicrus new genus, and a new species Crassicrus lamanai new species, are described from the tropical dry forest of north-central Belize. Natural history and biogeographical notes are given.