The first occurrence records of Kukulcania hibernalis (Hentz, 1842) from Ascension Island and Saint Barthélemy (Araneae: Filistatidae)

Abstract

The Southern House Spider Kukulcania hibernalis (Hentz, 1842), native to coastal eastern Mexico and the eastern United States, is widely distributed in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and has been recorded from Liberia and the Canary Islands. Recent examination of material from Ascension Island and Saint Barthélemy newly confirm its presence as a non-native species on these islands. Kukulcania hibernalis is synanthropic, which has presumably allowed it to colonise many non-indigenous countries. In addition to reporting the new localities, we map the updated global distribution of K. hibernalis.

Keywords

• islands
• invasions
• mapping
• arachnids
• non-native.