Cave-dwelling Nesticidae (Araneae) in the southeastern United States: new distribution records and notes on their bionomics

Authors

Will Reeves, Clemson University, Clemson, SC

Date of this Version

March 1999

Comments

Insecta Mundi, published by the Center for Systematic Entomology, is available online at http://centerforsystematicentomology.org/. Copyright © by Reeves.

Abstract

The Nesticidae are a worldwide family of small, sedentary spiders frequently found in leaf litter, debris, houses, and caves. The genus Gaucelmus is found only in the Americas, primarily in the Neotropics. Nesticus, a Holarctic genus, is well represented in the Appalachian Mountains by obligate cave-dwelling species (Gertsch 1984). The genus Eidmannella is an American genus recently introduced by humans to Europe and Hawaii (Gertsch 1984). The natural history, including fecundity and prey types, of cave spiders are poorly documented. Here I report a range extension of Gaucelmus augustinus Keyserling and natural-history information for N. georgia Gertsch and N. barri Gertsch in the southeastern United States.