The Phylogeography and Diversification of an Endemic Trapdoor Spider Genus, Simon 1892 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Stasimopidae) in the Karoo, South Africa.

The genus is endemic to South Africa but has never undergone a phylogeographic review. This study aims to unravel the phylogeographic patterns and history of the many species which occur in the greater Karoo region. A fossil-calibrated phylogeny was produced based on three gene regions (CO1, 16S and EF-1ɣ) for (Cor-k-lid trapdoor spiders) specimens collected in the Karoo region, to infer dates of origin and diversification.

Endosymbiont diversity across native and invasive brown widow spider populations.

The invasive brown widow spider, Latrodectus geometricus (Araneae: Theridiidae), has spread in multiple locations around the world and, along with it, brought associated organisms such as endosymbionts. We investigated endosymbiont diversity and prevalence across putative native and invasive populations of this spider, predicting lower endosymbiont diversity across the invasive range compared to the native range. First, we characterized the microbial community in the putative native (South Africa) and invasive (Israel and the United States) ranges via high throughput 16S sequencing of 103 adult females.

Three new genera of arboreal dark sac spiders from southern Africa (Araneae: Trachelidae).

As part of a revision of the Afrotropical species of Trachelas L. Koch, 1872 (Araneae: Trachelidae), we distinguished three new genera of primarily arboreal spiders from southern Africa that are described here: Coronarachne gen. nov.

An integrative taxonomy of the genus Stasimopus Simon 1892 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) of the Karoo with the description of nine new species and a Stasimopus maraisi Hewitt 1914 male.

The genus Stasimopus Simon 1892 is endemic to Southern Africa, but is historically largely understudied. This paper provides a taxonomic revision for the Stasimopus species of the Karoo region of South Africa and includes the description of nine new species (S. dylani sp.

The phylogenetic structure and coalescent species delimitation of an endemic trapdoor spider genus, Stasimopus (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Stasimopidae) in the Karoo region of South Africa.

The Karoo region of South Africa is a unique and sensitive ecosystem which is facing pressure for development due to economic incentives such as mining, farming and shale gas exploration. The species diversity of many taxa in the area is largely unknown. A phylogenetic analysis of the cork-lid trapdoor spider genus, Stasimopus (Stasimopidae) was undertaken in order to gain insight into the relationships between the species that may be present in the area.

A survey of Diphya Nicolet, 1849 (Araneae: Tetragnathidae) from South Africa.

In this paper, five species of Diphya Nicolet, 1849 are recognized in the fauna of South Africa. Four of these species are new: D. foordi sp.

The South African genus Lepthercus Purcell, 1902 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae): phylogeny and taxonomy.

After more than a century, the genus Lepthercus Purcell, 1902 is revised. Lepthercus dregei Purcell, 1902 and L. rattrayi Hewitt, 1917 are redescribed; with the female of L.

Jocquestus, a new genus of trachelid sac spiders from the Afrotropical Region (Arachnida: Araneae).

The new dark sac spider genus Jocquestus gen. nov. (Araneae: Trachelidae) is proposed for two species of Afrotropical trachelid spiders, J.