Zelotes laetus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872)

Sherwood, Danniella, Marusik, Yuri M., Sharp, Adam & Ashmole, Philip, 2023, A survey of Gnaphosidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from Ascension Island with description of a new species of Australoechemus Schmidt & Piepho, 1994, African Invertebrates 64 (3), pp. 291-302 : 291

Zelotes laetus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872)

Zelotes laetus : Levy 1998: 122, figs 58-61 (♂♀).

Other citations.

For complete list of taxonomic references, see WSC (2023).

Material examined.

Ascension Island • 1♂, 1♀ ; South Gannet Pools ; -7.9865, -14.4015; 23-27 March 1990; Lava; P. Ashmole and M. Ashmole leg.; ASC 0830 • 1♂ Perfect Crater ; -7.92, -14.36; pitfall trap baited with meat; 27th January 2022; A. Sharp leg. ASC H14 3 PFM • 1♂ Georgetown ; -7.93, -14.4 1; pitfall trap baited with fish; 4th February 2022; A. Sharp leg.; ASC B15 2 PFF • 1♂ Dark Crater ; -7.96, -14.39; pitfall trap; 15th February 2022; A. Sharp leg.; ASC E19 1 PFU • 1 imm. Ascension Island; -7.97, -14.39; 15.II.2022; superficial deposits; collected by hand; A. Sharp leg.; ASC E19 2 HC • 1 imm. Ascension Island; -7.93, -14.41; 04.II.2022; Intermediate Zr / Nb mafic flows (Younger flows); collected via litter extraction; A. Sharp leg.; ASC B15 1 LC • 1 imm. ♀, 1 imm. ; Ascension Island; -7.96, -14.38; Low Zr / Nb mafic flows; collected by hand; A. Sharp leg.; ASC E19 3 HC • 1♂ ; North East Bay ; -7.919, -14.344; 29.I.2013; pitfall trap; L. F. White leg.; ASC01117 • 1♂ ; same data as preceding except 28.II.2013; ASC01197 • 1♀ ; same data as preceding except 26.III.2013; ASC01354 • 1♂ ; same data preceding; ASC01376 • 1 imm. ; same data as preceding except 21.V.2013; ASC01683 • 1 imm. ; same data as preceding except 23.IV.2023; ASC01527 • 1♂ ; same data as preceding except 06.XII.2012; ASC00867 • 1♂ Ascension Island; -7.94, -14.37; collected between August-November 1957; E. A. Duffey leg.; No. 11; NHMUK .

Remarks.

Invasive. Originally described by Pickard-Cambridge (1872) from ‘Palestine’ (modern Israel), known from West Palaearctic, introduced to Hawaii, USA, Mexico, and Peru ( WSC 2023). First recorded on Ascension Island by Ashmole and Ashmole (1997) under the junior synonym Zelotes inauratus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872 (types in OUMNH examined by DS) although a male was also found in the Duffey collection at NHMUK. Recently collected specimens confirm its continued presence on the main island.