Journal Article A preliminary study of development in two Latrodectus species (Araneae: Theridiidae)
L. Forster and S. Kingsford
Young spiders of two New Zealand Latrodectus species were reared to maturity. Considerable variability in growth rate, instar length, relative size, colouration, and patterning was observed both intraspecifically and interspecifically. In general, successive instars increased in length. In both species males matured in 4 moults and lived for only 4-10 weeks, whereas females matured in 6 moults and often lived for 2 years.
Keywords: Araneae; Theridiidae; Latrodectus katipo; Latrodectus atritus; New Zealand; instars; development; variability; toxic to man.
