Pandava laminata (Thorell, 1878) was recorded for the first time from Germany at the Cologne Zoo. The species was most likely introduced with plants or cargo from Southeast Asia. Characters important for identification at species, genus and family level are listed and partly illustrated.

In September 2005, one male specimen of the wolf spider genus Alopecosa was discovered and photographed in heathland near Haltern, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It was identified as A. barbipes (Sundevall, 1833), as it showed the species- and sex-specific tibial hair-brush absent in the sibling species A. accentuata. Three years later, two other specimens of A. barbipes were collected in the same area. These findings indicate that the species is more widespread than originally thought. Some details concerning the distribution of A. accentuata and A. barbipes and the problem of synonymy are discussed.

Spiders were collected at the massif 'Panský diel' near the city of Banská Bystrica (Central Slovakia). We recorded 252 spider species for the territory and one new species for Slovakia. Although the summit reaches an altitude of 1.100 m a.s.l., more or less thermophilous species apparently prevail here, especially at lower moderate sites. On the other hand, only several typical oreophilous species were documented. Many recorded species are scarce or even very rare. This indicates the very high value of this territory from both a genetic and an environmental perspective.

In the course of a long term survey on the effects of grazing on the diversity of alpine grasslands, the false scorpion Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) poeninus Mahnert, 1979 was recorded for the first time outside of Switzerland. The preferred habitat at the locality Alpe Einödsberg (Germany, Bavaria) differs strongly from previous findings. Our data suggest an association with Nardus grasslands (Geo montani-Nardetum), whereas earlier records originated from leaf litter, moss and mouldy trunks. Furthermore, the new records between 1540 m and 1973 m above sea level are the first from the subalpine region of the Alps (hitherto C. poeninus was known from 550 m to 1450 m). In the study region, extensive grazing seems to have a positive effect on the abundance of the species, while it is missing from intensively grazed pastures.

In a survey of the spider fauna in greenhouses of the Botanic Garden Berlin-Dahlem, 30 spider species were recorded. Two species are new to Europe: Theotima minutissima (Petrunkevitch, 1929) and Heteroonops spinimanus (Simon, 1891). T. minutissima is the first member of the family Ochyroceratidae reported from Europe. Oecobius navus Blackwall, 1859 is new to Central Europe. Triaeris stenaspis Simon, 1891, is recorded from Germany for the first time. Zodarion italicum (Canestrini, 1868) is new to eastern Germany. Despite the discovery of some species previously unknown to Germany, the spider fauna in the Botanic Garden consisted mainly of wellknown synanthropic species and common inhabitants of greenhouses. Several alien spiders recently found in greenhouses, garden centers and houses were not recorded in the Botanic Garden. The species composition of the exotic spider fauna in greenhouses seems to depend chiefly on the specific modes of acquisition of plants and plant substrate.

Linyphia triumphalis Denis, 1952 was found to be a junior synonym of Centromerus pabulator (O.P.-Cambridge, 1875) (Araneae, Linyphiidae). New synonymy.

obituary; bibliography, Michael Ilmari Saaristo

book review: Rainer Foelix, Bruno Erb & Michael Hauswirth (2007): Mikroskopische Anatomie der Spinnen.

book reviewJörg Wunderlich (2008): Fossil and extant spiders (Araneae). Fossile und heutige Spinnen. – Beiträge zur Araneologie 5: 1-870

Spider of the Year 2009

congress report

congress invitation

The spider fauna of open habitats adjacent to arable land was investigated in northern Switzerland. The three habitat types were (1) herbaceous edges of fields (Sa), (2) fallow land sowed with flowers (BB), and (3) grass borders of fields (GS). Four funnel pitfall traps (10 cm diameter) were used to catch spiders in three stripe-types in two geographical regions in two years over 5 weeks in May and June: in total 12 sets of data. Spider species typical for open habitats were dominant, mostly lycosids (6 of the 10 most active species). The results were analysed together with environmental factors using a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and spiders were compared with carabid beetles (Coeloptera: Carabidae). Geographical region, though not very distant, had the largest influence on both spiders and carabids. The age and type of the habitats had a stronger influence on spiders than on carabids. In spiders a larger part of the total variance was explained by the analysed factors. Finally we discuss briefly a remarkable spider species. A review of all known records of Phrurolithus nigrinus in Switzerland and Germany, together with adjacent regions in France, is given. Its phenology is indicated, its habitat discussed and the overall distribution within Europe is listed.

A list of records of 10 spider species that have not been recorded for Schleswig-Holstein/Germany so far and that were found between the years 2004 and 2007 is given. Additional notes about some other 18 species from the regional red list are made.

The rare money spider Walckenaeria simplex Chyzer, 1894 was found in 2007 near the city of Meißen (Germany) on a rock overlooking the river Elbe. This is the northernmost occurrence of the species. W. simplex is distributed from Central to South Eastern Europe. The species is thermophilous and prefers wooded slopes with a southern exposition.

book review: John Murphy (2007): Gnaphosid genera of the world.

In the summers of 2006 and 2007 presumed bites of Cheiracanthium spiders triggered mass hysteria in Austria and some regions of Germany, including northern Saxonia. Here we report the first records of Cheiracanthium mildei L. Koch, 1864 from Saxony and new records of C. punctorium (Villers, 1789) from Saxony and Brandenburg. C. punctorium is probably a native species in southern Germany. It shows a moderate area expansion that could be driven by global warming. Further records in north-western Saxony are to be expected. By contrast, C. mildei has to be regarded an invasive alien species that has rapidly spread into Central Europe from the Mediterranean. Leipzig is the north-easternmost locality in Europe reached so far, a further 230 km away from Nuremberg, the leading edge in 2006. A number of records in different districts of Leipzig suggest that the species is already established in the town. We also report verified bites of both species. The mild to moderate symptoms are in accordance with recent literature reviews.