Field identification of katipo
Marion E. Sutton (Author), Brendon R. Christensen (Author), J. Hutcheson (Author), New Zealand Department of Conservation
A recent preliminary survey of katipo (Latrodectus spp.) along the Bay of Plenty coastline found spiders that were clearly morphologically different, although they shared many of the known katipo features. The combination of these aspects made the identification of katipo in the field somewhat difficult, especially when encountering many juvenile animals. We reviewed the literature concerning the identification of katipo and Steatoda spp. in the field, received advice from people working with katipo, and observed the key morphological differences using a dissecting microscope. A combination of the spiders' colour, surface appearance, markings, general body shape, and especially the difference between the lateral eye spacings are helpful in identifying and distinguishing between the katipo species, and similar spider species
Print Book, English, ©2006
Science & Technical Publishing, Dept. of Conservation, Wellington, N.Z., ©2006