Tarantobelus arachnicida Abolafia & Peña-Santiago, 2017

Information in Alien Species in Poland database are purely scientific and not legally binding.

Status

The species is alien in whole area of its current or past occurrence in Poland

This parasite was described as a new species in 2017, on the basis of individuals collected from Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens – a tarantula spider imported to Poland from Venezuela.

Recorded in man-made habitats in the past

Casual

Parasite of companion or/and farm animals

The species has only been recorded in exotic spiders terrariums.

Invasive alien species

The parasite causes 100% mortality in exotic spiders, leading to losses in breeding. Biology of this species and the mechanism of its transmission are not known. The risk of infestation of native spiders cannot be completely excluded.

Occurrence

General description of introductions

The species was accidentally introduced to Poland from Venezuela with imported tarantula spiders Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens. First symptoms of the parasite presence in Poland were recorded in 2015.

References

• Abolafia J., Peña-Santiago R. 2017. Morphological and molecular characterization of Tarantobelus arachnicida gen. n., sp. n. (Nematoda, Rhabditida, Brevibuccidae), a parasitic nematode of tarantulas Journal of helminthology 92: 491-503. link
• Wyrobisz-Papiewska A., Kowal J., Łopieńska-Biernat E., Kornaś S., Basiaga M., Nosal P., Rubaj S., Pałasz W. 2019. Tarantobelus arachnicida (Nematoda: Rhabditida) invasion of exotic spiders in Poland Annals of Parasitology 65: 83-86. link

Life form: Nematode

Phylum: Nemata
Class: Secernentea
Order: Rhabditida
Family: Brevibuccidae