The southern area of the Atlantic Rainforest in the state of Bahia is suffering an accelerated fragmentation process by antropic action with the consequent alteration in the faunistic composition. The spiders are one of the dominant faunistic groups, and its importance for the stability of the ecosystems is unquestionable. The present research aim the investigating and comparing relative abundance and composition in species of soil spiders in the six environments forests: cocoa plantation in cabruca, capoeira, edge and interior of forest fragment, and edge and interior of continuous forest, located near the cities of Ilhéus and Una, state of Bahia. Six replicates were carried out in each environments, totalizing 36 sampling transects. In each transect 10 pitfall traps, with 6,0 cm opening diameter, were placed in straight lines, 15 m from each other. The preserving liquid used was formol 4% and the pitfall traps were left in the field for seven days. A total of four carried out between October/1999 and September/2000. The occurrence of 98 morphospecies, belonging to 38 genera and 30 families was verified. Of a total of the 2090 collected spiders only the 1450 adult specimens were used for the statistical analysis. The most abundant families were Salticidae (26,55%), Oonopidae (20,07%) and Pholcidae (7,03%). In relation to species richness, the families that stood out were Salticidae (34,69%), Oonopidae (9,18%), Corinnidae and Ctenidae (5,1%). It was not possible to detect differences between relative abundance and species composition of the sampled environments. However, the maintenance of the considered environments is important in order to preserve the araneofauna in the southern area of Bahia, once they represent the local landscape. Key words : Atlantic Forest, spiders, soil, Neotropical, pitfall traps.. ResumoA faixa de Mata Atlântica do Sul da Bahia vem sofrendo acelerado processo de fragmentação por ação antrópica, com conseqüente alteração da sua composição faunística. As aranhas constituem um dos grupos predadores dominantes no solo de florestas e sua importância para a estabilidade dos ecossistemas é indiscutível. A pesquisa teve o objetivo de comparar abundância relativa e composição em espécies de aranhas de solo em 6 ambientes florestais: cacaual em cabruca, capoeira, borda e interior de fragmento de mata e borda e interior de mata contínua, localizados nos municípios de Ilhéus e Una. Para cada um dos ambientes analisados existiam um total de seis repetições, totalizando 36 transectos. As aranhas foram amostradas em transectos, em cada um, foram utilizadas 10 armadilhas de queda "pitfall" com diâmetro de abertura 6,0 cm, posicionadas em linha, a cada 15 m. O conservante utilizado foi formol a 4% e o tempo de permanência das armadilhas no campo foi de sete dias. No total, foram realizadas quatro coletas entre outubro de 1999 e setembro de 2000. Foram coletadas 2090 aranhas, das quais apenas 1450 espécimes adultos e estes foram os utilizados nas análises estatísticas. Entre os adultos foi ...

redescription and distribution of Latrodectus geometricus in Uruguay (Araneae: Theridiidae). Biota Neotrop. 13(1): http:// www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v13n1/en/abstract?short-communication+bn02813012013Abstract: This study provides the first accurate records of Latrodectus geometricus C. L. Koch, 1841 for Uruguay and extends the known distribution of this species to the Southeastern region of South America. Data and figures of the genitalic morphology for the recognition of the species and natural history in this country are indicated. In Uruguay L. geometricus was mainly restricted to urban areas at the west of this country and it is associated with locations with high human activity.

ABSTRACT. 8ehavior and diet supply of Lalrodeclus group Maclans (Araneae, Theridiidae) in captivity. Lalrodeclus gr. maclans is responsible for 28% of aI! accidents provoked by spiders in state of Bahia, Brazil (1980-1990, which makes necessary the study ofits manejament. The spiders were captured in Ondina, Salvador, and in Baxio, Esplanada (Bahia, Brazil); they were mantained in captivity, with food supply weekly (Alia sp., larva of Tenebrio sp. and Drosophila me/anogasler) with three hours/ offers observation time, during march/95 to april/96. ln captivity, the spiders accepted two kinds of food : Alia sp., which seems to be the major item of its diet in natural conditions, and larva of Tenebrio sp. , which is not available in natural conditions. Drosophi/a l1Ie/anogasler was systematically rejected. The feeding behavior is composed by four distinct steps: ( I) immobilization, (2) inoculation, (3) second immobilization and (4) ingestion. Two kinds ofsocial alimentalY behavior are described. The results indicated that larvae of Tenebrio sp. can be an alternative supply for successfull maintenance ofthis specie in captivity.