NEW SPECIES IN THE ARACHNOFAUNA OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA FROM THE PROTECTED HABITAT OF GROMIŢELJ, VELINO SELO

Abstract

According to data given by [1], 165 spider species from 27 families and 103 genera are known in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. So far in B&H, according to [1] a total of 11 species have been registered from Fam.Aranidae and 2 species from genus Araneus; a total of 11 species from Fam.Thomisidae; a total of 11 species from Fam.Lycosidae and one species from genus Lycosa; 15 species from Fam.Theridiidae and 3 species from genus Steatoda. In the course of our research on arachnofauna in and around Gromiţelj, in the 2008-2015 period, a total of 8 spider species new to Bosnia and Herzegovina were discovered in four families, namely, from Fam. Aranidae 4 species; Fam.Thomisidae 2 species; and 1 species each from Fam.Lycosidae and Fam. Theridiidae each. Most widespread are Argiope bruennichi and Araneus angulatus that were registered in 20 sites, followed by Araneus quadratus, Synema globosum and Runcinia grammica registered in 6 sites. Sites with the most registered newly discovered species are Gromiţelj with 6 species, followed by Velino selo, Laketića vir, Prugnjaĉa, Begov put and other melioration channels with 5 species. By biotope types, the greatest number of species, six of them, were found in vegetation (wetlands, thicket, forest fringe and vegetation on the channel banks and along the roads). The species Argiope bruennichi and Araneus angulatus also showed the greatest diversity of habitats, from wet meadows, thicket and reeds around the wetland, through forest fringes and vegetation along the channel banks and roads, to those urban like yards with ornamental shrubs. Of the registered species, only the species from Fam.Thomisidae are completely harmless to humans, while the other species belong to slightly poisonous species and have a local character bite. Slightly poisonous species include the species of the genus Steatoda, Araneus, Argiope and Lycosa.