Zelotes laetus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872)

Zelotes laetus: Levy 1998: 122, figs 58-61 (♂♀).

Other citations.

For complete list of taxonomic references, see WSC (2023).

Material examined.

Ascension Island • 1♂, 1♀; South Gannet Pools; -7.9865, -14.4015; 23-27 March 1990; Lava; P. Ashmole and M. Ashmole leg.; ASC 0830 • 1♂ Perfect Crater; -7.92, -14.36; pitfall trap baited with meat; 27th January 2022; A. Sharp leg. ASC H14 3 PFM • 1♂ Georgetown; -7.93, -14.4 1; pitfall trap baited with fish; 4th February 2022; A. Sharp leg.; ASC B15 2 PFF • 1♂ Dark Crater; -7.96, -14.39; pitfall trap; 15th February 2022; A. Sharp leg.; ASC E19 1 PFU • 1 imm. Ascension Island; -7.97, -14.39; 15.II.2022; superficial deposits; collected by hand; A. Sharp leg.; ASC E19 2 HC • 1 imm. Ascension Island; -7.93, -14.41; 04.II.2022; Intermediate Zr / Nb mafic flows (Younger flows); collected via litter extraction; A. Sharp leg.; ASC B15 1 LC • 1 imm. ♀, 1 imm.; Ascension Island; -7.96, -14.38; Low Zr / Nb mafic flows; collected by hand; A. Sharp leg.; ASC E19 3 HC • 1♂ ; North East Bay; -7.919, -14.344; 29.I.2013; pitfall trap; L. F. White leg.; ASC01117 • 1♂ ; same data as preceding except 28.II.2013; ASC01197 • 1♀; same data as preceding except 26.III.2013; ASC01354 • 1♂; same data preceding; ASC01376 • 1 imm.; same data as preceding except 21.V.2013; ASC01683 • 1 imm.; same data as preceding except 23.IV.2023; ASC01527 • 1♂; same data as preceding except 06.XII.2012; ASC00867 • 1♂ Ascension Island; -7.94, -14.37; collected between August-November 1957; E. A. Duffey leg.; No. 11; NHMUK .

Remarks.

Invasive. Originally described by Pickard-Cambridge (1872) from ‘Palestine’ (modern Israel), known from West Palaearctic, introduced to Hawaii, USA, Mexico, and Peru (WSC 2023). First recorded on Ascension Island by Ashmole and Ashmole (1997) under the junior synonym Zelotes inauratus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872 (types in OUMNH examined by DS) although a male was also found in the Duffey collection at NHMUK. Recently collected specimens confirm its continued presence on the main island.