http://aridspiders.nms.edu

The arid Southwest can be defined as being composed of the states of Arizona and New Mexico, and part of the states of California and Texas and possibly Utah and Nevada. The northern parts of the Mexican states of Baja California Norte, Sonora, and Chihuahua could also be included in this region. The current work is, however, centered on the Arizona-New Mexico-West Texas part of the arid Southwest, although it should be useful in the other mentioned areas.

The arid Southwest so defined includes the northern parts of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts, except for the extreme western part of the former in California, as well as a small portion of the Mojave and Great Basin Deserts. In reality it could be argued that the extensions of the two deserts in Mexico should be included and the far northern parts of Arizona and New Mexico excluded.

However the fauna south of the United States border is even less defined than that to the north and a complete treatment of the faunas of Arizona and New Mexico is necessary for regulatory purposes, as well as for public use. It is helpful to keep in mind that such treatments are inherently artificial and really do not reflect the true picture of ecosystems any more than do bird or wildflower manuals for given political units.

Even with these limitations, the fauna is huge, well over 1000 species. This current study is an attempt to describe this fauna for the use of Arachnologists, entomologists, extension workers, naturalists and private citizens, who might want to know whether the spider they found in their house is venomous or wish to encourage the pest-catching activities of spiders in their house or garden.

NOTE: THE SPIDERS OF THE ARID SOUTHWEST IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING MAJOR REVISION TO BRING IT UP TO DATE. THUS CERTAIN PARTS HAVE BEEN EXPANDED OR RETRACTED AND SOME ARE YET TO BE REVISED. IN GENERAL THE LISTS ARE FIRST BROUGHT UP TO DATE AND THEN THE TAXONOMIC SECTIONS SO AT TIMES THE TWO MAY NOT MATCH EACH OTHER IN CERTAIN TAXA. IT IS HOPED THAT THE ENTIRE PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETELY UPDATED BY THE END OF THE YEAR (2009).

Contact information

David B. Richman
Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science
Skeen Hall, W168
Las Cruces, N.M. 88003
Phone: 575-646-7082
Fax: 575-646-8087
Email: nmbugman@taipan.nmsu.edu