Exploring the garage’s arachnofauna: first record of Psilochorus simoni (Berland, 1911) (Araneae: Pholcidae) in Madrid (Spain), with an updated discussion of its worldwide distribution
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/graellsia.2026.v82.802Keywords:
Araneae, Pholcidae, Psilochorus simoni, Synanthropic spiders, Urban biodiversity, Species distribution, Arthropod monitoringAbstract
Urban ecosystems can harbor a surprising diversity of arthropods, including spiders that have adapted to human-modified environments. As part of a bioblitz conducted by the spider seminar at the Complutense University of Madrid, a survey was carried out in an underground parking lot to document synanthropic spider species. Among the six species recorded, Psilochorus simoni (Berland, 1911) was identified for the first time in the province of Madrid. This American-origin cellar spider is considered both troglophilic and synanthropic, and has spread across much of Europe, yet records from the Iberian Peninsula remain scarce. An updated distribution map was generated using literature records and data from BOLD and GBIF. The species’ presence in a garage, along with its limited dispersal capacity, suggests passive introduction via vehicles. These findings expand the known distribution of P. simoni in the Iberian Peninsula and suggest that other populations may be going unnoticed. Further monitoring of human-associated environments is encouraged to improve our understanding of arachnid biodiversity in cities.
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