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A review on the global spread of the non-native spider Howaia mogera (Yaginuma, 1972) (Araneae: Nesticidae), with first records for the Iberian Peninsula
Global knowledge of spiders is hindered by information deficits that limit the scientific community′s understanding of their species diversity, ecology, distribution, and behaviour. This issue is particularly pronounced for species inhabiting less-studied environments, such as subterranean ecosystems. The number of records of alien species in subterranean ecosystems has risen in recent decades; however, the scientific literature on this topic is still mostly absent or primarily anecdotal. Howaia mogera (Yaginuma, 1972) is a spider species native to Asia associated with subterranean ecosystems, that currently shows a continuous expansion outside its native range. Here, we review the available scientific literature on records for Howaia mogera, trying to identify spatiotemporal patterns in research devoted to this species out of its native area. Secondly, we describe the first record of this species and genus in the Iberian Peninsula. The observations described took place in a subterranean archaeological area located under the town of Carmona, Seville, southwest Spain. The limited knowledge about the expansion pattern of the species in Spain and other countries poses a significant challenge for researchers and conservationists in the current context of global change, where biological invasions are among the most impactful drivers. The discrete behaviour of these species and the less-studied habitats they inhabit likely constrain a better understanding of their expansion elsewhere. Adequate monitoring of this species and cooperation between experts in subterranean ecosystems are essential for a more complete understanding of the processes that explain where and how the species is thriving outside its native area, the potential impacts on native invertebrates co-occurring in subterranean ecosystems, and the pathways used for its expansion.
