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Random spider ID


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13 replies to this topic

#1 Offline dean_k - Posted March 26 2015 - 2:00 PM

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I caught a big belly spider. Initially, I was very happy because bigger gaster meant more juice inside.

 

But I decided to ID the species first. I caught 2. One died while gently ... being persuaded to be caught. The other survived.

 

So, any idea what this spider is?

 



#2 Offline LAnt - Posted March 26 2015 - 3:44 PM

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If it has the red spot, then a brown widow.

#3 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted March 26 2015 - 8:47 PM

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If it has the red spot, then a brown widow.

dean_k is in Ontario, Canada though- those extend that far???



#4 Offline Miles - Posted March 26 2015 - 9:23 PM

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Spiders are horrendous to ID. Hopefully you can get one for this specimen.


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#5 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted March 26 2015 - 9:28 PM

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Hmm... dean_k, what are you going to do with this spider? Keep it?



#6 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 26 2015 - 10:03 PM

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All the mature Brown Widows I've seen were dark brown.



#7 Offline dean_k - Posted March 27 2015 - 4:55 AM

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Hmm... dean_k, what are you going to do with this spider? Keep it?

 

Well, I keep ants and keeping a spider seems to be a conflict of interest... I mean ... what would a spider love which I have plenty? Ants...

 

Anyway, it is still alive. I am pretty sure it is a female because the other I caught was only half of its size and its gaster was significantly smaller. The size of the one that's alive is 5mm with its gaster taking 3mm of the size.

 

It is currently being kept at a THA liquid feeder which I initially caught it with. It's spun a web and it's hanging it from upside down. It seems it likes to hang upside down because I tried to turn the container upside down and it keeps going back to upside down position.

 

The only reason it is alive is because the other one I caught which I froze it for few hours was rejected by all colonies. Even Formica rejected it.



#8 Offline Crystals - Posted March 27 2015 - 6:14 AM

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There are tonnes of species of spiders even this far north.

I find the ones like that love flies.  I usually find them on the edge of the plastic siding on most houses.

 

I had a different one for a bit, it made a sort of funnel web.  I see hundreds in the grass every morning when the dew is on it.  I kept it for a few months living on fruit flies.


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#9 Offline BugFinder - Posted March 27 2015 - 10:38 AM

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It's hard to tell from the video but it does look like it could be a brown widow.  That would be my guess.


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#10 Offline dean_k - Posted March 27 2015 - 10:43 AM

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The shape is similar but the pattern on gaster is definitely not even similar. It could be just a variant of Brown Widow though.

 

I will take another video tonight for top or bottom view (or both).



#11 Offline dean_k - Posted March 27 2015 - 3:16 PM

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Here is another video. I do not think it is a widow spider.

 



#12 Offline kellakk - Posted March 27 2015 - 3:51 PM

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That looks like some kind of Steatoda sp.


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Current Species:
Camponotus fragilis

Novomessor cockerelli

Pogonomyrmex montanus

Pogonomyrmex rugosus

Manica bradleyi

 

 


#13 Offline dean_k - Posted March 27 2015 - 3:53 PM

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Googled Steatoda sp and I agree. It does look like so.

 

Edit: I believe it is Steatoda triangulosa.


Edited by dean_k, March 27 2015 - 4:02 PM.


#14 Offline antmaniac - Posted March 28 2015 - 3:48 PM

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The spiders are really easy to keep. They will eat anything live. Although they will poo at bottom of the container and smelly if closed up. The wolf spiders are most fun to watch when they hunt. It is like hunger game when there are multiple species together in one place. If wolf spider got stuck in a web, it will get eaten. On another hand, the other spiders will get hunt down. Also they can reproduce very fast too if there are plenty of food.




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