Diptera.info

Posted by Roger Thomason on 29-03-2009 03:22

Size about 3mm...Found in my greenhouse. Is it possible to put a name to such a plain looking spider?
Regards Roger

Edited by Roger Thomason on 29-03-2009 03:23

Posted by Tony Irwin on 29-03-2009 11:25

It's immature - the glassy, transluscent legs are a give-away. One of the arachnologists might suggest a genus (my guess is Tegenaria), but don't wait up for a species! ;)

Posted by Roger Thomason on 30-03-2009 08:26

Hi Tony
Yes it looks like a juvenile T.domestica, I'll keep an eye on where it has set up shop. There is an Amaurobius fenestralis lurking about 1 metre along the staging who might eat it, if not I'll see what it grows up to be, and post a photo.....how long till it's an adult?
Regards Roger

Sorry for delay in replying...We were promised an internet superhighway....ended up with a hill track with no passing places.....it's been off again :|

Edited by Roger Thomason on 30-03-2009 08:28

Posted by Juergen Peters on 30-03-2009 20:19

Hello, Roger!

Roger Thomason wrote:
Yes it looks like a juvenile T.domestica

I don't think so. T. domestica normally has more clearly banded legs (difference to T. atrica). But I am not sure if that is also true for such small spiderlings... :|

Posted by Roger Thomason on 03-04-2009 12:48

Hi Juergen...I don't know how I managed to miss your post,
just spotted it today. This is all academic now as far as this little spider is concerned. It is no more :|. She who must be obeyed has been giving the greenhouse a spring clean. T.atrica hasn't been recorded in Shetland
Regards Roger

Edited by Roger Thomason on 03-04-2009 12:52

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 03-04-2009 20:08

forget about spiderlings... unless you have the "mother" near :P

Posted by Roger Thomason on 03-04-2009 20:13

Hi Jorge
long time no hear....don't some of these have the "mother" as a first meal?

Posted by Juergen Peters on 03-04-2009 20:29

Hello, Roger!

Roger Thomason wrote:
T.atrica hasn't been recorded in Shetland

Maybe. If I remember correctly, you have (at least on the British mainland) Tegeneria gigantea there. But that is so similar to T. atrica that some specialists think, they are only forms of the same species or at most different subspecies. What I wrote regarding T. atrica also is true for T. gigantea.

Posted by Roger Thomason on 03-04-2009 20:35

Hi Juergen...Yes we have T.gigantea here, also T.saeva.
Regards Roger

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 03-04-2009 20:36

#10

Roger Thomason wrote:
Hi Jorge
long time no hear....don't some of these have the "mother" as a first meal?

there are some spiders that eat their mother.... for example, in eresid spiders. They are beauties, but "suckers."

Posted by Roger Thomason on 03-04-2009 20:42

#11

Suckers?

I'd love to carry on this conversation Jorge...but I'm going out for a couple of pints and a game of snooker :D.

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 03-04-2009 20:43

#12

pints = beers? :P

EDIT: I see! We call it Imperial , like a way to "measure" the quantity of beer (imperial is the biggest measure . The smallest is called : FINO. ) :p

Edited by jorgemotalmeida on 03-04-2009 20:46

Posted by Roger Thomason on 03-04-2009 20:46

#13

Pints = Newcastle Brown Ale, or Belhaven mmmm.

Edit..Not a lot of people know that. (Jorge)

With apologies to Michael Caine..who never uttered these words.

Edited by Roger Thomason on 04-04-2009 01:48