[ID] Opilione

[Fauna]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Thanks for the confirmation; it's always gratifying to hear of a success.

At that size and time of the year I would say it was an adult.

This species is one of the earlier season harvestmen and usually die off towards the end of the year. Eggs hatch during late autumn and the tiny juveniles spend the winter hiding amongst leaf litter etc.

Cheers for the info Geoff. I hope to come across more of these in this year?. Would be interesting to check out those pedipalps etc on others of the same species.

Also, i just recently found a number of Sabacon viscayanum ramblaianum, most seemed to be juvs, though one was slightly larger than the rest. Do you know the adult size of these?

Regards Chris...

[Geoff F]

Are you certain about the identity of Sabacon, Chris?

What area of the UK? You mentioned finding the other specimen on a colliery tip but is that in South Wales? They are a rare species that is only found at a few locations in that area. First recorded around 20 years ago.

From my book, adults are around 4mm body size and are usually encountered during the late summer/autumn but there appears to be little known about their lifestyle.

[Fauna]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Are you certain about the identity of Sabacon, Chris?

What area of the UK? You mentioned finding the other specimen on a colliery tip but is that in South Wales? They are a rare species that is only found at a few locations in that area. First recorded around 20 years ago.

From my book, adults are around 4mm body size and are usually encountered during the late summer/autumn but there appears to be little known about their lifestyle.

Again thanks for the info...yes i'm in South Wales.

I've contacted a couple of local recorders, i did get this response from the guy who looked at the R. triangularis...but as till now no adult size as been given.

A quick note on Sabacon. The available records suggest it is quite a rare species but you are likely going to find it in most of your sites. It is now very common in South Wales and seems to be quickly spreading. I get it here in the Beech woodland in Cardiff , but have found it in caves, tip sites and above 600m in the Beacons.

The habitat was interesting, it was North facing scrubby heath (heather, birch, whinberry etc). I found them under a piece of board. There is and old cave that has been filled in (except for a very small opening) very close to where these where found.

Pm also sent.

Regards Chris...

[Geoff F]

I hope there won't be any objections if I include one small item from Harvestmen by P. Hillyard, Field Studies Council.



Note the unique shape of the end of the pedipalp. The other thing to look for is a rather wide ocularium, twice as wide as deep. Mostly black but with a white division between the eyes. Second leg 15-20 mm for adults.

Occurrence, damp woodland or woodland edges also often found on old industrial sites; which does fit.

But we really need an expert here. And that means Gordon; although he may pass this one onto Arp, who used to visit this site under the name of Pudding for Brains.

[Fauna]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

I hope there won't be any objections if I include one small item from Harvestmen by P. Hillyard, Field Studies Council.



Note the unique shape of the end of the pedipalp. The other thing to look for is a rather wide ocularium, twice as wide as deep. Mostly black but with a white division between the eyes. Second leg 15-20 mm for adults.

Occurrence, damp woodland or woodland edges also often found on old industrial sites; which does fit.

But we really need an expert here. And that means Gordon; although he may pass this one onto Arp, who used to visit this site under the name of Pudding for Brains.

Those pedipalps ar really quirky and distinctive looking on these, they are deffinetly the one .

I nearly overlooked them at first. But when i took a good close look i could see they had those pedipalps. Their behaviour was also interesting, when i got close to them, they would fold in thier legs, fall over sideways and just lie there motionless.

They where mostly just over 1mm, the larger one was about 2mm...

Regards Chris...

[Geoff F]

Writing about them in 1984, C. Merrett said 'Sabacon lies flat with legs extended; it can easily be overlooked due to it's dark greyish hue and when disturbed will curl up and feign death.

[Fauna]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Writing about them in 1984, C. Merrett said 'Sabacon lies flat with legs extended; it can easily be overlooked due to it's dark greyish hue and when disturbed will curl up and feign death.

If i do come across them again i will try to take a pic of them doing this, though i doubt it will be a good photo...but you never know.

Regards Chris...

[Fauna]

Found another Rilaena triangularis today with the same shape pedipalps etc (can't see them in this photo i had to look with a hand lens).




I also came across more juv Sabacon viscayanum ramblaianum juvs... did manage these poor photos of one. Again, you can't make out the pedipalps in the photos i managed to get.





I did try to get them feigning death, but those photos are totaly useless. You had to be really carefull when turning boards etc to veiw these, any disturdance and they would curl up and fall off before you could view them. The breeze did not help much either, they kept on blowing away. I'm going to give up trying for photos of these lol...at least untill i across an adult.

Regards Chris...

[Geoff F]

You should be getting adults by July.

Those photographic records of the juveniles are interesting as the overall lifestyle of this species still appears to be somewhat uncertain.

[Fauna]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

You should be getting adults by July.

Those photographic records of the juveniles are interesting as the overall lifestyle of this species still appears to be somewhat uncertain.

It seems like i will be in for a good chance for an adult as the juvs are in good numbers in this spot...roll on July

I've also been making notes of where, what, when etc, so hopefully i will able to contribute a bit more than just a record of sighting.

Regards Chris...