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| | Welcome to our newest member, lemajanyvb | |  | 
05-05-2008, 12:46 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SW London
Posts: 1,083
| | | spiders for possible ID
Don't know if the male provided the beetle snack to keep the larger female occupied? Medium sized spiders on low vegetation in Richmond Pk.  |
05-05-2008, 08:07 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SW London
Posts: 1,083
| | | Re: spiders for possible ID
another view, could be a spider on spider kill?  |
05-05-2008, 09:15 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Nottingham
Posts: 1,656
| | | Re: spiders for possible ID
No, this is definitely mating - looks like a Xysticus sp, though obviously I can't confirm (no chance of seeing palps or epigyne as they are 'busy'  )
The female will adopt a submissive role and the male will tie her up (basically - a thin silken net over her abdomen and legs.)
Once secure he'll lift her to mate.
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05-05-2008, 10:00 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Cheshire and North Wales
Posts: 1,125
| | | Re: spiders for possible ID
Toby, excellent photo's, but to find Xysticus in the act of mating is an amazing chance opportunity, I'm really jealous as I've not observed it myself in all my spider hunting years.
The typical mating of Xysticus was, as far as I am aware first noted in literature by W.S. Bristowe in his 1958 'The World of Spiders' after he observed the behaviour in the 1930's. I believe he coined the term 'bridal veil' for the web the male ties the female down with.
Although it is well known for male Pisaura mirabilis to give a prey offering to the female prior to mating, I cannot find any record of Xysticus doing this. Chances are the female was already in possession of the beetle, but you never know!
No.9 Spider 
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05-05-2008, 12:34 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SW London
Posts: 1,083
| | | Re: spiders for possible ID
thanks for the ID and fascinating information. | | |
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