Stretch spider with uninvited guest

[Bruce Williams]

Stony Stratford, Bucks. 11th February 2010.

Size ~4.5mm excluding legs.

I found two of these and one small fly over an approx 30 minute dog walk yesterday - my worst day this year! Anyway I thought some of you might be interested in this stretch spider:



Bruce

[Action_Man]

Nice find and capture Bruce, if i come across one of these spider/parasites i`m going to keep it to see what emerges ...

[Jason Green]

Evening Bruce,

Yes, interesting - thanks for posting. It reminds me of this thread of yours, Spider with parasitic wasp larva, which turned out to be an Ichneumon Wasp as Chris R ID'd. The spider in that link reminds me of the rare red one you found recently!

Take care,

Jason

[Bruce Williams]

Gordon - Would it be easy to keep it alive long enough? Assuming I see it again I'd be prepared to give it a go if you can run me through the 'how to'.

Jason - Wow you do have an impressive memory. Yes, the spiders are similar but I'm pretty sure they're not the same species.

Bruce

[Action_Man]

Well i havent tried to keep one of these before, but i would keep it a large jar, with something that it could build a web onto, then i would put prey items in there, small flies/gnats etc:, it shouldent be too difficult to keep it alive ...

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Bruce Williams

Jason - Wow you do have an impressive memory. Yes, the spiders are similar but I'm pretty sure they're not the same species.

Well, I had to run a WAB search to find it!

More specifically I was referring a particular past thread I believe was initiated by you, and I think the infected spider was a Crab sp. such as Diaea dorsata...

Try this link: http://hedgerowmobile.com/Polysphincta.html - it features a Stretch Spider with a similar parasite larva. My search for the thread I'm remembering has drawn a blank - where is it?!

[Meta menardi]

[quote]Bruce Williams;593971]Gordon - Would it be easy to keep it alive long enough? Assuming I see it again I'd be prepared to give it a go if you can run me through the 'how to'.

QUOTE]

Spiders are normally able to exist for long periods with only minimal food. That sounds as though they can, but shouldn't, but it is their normal way of living.
They do need water, but even small amounts of moisture, such as a piece of damp tissue, is sufficient. This, of course, is when they they are not paraticised. When they are their needs may be different, but if the parasite is effecient, the needs should not be radically different.

Observations on even an individual level may add to the current knowledge, it is in many ways still very sparse.

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

Observations on even an individual level may add to the current knowledge, it is in many ways still very sparse.

I couldn't agree more, Meta!

[Bruce Williams]

Jason - I'll check my earlier postings and get back

Phil - Thanks for the helpful advice - I will keep an eye out for this individual.

Bruce

[Meta menardi]

[quote=Meta menardi;593998][quote]when they they are not paraticised. QUOTE]

Blimey, a new word!