Small black spider ID appreciated

[watsthat]

About the size of a large ant. In fact I thought it was an ant at first. I`ve looked in all my reference books and the Gallery but can`t find anything. Help would be very much appreciated.

Cheers

Pete

[Geoff F]

There are a few 'ant like' spiders but those long legs make me think about Microlinyphia sp. Probably M. pusilla which should have a pair of white patches towards the end of the abdomen.

ps. This is just an uneducated guess, so wait for one of the experts.

[frits_b]

The profile of the abdomen ad the general appearance of this spider remind me of Neriene. Two species I tend to find a lot in this time of year are Neriene montana and Neriene peltata. But these are just guesses, of course.
I suppose you don't have any other pictures?

[watsthat]

Originally Posted by frits_b

The profile of the abdomen ad the general appearance of this spider remind me of Neriene. Two species I tend to find a lot in this time of year are Neriene montana and Neriene peltata. But these are just guesses, of course.
I suppose you don't have any other pictures?

Here are some others frits_b







Pete

[frits_b]

Hmm. No visible pattern on the abdomen. Most Nerienes have some sort of pattern. Is your spider walking on a vertical surface in one of those pics? If it is, it certainly isn't Neriene.

I'm beginning to think it's something else.
Let's hope someone else has an idea ;-)

[DivingDave1980]

Hi!

This looks identical to the spider I photographed the other day, the thread is here: Spider ID - Tetragnathidae? It has some more pictures in it - I initially thought Tetragnathidae but I'm a little unsure still. I'll have a thorough look tonight and see if I can't get it down to at least family!

Dave.

[Geoff F]

The Neriene peltata males that I see in a wood every spring have very little in the way of pale colouration, while the females are extremely variable. (Never managed a 100% ID but I think I am correct with them).

The first of Pete's second batch of photos does appear to show a wider abdomen which does have a faint touch of pale colouration on top. The basic abdomen and leg colours exactly match what I have seen.

So I think Neriene peltata is a credible suggestion. Although they spend most of their time hanging upside down from a very fine web in bushes, they do sometimes fall to the ground. Large ant is about the correct size, and the time of year also fits.

[DivingDave1980]

OK, so I'm really edging on Linyphiidae now (thanks to frits and geoff for pointing me in that direction). I've had a look at Neriene and don't think it's that species, but while looking at Eurospiders website I stumbled upon this:

Macrargus rufus photos and info

Macrargus rufus, and although I know it's a pretty flimsy ID - it certainly looks like a dead ringer?

Dave

[watsthat]

Originally Posted by DivingDave1980

OK, so I'm really edging on Linyphiidae now (thanks to frits and geoff for pointing me in that direction). I've had a look at Neriene and don't think it's that species, but while looking at Eurospiders website I stumbled upon this:

Macrargus rufus photos and info

Macrargus rufus, and although I know it's a pretty flimsy ID - it certainly looks like a dead ringer?

Dave

I`d have to disagree there mate. Whereas your spider does look like mine and both appear to be males, the picture of a female Macrargus rufus has some significant differences in my opinion.
Interesting discussion never the less.

Pete

[DivingDave1980]

I completely agree. I think Neriene clathrata is probably the best guess at the moment? Neriene clathrata photos and info

Thanks go to No. 9 Spider for that.

Pete - do you think your and my spiders are the same species?

Dave.