Spider ID - Tetragnathidae?

DivingDave1980 · #1 (**permalink**) 19-04-2010, 02:42 PM

Hi!

Here I go again.....

Not quite sure about this one. It looks suspiciously like a member of the Tetragnathidae but I'm not sure... I can't really make out the eyes properly. Probably down to my new flash diffuser which is producing light that is a bit harsh...

It was in the grass (and weeds!) and about 6-8mm ish.

Any ideas? Is it quite a common species? Hope you can help (again!).

Thanks!

Dave.

No.9 Spider · #2 (**permalink**) 19-04-2010, 05:58 PM

Not a Tetragnathidae, but possibly a Micaria species (Ant mimic) maybe Micaria pusilla (male obviously). Not at home at the minute so i.d. guideless!

No.9 Spider

No.9 Spider · #3 (**permalink**) 19-04-2010, 09:04 PM

Thinking about it further Neriene clathrata is a good possibility!

No.9 Spider

DivingDave1980 · #4 (**permalink**) 20-04-2010, 07:59 AM

Thanks No 9.

I'll have a look tonight. There is another thread with what I think is the same spider here: Small black spider ID appreciated

Dave.

DivingDave1980 · #5 (**permalink**) 20-04-2010, 08:19 PM

Macrargus rufus photos and info

Macrargus rufus, it certainly looks like a dead ringer? See other thread linked to above...

Dave

DivingDave1980 · #6 (**permalink**) 21-04-2010, 08:18 AM

On second thoughts,

Neriene clathrata looks pretty good to me! I think my specimen could be a sub-adult male - what do you think?

Sorry for all the posts - just voicing my doubts!

Dave.

No.9 Spider · #7 (**permalink**) 21-04-2010, 09:08 AM

Hi Dave, the bottom line as with 90%+ of our native spider species is that you cannot get a 100% positive i.d. without putting it under a microscope. There are often differences separating families that photo's just can't show, and even then once a family is established, Linyphiidae typically, you have to start looking at the spines on legs and the finer sensory hairs (trichobothria) to narrow the options down before comparing epigyne/palp details.
It can be a bit of a minefield out there at times and guessing can be a mile or family out

. It's good fun though

.

No.9 Spider

Geoff F · #8 (**permalink**) 21-04-2010, 06:22 PM

Just out of interest, is Macrargus rufus a UK species? That link is to a Swedish specimen and I can find any reference to the species in my Roberts.

frits_b · #9 (**permalink**) 21-04-2010, 06:27 PM

Geoff, I think it is. The Linyphidae family isn't covered completely in Roberts' field guide; M. rufus does have an entry in the 'large' three-volume Roberts.

DivingDave1980 · #10 (**permalink**) 21-04-2010, 06:29 PM

No 9: Yeah, too true. Once I realised it was Linyphiidae my heart sank! Tremendous fun though!

Geoff: Check this link: NBN Gateway: Macrargus rufus grid map definitely present in the UK - although I'm not sure it is the species I photographed. And it isn't in the field version of Roberts - although I don't have access to the full version, do you or do you have the field version too? (Edit: Frits got there before me!)

Dave.