Calling all spider nerds...

[Dannica]

Hi there,

I'm Dannie, new here.. obviously. And I have a question straight away:
I've got a college assignment due in in about three weeks' time (eek!). This one is a 'Portfolio Of Species', and I just so happen to have gone for spiders as my chosen inverte. They have always scared the flying monkeys out of me, so what better inverte to choose?!

Anyway, I've got very wrapped up in collecting and attempting IDing; not the most confident in my capabilities.

I'm getting to the actual question, honest. Here it is -

Which spiders do we think are the ones most likely to be out and about at this (really-bad-for-building-a-portfolio-of-species) time of year?

I need to find, collect, correctly ID and research SIX species.

I wanted to go for crab spiders, but suspect I may have found a couple, plus some which might be orb-weavers. Then I thought perhaps house spiders. I've only come across one house spider, and it is fantastic! though it was actually found by accident because all my searching has been in the upper layer of the compost heap and in log piles, but then I came inside, happened to look up, swallowed a shout and crept forward with jar at the ready. I think these may perhaps be the "easiest" to ID as they tend to be large and not exactly subtle.

Sorry for the essay, and thank you to anyone who's read it.

Any suggestions for spider-search locations, and groups of spiders likely to be quite readliy available at the moment are most welcome.

Ta,

Dannica

[frits_b]

Hi,

A good way to collect a bunch of spiders is to hold an umbrella upside-down under a bush and beat it with a stick (the bush, I mean ;-)
You might find Tetragnatha, Philodromus, Pisaura mirabilis, Clubiona, Ero, etc.. The only drawback is that a lot of these are hard to identify to the species level.

Shaking tree branches at this time of year will produce a lot of small Theridiids, like Paidiscura pallens, Anelosimus vittatus, and Platnickina tincta (aka Keijia tincta, aka Theridion tinctum).

A lot of spiders are quite difficult to identify; the fact that most species are immature at this time of year does not help. Determining the genus shouldn't be a problem however; hopefully that's sufficient for you.

Good luck!

[nightshade]

Originally Posted by Dannica

p.s. Please feel free to email me -

Dannica never put your e-mail on a public forum
It sounds as if you have good places to look, try some pitfall traps around those areas, check frequently.

[No.9 Spider]

Hi Dannica, assuming you have to i.d. to species level you'll need a bit of outlay on equipment ie; microscope, i.d. guide etc.
Your best option is to collect species that are visually identifiable that have no similar relations. Araneus diadematus is one example, though not the ideal time of year unfortunately. Salticus scenicus is a good example that you'll get around now, just check on sunny walls on a nice day. Check out Nuctenea umbratica, it's orb web has more widely spaced spirals than most webs though you'd have to look for the spider at night. Amaurobius fenestralis and Amaurobius similis are common and can be i.d'd reasonably well, around houses under stones (under bark usually A. fenestralis) and Zygiella x-notata is an obvious and easily i.d'able species found around windows, it's orb web has a missing segment.
Unfortunately 99% of spiders require microscopical examination to determine exact species as they have similar looking species in the same family.
Good Luck.

................and welcome to WAB

[Hedera]

Welcome Dannica! Spiders are such fun. What about the common Pholcus spider found in the house and sheds etc. It quivers with indignation when you disturb it. Look into ivy growing on walls, there are often some species hiding there. Salticus are around now, and I found a crab spider - white one. Good luck with your project.

[Geoff F]

If you ask 6 people which is the commonest spider in their garden, you are likely to get 6 different replies.

For me, at this time of the year, it is definitely Pisaura mirabilis in the garden, and with Misumena vatia a long way behind.

Zygiella x-notata, as No. 9 said, is starting to appear around the windows.

But when I go for a walk in fields, etc, then the top spider is definitely Pardosa of some form. But these are difficult to identify at exact species level.

[Dannica]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Dannica never put your e-mail on a public forum
It sounds as if you have good places to look, try some pitfall traps around those areas, check frequently.

Apparently I can no longer edit my post as it has been way more than 30mins since I wrote it. Need to work out how to contact moderators to see if they can delete it.
I'm just too trusting dontcha know!!

[Dannica]

Thank you very much to everyone for the swift hurling of advice in my general direction, it is much appreciated.

I'm pretty sure I don't have to go right down to specific species level.

Hopefully I'm going to book a drop-in at a specimens collection museum in Winchester somewhere. I'm told they may have a specialist around who may be able to give me some time and guidance.

Thanks again, people
What a lovely full-on welcome, hehee!
D

[Dannica]

Cor, thankee Hedera. I was planning a forage in my garage, but I'm still trying to steel my nerves as it were. Think I need at least three weetabix and my midge head net, just to be on the safe side... to prevent all the screamings and "They're in my hair! They're in my HAIR!!" embarassment.

[nightshade]

A hand lense is useful for allsorts of stuff Dannica and not too expensive not too high a magnification or you lose the depth of field 8X is fine
Loupe Store | Loupes | Magnifying Glasses | Magnifiers |Low Vision Aids | Low Vision Video Magnifiers - Magnifying Triplet
there are many other options
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