5 for ID/confirmation

UB4 gardener · #1 (**permalink**) 24-04-2011, 10:36 PM

first 2 i don't even know if they are mature spiders or not. is there a way to tell?

nearest i could get for this with the black patches was Theridion pictum/hemerobium but no idea really.

theridion again possibly same as above, other thought was varians

heliophanus cupreus?

Heliphanus flavipes?

thanks in advance
Chris

Geoff F · #2 (**permalink**) 25-04-2011, 07:12 PM

As you said, Chris, a couple of those could be juveniles.

In most cases it is difficult to tell a juvenile, unless you are a real expert, except that they tend to be a bit more translucent and often have a fresher 'new paint' look. Although the juveniles of some species tend to have a rather camouflaged dull colouration.

I'm certainly no expert when it comes to spiders and the first one is going to be somewhat of a guess from that angle.

But I was wondering about Theridion varians for that one with the second being a juvenile of the same species.

The Heliophanus cupreus look OK to me. A black line along the femur and tibia on all legs.

But I'm not sure about the last one. It does look a bit like H. flavipes although it has something of a juvenile look about it and doesn't easily fall into either category.

So I don't really know what to suggest for an answer; except 'wait for a real expert to come along'.