ID : Four spider specimens.

[Andrew C]

Hello WAB,

During an Arachnid training day last Saturday, plenty of spiders were collected at Aylesbeare Common in East Devon. I managed to gather a decent haul of specimens. However, the indoor session with the microscopes, etc was not as I expected and many people had collected spiders then killed them in alcohol for nothing as few were identified. I managed to come away with just Agelena labyrinthica and Enoplognatha ovata.

To pull something out of this waste, I took a few images of some before the session ended hoping to get some more identifications. I have uploaded two such images.

In image one I think I might have (C) Theridion sysyphium and (A) Neriene peltata. I have no idea what B could be.

As for the second image, I have no idea what this could be either.

Can anyone offer any suggestions for the specimens featured in the images please? All specimens were collected from heathland.

Regards,
Andrew.

[MattPrince]

Oi - speak for yourself - here's my haul:-

Philodromus Cespitum
Larinoides Cornutus
Pardosa Pullata
Araneus Quadratus
Cheiracanthium Erraticum
Meta Segmentata
Theridion Sisyphium ( as in spider C )
Lepthyphantes Obscurus
Mangora Acalypha

Plus many Garden Crosses and lots of Agylena that were spared the Vladivar...

If you've still got your haul in alcohol Andrew, we can sort out some point to go through them under a 'scope

[MattPrince]

besides... I think Mr Smithers took the material - so I suspect they will all get identified!

B looks like a rather pale Ther. Sisy.

Cheers,
Matt

[Andrew C]

Cheers Matt, sadly I do not have the specimens any longer as I chucked them outside for the birds unaware that Mr Smithers wanted them to take home. Doh!

It still gave me enough to have a go at some spiders as soon as I get a microscope with decent lighting.

Do you rckon it is good enough to have Theridion Sisyphium in ink?

Did you manage to nail the wasp species from Harpford?

Cheers,
Andrew.

[frits_b]

A: Anelosimus vittatus
B: Theridion (but not sisyphium or impressum)
C: Theridion sisyphium/impressum (must be distinguished by genital)

2nd pic: looks like a Drassodes species.

[Andrew C]

Evening Frits,

Thanks ever so much. I am glad to get at least one good ID out of that lot.

Regards,
Andrew.

[MattPrince]

Morning Andrew, I'll post the sphecid photo's later in the week, either here or on BWARS.

The lighting makes all the difference doesn't it? I'm using a scope without a decent light set up and fiddling about with an LED like we did on the day.

I reckon its easy to make a start, but I bet a *lot* of specimens have to pass under the scope before you can recall species names and confusion risks with confidence like Frit above.

As for impressum/sisyphium, considering the distribution of impressum seems to peter out rapidly as you move West in Britain, its much more likely to be sisyphium. (Not denying Frits point about genitalia to be certain)

Cheers,
Matt

[Andrew C]

Morning Matt,

Hopefully I can be in a position to get a half decent microscope before the summer is out to have a go at a few arachnids plus other stuff.

Cheers,
Andrew.