Bedroom entertainment

The Woodman · #1 (**permalink**) 17-07-2011, 07:49 AM

One of the many joys of WAB is the propagation of new interests, hence over the last couple of years I have been taking more notice of spiders and their lifestyles.

A while ago I mentioned my house population of Pholcus phalangioides and was surprised to learn that this seemingly smallish fragile looking beast that carries no meat on it's bones makes mincemeat of our native species.

I've seen a small garden snail caught it their random webs under the house and neatly spun in silk but never any spiders.

My bedroom has five inside corners - yes - due to the arrangement of the door and a Pholcus lives in every one. Please do not judge my house and my lifestyle on this fact! My few moments in a wakeful state lying in bed are occupied by spider observations these days.

Two weeks ago a new species for the house put in an appearance on the bedroom ceiling. It seems to be more than happy upside down for days on end. In its perambulations around the great desert of embossed period wallpaper, it has encountered four spindly Pholcus and either ousted them or eaten them. I suspect the latter as they are nowhere to be seen.

It has a distinctive resting attitude and reminds me of a bulldog lying in a kennel ready for action.

I'm sure it's a common species and would be grateful for a steer towards identifying this goliath amongst Mediterranean invaders.

Thank you. (It's a very wet morning after all

)

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 17-07-2011, 08:11 AM

How big is your spider? You say Goliath, so I'm guessing it's not small!

I can't match it with anything from Collins Spiders of B and NE. I know that spiders are a hard group to id though.

Pholcus are such strange spiders... they appear to survive on nothing. I do relocate mine to the garage- mainly because they tiddle everywhere and make dust traps behind doors. Oddly a day or so later, they've either found their way back in or the word gets out that there's some vacant corners, so my eight legged squatters re-appear like magic!

How do they get in btw?

Hope you get an id for your new arrival Woodman.

Farplace · #3 (**permalink**) 17-07-2011, 08:14 AM

I dont know what it is, but its splendid!

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 17-07-2011, 08:21 AM

Its Nuctenea umbratica, its native and common, and a male.

The Woodman · #5 (**permalink**) 17-07-2011, 08:24 AM

Perhaps I should have said, "A David amongst Goliaths" - sorry.

Fresh from teetering on a chair with ruler, the body is 8mm and from tip to tip of the legs as you see it in the image 24mm.

It appears to have the tips of the longest front legs resting on either its web or that of a Pholcus. Could it be using Pholcus webs to sense their presence to capture them?

In my job, I spend quite a bit of time in roof voids and come across big populations of Pholcus. They weren't here fifteen years ago, certainly not i the numbers they are now. Their randomly spun webs can totally fill some voids and like you, W-W, wonder what so many spiders can find to eat.

The Woodman · #6 (**permalink**) 17-07-2011, 08:26 AM

I raise my hat to you, Dogghound. Your knowledge of all natural things is most comprehensive. Thank you.

nightshade · #7 (**permalink**) 17-07-2011, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Woodman

I raise my hat to you, Dogghound. Your knowledge of all natural things is most comprehensive. Thank you.

I am always impressed by Dogghound, I know a little about a lot, whereas he/she knows a lot about a lot

Wild-Woman · #8 (**permalink**) 17-07-2011, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Its Nuctenea umbratica, its native and common, and a male.

Now I looked at that one but couldn't see the creamy coloured wavy edges on the one in the photo that matched the one in Collins but the abdomen looked the right shape.
Oh well, perhaps I should trust my instincts a bit more. Well done DG.

Wild-Woman · #9 (**permalink**) 17-07-2011, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

I am always impressed by Dogghound, I know a little about a lot, whereas he/she knows a lot about a lot

Yeah! Could do with a pocket sized Dogghound when I'm out and about.

wilippa · #10 (**permalink**) 26-07-2011, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Woodman

My bedroom has five inside corners - yes - due to the arrangement of the door and a Pholcus lives in every one. Please do not judge my house and my lifestyle on this fact!

I do not judge Woodman. Personally, I am a great fan of Pholcus and have hours of amusement finding these slim little creatures in all the forgotten corners of my house (there are many in a 1920s Oxford semi!). I am also fascinated by their apparent ability to live on nothing. The greatest concentration in my house is to be found in the disused cold store at the back. They grow to an impressive size in there, virtually undisturbed and, except for each other, seem to have nothing to live on at all!
Oh, I do love spiders!