What has a house spider for lunch?

willp2003 · #1 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 07:05 PM

Hi,

I wouldn't normally be too curious about spiders until I saw what this has lined up for it's lunch. Anyone ID it for me? Pics were a bit tricky to get due to the random web. I assume that is a house spider that's been caught?

Lunch.....

What is it?

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 07:21 PM

Looks like Pholcus phalangioides will be tucking into a Tegenaria sp.

willp2003 · #3 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 07:24 PM

Thanks, I just found some other pics on the web, which would confirm what you said.
Cheers

Jason Green · #4 (**permalink**) 26-09-2011, 09:31 PM

Welcome to WAB, agree with IDs. The Daddy Long-legs spider shown here, though pretty small and spindly-legged, is a formidable hunter and regularly kills other often bigger spiders than itself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by willp2003

Thanks, I just found some other pics on the web, which would confirm what you said.
Cheers

The Internet generally isn't 'confirmable' due to many incorrectly-identified images. Sites such as this allow regular readers to build an image of an identifier's reliability over time and on occasion, question. Jules here is a field-teacher.

wilippa · #5 (**permalink**) 05-10-2011, 04:29 PM

I'm a big fan of Pholcus - I had a family in the corner of my dining room - until my other half took the vacuum cleaner to them while I was away! I also have a specimen in my bathroom, who has recently moulted so is now rather large and this morning was devouring its breakfast while I showered. Great pictures though! :-D