Monday 6 November 2017

Arachnida Exotica Calendar 2018 Now Available

      Arachnida Exotica Calendar 2018
      Limited edition Wall calendar
      Exotic Arachnids from around the world
      High quality 160 GSM A4 210 x 297mm
      Full colour print in self seal plastic bag.
      Now available on Etsy - HERE
      And NimBugs - HERE 



 

Friday 30 December 2016

Hogna lenta mating

Here is a short video of captive Hogna lenta (Lycosidae), mating.
The male is depositing sperm with his pedipalps.

Sunday 1 February 2015

Green Huntsman Spider - Micrommata sp

    Micrommata sp
    Family : Sparassidae
    Genus : Micrommata

    Sparassids lie in wait and grab passing prey. Mating begins with the male
    gripping the female's leg or abdomen in his chelicerae, it can last up to seven
    hours.
    This photograph was taken by my good friend, Gary Bradley,
    of UKSafari.com, on his barge in the North East of France. Gary tells me
    that they are in abundance in the area.
    Source : Spider Recording Scheme, Collins Field Guide to Spiders of
    Britain and Northern Europe - Michael J. Roberts, Spiders of Britain and
    Northern Europe - Dick Jones.
   Micrommata sp - M. virescens or M. ligurina
    Photograph by Gary Bradley
    Moussey, France
    September 2014

Sunday 16 November 2014

Philodromus cespitum

  Philodromus cespitum
  Family : Philodromidae
  Genus : Philodromus 
  Known as the Turf running spider. 

    Female Philodromus cespitum
    Bevendean Down, Brighton, East Sussex
    21.06.14
    I found this spider on gorse at Bevendean Down, Brighton, East Sussex. It
    appears to have a hitcher - a young Velvet mite. The mite feeds on the spider,
    but does not harm it, as it will eventually drop off when approaching
    adulthood.
    "This is almost certainly the form which has an overall pale top surface to the 
    abdomen. Philodromus cespitum and others in the aureolus group are very 
    variable, and can't generally be identified from photos, and lots of 
    arachnologists have trouble even under a microscope, but this is the one 
    variety which is pretty certain". 
    Peter Harvey - British Arachnological Society