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Araneidae, Neoscona sp
Small spider (around 5 mm), with redish black body and long white hair. It has distinctive hooks in the second pair of legs, and the enlarged pedipalps show it is a male.
Spotted on Oct 24, 2012
Submitted on Oct 25, 2012
7 Comments
Verrucosa sp. male
MArtin, when I was researching about this spider I got that info. Unfortunately, the sources I found always relate this feature (the hooks) to tarantulas, funnel web spiders and the like. This one was laying on the underside of a leaf, waiting for a prey, like Thomisidae spiders do. Anyway, the hooks and the long hairs on its body somewhat resembles a tarantula. More research is needed, but the sources are so few... Now that I am in touch with the guys at the University here, I hope I'll get more info about it and the other spiders I spotted. When I come across the huge amount of info about North American and European species, I feel I am in the poor side of the road...
The hooks on the second pair of legs are also male features on some spiders. He can hold her fangs at a distance while he transfers the spermatophore.
http://www.picstock.com/gallery/tarantul...
Holy. Moly.
Nice spotting, but terrifying looking.
Thank you, Jolly. Yes, the boxing glove like pedipalps show it is a male.
Awesome series Sergio. I suppose this one is a male?