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Lots of these Theridiidae spiders were found on the rocky path, in their web beneath stones. Must be targeting crawling ground prey for them dwelling this low. The first 2 pictures is the male while the rest of the pictures is the female. The best name I could think of to describe this species is "Stone Spider" for their hunting behavior, but the name was taken by Drassodes lapidosus already. I originally thought they are either Corrinidae or Zodariidae (Storena sp.) since they are ground-dwelling but now I am sure that they are Theridiidae, looks similar to Steatoda gui from China. Eggs (spherical, small, and white) are also attached underneath the stones. The male individual is 6.5mm while the female is 5mm. The female is possibly still a juvenile. The female has a dark maroon abdomen while the male spider is black. There are white line markings on the abdomens too.
Under stones on the small stony road from Sri Kinabalu Resort (former names: BCCM, Aristo) to the nearest aerial tower.
We stayed in Sri Nabalu Resort (Aristo resort at that time) in Kundasang. While walking to the aerial tower nearby (see the map zoomed, just just below the location I found these spiders), I've decided to examine some of the colourful stones on the path. The small road was just a path filled with stones. I found a stone with silks and a spider under the stone. After lifting several stones, I've discovered that this species are common and are the only stone-dwelling spiders here. >>>Map accuracy : 50m diameter.
Spotted on Dec 15, 2009
Submitted on Oct 15, 2011
5 Comments
I now think that they are actually Theridiid Spiders.
Asagena sp.
Just got some breakthrough about it's ID.
These are Ground Spiders (Zodariidae).
I believe they are from the genus Storena.
My "theory" is that both are males but the the first one is an adult while the other one is not matured yet.
The older male does not bother about the presence of the younger male because it does not see it as a threat.
The pedipalps of adult male spiders are swollen. I always say they look like they are ready to box :) Both of the spiders you have pictured here have swollen pedipalps. If the pedipalps were not swollen, it would be female, or an immature spider of either sex.
Spiders of either sex will eat other spiders, even if they are of the same Species. Males and females only come together to mate or the male will hang around (such as make a web close by) the female waiting to mate but they don't usually live together. Why they were under the same rock I don't have an answer, too. Maybe they were boxing :)
This is still a mystery to me.
If both of them are males and from a different species, why are they both together under a same stone?
Couldn't possibly be symbiosis.
Great pictures! Looking at the palps of these two spiders I would say that they are both male so different species all together.