Hacklemesh Weaver - Amaurobius ferox

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

Kevin & Jim, I've moved all of the photos onto the guide species page, but I'm curious whether we really need to keep all of these shots? Kevin, are their some images which are more helpful and instructive for others seeking to make an ID, or is the entire series worth keeping?

… Harsi S. Parker, 4 November, 2009 - 1:28pm

No, maybe you or Jim can pick

No, maybe you or Jim can pick out three or four that you want. The close-up is, of course, nice; also perhaps a dorsal and ventral shot (and/or the close-up of the carapace -- which, I think is where we first saw a bit of the pedipalp that tipped us off to Amaurobius similis/ferox).

@Jim: Did you get this shot with the magnifying glass in front of the camera lens?

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 4 November, 2009 - 1:33pm

Amaurobius ferox

Hey, Jim! Your diligence is remarkable. This is the money shot -- Amaurobius ferox it is. Great work. If you should ever come across Roberts' "Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe" (I think Google has most of it online), turn to page 80 and you'll see a drawing of this image in reverse (usually the left palp is depicted).

-Kevin

BTW, that's the retrolateral view; that and the ventral view, with sharp, crisp details such as you have here, are what are usually needed.

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 4 November, 2009 - 1:13pm