Theridon tinctum male and egg sac? - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » Unidentified Spider Egg Sacs, Webs, Retreats, and Droppings

Photo#412850

Copyright © 2010 Ken Schneider

Theridon tinctum male and egg sac?

Sea Cloud Park, Foster City, San Mateo County, California, USA
June 6, 2010
Size: 3 mm spider and 5 mm sac

I first noticed this egg sac suspended by silk in a knot hole in a pine tree planted in a suburban park. The knot hole was about five feet off the ground. The egg sac is about two-thirds of the way down, in the middle. I then noticed a male theridiid a few cm away - I don't think of male spiders as "guarding" egg sacs, so I'm not sure that the egg sac and the spider species are linked here - any thoughts? The male appears to be T. tinctum?

Link to male spider found nearby:

Images of this individual: tag all

Theridon tinctum male and egg sac?

Theridon tinctum male and egg sac?

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Contributed by Ken Schneider on 18 June, 2010 - 12:12am
Last updated 6 July, 2010 - 3:54pm

Moved

Moved from Cobweb Spiders. I'm unlinking these images in the assumption (now) that the male spider may be unrelated to the egg sac - I'll put up reciprocal thumbnails so that folks can find this discussion just in case...

… Ken Schneider, 6 July, 2010 - 3:49pm

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Hi Ken, What did you use t

Hi Ken,

What did you use to match the palp? Looking at both Roberts and Wiehle, I can't match them up. Not saying they don't, just that I'm not yet able to make things click into place.

Maybe Levi 1957? (Not entirely convinced, but you can probably see more than I can.)

-K

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 18 June, 2010 - 8:42am

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Hi Kevin -

I have a hard copy of Levi 1957 - the palp photo here is slightly rotated relative to figure 201 in that paper, but I thought it matched pretty well under the scope. You probably have a lot of experience with this European species, though - doesn't the pattern of spots on the dorsal and ventral surfaces look reasonable for this species also? Can certainly be left at genus or family level for now...

… Ken Schneider, 18 June, 2010 - 10:04am

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..

No, no, I wouldn't change anything. Just because I can't make the connection (yet), doesn't mean you are wrong. If I think it might not be T. tinctum (aka Keija tincta, aka Platnickina tinctum), then I should be able to come up with a _better_ idea. I'll look again, this evening, when the sun goes down. (Lots of windows here.)

-K

[Guess I have to concede the obvious. :-) I still wouldn't mind seeing a view closer to that of Roberts -- more retrolateral, but I have no further doubts. Thanks for the photos.]

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 18 June, 2010 - 11:57am

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..

I'll bet it's just a coincidence, but ... never say never when it comes to the natural world! It's full of surprises. :)

… John Sloan, 18 June, 2010 - 2:18am

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Thanks John -

I'll probably unlink the egg sac from the spider images. I'm hoping Charley Eiseman or someone else can comment on the likely culprits for egg sacs with this appearance...

… Ken Schneider, 18 June, 2010 - 10:05am

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