Unknown Spider - Theridula gonygaster

Moved

Moved from Spiders.

Reading the description again I think this has to be correct.

… John Rosenfeld, 19 February, 2015 - 10:47am

Thanks for

the confirmation of the identification. I was confused by its color. I certainly do appreciate all of the expert help I had with this one.

… Susan Leach Snyder, 19 February, 2015 - 2:17pm

Many spiders can be quite variable

The spider described in the paper I referenced below was colored like yours in nearly every detail.

… John Rosenfeld, 19 February, 2015 - 3:17pm

Thanks for

this clarification! I am certainly learning a lot from you experts.

… Susan Leach Snyder, 19 February, 2015 - 3:27pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request. Very cool spider. ID below looks possible.

… Lynette Elliott, 30 January, 2015 - 8:06am

Seems to fit

the description and epigynum diagram for Theridula regia in Gertsch and Archer, 1942 pretty well. WSC lists T. regia as a synonym for T. gonygaster. Type location was Dade county.

… John Rosenfeld, 19 February, 2015 - 9:49am

Nice find!

… Laura P., 29 January, 2015 - 7:39am

Possibly

a Theridula gonygaster

… Lisa I., 28 January, 2015 - 9:08pm

Thank you for the identification.

After receiving this ID, I've been searching the internet for other pictures. The one you attached and the others all show the background of the abdomen black. This one is definitely yellow. This one definitely fits the description of the genus. The size range of 1 to 3.5 mm is right. The horns on each side and sometimes a posterior median horn fits. And, this one was on the bottom of leaves on tall vegetation. Is it possible that this could be a different species of Theridula or is it your experience that the color is really not a good characteristic for identification of spiders?

… Susan Leach Snyder, 30 January, 2015 - 10:24am

Not sure

Sometimes when the spiders are immature they can look very different. I can't tell if yours is mature or not. I think I can see an epigyne? but the legs look "soft".

… Lynette Elliott, 31 January, 2015 - 12:57pm