Mantisfly larva? Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA October 25, 2015
Just above the pedipalps of a Phidippus arizonensis male. The photos I've seen of mantispid larvae on jumpers usually show the larva hanging out on the back of the cephalothorax of female spiders, but since this is a male, maybe the larva hopes to transfer to a female during mating. (If so, how does it know it's on a male?!) I also don't know if this could be a wasp or fly larva; I know I've seen photos of other external spider parasites.
Contributed by Robert Deans on 26 October, 2015 - 12:20pm Last updated 21 February, 2019 - 6:23pm |