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Woodlouse Hunter (Dysdera crocata)
Photo#381331
Copyright © 2010
Mike "troll" Dame
Dysdera crocata
Concord, Contra Costa County, California, USA
April 1, 2010
im hoping its a female
Contributed by
Mike "troll" Dame
on 2 April, 2010 - 10:37pm
Last updated 10 April, 2010 - 10:44pm
Moved
Moved from
ID Request
.
…
Ken Wolgemuth
, 10 April, 2010 - 10:44pm
Try this
I have pretty good results putting the spider in a thin clear plastic bag, flipping it upside-down, gently smoothing the bag to remove wrinkles, and shooting a few shots until you don't get any glare from the bag. My camera often isn't good enough to ID to species this way, but immauture/mature female determination works pretty well.
…
John R. Maxwell
, 3 April, 2010 - 10:48am
Good technique, but...
...
Dysdera
are haplogyne spiders (all the "pieces & parts" are inside the abdomen) and the females' gonopore (tiny opening) is tough to see, even as an adult. It can be a little swollen in the area between the book lungs, but that's about all you'll see. The males are easier to determine... they have palps like any other male would.
…
Mandy Howe
, 3 April, 2010 - 11:36am
I never noticed!!!
Everyone confuses them with Trachelas so much I never realized how far apart they are!
…
John R. Maxwell
, 3 April, 2010 - 12:14pm
I know...it's weird, isn't it?!
They look so much alike, but are actually very different from one another at the same time. It's much easier to see somethin' "under the hood" of a female
Trachelas
... as you already know (there are some great images in the guide from you)!
…
Mandy Howe
, 3 April, 2010 - 12:39pm