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Photo#437527
spider IMG_1129 - Linyphia triangularis

spider IMG_1129 - Linyphia triangularis
Camden, Knox County, Maine, USA
August 21, 2009

Moved
Moved from Linyphia.

From Rod Crawford
This image looks almost exactly like Michael Roberts' color painting
of L. triangularis in "Spiders of Great Britain" and the Collins field
guide. Provided this introduced species has actually expanded its
range into Maine (which I don't know one way or the other), it's a
pretty likely ID.

The patterning on the *sides* of the abdomen is very unlike a
Pityohyphantes. The dorsal pattern does resemble Pityohyphantes but
the latter ususally has more regularity in the outline of the folium -
see


Even a poor shot of the epigynum would tell the tale immediately,
since the spoon-shaped scape in Pityohyphantes is so distinctive.

Both these genus names are Greek. Pityohyphantes is from pitys (pine)
and hyphantes (weaver). Linyphia means linen maker.

 
Another Knox County Linyphia
I think that all my Linyphia images are of this species. Here is an image showing the epigynum:

 
Yes.
Yes.

Moved to Linyphia
Moved from Pityohyphantes.

Tentative ID to genus based on discussions below.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

 
Linyphia triangularis?
Take a look here and the comments here and here.

 
..
Yes, that is what I think (Linyphia triangularis). Some of the images of Pityohyphantes that I've seen show the dark medial "fork", but they also show a thin dark band on the margin on the carapace. In Linyphia triangularis (as with this specimen) the dark band is submarginal. That and the general appearance lead to me believe that this might well be the introduced* species Linyphia triangularis.

* Platnick, in the WSC, indicates this, but I don't know from where he has it.

 
Guide page created
I certainly won't argue that this spider looks exactly like the images I've seen online of Linyphia triangularis. I think we should go ahead and move them there. Then I think we are going to have to do some sorting of how to differentiate between Linyphia & Pityohyphantes and put some sort of explanation on the info pages. I'll have to go through my references and see if any of the include these genera.

 
..
You might also ask RC his opinion, in case he's run into the species already -- L. triangularis is a very recognizable species, but he could help rule out (or confirm) a "yes, but there is this nearctic species, too..." situation.

I'm also curious to know what records already exist for this introduced species (NE, NW, ?).

Looks to be Pityohyphantes
or one of its cousins

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