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Mecaphesa carletonica
Photo#508297
Copyright © 2011
tom murray
Mecaphesa sp.? -
Mecaphesa carletonica
Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
April 22, 2011
Size: 4.7mm
I found this spider on the front bumper of my car in the driveway.
Images of this individual:
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Contributed by
tom murray
on 23 April, 2011 - 10:47am
Last updated 20 February, 2012 - 1:50pm
Me thinks asperata
I think this is probably Mecaphesa asperata. The epigynum drawings of carletonica and asperata are similar, but the color pattern is definitely one known for asperata. Do we have a reliable carletonica picture anywhere? I do plan on getting some.
…
Joe Lapp
, 20 February, 2012 - 5:05pm
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..
Hi Joe,
The drawings are similar but certainly not identical. And did you look at the comparison photograph above? BOLD has barcoded specimens; for some reason the
M. carletonica
specimens were not available online, but I will send them to you.
I don't think that you can rely on color markings as primary distinguishing characteristic.
…
Kevin Pfeiffer
, 21 February, 2012 - 12:48am
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That would be great. I tried to look at the specimens in BOLD but also couldn't pull them up. However, I would like to see who made the determinations on the specimens. Basically I want Dondale and Redner specimens, though. This genus requires too much magic.
…
Joe Lapp
, 21 February, 2012 - 12:54am
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Moved
Not part of the Texas group, but det. by me. See also:
-K
…
Kevin Pfeiffer
, 20 February, 2012 - 1:50pm
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Moved
Moved from
Mecaphesa carletonica
.
…
john and jane balaban
, 20 February, 2012 - 1:18pm
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More specimens?
Hi Tom,
I'm feeling more confidant about this one, now, but wouldn't mind seeing a few more specimens (including a male) should you come across them again.
Best,
-K
…
Kevin Pfeiffer
, 10 February, 2012 - 7:52am
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More specimens
I'll see if I can find others this spring.
…
tom murray
, 10 February, 2012 - 7:54am
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Moved
Moved from
Northern Crab Spider
.
…
tom murray
, 9 February, 2012 - 3:21pm
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..
My mind is still not entirely made up. I've got one other female from Kentucky that was part of a m/f pair, which I identified as
M. asperata
:
I'll dissect the epigynum tomorrow so that I can more closely compare them.
…
Kevin Pfeiffer
, 9 February, 2012 - 3:46pm
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..
Whew, making identifications in genera like this is a bit like calling pitches in or out. For my money (and the location fits well), this is
M. carletonica
.
kmp-10055
More images here:
-K
(But, boy, when I look at the M. asperata specimens at BOLD, I wonder. Unfortunately their M. carletonica specimens are not visible. -K)
…
Kevin Pfeiffer
, 9 February, 2012 - 11:10am
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Moved
Moved from
Mecaphesa
.
Kevin, I have it saved for you, so if you see anything different with the specimen we can move the pictures then.
…
tom murray
, 24 May, 2011 - 7:56am
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..
Presumably
asperatus
. I can't quite reconcile the pale scape-like septum that appears in your third image, but that may just be due to the nature of the image and resolution.
Would be nice to get a closer look at this, just for the sake of confirmation.
…
Kevin Pfeiffer
, 24 May, 2011 - 7:03am
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..
That was a loose setae or something. Perhaps this is
M. carletonica
? I'll dissect the epigynum today and maybe we can come up with an answer. Cross your fingers.
…
Kevin Pfeiffer
, 9 February, 2012 - 9:06am
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Moved
Moved from
Crab Spiders
.
Thanks for the confirmation J&J.
…
tom murray
, 23 April, 2011 - 11:26am
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Yes, Mecaphesa
good call
…
john and jane balaban
, 23 April, 2011 - 11:20am
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