spider - Castianeira variata

black & brown carapace

I think it's interesting that this specimen appears to have a half black & half brown carapace. I know C. cingulata has a two-tone (bi-colored form), but I don't think this species mentions that.

… Lynette Elliott, 22 February, 2012 - 8:23pm

Yeah, I noticed that, too, in Tom's habitus image, but I can't remember what it looked like under the micro -- I'll take a look today.

Addendum: I think that was related to its pre-moult condition, which means that you have the added impact of a double set of setae affecting apparent color. But I will check this.

-K

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 23 February, 2012 - 12:18am

Moved

Moved from Castianeira.
This is another good reason for photo vouchers. Thanks Kevin.

… tom murray, 28 January, 2012 - 12:34pm

Subadult, but only by a few minutes...

You caught this specimen just before her final moult. Looking closely you can see the new setae (hairs) lying beneath the once future exuvium. I was able to peel it back from the dorsum and also the epigynum just like one peels the skin off an old sunburn.

I need to look more closely at the epigynum this evening. Right now I'm not convinced that it's C. longipalpis.

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 28 January, 2012 - 11:40am

Almost an adult

Hopefully she's mature enough to figure out the species. If it isn't C. longipalpa then a few others with this pattern listed as that species might need to be looked at.

… tom murray, 28 January, 2012 - 11:50am

It must truly have been within moments of moulting; I was able to remove the epigynum, spermathecae, etc. intact and mature. I'll shoot some more photos later in clove oil, but I'm already certain that this must be C. variata and is most definitely not longipalpa -- a good confirmation of Kaston's comment that the two species cannot reliably be separated other than using genitalic characters.

Epigynum photos here:

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 28 January, 2012 - 12:13pm