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Scytodes atlacoya
Photo#553081
Copyright © 2011
M.L. W.
Spitting Spider - Scytodes -
Scytodes atlacoya
-
Grenada, North Central County, Mississippi, USA
July 27, 2011
Size: 6-8mm
Found this spider in my bedroom. ID please?
Images of this individual:
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Contributed by
M.L. W.
on 27 July, 2011 - 8:37pm
Last updated 10 December, 2020 - 4:02am
Moved
Moved from
Scytodes longipes
.
…
Jeff Hollenbeck
, 1 December, 2020 - 9:39pm
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Moved
Moved from
Scytodes
.
…
Jeff Hollenbeck
, 27 November, 2017 - 9:36pm
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Thanks
Thank you all for the ID and info. Interesting spider for sure. I am looking forward to the species ID...if possible?
…
M.L. W.
, 28 July, 2011 - 7:56am
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Scytodes
I'm in the middle of trying to learn exactly how separable the species in this genus are without genitalia exams (spiders are identified via structures of the pedipalp (in males) or the epigyne (in females), which typically means having the specimen in hand and seeing it under a microscope). Some spiders simply are not identifiable without that.
Scytodes
seems to be one of those (not sure why the two species that are already in BugGuide were separated)... but I am recently trying to learn more with the help from Cristina Rheims (Instituto Butantan, Brasil) and her papers on this genus. Some species might have field identifiable cues that help to place them to species, I just need to study more. The issue with
Scytodes
is that most are synanthropic (live in human habitations) so the potential for them to be imported from all over the world is a concern when IDing them; you never know from regular habitus shots if it's even a native species. Besides that, a single species can vary in color and pattern, as well. It's just a pretty difficult genus, at least for me and for BugGuide at the time being... but you never know, we might get to the bottom of it. So don't expect a species ID too soon, but don't lose hope either. :-) If you happened to keep the spider, you can submerge it in alcohol and myself or others here on BugGuide (e.g.
Kevin Pfeiffer
) can ID it under a 'scope if you mail it to us. That'd be the only way to be 100% sure of the ID. Even once we learn more, an ID based solely on these shots (as wonderful as they are) would just be a guess without the genitalia exam.
…
Mandy Howe
, 28 July, 2011 - 8:20pm
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Moved
Moved from
ID Request
. Wow! Amazing shots. Carice's ID is correct. Needs a more thorough exam to place to a species, so moving to genus for now.
…
Mandy Howe
, 27 July, 2011 - 9:14pm
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Fabulous!
This appears to be a member of the Scytodidae family, or Spitting Spiders. They are really unique creatures, possessing massive venom glands that are modified to spray out a sticky secretion to immobilize their prey. I really would like to see one myself. Nice photos!
…
Cassie Novak
, 27 July, 2011 - 8:46pm
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