2020 December 28

 

    Some spiders and a harvestman, photographed recently along Colquitz Creek or along the Galloping Goose trail by Ian Cooper, with comments or identifications by Dr Robb Bennett (spiders) and Dr Philip Bragg (harvestman).   And a beetle, identification confirmed by Scott Gilmore.

 

  Dr Bennett writes:  The first three, and probably the fourth, are Pimoa altioculata.  A very interesting genus of spiders.

 

Pimoa altioculata (Ara.: Pimoidae)  Ian Cooper

 

 

Pimoa altioculata (Ara.: Pimoidae)  Ian Cooper

 

Pimoa altioculata (Ara.: Pimoidae)  Ian Cooper

 

 

Probably Pimoa altioculata (Ara.: Pimoidae)  Ian Cooper

 

 

   The next two, continues Robb, are mature female and male linyphiines, I think a species of Neriene.

[Jeremy Tatum adds:  I think Dr Robb probably identifies the sexes by (among other features) the size of the “boxing gloves” (pedipalps) – larger in the male.]

 

Female, probably Neriene (Ara.: Linyphiidae)  Ian Cooper

 

 

 

Male, probably Neriene (Ara.: Linyphiidae)  Ian Cooper

 

 

   Of the spider below, Dr Bennett writes:  This is a species of Cybaeus, not sure which one—around here, reticulatus and eutypus are most common. And so is signifer but I think this beast is more likely to be reticulatus or eutypus.

 

 

Cybaeus sp.  (Ara.:  Cybaeidae)  Ian Cooper

 

 

   Dr Bragg writes, of the harvestman below:  One of the problems of showing the intact organism is that the depth of field is too great for sharp pictures. Another problem with harvestmen identification is that in many cases the specimen needs to be examined under the microscope to be sure. That said, I am not sure what species we have here. It is probably in the Subfamily Leiobuninae. It could be Nelima paessleri but I am not sure.

Harvestman.  Possibly Nelima paessleri (Opiliones: Sclerosomatidae – Leiobuninae)

Ian Cooper

Scaphinotus angusticollis (Col.: Carabidae)  Ian Cooper