Itsy Bitsy Spider
This spider was hanging out in an outdoor toychest at the home of Howard and Sandra Tayler. The pedipalps seem a bit oversize, and pointed and discolored at the tips; this makes me about 10% more confident that this is a male rather than a female spider. I’m afraid I cannot zero in much on an identification for you, but he’s hanging upside-down in a tangle-web, and his general body shape is consistent with Family Theridiidae. This would give him kinship with the notorious black widow spider as well as the incredibly beneficial steatoda triangulosa spider.
He’s not more than about 2mm long from eyes to spinnerets–remember, we never count legs in measurements.
The other reason for considering him male is the reaction he had when a suitor came calling–but that’s tomorrow’s Insect Picture of the Day.
Slowly getting the site back onto an even keel. It's nice to get back into the old posting rhythm.
Insect Picture of the Day » Itsy Bitsy Failed Courtship said,
October 21, 2007 @ 7:08 am
[...] I was photographing yesterday’s spider (seen here out of focus at lower left), this charming little fellow came calling. He’s also a [...]