Steatoda sp. - "wasteland pumpkins"

[buthus]

Andrew and I did a bit of night hunting in the "wastelands" of Rancho Cucamonga last weekend. Slim pickings that evening ...though plant life is still fairly green, the place is dry as a bone.
There are a few things I hope to run into when I visit that hunting ground. One being the only Theridiid besides Latrodectus hesperus (and maybe some tiny Theridion(s) ) that Ive seen within the specific area we call the "wastelands". Its the wastelands very beautiful Steatoda grossa replacement. :D
Ill have to browse thru last years posts regarding this specie ...there may have been an ID attempt/declaration or 2, but as of now, this beauty has not been IDd proper.

http://moflash.net/misc/img/spiders/steatoda-sp-red_wastelands-may08_07.jpg

http://moflash.net/misc/img/spiders/steatoda-sp-red_wastelands-may08_08.jpg

http://moflash.net/misc/img/spiders/steatoda-sp-red_wastelands-may08_06.jpg

Ended up snatching 7 adult (or close to adult) females. I am housing them in the small sized plastic boxes ..like so..
http://moflash.net/misc/img/spiders/steatoda-sp-red_wastelands-may08_09.jpg

2 or 3 looked gravid ...one produced a sac while in the collection cup...
http://moflash.net/misc/img/spiders/steatoda-sp-red_wastelands-may08_01.jpg

Great to see her concerned/dealing with her sac after I added it to her new enclosure...
http://moflash.net/misc/img/spiders/steatoda-sp-red_wastelands-may08_04.jpg

http://moflash.net/misc/img/spiders/steatoda-sp-red_wastelands-may08_05.jpg

http://moflash.net/misc/img/spiders/steatoda-sp-red_wastelands-may08_02.jpg

http://moflash.net/misc/img/spiders/steatoda-sp-red_wastelands-may08_03.jpg

Anyway... I think they're fairly cool looking.

[cacoseraph]

nice pics man

hey, so was the hatching eggsac we saw the same as the eggsac pumpkins make?

[buthus]

nice pics man

hey, so was the hatching eggsac we saw the same as the eggsac pumpkins make?

Ha, i knew you'd ask about that. Left a note end when posting this @scabies...
Note: BTW Andrew, the one that we collected with the big sac full of hatching slings ... I figured the sac was all wrong. She was just hanging out with someone elses hatching slings. The slings look to be some sort of crab/huntsman(ish) specie. Maybe more on this subject later.

[Brianhogs]

I know that steatodas are false black widows, but how toxic is their venom?

[froggyman]

not serious like a widow but still cause nausea and other unpleasent symptoms with the bites

[buthus]

I know that steatodas are false black widows, but how toxic is their venom?
Latros are more likely mutant Steatoda ...false Steatoda. :D

That "common name" is often given to species that share habitat with latros and are often mis-IDd as widows by the locals. Steatoda grossa won out and is sorta officially called "false black widow". Ive also seen paykulliana and borealis referred to as false widows.

Venom..these little ones... even if one got a good gnaw on ya, I doubt she would be able to pump enough venom for you to even evaluate the affects. ;)

[Brianhogs]

Also, how did you get the substrate to stay upside down?

[Jer]

I have several S. borealis, interesting spiders. Aren't you worried about getting bitten by letting them crawl on your hand?

[buthus]

Also, how did you get the substrate to stay upside down?
Stick it in there when damp, then wedge a piece of flaky bark up against it creating structure that holds it up there even when dry.




I have several S. borealis, interesting spiders. Aren't you worried about getting bitten by letting them crawl on your hand?

Find any males? How bout fems that seem huge compared to most? Seems borealis can vary in size as adults quite a bit. I have one giant...would love to mate her.
Ive provoked biting from paykulliana and grossa ...key word: provoked. Otherwise, theyre really not out to pick a fight with a huge mammal. ;) :D

[Jer]

Find any males? How bout fems that seem huge compared to most? Seems borealis can vary in size as adults quite a bit.

Yes, and yes. Males seem to be much harder to find, I would say that only about 1 in 30 or so that I come across is male, why is that? And I have some females that are younger, and larger, than some other females. I wanted to let one crawl on my hand tonight, but Im a pussy.

[gunslinger]

Those are really nice looking spiders. Too bad I dont live in Cali, I'd take a few off of your hands. Your setups in the small cube containers are really cool too, might have to give that a try.

[buthus]

Yes, and yes. Males seem to be much harder to find, I would say that only about 1 in 30 or so that I come across is male, why is that? And I have some females that are younger, and larger, than some other females. I wanted to let one crawl on my hand tonight, but Im a pussy.
Oh ...just my dorky scheming ...always trying to find another source. :D

[Brianhogs]

How do I know when mine is mature?

[Pulk]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2186/2430006685_5d978f62ee.jpg

[buthus]

Pulk ...finally replied to your post regarding these @scabies. ;)
Cool that you're running into these. Do collect a few if/when u can. :cool:



This is the one I collected from Vegas area a bit back. Looks to be the same flavor as the wastelands gals. Last i checked this ones still alive and well, though no sacs.
http://moflash.net/misc/img/spiders/steatoda_vegas_sp02_spider00_02.jpg

http://moflash.net/misc/img/spiders/steatoda_vegas_sp02_spider00_03.jpg

2 or 3 more of the wasteland girls produced sacs. Ok... now if they would just hatch this time round! :?

[buthus]

oops ...double post ...jeeese. :rolleyes:

[buthus]

How do I know when mine is mature?
Brian, sorry bud..thought I responded to this. I probably hit the preview link instead of submit ...do that now and then.

Mature borealis? Well, tell the truth, I have not lived with that specie ...its an "exotic" for me. :D So... I have been comparing maturing spiders with ones I know are mature. Markings do tighten up and they seem to become more contrasty(wait...thats not a word :rolleyes:) ..light markings against overall darker body color. Mature fems' epigynum becomes dark (open) to the human eye...its small, but observable. Males seem to develop palps at least a couple/few molts from ultimate...but I just have not had enough of these nor spent enough time observing them to give trustworthy info. ;)

I got a group of borealis from Widowman10 (if my brain isnt farting). He and a few others here probably could fill you in with reliable info. ;)

[Brianhogs]

Brian, sorry bud..thought I responded to this. I probably hit the preview link instead of submit ...do that now and then.

Mature borealis? Well, tell the truth, I have not lived with that specie ...its an "exotic" for me. :D So... I have been comparing maturing spiders with ones I know are mature. Markings do tighten up and they seem to become more contrasty(wait...thats not a word :rolleyes:) ..light markings against overall darker body color. Mature fems' epigynum becomes dark (open) to the human eye...its small, but observable. Males seem to develop palps at least a couple/few molts from ultimate...but I just have not had enough of these nor spent enough time observing them to give trustworthy info. ;)

I got a group of borealis from Widowman10 (if my brain isnt farting). He and a few others here probably could fill you in with reliable info. ;)

Thanks.

Another Q

Do males make webs like the females?

[buthus]

Another Q

Do males make webs like the females?
Yes, though adult males will start to get antsy to get out.