Anyone recognize this?

[phoenixxavierre]

We've been living with these for the past year. They're pretty mellow, minding their own business. Anyone know what they are?

[phoenixxavierre]

here's a better one of the carapace markings

[phoenixxavierre]

they hide during the day and come out and crawl around at night :D

[Longbord1]

when u bother it does it bouce up and down

[phoenixxavierre]

Originally posted by Longbord1
when u bother it does it bouce up and down

Not that I've noticed. I pretty much avoid bothering them. They seem to have pretty good sight, though, as it noticed me putting the camera right up to it. They pretty much just crawl away if they're messed with. They live in the window and in the shower curtain and in the corners near the ceiling in the bathroom.

[superkillers]

Pretty sure there spittig spiders, nice spiders, they spit web from there spinnerets on bugs like flies.
;P

[Malhavoc's]

I dunno about spitting spiders if there anything like the ones in california they just bounce up and down in their webs and walk around never seen one eat but as far as I know spitting spiders are terrestrial and dont live in webs?

[phoenixxavierre]

Anyone familiar with Steotoda species? I was thinking these might be, but, again, my knowledge on true spiders is very limited. The other thought that crossed my mind was recluse, but these don't look quite like the pictures I've seen. These can get pretty fat abodomens if fed well and watered.

[superkillers]

Hello.
Do you mean Steatoda?, most likly Scytodidae, if you put a fly in the jar maybe it will spit on it :eek:, there great spiders i used to catch them, yours looks like the one in the National Audubon Society insects and spiders.

[phoenixxavierre]

Originally posted by superkillers
Hello.
Do you mean Steatoda?, most likly Scytodidae, if you put a fly in the jar maybe it will spit on it :eek:, there great spiders i used to catch them, yours looks like the one in the National Audubon Society insects and spiders.

Yes, Steatoda.

The one I captured died, not sure why. I tried reviving it, gave it water, it started looking better then died. There are more around though. They make cobwebs up in the corners of the various rooms. They also like to hang out in the bathroom in the shower curtain folds. They web while they crawl around as well. I haven't seen them capture prey so I don't know if they spit silk at the prey, but I do know they also go down to the floor and hunt, as I've found mealworms in a web in one corner (which I had dropped on the floor during feeding time at the "zoo"). I guess it's possible that was from another spider, as we also have common house spiders here, as well as various orbweavers that like to come inside when the windows are open.
:)

[phoenixxavierre]

Are there any requirements for keeping these Scytodidae? They're really cool, creepy looking but cool! I wouldn't mind trying to keep and breed them, but they seem so fragile! what about the bite from these? any ideas?

[ArachnoJoost]

Originally posted by phoenixxavierre
The one I captured died, not sure why. I tried reviving it, gave it water, it started looking better then died.
The one on your picture is an adult male, so it could have been at the end of its natural life.
The body of the spider resembles Tegenaria sp. a bit. But I don't know a species of Tegenaria that has such spindly legs (although it is an adult male, females are probably stockier), but then again, I don't know many Tegenaria sp. , and certainly not the American ones...;)
greetz,
Joost

[superkillers]

Hello. i dont know about the bite but ive held them and there very timid, they probably wouldint bite unless you made them bite you, i just read that spitting spiders actually shoot the sticky gum from there mouth though ive seen them bend there rear towards flies before spitting, perhaps theres still more to find out accuratly of these, i think your spitting spider from the pic was old becuase i also just read that there cephalothorax hump lowers when they run out of spitting gum, it also says they feed on other spiders.
:(

[phoenixxavierre]

Found some links. I think this is a Scytodes of some sort.

http://www.museums.org.za/bio/spiderweb/scytodid.htm

http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/Scytodidae/Scytodidae.htm

What I have found is not S. thoracica though. At least I don't think it is. If it is the abdomen is different, lacking markings. I'll try and get ahold of a possibly gravid female I saw in my window.

I can find no pictures that match this Scytodes.

Any ideas anyone?

[Spiderguided]

phoenixxavierre,
Hmmm..maybe a crab spider? That's what my uncle called them. Sorry, no scientific name. Unc wasn't a fond spider freak..
Lori

[phoenixxavierre]

Originally posted by Spiderguided
phoenixxavierre,
Hmmm..maybe a crab spider? That's what my uncle called them. Sorry, no scientific name. Unc wasn't a fond spider freak..
Lori

Lori,

What is pictured is definitely a Scytodes species. The pictures I've found match overall, just not exactly in coloration and markings. I've been looking at pics on the net and can't find one that is identical. I'm wondering if this one is a locational variation or something. The abdomens of the ones here are dark, rather than light, and don't have obvious markings like all the pics I've seen so far.

Paul

[Longbord1]

if it bounces up and down in its web it might be a celler spider not sure on the genus though

[superkillers]

Hello.
The head markings and legs of the one in my Audubon match your spider, but the rump is light collored with no markings, its only indentified as Scytodes spp and ranges from mostly southwesten states; somes species also in the east. Could just e a defferent collor veryation.
:?

[phoenixxavierre]

Originally posted by superkillers
Hello.
The head markings and legs of the one in my Audubon match your spider, but the rump is light collored with no markings, its only indentified as Scytodes spp and ranges from mostly southwesten states; somes species also in the east. Could just e a defferent collor veryation.
:?

Hi,

cool! I wonder if I should send pictures in to someone of these little critters?

[superkillers]

Hello. If you want exact id you can try to find someone who was the documents and studies on the spitting spiders.
:)

[Spiderguided]

Originally posted by phoenixxavierre
Lori,

What is pictured is definitely a Scytodes species. The pictures I've found match overall, just not exactly in coloration and markings. I've been looking at pics on the net and can't find one that is identical. I'm wondering if this one is a locational variation or something. The abdomens of the ones here are dark, rather than light, and don't have obvious markings like all the pics I've seen so far.

Paul
Paul,
So, Scytodes is then a Crab spider? At any rate, interesting looking spider..:)
Lori

[phoenixxavierre]

Originally posted by Spiderguided
Paul,
So, Scytodes is then a Crab spider? At any rate, interesting looking spider..:)
Lori

Lori,

No, I don't think so. It's a spitting spider. It's the only (I think) spider that possesses silk glands in its' cephalothorax. It's silk contains venom. There are links I placed to info on the spider in the previous posts. They're pretty interesting if you want to take a look. :)

Paul

[Longbord1]

the silkm spitting spider has huge silk glands by it mouth believe me if it was a spitting spider u notice it

[Kugellager]

The spitting spider (Scytodes sp.) produces a glue like substance which it sprays through its fangs to immobilize its prey. It is not silk.

http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/spiders/text/Scytodes_pallida.htm

http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th11f(9).htm

http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/spiders/text/Scytodes_fusca.htm

Most species of this genus are confined to the tropics...here is one from Florida.

http://www.floridanature.org/species.asp?species=Scytodes_sp.

John
];')

[Longbord1]

i know
i was just short fer words

[phoenixxavierre]

http://www.museums.org.za/bio/spiderweb/scytodid.htm

The glue-like substance is silk according to the above website. What I have here are definitely a Scytodes species.

Paul

[phoenixxavierre]

http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/Scytodidae/Scytodidae.htm

This website states they have silk glands connected to their venom glands.

Paul

[Longbord1]

yes

[Malhavoc's]

Am I the only one thats noticed that all the spitting spider's in the links have a huge cephlathorax [spelling] where as that oen is smalle and skinny and I've found lots like that one and they all have skinny cephlathoriaxes too so Im having a problem believ98ng its a spitting spider? IMO

[phoenixxavierre]

Originally posted by Malhavoc's
Am I the only one thats noticed that all the spitting spider's in the links have a huge cephlathorax [spelling] where as that oen is smalle and skinny and I've found lots like that one and they all have skinny cephlathoriaxes too so Im having a problem believ98ng its a spitting spider? IMO

You are failing to notice that none of the pictures are taken from the side, showing the pronounced cephalothorax. They are overhead shots. I'm also guessing that the various species of Scytodes have varying sizes of cephalothorax. I'm also guessing that the males may vary slightly from the females. At any rate, these DO have enlarged cephalothoraxes. Sorry for the poor photography.

[Malhavoc's]

I understand poor photogrophy [blushes and laughs] I'm just as bad, I was going on the spiders I typicaly found around here thats why I renounced them as spitting spiders but I am far from expert just suggesting my opinion from my observations in the wild of a simmilar structerud arachnid

[pixi14369]

I would say its either a Cellar Spider or Spitting spider.

[rknralf]

Paul,
I may be a bit late, but that spider is a true Daddy Long Legs (Pholcus phalangioides)
See the linksbelow:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/Pholcidae/Pholcidae.htm
A very cool spider. A fellow at work brought me one (dead of course) and I sealed it between sheets of laminate to make a really cool bookmark.
Ralph

[phoenixxavierre]

Originally posted by rknralf
Paul,
I may be a bit late, but that spider is a true Daddy Long Legs (Pholcus phalangioides)
See the linksbelow:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/Pholcidae/Pholcidae.htm
A very cool spider. A fellow at work brought me one (dead of course) and I sealed it between sheets of laminate to make a really cool bookmark.
Ralph

Ralph,

Better late than never. ;)

I'm still not convinced though. The markings on the cephalothorax and the shape of it, carapace being domed, still makes me wonder if it's not a spitting spider. The markings are very different from P. phalangioides as well. I see the similarity. The pics on the link don't match what I have, though. The Scytodes looks more similar than the Pholcus. Maybe you're right though.

The ones around here do web very little, sometimes even hanging in the web. Most of the time you see them, though, they are crawling around, leaving a barely noticeable web trail behind them.

Paul