Inverts around here?

[MaartenSFS]

It's been a while since I posted.. I just came back from China and am living in Michigan. Until this week it's been winter. Now that it has warmed up I was wondering if there are any mygalomorph spiders like trapdoors, et cetera. I know there are Hogna carolinensis higher up, but are they up here in Lansing? Any tips for finding those? California or Florida would have probably been better for inverts, he?

Edit: O, if there isn't anything up here where is the closest place that there is something? I have grandparents living in Pennsylvania so I would have a secondary reason (excuse) to go there.

Edit 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS7-E253qEg&feature=related
I really need to get me a burrowing Hogna species.. 8|

[jsloan]

It's been a while since I posted.. I just came back from China and am living in Michigan. Until this week it's been winter. Now that it has warmed up I was wondering if there are any mygalomorph spiders like trapdoors, et cetera. I know there are Hogna carolinensis higher up, but are they up here in Lansing? Any tips for finding those? California or Florida would have probably been better for inverts, he?

Edit: O, if there isn't anything up here where is the closest place that there is something? I have grandparents living in Pennsylvania so I would have a secondary reason (excuse) to go there.

Edit 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS7-E253qEg&feature=related
I really need to get me a burrowing Hogna species.. 8|

Here's the book you need:

http://www.amazon.com/Spiders-North-Woods-Naturalist/dp/0967379342/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240766166&sr=8-1

It's a field guide to many spiders found in northern Michigan; how to recognize them, and where to find them. Good pictures and descriptions. No trap door spiders, though. According to the author they're not found in northern Michigan.

[MaartenSFS]

Here's the book you need:

http://www.amazon.com/Spiders-North-Woods-Naturalist/dp/0967379342/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240766166&sr=8-1

It's a field guide to many spiders found in northern Michigan; how to recognize them, and where to find them. Good pictures and descriptions. No trap door spiders, though. According to the author they're not found in northern Michigan.

Thanks, I'll check that out. It sounds similar to my Audubon Field Guide, though. What I was really looking for is personal experience from people that live in or have been to the Upper Mid-West. ;)

I just came back from a long off-trail hike and I'm very sweaty and dirty with cuts. In other words, it was a nice hike. I flipped every piece of wood I could find and scoured the fields for holes. I did see three garter snakes, some leopard frogs, a blue heron, painted turtles, et cetera, though. I was hoping to find a Hogna, Dolomedes, or a Smooth or Rough Green Snake.

[jsloan]

I was hoping to find a Hogna, Dolomedes ...

Have you put out any pitfall traps? You'll catch far more ground-dwelling spiders that way than by just searching alone, especially species that are out and about at night.

Good hunting! Post some pics if you find anything.

[MaartenSFS]

Well, I tried that and failed. It could be that they just aren't in this exact spot. It's not exactly remote wilderness. No sign of holes or anything, either. None under wood or rocks.

[cacoseraph]

you should have atypoidea type mygs in your new neck of the woods. nothing that makes a trapdoor, per se... but mygs at least


a purseweb makes it all the way to canada. (er, something abbotti iirc)

i am starting a forum to collect info about bug species local to the Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, and er... one more state that starts with I... oh yeah, Iowa area
http://mimwikibugs.myfreeforum.org/index.php
i have just barely gotten started and so far i have just done a little research on Illinois species

there are a couple few scolopendromorpha species to be found in MI
http://www.geocities.com/blight_child/centis/states/cent_MI.html
all fairly small blind species, though

look up John Apple ifyou haven't gotten in contact with him already. he lives in MI, too

I wouldn't be surprised if you could find Dolomedes, Hogna, Latrodectus, and maaaybe Loxosceles (though that is maybe too far north)

i don't think it has any native scorpions, tarantulas, or whipscorpions (tailless or otherwise)

I think you might be in range of wheel bugs (Arlius cristatus) but again, may be too far north

[MaartenSFS]

Hoi, thanks a lot. I wasn't expecting to find too much in the way of tarantulas, scorpions, or centipedes, but I'm glad to hear about the Atypical tarantulas being up here. Do you have any sources for that or collection sites? Where I live near Lansing I have never seen too much.

However, if I couldn't find them, or trap-doors, in tropical China I probably won't find them here.. I have seen dolomedes but really want to get my hands on a burrowing Hogna. Those are really cool. I'm saving up for an L. murphium (or whatever it was) that I saw at Preuss Pets.

Edit: I think the purseweb you mentioned was on the Pacific side?

[cacoseraph]

i'll research MI next.

it would make sense that a myg species goes up the pacific coast into canada as there is a scolopendromorpha species that does exactly that



oh, add Phymata Ambush bugs to the list (GORGEOUS little assassin cousins)

[MaartenSFS]

I found that Phodros niger ranges into MI and am looking for collection sites. It's apparently extremely difficult to find, though. I'll start looking in some of the local parks. I've just joined your forum and would be glad to help out. :cool:

[cacoseraph]

excellent :)


here is a record down to city
http://bugguide.net/node/view/220129/bgpage
ouch, though: An exciting find I just wanted to share. According to the entomology department at Michigan State University, to their knowledge mine is only the forth confirmed siting in the state of Michigan.

[MaartenSFS]

Ada, Kent County, Michigan, USA
Fourth confirmed site of P. niger in MI.

Edit:

E.S. George Reserve
(Michigan, Livingston County)
University of Michigan

The latter is not too far off from where I live. I may check it out if I can find the time and money.

[cacoseraph]

hehehehe he

[MaartenSFS]

Haha, we found the same page. Your googlefu is good. ;)

So far I have found that Atypus niger is synonym for Phodros niger and Atypus milberti is a synonym for Sphodros rufipes and supposedly both are found in MI with no specific collection sites for either. I'm going to make it my goal to find this bastard. I'll start a new thread.

[MaartenSFS]

Well, I went out for another hunt today and didn't find many interesting inverts. I found some other things, though:

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/Michigan%201/DSC04659.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/Michigan%201/DSC04651.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/Michigan%201/DSC04672.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/Michigan%201/DSC04600.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/Michigan%201/DSC04675.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/Michigan%201/DSC04680.jpg

Any idea which species the lycosid is?

[cacoseraph]

nice pictures. no idea on the wolf



add Phymata sp. Jagged Ambush Bugs to the definite list
http://bugguide.net/node/view/155618/bgpage
they are little but they are awesome looking

[Galapoheros]

I remember when I fist saw a picture of those Ambush bugs when I was a kid, couldn't wait to find one. I was let down when I found out they were pretty small, all has to do with preference I guess. I still haven't seen a live one though.

[MaartenSFS]

nice pictures. no idea on the wolf



add Phymata sp. Jagged Ambush Bugs to the definite list
http://bugguide.net/node/view/155618/bgpage
they are little but they are awesome looking

Thanks, but I had to heavily edit the photos this time to make them viewable at all. :rolleyes: I think it was very bright or dark that day. I have found those ambush bugs before. Unfortunately finding a foot long submarine.. er.. praying mantis in China spoils that. :wall:

[MaartenSFS]

I remember when I fist saw a picture of those Ambush bugs when I was a kid, couldn't wait to find one. I was let down when I found out they were pretty small, all has to do with preference I guess. I still haven't seen a live one though.

I was let down when I found some Macrothele sp. in China and their BL was only 1.5 - 1.7cm. They were really badarse for their size, though. :cool:

That's why I still want to find those Phodros sp. They have massive jaws.

[cacoseraph]

as i tell all my girlfriends, size isn't everything =P


i kind of see keeping bugs as keeping a collection of pictures as much as anything. so small bugs or big bugs end up looking the same in pics




.... plus, i really want to try selectively breeding ambushes! can you imagine a pure white one or something like that?




i bellieve the Sphrodos would not be much bigger at full size.... they might even be smaller, actually. but.... those fangs are unreal, for sure!

[MaartenSFS]

as i tell all my girlfriends, size isn't everything =P


i kind of see keeping bugs as keeping a collection of pictures as much as anything. so small bugs or big bugs end up looking the same in pics




.... plus, i really want to try selectively breeding ambushes! can you imagine a pure white one or something like that?




i bellieve the Sphrodos would not be much bigger at full size.... they might even be smaller, actually. but.... those fangs are unreal, for sure!

Haha, fair enough, but the bigger they are the more aggressive towards you they tend to be. I love animals that can pose a threat to me. Another reason is that, like a fish tank, they can be something for you to look at when you are bored. If you need a microscope to spot it it's no good.

Supposedly those larger Macrothele species in China are really aggressive but mine barely ate. When it ate it was awesome, though. But imagine the large one pissed off and raging out of its funnel to grab a cockroach and pulling it kicking and screaming into its dark lair. I agreea about the Phodros fangs! That's why I want some! :cool:

[MaartenSFS]

O, you know what I thought was really cool but never found...

A mantisfly. Anyone ever seen those? Predacious diving beetles? Water scorpions? Triops??? {D

[cacoseraph]

i've seen a single mantisfly and thought i was hallucinating at first (till i researched them). i have seen a variety of predacious diving beetles and true bugs. CA is a very nice state to live in =P


but in MI/IL/Etc you do get things that are awesome, too. in a sense, anything that can survive hard winters has my respect!

[MaartenSFS]

i've seen a single mantisfly and thought i was hallucinating at first (till i researched them). i have seen a variety of predacious diving beetles and true bugs. CA is a very nice state to live in =P


but in MI/IL/Etc you do get things that are awesome, too. in a sense, anything that can survive hard winters has my respect!

Lucky, the coolest thing I've seen up here was a hummingbird moth, but I saw a really huge one in China, but no hummingbirds..

You're correct. I barely survive the winters.. ;P

[MaartenSFS]

Speaking of cool inverts, cacoseraph, here is one and the habitat I found it in:

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/DSC04727.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/DSC04730.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/DSC04720.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/DSC04713.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/DSC04696.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/DSC04707.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/DSC04705.jpg

If you look closely you can see the Canada goose on the mound.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/DSC04701.jpg

[Arachno Veteran]

By the way, does anyone currently have any Ambush Bugs?
Some hobbyists actually keep/breed them.