i thought i would take a trip out today to see if the A. paloma have unplugges their burrows. they usually have their burrows unplugged by a few weeks ago, but with all the rain and cold weather, they have delayed activity. well, looks like they are just starting to become active cause i found a few today.
here are some habitat shots
now, when you first spot the burrows, they dont look like much. typically, people overlook their burrows or think they are a wolf spider. paloma tend to make perfectly round burrows no larger than a dime. the burrow structure is also different from most other spider species.
burrow
size comparison. this burrow is an adult female burrow
me digging up the burrow
the burrows typically go just into the soil at an angle and then widen up then go straight down. sometimes they spiral and other times, they dont. the burrow will go straight down about a foot or so then either cut straight back or double back on itself. it is very easy to lose a burrow if you do not know what to expect. the burrows are no wider than a pen in some places as well. but when all your effort pays off, heres what ya get
here is a size comparison. these are fullgrown adult females!
these are one of my absolute favorite natives. they are much better looking in person as well. they are light silver/gray with an olive green/brown hue over the body and legs. amazing spiders!
-josh
here are some habitat shots
now, when you first spot the burrows, they dont look like much. typically, people overlook their burrows or think they are a wolf spider. paloma tend to make perfectly round burrows no larger than a dime. the burrow structure is also different from most other spider species.
burrow
size comparison. this burrow is an adult female burrow
me digging up the burrow
the burrows typically go just into the soil at an angle and then widen up then go straight down. sometimes they spiral and other times, they dont. the burrow will go straight down about a foot or so then either cut straight back or double back on itself. it is very easy to lose a burrow if you do not know what to expect. the burrows are no wider than a pen in some places as well. but when all your effort pays off, heres what ya get
here is a size comparison. these are fullgrown adult females!
these are one of my absolute favorite natives. they are much better looking in person as well. they are light silver/gray with an olive green/brown hue over the body and legs. amazing spiders!
-josh