Tuesday 2 July 2013

Dysdera crocata

I found this spider crawling across the white sheet whilst moth trapping last night. Compared to other spiders it was relatively easy to identify. It's one of the Woodlouse spiders rather appropriately named because it hunts at night for Woodlice. Once narrowed down to Dysdera it's the number of bristles at the base of the hind femur that distinguishes crocata from the similar erythrina. Crocata has 1-3 and erythrina has none. My spider had one dorsal bristle at the base of the left femur which could be seen clearly under the microscope.

Dysdera crocata

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