Unknown Blue-ish and Green Washington State Lycosid - Possibly Arctosa [Linked Images]

[TheTyro]

I don't think I ever got around to posting images of a beautiful species of wolf spider I'd seen in SE Washington State, August 7th, 2011.

My local Arachnologist Rod Crawford did not recognize them and said they are potentially a new record for my state. I'll be going back to the location this summer to collect animals for captive breeding/research - so Rod can get a look at animals under the scope!

I wonder if they are a wild local species, or invasive from another area (State) The habitat I saw them residing in was not there in it's current form two years ago, so I'll need to survey other areas and see what sort of Lycosid populations I find. The SE of my state is a hot-spot for many of my research adventures!!

They are hands-down my very favorite small to medium sized wolf spider - they really do have a blue-gray-yellow-green coloration! I loved photographing them and plan to do a much better job in the future.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetyro/6030004721/in/set-72157626977951945
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetyro/6030005833/in/set-72157626977951945/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetyro/6030006711/in/set-72157626977951945/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetyro/6030008131/in/set-72157626977951945/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetyro/6030563492/in/set-72157626977951945/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetyro/6030564496/in/set-72157626977951945/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetyro/6030565984/in/set-72157626977951945/

 

[Widowman10]

hey tyro! haven't seen ya in awhile!

sorry i don't have much to add, nice pics though.

 

[Silberrücken]

Hi, TheTyro & Widowman.

Is it possible that this is Pardosa milvina, AKA "Thin-legged Shore Spider"?

Take a look here at this link:

http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/spiders/Pardosa.htm

 

[TheTyro]

Yo Widowman10!! I know, it has been some time - been busy as heck but trying to get back in the arachnoboards world of spiders now that I can afford to get some new specimens. Being poor and wanting them, I couldn't come to the boards and tease myself. haha! But now I can do all that again! Yay! It hasn't stopped my learning about them, or keeping them...just not the larger, cooler varieties from out of state or country.

Glad you like the photos - I'm working on my photography quite seriously. Those are older images, pre-tripod and external flash unit!

Silberrucken, that's what I'd thought at first - even suggesting the species Pardosa steva to Rod when I told him about my photo set. http://bugguide.net/node/view/597369/bgimage, the Pardosa in your link does somewhat resemble my spiders!

Rod said this in e-mail:

"The wolf spiders are *not* in the genus Pardosa. They are likely Arctosa, but not for sure, and could easily be a new state record, but I'd have to have mature specimens to tell for sure. Incidentally, P. steva has only been found on sand/gravel bars and shores of streams and river courses.

All Pardosa have a squarish, straight-sided face
http://bugguide.net/node/view/182070
http://bugguide.net/node/view/109738
http://bugguide.net/node/view/308768/bgimage
Your specimens have this kind of wide, bulgy face
http://bugguide.net/node/view/125916/bgimage
The wider face is a characteristic of several lycosid genera."

It may not even be Arctosa...but that is why I need to get my butt out there to wrangle up some spiders for him to look at. Then we will know for sure! ID'ing by coloration and patterning is always so sketchy, and these spiders (the ones I saw that night) displayed a wonderful variety of coloring and patterning!

 

[zonbonzovi]

Hey dude!

Those look awfully familiar & *I think* I've seen them near Ellensburg in the creeks coming out of the E. Cascades. Was this found in a riparian habitat? I may even have a photo lingering somewhere...

Hoping to get some peeps out to this area in summer for an arachnocamping trip, maybe Hell's Canyon and environs?

 

[Ciphor]

Hey Tyro.

That is a really bizarre assessment from Rod. The key to IDing the Pardosa genus is a sub-vertical face. Which based on this image --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetyro/6030008131/in/set-72157626977951945/ it is indeed sub-vertical. I've anatomized quite a few, and close inspection/dissection of the genitalia is only required to ID the species; genus can be found with eye arrangement & carapace structure. Did Rod see that specific picture? We do have species of Arctosa in WA already. Arctosa littoralis & Arctosa alpigena (reference from Rod here http://www.tardigrade.org/natives/crawford/checklist.html)

There are several other possible Arctosa sp. in Canada right above us, but not anywhere near the SE corner of WA.

I'm also fairely confident no species of Arctosa have that big of gaps in their leg annulation. PME & PLE spacing looks to far apart, as well as the PMEs spacing is to far apart for Arctosa, typically their PMEs are a little closer together.

Arctosa PME: http://bugguide.net/node/view/359260/bgimage (you can also see how close together the PME & PLE are in this image)
Pardosa PME: http://bugguide.net/node/view/577341/bgimage
Your spider PME: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetyro/6030563492/in/set-72157626977951945/

You can see where the PME rests above the AME. It is a slight difference, but a difference none the less.

I mean if Rod said it... really tough to say contrary, the guys a spider genius, but I'm still so confused, because that is totally Pardosa sp. according to every ID key I've looked at.

---------- Post added 02-16-2012 at 06:03 PM ----------

On a totally seperate note, I checked out your flikr and you got some amazing macro shots. I love the Dolomedes & Tegenaria macros. Two of my favorite spiders!

 

[TheTyro]

Hey Zonbonzovi!!!

I've seen the Pardosa in the Cascades too, especially about the Carbon River. They did remind me of those, although the coloration is more subdued for the river wolfies and the size for these mystery lycosids is a bit bigger on average (as I remember) but the place I saw these lycosids was in a hot, dry area - desert practically, although there is a river not too far from it. Arachnocamping sounds like something I'll have to be a part of. Lemme know what comes up!!!

Ciphor, I thought it was strange, too. I think they are Pardosa as well (for all the reasons you provide here, the eye arrangement comparisons - you nailed it) but Rod is usually creepy correct about all the spiders he's ever looked at for me. I sent him a link to the overall arachnid gallery and he usually looks at every image of the spiders I offer for his inspection.

This is why I want to collect specimens for him to look at in person. He doesn't get to go to that part of Washington State very often, so I'd really like to assist him in this way. Iwould like to see if I can work on an updated checklist for our state too that'd be available on the internet, since he hasn't made additions in some time.

There are many other arachnids I have on a list that I will be continue to investigate from this area! I can't wait for the summer!

Glad you like the imagery, Ciphor! I love me my Tegenaria and I'll be getting Dolomedes again soon.