Linyphiid spider?

Tegenaria

Arachnodemon
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 11, 2005
Messages
749
At first I just passed it off as some tiny sling but on closer inspection I saw the boxing gloves, its an adult male! Had a look in my book and the closest I could get was a member of the Linyphiidae, which includes money spiders.
Its about 2-3mm and is ratther happy ,living near my front door.





and to give you an idea of its size,its the small dot near my finger!
 

NRF

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 10, 2004
Messages
252
Hi,

It's apparently a Theridion melanurum (Theridiidae). It will molt once more before it is adult, that means it is now subadult.
 

Tegenaria

Arachnodemon
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 11, 2005
Messages
749
Hi,

It's apparently a Theridion melanurum (Theridiidae). It will molt once more before it is adult, that means it is now subadult.
Thanks for that. Just checked my ID guide and yes it could be or the similar T.mystaceum
 

NRF

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 10, 2004
Messages
252
Yepp, you are right about T. mystaceum as well. There are so many Englands in North America so I thought your England was there as well, and T. mystaceum is a Palaearctic species... According to the Dutch version of Roberts' field guide I remember there are some other Middle European species which can be rather similar as well. I think the genitalia of T. melanurum/mystaceum are so similar that it is sometimes hard to distinguish them even under the microscope.
 
Top