Mite problem?

[diadematus]

My little Theridion has been grooming herself a great deal lately; at first I thought this might be normal for these spiders, but I had seen two or three small 3D "spots" in the sternum area. This evening I thought I saw one on a leg, but while trying to get a photo I found this (see photo).

Are these mites? Or? Anything I can do other than maybe releasing the spider? She is now almost 5 mm long.

-Kevin

 

[Galapoheros]

Those are parasitic mites. Wow it's covered. If you want to hang on to it, I'd start feeding it wild insects. Maybe you will get lucky and feed it an insect that has predatory mites on it. They would move themselves to the spider as she eats the prey. ...just an idea. Good luck!

From my experience, allot time, the bad mites come from mealworms you buy at pet stores. I can see them. Esp if you see allot of black dead mealworms in the containers at the store....run away!

 

[diadematus]

Those are parasitic mites. Wow it's covered. If you want to hang on to it, I'd start feeding it wild insects. Maybe you will get lucky and feed it an insect that has predatory mites on it. They would move themselves to the spider as she eats the prey. ...just an idea. Good luck!

Thanks! I'm not going to look for wild insects here in November, so I will probably turn her loose tomorrow on the balcony. Hopefully she'll find her own insects.

-Kevin

 

[NRF]

Interesting! I have only seen single red mites in spiders (and Opilionids) before. Don't release the spider but try to rear the mites and have some expert to determine them. It could give some interesting information. The mites are perhaps nymphs now? Do you know the species of the Theridion? If not can you send a pic of the dorsal view?

 

[Galapoheros]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if they are this sp of parasitic mites I find on my centipedes. Not a for sure thing though. I've seen them on spiders, vinegaroons, centipedes and scorps. I don't have the problem anymore thanks to hypoaspis mites and tiny Rove beetles in my cages.

 

[diadematus]

Interesting! I have only seen single red mites in spiders (and Opilionids) before. Don't release the spider but try to rear the mites and have some expert to determine them. It could give some interesting information. The mites are perhaps nymphs now? Do you know the species of the Theridion? If not can you send a pic of the dorsal view?

They seem to be doing an excellent job of rearing themselves. I recall seeing what I thought might be 2 or 3 mites about a week ago.

The attached image is from a week ago (also ventral view); there I think I see only a couple -- or are they also on the coxa?

I don't have any true ventral views as she is always hanging in the web. Here is a lateral view:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevin_pfeiffer/294317681/in/set-72157594377476751/

And from the rear-quarter:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevin_pfeiffer/294317682/in/set-72157594377476751/

Those are from the 8th of November.

I don't know any mite experts (I don't even know any spider experts, well aside from any online experts here and in Martin Lemke's Forum).

-Kevin

 

[NRF]

Hmm. Can't tell the species from the ventral or lateral views. The dorsal dentate band remins me of T. melanurum/mystaceum, but it seems to be a very light colourform. Put the spider on the table or on a twig and take some more pics from abowe if you can

 

[diadematus]

Hmm. Can't tell the species from the ventral or lateral views. The dorsal dentate band remins me of T. melanurum/mystaceum, but it seems to be a very light colourform. Put the spider on the table or on a twig and take some more pics from abowe if you can

T. mystaceum was my uneducated guess (the spider appears somewhat darker that the images show). I'll see what I can do about getting a better pic or two.

-K

 

[Australis]

Arghhh...how do i get rid of this pesky mites...
Its infested my C.gracilis container...now theres tiny white spots in between the crevices of the tail and body...
I'm keeping them dry but they still appear...
I'm loosing my cool

The box is as dry as cocopeat can get...but they still sprout...damn those bugs

 

[diadematus]

For NRF...

 

[NRF]

Great pics! Thanks! But I would like to see the dorsal view as well (der Rücken, bitte!)...

 

[diadematus]

Great pics! Thanks! But I would like to see the dorsal view as well (der Rücken, bitte!)...

Oops, sorry. Even though I reread your last post, in my head I was sure that you wanted the ventral view. :-(

On a side note, I ran across this (for controlling mites on snakes): "Order a box of Hypoaspis mites.
When they arrive give each cage a quick spray with water to raise the humidity slightly then add a few spoonfuls of the mite mixture to each cage.
They will clear up all the problem mites within twenty four hours and then spend the next few days hunting down all the mite eggs hiding in your cages.
Once the food runs out they all die off.
They don't upset your herps, can be used to clear spiders, insects etc of mites as well and you havent used any chemicals or stress the herps by handling them."

Note the author also mentions spiders. I don't plan on ordering this for this tiny Therididion, but in case any one is interested in this, here is the link:
http://www.defenders.co.uk/sciarid_fly_control.htm

-Kevin

 

[diadematus]

Meanwhile I am trying Galapoheros's idea and have given her a house fly. It's a little big for her, but she's got the wings and two legs sucessfully pinned down with sticky webbing, so I imagine it is just a matter of time.

-K

 

[diadematus]

So, one more time for NRF...

 

[diadematus]

And one for my bloody-thirsty colleagues who like "feeding photos". That's a house fly, about to enjoy the kiss of the spider woman -- or should one say "kiss of the spider woman with mites"?

 

[Galapoheros]

Wow that's a pretty good close-up. You use a mag for that pic? A note on the Hypoaspis... If you use them on pedes, trop scorps and other stuff you can keep on moist sub, they reproduce and keep going while living in the sub. I can see hundreds in some of my cages. Allot better than having parasitics. Those parasitic mites had been ruining the hobby for me for years . But not anymore .

 

[diadematus]

Wow that's a pretty good close-up. You use a mag for that pic? A note on the Hypoaspis... If you use them on pedes, trop scorps and other stuff you can keep on moist sub, they reproduce and keep going while living in the sub. I can see hundreds in some of my cages. Allot better than having parasitics. Those parasitic mites had been ruining the hobby for me for years . But not anymore .

Sorry, I guess I could post this information (I know that I like to read it myself): Pan. Lumix FZ-7 with the Raynox DCR-250 macro converter, onboard flash through paper hood and secondary flash assist. Shot through the plastic housing, though, which doesn't help things.

Regarding the "mite killers", the company I saw sells only in England, and as much as I enjoy watching this spider (found on the barbeque), I'm not spending money on it for 'medical treatment'. If the infestation doesn't get better, I'll put her back outside.

-Kevin

 

[Glen Southern]

Is this similar?

 

[diadematus]

Is this similar?

I would say so (the layman's opinion).

-Kevin

 

[diadematus]

Possible source?

I saw this while photographing my Thanatus spider, to which I had just given a pinhead cricket. Perhaps the "Heimchen" (crickets) are the source of my plague?

-Kevin