My trapdoors

[Apophis]

(I know, the Ctenizidae sp. has mites, but I can't seem to get rid of them, and they don't seem to bother her much either.)

 

[McPede]

Beautiful spiders!

But I would be careful with the mites.
Buy some predatory mites, Hypoaspis miles, before it is too late.
I have used them on spiders and they work great.

Have a nice weekend!

Best wishes
Fredrik

 

[jukahman]

Good looking spiders!

I agree with McPede, get rid of the mites before its too late.
Good luck.

 

[357wheelgunner]

Where do you buy "predatory mites" from?

 

[McPede]

From most biological control agent suppliers, which can be found on the internet.

Type Hypoaspis in the search window in Google and you will get plenty of results.

Best wishes
Fredrik

 

[Apophis]

Hi Fredrik,

I have tried predatory mites (Laelapidae) and I know others had great results with these, but they did nothing for this trapdoor unfortunately.
Maybe they don't reach her, since she's always underground with a closed trapdoor? :?

I'll give them another try soon though.

 

[McPede]

Goedenavond, "Apophis"!

That was odd, they have always done wonders the few times I have had an mite infestation.

Could you have used another predatory mite from another genus?

Some predatory mites seems to be very specialized in their choice of diet, while others, including Hypoaspis, feeds on a variety of mites and small insects.

Best wishes
Fredrik

 

[Apophis]

wow, you speak dutch! :clap:

I got mine form a source that sells them for use against various types of mites, including bloodmites in reptiles, different types of mites in birds, and I know several peoply who have used them succesfully with tarantula's.

Maybe I just got a bad batch or something, I'll try again soon.

I don't know how good your dutch is, but this is the source I get them from:
http://www.refona.nl/refona/pages/nl/dutchy-s-r.php

 

[McPede]

I can understand some written dutch, but that's about it

I visited the site, but I couldn't find anything about what species they use. All they mention is the product name, Dutchy's.

It could be Hypoaspis miles, that Refona.nl are selling, but I doubt it.
I think they are using a different species, which also feeds on a variety of insects.

I found a couple of sites in the Netherlands who have some Hypoaspis:
http://www.entocare.nl/nl/overige producten/entomite.htm
http://www.biopol.nl/
http://www.brinkman.nl/brinkcgi/pag...logischegewasbescherming&u=wolluisbestrijding


One thing that I think can result in success or failure is probably the amount of predatory mites you put into the container. Better more than less.

The method I have used with great success, is to remove all the visable mites with a cotton bud/swab, dipped in vaseline.
Not the easiest job when you have a hot tempered spider, I know, but you have to get rid of the mites.
After I have removed all the visable mites, I transfer the infested spider into a new container, with fresh substrate.
I then add plenty of predatory mites (the cultures usually comes with vermiculite, which also goes into the container).

Keep the spider under observation for a couple of days.

If you haven't used all the predatory mites, it may be a good idea to repeat the procedure and change the substrate after a couple of days, and throw in the rest of the predatory mites, just to be safe.

Oh, I forgot. It's a very good idea to keep the infested spider well seperated from your collection, preferably in another room, the mites (the dangerous ones) can travel several metres in search for new hosts.

Good luck and please keep me updated on how it goes.

Best wishes
Fredrik

 

[Apophis]

Hi Fredrik,

Thanks alot for al the information!
Manually removing the mites will indeed be problematic, since this girl is pretty feisty, and most of the mites are in hard to reach places such as joints and such. But I will do my very best, and keep you informed!

Thanks again!

best regards,
Sietse

 

[lhystrix]

Always enjoy your images.
I believe your Ctenizid is actually a Cyrtaucheniid, Ancylotrypa species.
Is a trapdoor present?
African origin?

 

[McPede]

Hi Fredrik,

Thanks alot for al the information!
Manually removing the mites will indeed be problematic, since this girl is pretty feisty, and most of the mites are in hard to reach places such as joints and such. But I will do my very best, and keep you informed!

Thanks again!

best regards,
Sietse

Good morning, Sietse!

If removing mites manually will be too problematic (and too dangerous) and you don't find any Hypoaspis miles, I would suggest that you change the substrate frequently instead.

Parasitic mites willl leave the host for a time, in order to lay eggs in the substrate.
By frequently changing the substrate, you will prevent new infestation.

It's a time-consuming process and it may not be as effective as the cotton bud/predatory mite method, but a lot safer.

The only problem is that I don't know how long the parasitic mites will stay on the spider, before they leave the spider to lay eggs, so you might end up with changing substrate for quite some time.


If you find some Hypoaspis, make sure you sprinkle them all over the new substrate and also on the spider, before she disappears into the substrate

Have a nice weekend and Veel geluk!

Best wishes
Fredrik

 

[Apophis]

Always enjoy your images.
I believe your Ctenizid is actually a Cyrtaucheniid, Ancylotrypa species.
Is a trapdoor present?
African origin?

Thanx Jeff, I'l look into the genus you mentioned!

From what I understand she comes from Africa, at least that's what the seller told me.
At first she did make a very primitive trapdoor-like structure, but not nearly as solid as other species. After rehousing she did burrow, but did not make a real trapdoor.

 

[Apophis]

Good morning, Sietse!

If removing mites manually will be too problematic (and too dangerous) and you don't find any Hypoaspis miles, I would suggest that you change the substrate frequently instead.

Parasitic mites willl leave the host for a time, in order to lay eggs in the substrate.
By frequently changing the substrate, you will prevent new infestation.

It's a time-consuming process and it may not be as effective as the cotton bud/predatory mite method, but a lot safer.

The only problem is that I don't know how long the parasitic mites will stay on the spider, before they leave the spider to lay eggs, so you might end up with changing substrate for quite some time.


If you find some Hypoaspis, make sure you sprinkle them all over the new substrate and also on the spider, before she disappears into the substrate

Have a nice weekend and Veel geluk!

Best wishes
Fredrik

Hi fredrik,

last time I used those predatory mites, I just poured them into the container she had been in for quite some time.
This time I will give her a new home, and pour the mites in right away. That way I will know that the predatory mites will be in contact with the spider for a lot longer. Hope this will help!
Thanks again for all the info and advise! :worship:

 

[freeman]

kewl look. huge chelicera with a little spieder attached

 

[lhystrix]

Thanx Jeff, I'l look into the genus you mentioned!

From what I understand she comes from Africa, at least that's what the seller told me.
At first she did make a very primitive trapdoor-like structure, but not nearly as solid as other species. After rehousing she did burrow, but did not make a real trapdoor.

The two Ancylotrypa species commonly exported to the US from Africa don't make trapdoors. When they are not feeding or inactive, the burrow entrance is plugged. When active, the burrow entrance is open, and webbed around the entrance and surrounding area. Sometimes a little 'hill' around the mouth of the burrow after heavy excavation that looks similar to an anthill or mole cricket dirt pile is present.

They often build a small side chamber near the bottom of the burrow. The 'brown' species, identical in appearance to your image above, constructs a 'double door' (hinged on opposite sides and vertically split in the middle) at the entrance of the side chamber (similar to figure F, pg 10). Our (NA) commonly imported Cyphonesia sp. identical in appearance to your image above does this as well (fig C, pg 10 although a double door). The 'bicolored' species builds a folding door, which consists of loose, heavy webbing.
See pg 10 here:
http://survival-training.info/Libra... Spiders of Southern Africa - A. Schoeman.pdf
Also use this link to compare your specimens to my suggested genera.

When threatened, the spiders retreat into the side chambers and pull the doors shut.

 

[Apophis]

Hi Jeff,

Thanx for the info and the link!
I had allready checked that particular article, and there sure are some pointers towards genus Ancylotrypa, especially the "trapdoor" she makes, and the side chamber. However there is also something that doesn't seem to match: Overall body shape. Ancylotrypa sp. seem to have longer legs and narrow chelicera, and my specimen has shorter, thicker legs (esp. III & IV) and very big, wide chelicera.
I think, in appearance she looks alot more like the Stasimopus sp. photos in that article than Ancylotrypa sp. :?

So, basically, I'm lost...

 

[lhystrix]

Hi Jeff,

Thanx for the info and the link!
I had allready checked that particular article, and there sure are some pointers towards genus Ancylotrypa, especially the "trapdoor" she makes, and the side chamber. However there is also something that doesn't seem to match: Overall body shape. Ancylotrypa sp. seem to have longer legs and narrow chelicera, and my specimen has shorter, thicker legs (esp. III & IV) and very big, wide chelicera.
I think, in appearance she looks alot more like the Stasimopus sp. photos in that article than Ancylotrypa sp. :?

So, basically, I'm lost...

Thanks for a reason to mess around. Compare to images below and here
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=108339&highlight=mitchrobot for the real deal.

I didn't measure this spider because she ran into her burrow, but an equal size cricket as the one in the image was a body length of 20mm.
If the images don't help, post a ventral view. The sigilla will narrow it down.

 

[DITB]

Apophis: awesome spiders and i cant help but mention how much i like your avatar Ahaetulla are my all time favorite snakes!

 

[Apophis]

Hi Jeff,

If the spider on your pictures is indeed Ancylotrypa sp. then there's no doubt that mine is too. Mine looks pretty much identical.
Thanks very much for all the info! I'll go change the label now.

Apophis: awesome spiders and i cant help but mention how much i like your avatar Ahaetulla are my all time favorite snakes!

Thanx man!
They're my favorite too! I love how they can really look you in the eye!