Insects and spiders from trips oh my!

Back in Mallorca, and here the life of insects and bugs alike are thriving. These are pictures from the last two weeks, from sampling for my genus of amphipods (Pseudoniphargus), and trips in the mountains just for fun. The Iberian fauna is showing me some really cool things. To enlarge the picture just click on them. Hope you enjoy

Scytodidae, Scytodes sp., This is also called the spitting spider since it does not hunt by producing a net. Instead it spits treads in a zig-zag pattern at its prey (this one i had in my room. How cool is that?). This was my first encounter with this family and i really hope it will not be my last. 

Gryllidae

Thomisidae, Waiting for a tasty snack.

This one i only got as far as Brachycera with confidence. Here i could use some help..(Gunnar)

This one was taken in a cave searching for amphipods. I should have had my ring flash with me for this one. There were a group of five spiders there all quite large, about as a thumb in size. Identification will be tricky, They were smooth but with strong bristles or seta, maybe a Therididae, or a Aranidae, any thoughts? 

Euscorpius balearicus

This one was dead when found in the pond where we were searching for Amphipoda. It was a large specimen. Come to think of it this cave was really not for the squeamish people. As well as a cranium of a rat, makes up quite a good setting. 

Lycosidae, It is hard to place to genus but I would eliminate Pirata and Throcosa. I think it is Pardosa, but i am far from certain.

Another Thomisidae ready to pounce on anything getting close enough to his flower

Coleoptera; Oedermeridae, My first encounter with this family as well.

Miridae

Araneidae, and i think it is from the genus of Araniella. These are tiny spiders but they are absolutely beautiful.

Dysteridae Nemesia brauni, this one is endemic (link to paper with evidence of endemism.) to the Balearic Islands as well. This one was in a tunnel web under a larger rock where it seemed to be feasting on isopods. Dysteridae are spiders with rather large chelicera and most have only six eyes. 

Lachnaia vicina

Early in the mornign, still with morning dew all over the nice elytra

Lachnaia vicina

Here with the time old question, "what are you looking at?"

Next post will be bug free, as I will have birds and reptiles to show you guys.

Aranea

Hi,
I promised a post about a great group of animals that weirdly enough I find fascinating, exciting and beautiful. From their homes (some of them) shining in the morning sun, or from their stricking colours, to their movement, and the sheer diversity it is hard not to like these wonderful hunters. For most of them are hunters, with perhaps the one or two exceptions. And as far as diversity goes spiders have also as well as beetles conquer a great deal of different habitats around the world. Even some species of spiders have concurred the air, at least when they are young they will use a great length of tread to get airborne and spread to new possible habitats. Their way of living and their way of surviving is equally diversified. There are currently over 42000 valid species of spiders in the world.  From them only about 20 or so species are considered dangerous to us humans. So there is a bit of an unfair view of these amazing creatures. 

As promised here are some of the spiders I have encountered. Some are old photos and some are more recent.

Salticidae from Spain

Thomisidae think the genus here is Xysticus but species name evades me at present time. It was taken along the shore on Sotra. An island close to Bergen.

Segestriidae; Segestria senoculata. This spider has only six eyes (Different numbers of eyes occur but eight is the norm). It is sometimes referred to as the snake spider for the drawings on the abdomen/ophistosoma. This photo was taken Close to Aboretet at Milde, a few minutes outside of Bergen

Lycosidae; This photo was taken at Kvamskogen about an hour away from my city of Bergen. I do not dare to take it to genus since I have no accurate picture of the prosoma (the front body of the spider). So in this case I will leave it at family.

This one is a bit difficult. Right now I am not sure even to family. If someone would care to take a stab at this one, go for it. Taken in Spain close to Madrid Thanks' to Petterkopp for determening the family to Oxyopidae.

Another Thomisidae, this time in Spain munching on a unfortunate beetle.

Tetragnathidae From Spain

Aranidae; Argiope but not sure about the species name here. This photo was also taken in Spain

This Photo was taken in a fast moment and i have little to go on to determine this one. It had a ground thunnel like net and i think it has only six eyes as well so it might be another type of Segestriidae. But here i am far from certain.

Lycosidae from Spain. Notice the small ball it is carrying from the back. This is a bag of eggs it protect untill it haches. Sometimes they protect their young also after hatching carrrying them arround on the abdomen.

This one was also encountered close to Madrid and The spesific shape of the abdomen is quite caracteristic. In german littearture this might be reffered to as "Höker" or horns. Might say he is a horny critter. It is possible it is this species Araneus gemmoides.

There are so much more to these great animals than just hairy legs and screams. And even if that won't help you can always spend some time procrastinating/playing with a spider on your computer.