Insect or Invertebrates Identification - DONE

[Toko]

Day 7 Thursday 15 November : Balule - continued.

Another spider that I haven't ID'd yet but might be a Hairy Field Spider.

Pararaneus, Spiky Field Spider

Possibly Pararaneus cyrtoscapus.

http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=pdb&PdbID=22899

[BluTuna]

Day 7 Thursday 15 November : Balule - continued.

Another spider that I haven't ID'd yet but might be a Hairy Field Spider.

Pararaneus, Spiky Field Spider

Possibly Pararaneus cyrtoscapus.

http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=pdb&PdbID=22899

[Toko]

Do you have any description of Pararaneus cyrtoscapus?

[BluTuna]

Do you have any description of Pararaneus cyrtoscapus?

There's a description in the Spiders book, I was going to do it last night but I spent the whole evening in the dark thanks to our wonderful government

[ExFmem]

Don't dispair, BT, some of us remain in the dark with all the lights ON. Some great pics you are posting here, seems you have become quite the macro professional. Have you considered entering any photography contests? Happy bugging

[BluTuna]

Don't dispair, BT, some of us remain in the dark with all the lights ON. Some great pics you are posting here, seems you have become quite the macro professional. Have you considered entering any photography contests? Happy bugging

Thanks ExF, I've taken a rest from bug shooting for this summer. I'm concentrating on birds in flight until I get competent at that.

I entered my first competition this week - it's being held at one of the local camera stores and the prize is a Nikon D3200 with extras. In the unlikely event that I win, I'll use it instead of my D5000.

[BluTuna]

Toko : I've copied this text from the Field Guide to the Spiders of South Africa. Ansie Dippenaqar-Schoeman.

GENUS PARARANEUS. (Spiky Field Spiders).

They resemble Neoscona species but are decorated with more and stronger spines, especially the male. Their colour varies from brown to reddish yellow. In some species their shieldlike, dorsally rounded abdomen has a pair of small white
spots and in most species there are four or five transverse bands over the abdomen. Their moderately long legs are the same colour as the carapace and bear strong spines, especially in males. Anterior protruding eyes are especially significant in males. The eyes are on tubercles.

They make two types of webs : the mature spider makes a typical vertical orb web while the immature spiders make a horizontal web with a defective frame. It is cone shaped with threads pulling the hub out of the plane of the frame. Three species have been recorded from South Africa.

Pararaneus cyrtoscapus.
Size: F 5-6mm, M 8-10mm.
Carapace varies from brown to reddish yellow. Abdomen has four to five transverse bands dorsally, faintly spotted. Legs are moderately long same colour as carapace; bearing strong spines.
Behavior: A common species sampled with a sweep net.

[Toko]

Ok, will put it together than and make the entry tomorrow!



Good luck with the competition

[BluTuna]

Thanks Toko.

Figner trubble - the author is Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman.

[Toko]

Did not even notice that typolino