Spiders from the zoo

[tchuanye]

Was at the zoo, so took some chance to shoot. Not much spiders btw, only found these few:

#1: Little JS


#2:Hasselt's Spiny Spider


#3: 2 spiders dunno doing what? (edited to enlarge the pic)

[tltan]

oh. I like the composition of #1, details of spider on #2 and clear background of #3.

Is #3 making its web?

Regards,
tltan

[tchuanye]

Originally Posted by tltan oh. I like the composition of #1, details of spider on #2 and clear background of #3. Is #3 making its web? Regards, tltan

Thanks.

#3, confirm not making web. There are 2 of them there intertwine with each other, so dunnot what they are doing. At first thought one was eating the other. Blow on them and they seperated. One still on the web, and the other run to the side.

[EOS10D]

hi
Very nice pics
Did you take these using FZ10 and macro attachment ??
Damn........now itching to get one too

[tchuanye]

Originally Posted by EOS10D hi Very nice pics Did you take these using FZ10 and macro attachment ?? Damn........now itching to get one too

Thanks.

Yes, taken with FZ10+6T+Sigma CU filter.

#2 shot with same set up, but with twin flash. One with stofen OB on flash bracket (left side), the other Achiever 828 with bounce card handheld on right side....first time trying to minimise onesided shadow. Not too happy with it...need to experiment more.

[Jayson_Ang]

i think the spiders in pic #3 are having a party!

[Qazwer]

Nice spider shots...

Guess the 2 spiders in #3 is mating or something?

[tchuanye]

Thanks Jayson, Qazwer.

It could possibly be mating....

[tchuanye]

Ok, someone from another forum have provided some info on the #3 pic. They ARE mating.

The smaller fella on the right is the male. And I will quote from my friend David from NPS regarding the white blob on the female body:

"This round structure is part of the male's palp used during mating.

The palps of male orbweb-spinning spiders are made of both hard and soft parts. The hard parts are called sclerites and the soft membranous parts are called haematodochae.

The round structure you mention is an individual haematodocha - the haematodocha is obvious to the naked eye only during the actual mating activity as it is only then that it is fully expanded .

The hydraulic expansion of the haematodocha changes the position of the sclerites so that they may be properly engaged with the female genital opening. Sperm is driven into the female through a very fine-pointed, hypodermic-like embolus.

During mating some spiders use one palp then the other. Others use both at once and yet others use only one palp. Your Tylorida seems to be using one palp at a time.

Most males die soon after mating!

Best wishes,
David"

[tltan]

Seriously, this is educational!

Originally Posted by tchuanye Ok, someone from another forum have provided some info on the #3 pic. They ARE mating. The smaller fella on the right is the male. And I will quote from my friend David from NPS regarding the white blob on the female body: "This round structure is part of the male's palp used during mating. The palps of male orbweb-spinning spiders are made of both hard and soft parts. The hard parts are called sclerites and the soft membranous parts are called haematodochae. The round structure you mention is an individual haematodocha - the haematodocha is obvious to the naked eye only during the actual mating activity as it is only then that it is fully expanded . The hydraulic expansion of the haematodocha changes the position of the sclerites so that they may be properly engaged with the female genital opening. Sperm is driven into the female through a very fine-pointed, hypodermic-like embolus. During mating some spiders use one palp then the other. Others use both at once and yet others use only one palp. Your Tylorida seems to be using one palp at a time. Most males die soon after mating! Best wishes, David"

[Jayson_Ang]

very enlightening ..
thanks for the info

[tchuanye]

Just sharing what I found out.....interesting for me too!