Spiders No.12 - Female Pholcus phalangioides and Egg Ball.

[Walter Piorkowski]

Leitz Ortholux microscope
4X Leitz projection eyepiece plus 1/3x relay lens

Image No. 1
85 images at .001 inch increments
Leitz 4X Plan Fluorite objective
Reflected light, diffused fiber optic illumination

Image No. 2
44 images at .002 inch increments
Leitz 2.5X Plan achromat objective
Reflected light, diffused fiber optic illumination

Canon 50D
Zerene and Photoshop processing.
Live subjects

This and the next three posts will be spent with the common cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides and its ball of interesting eggs. The four posts in their entirety comprise another early life cycle study for this species.

This spider holds her ball of eggs in her jaws supported by the pedipalps. She doesn’t seem to eat anything for the long period the eggs take to mature, but she likely sets them down to take a meal if one should come along. The male is close by. The egg ball is very loosely woven with silk and the eggs are easily broken free. I cannot say when the egg where deposited but growth has clearly progressed so that eyes, pedipalps and legs can be seen. The shell is a thin transparent membrane allowing the embryo to be clearly seen.

This spider’s legs are 5-6 times longer than the entire body length so even in the embryonic stage they are prominent.

The female will set almost motionless, hanging upside down with the egg ball projected out and up for endless hours, drifting into days. As stated all subjects are live due to this behavior.

Walt

[Mitch640]

Excellent shots Walter. Never seen anything like it. I did ask in another section about the spots on the little ones, thinking these were Black Widows, but I see they aren't. I admire the dedication it takes to get shots like these.

[Walter Piorkowski]

Thank you Mitch. I answered your questions in the other post. I like sharing uncommon images on the forum. I see you recognized them as not being widows. Ignore my comments.

Walt