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Eris militaris (Hentz, 1845) Discussion

bronze jumper

Comments on May 2, 2007 Observation

45.14651,-75.60883
Bev Wigney
45.1465, -75.6088
1    
Submitted: May 2, 2007 at 1:17:37 PM MST

Eris militaris (Bev Wigney [May 2, 2007])Female spider found with prey on May 2, 2007. She was found on a Wild Cherry tree within about 2 meters of another Wild Cherry tree where a male Eris Militaris was seen on April 23, 2007. (Photo of male: http://www.pbase.com/image/77626681). This female was biting on a large fly. These particular flies have been frequenting the small grove of Black Cherry trees for several days. As I watched the spider for awhile, she seemed determined to ensure that she wouldn't lose her prey and raised her first pair of legs to hold it more securely. She tried to keep me within her line of sight at all times, and would move from side to side in order to keep me in view. Photos (2) at: http://www.pbase.com/image/78117801 http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/78117802

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Bev Wigney wrote on May 3, 2007 at 6:00:53 PM MST

This is the first decent weather we've had, but insect activity seems very slow. I'm not seeing many spiders so far either - and those I've seen are mainly wolf spiders. As far as insects go, there seem to be far more Ellychnia corrusca diurnal fireflies around than usual, and also Chilocorus stigma lady beetles. I've never seen either in such numbers before. I consider both of them very early season insects, so it seems unusual for there to be so many of them around, especially into May. I'm also seeing quite a number of Lampyridae larvae wandering around the bark on the poplar trees. Perhaps we're going to get a bumper crop of fireflies this summer. Btw, this afternoon, I did see another jumping spider in the same general area s the previous two (about 30 meters away on a poplar tree). I haven't taken the photos out of my camera yet, so I can't be sure of the ID, but it looked like another femaie E. militaris -- only this one seemed slightly smaller than the one that I saw yesterday.
(edited by admin May 3, 2007 at 8:12:30 PM MST)

David P. Shorthouse wrote on May 3, 2007 at 4:01:30 PM MST

Great shot and find, Bev! It's been dreadfully wet & cold here all week and I have been itching to contribute my own observations. But, I haven't seen anything except a large, female T. domestica in my basement.