Not long to the bts show now so just want to remind anyone buying t's to thoroughly check them before buying. No doubt there will be the usual stack of wild caught T. blondi amongst others that may possibly be carrying nematodes, parasites and these little fellas - scuttle fly larvae. This pic was taken at the last Kettering show, the spiders hadn't been checked and were available to buy. This time around it wasn't so bad as this species of fly (Megaselia dimorphica) has been found to live symbiotically with certain species of South American tarantulas and is host specific. They don't actually harm the spider but live upon it, feeding off prey remains and laying eggs / pupating on the carapace (the only spot where the spider cannot reach when it cleans itself). These larvae are easily removed with forceps and once removed, the spider will have no further problem with them.
Nematodes on the other hand, are what you should be looking out for
More information can be found on M. dimorphica and nematode symptoms by clicking the links below...
Keep 'em peeled, trust me - you don't want these in your collection...
Nematodes on the other hand, are what you should be looking out for
More information can be found on M. dimorphica and nematode symptoms by clicking the links below...
Keep 'em peeled, trust me - you don't want these in your collection...
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