Confirmation please?

[Tania Baker]

Can anyone please confirm if this is a H. mac and also if the colouration is that of male? This H. maculata measures when fully stretched at 5.5"
All of the photos I have seen of female H.macs at even 2-3" have had the creamy white and black colouration. And I can't get a good ventral pic I'm sorry.

[Tania Baker]

It looks a slightly different colour to the naked eye though... a kind of light brown mixed with a goldish greeny colour in natural daylight.

Another pic.... I'm sorry my camera isn't very good

[Tania Baker]

anyone?..................

[Tania Baker]

I have just learned that this is the spider Paul got from "Poxicator" at the Kempton show .... and now he is mine lol

[Dan Kennard]

It's a mature male I'm afraid, so may only have a few months left. However, we are desperately looking for a boyfriend for our freshly moulted female

[Tania Baker]

Do H. mac males have very obvious hooks when they mature? As my male doesn't appear to have any hooks yet. (unless I can't see them through his fuzz on his legs lol)

[Phil Rea]

Do H. mac males have very obvious hooks when they mature? As my male doesn't appear to have any hooks yet. (unless I can't see them through his fuzz on his legs lol)

Male H. maculata are amongst the species that don't get tibial 'spurs' when they mature. Look for little brown emboli on the tips of his pedipalps to confirm his maturity

[Tania Baker]

Thankyou for that info phil. I would have been looking forever otherwise lol

[Peter Lacey]

oooh, he's changed since September.
Most definitely H. mac as I explained in the pm Tania. Good luck with him.

[Tania Baker]

oooh, he's changed since September.
Most definitely H. mac as I explained in the pm Tania. Good luck with him.

Thankyou lol .... I have a female coming for him on friday

[James Box]

stunning specimen! best of luck with matings...
you should send him to Dan as well!

[Tania Baker]

OK.... I have got my female but when she arrived she is a little smaller than expected.... she is almost 4.5"..... but the male is 5.5" .... guess she can't be mated as she is an inch smaller than the male?

[Guy Tansley]

Hi Tania,

I'd say the female is large enough. We recently researched H. maculata in Ghana and found small adult females (around the same size as your female) with spiderlings so I'd say give it a go!

[Dan Kennard]

I agree with Guy. i've had a sac from a female that size before. Got a decent sized clutch too.

[Tania Baker]

I am concerned tho as the male is much larger than the female. But would it still be ok to mate them? Or would the male kill the female as I have seen happen fairly recently with someone elses T's when the male was larger than the female?