intruder in h.gigas sling enclosure

[Drew Acton]

i just went to feed my 1.5" h.gigas and when i removed the lid i found what looks like a tiny crab spider with no more than 1.5 cm legspan. i have removed the little rascal and the gigas seams to be wondering around her burrow like normal. dose anyone know if these spiders are a threat to a small t like my gigas?

[Phil Rea]

Could well be Thanatus vulgaris. They often come in with crickets

[Drew Acton]

are they likely to harm a t if i wasnt to notice them ?

[Ray Hale]

Not at all. They will just go about their business and avoid the tarantula.

They often come with the crickets.

Ray

[Drew Acton]

thanks just there was a post a while back and people didnt know if our british spids could harm even kill our t's

now i know thanks guys.

[Phil Rea]

T. vulgaris isn't British (although I believe there is now an established population in the South), it is an introduced species. I've no idea if anyone has done it already, but the next time I receive one with crickets, I intend to properly identify it microscopically, just to make sure that they actually are T. vulgaris.

Most British spiders won't harm Tarantulas but there are a few, like P. phalangoides (the daddy longlegs spider) that will quite happily mop them up, even ones that are much bigger than themselves.

[Colin D Wilson]

T. vulgaris isn't British (although I believe there is now an established population in the South), ,.

I believe there is a population, it's mentioned on the BAS website i think.

I intend to properly identify it microscopically, just to make sure that they actually are T. vulgaris..

If you could post your results with some ID images that would be a great help for people asking this very question.

Most British spiders won't harm Tarantulas but there are a few, like P. phalangoides (the daddy longlegs spider) that will quite happily mop them up, even ones that are much bigger than themselves.

Top tip.... dont have these in a room if you have slings that "could escape" at feeding times etc.. they are at the top of the spider hunter pyramid in this country

[Phil Rea]

I believe there is a population, it's mentioned on the BAS website i think.

If you could post your results with some ID images that would be a great help for people asking this very question.

I intend to do something along those lines, Colin

I notice Volker von Wirth had some ID'd in 2002, from crickets in Germany. It will be interesting to maybe verify the ones in the UK, as presumably they have all been originally introduced with crickets from North America.

It would also be an interesting exercise to compare samples from the established UK population if that would be possible. von Wirth's article states that there were none established in Germany in 2002. I wonder if that's also still the case?

[Drew Acton]

thanks again will be great to see your finding hope to see a post soon

[Dee Pluck]

WHAT.... did i read that right.....
seriously daddy long legs will take down sling that are bigger
than they are. i'm shocked. slings are usually such feisty little things
and tackle pray bigger then themselves i never would have thought
the daddy long legs as any kinda threat... not at all.
they are so gentle and elegant as they slowly wanter around...

[James Box]

i know what you mean, Dee. but i've heard tell of Pholcus phalangiodes taking on Tegenaria sp!
impressive to say the least.

[Dee Pluck]

i'm developing a respect for these little crawlies

and an interest....

i will no longer ignore the skinny little spider in the
corner of the room....

[Phil Rea]

i know what you mean, Dee. but i've heard tell of Pholcus phalangiodes taking on Tegenaria sp!
impressive to say the least.

You've heard right James



There you go Dee. You should be impressed by them, they are supreme sit-and-wait predators!

[Dee Pluck]

fantastic pic Phil where ever did you get it?
you take it? its amazing.

i am totally impressed with daddy long legs now!
anything that can take down the ugly evil moster
house spider gets my vote.!!

[Drew Acton]

It is said that their venom is strong enough to harm us but their fangs are too weak to penitrate the skin