Recently mated male funnel weaver
A friend called to offer me a spider they recently caught... this small funnel weaver that was living in a corner of their kitchen. It looked somewhat dehydrated judging by its exceedingly thin abdomen. It drank water for a few minutes after a drop on a toothpick was carefully worked between its pedipalps. It reared back at the instant of contact, but then settled down to drink while grasping the end of the toothpick. This trick for presenting water to a spider works well, but after finished drinking they'll sometimes try to scramble up the toothpick and onto your hand.
Nikon D40, Isco-Gottingen 135mm f/3.5 Tele-Westanar "pre-set" lens focused at infinity, with the large "common objective" from an American Optical "Cycloptic" stereo microscope mounted on the front of the Isco. Lighting provided by a Nikon SB-23 speedlight flashed through a diffuser made from the white plastic bowl that comes in a frozen dinner.
DSC-3942
Recently mated male funnel weaver
A friend called to offer me a spider they recently caught... this small funnel weaver that was living in a corner of their kitchen. It looked somewhat dehydrated judging by its exceedingly thin abdomen. It drank water for a few minutes after a drop on a toothpick was carefully worked between its pedipalps. It reared back at the instant of contact, but then settled down to drink while grasping the end of the toothpick. This trick for presenting water to a spider works well, but after finished drinking they'll sometimes try to scramble up the toothpick and onto your hand.
Nikon D40, Isco-Gottingen 135mm f/3.5 Tele-Westanar "pre-set" lens focused at infinity, with the large "common objective" from an American Optical "Cycloptic" stereo microscope mounted on the front of the Isco. Lighting provided by a Nikon SB-23 speedlight flashed through a diffuser made from the white plastic bowl that comes in a frozen dinner.
DSC-3942