Oak Woodland Litter Spiders James Steffen Chicago Botanic Garden

Home , Agyneta, Agyneta micaria, Agyneta tibialis, Anyphaena, Aysha (spider), Bathyphantes

George Retseck Objectives

• Learn about Spiders as Animals • Learn to recognize common spiders to family • Learn about spider ecology • Learn to Collect and Preserve Spiders Kingdom - Animalia

Phylum - Arthropoda

Subphyla - Mandibulata Chelicerata

Class - Arachnida

Orders - Acari Opiliones Pseudoscorpiones Araneae

Spiders Arachnids of Illinois

• Order Acari: Mites and Ticks • Order Opiliones: Harvestmen • Order Pseudoscorpiones: Pseudoscorpions • Order Araneae: Spiders! Acari - Soil Mites

Characteriscs of Spiders

• Usually four pairs of simple eyes although some species may have less

• Six pair of appendages: one pair of fangs (instead of mandibles), one pair of pedipalps, and four pair of walking legs

• Spinnerets at the end of the abdomen, which are used for spinning silk threads for a variety of purposes, such as the construction of webs, snares, and retreats in which to live or to wrap prey

• 1 pair of sensory palps (often much larger in males) between the first pair of legs and the chelicerae used for sperm transfer, prey manipulation, and detection of smells and vibrations

• 1 to 2 pairs of book-lungs on the underside of abdomen

• Primitively, 2 body regions: Cephalothorax, Abdomen Spider Life Cycle

• Eggs in batches (egg sacs) • Hatch inside the egg sac • molt to spiderlings which leave from the egg sac • grows during several more molts (instars) • at final molt, becomes adult – Some long-lived mygalomorphs (tarantulas) molt after adulthood Phenology

• Most temperate spiders are univoltine (annuals) with a distinct mating period – many overwinter as juveniles, few as eggs – some winter-active adults (sub- niviean), too (especially linyphiids) • Small spiders sometimes multivoltine; large spiders often merovoltine (years per cycle) – female tarantulas may live > 20 years • More phenological variability farther north Sexual Dimorphism: male and female size differences in one species

Misumena vatia(Thomisidae) Mobility

Ballooning Sheet webs Reasons Why I Study Spiders

#1 Reason: Diverse; Important Part of Earth’s Biodiversity

• Order Araneae – 7th most diverse animal order – Most diverse order of all predators. • Global diversity – 43,244 species (3,879 genera, 112 families) • North American diversity – 3,500 species in 69 families – New local diversity still being found

#2 Reason: Abundant, thus ecologically important • In all terrestrial/semiterrestrial ecosystems – Rainforest à Tundra – Wetlands à Deserts – Death Valley à Mount Everest • Biomass exceeds most vertebrates in most areas! – Capable of consuming 200kg/ha/yr (440 lbs.) – May approach 1 million individuals/ha

#3 Reason: Predators closely associated with litter arthropods

• Larger and less diverse than many litter arthropods so “easier” to study • Changes in important litter arthropods are reflected in spider populations • Litter spider populations tied to litter structure • Some native and exotic spiders may serve as indicators of changing woodland health Healthy Litter Layer Abundant Spider Activity in Healthy Litter Unhealthy Leaf Litter Under Buckthorn Earthworms obtained in one pit trap sample Impacts of Earthworms on Lier Microarthropods

Typical density of Collembola (springtails) with earthworms present

Density of Collembola (springtails) without earthworms present

Pre-2000 Spider Records, by county Source: J. Jass, 1998 (unpub.)

• 494 species total

• White = 0 • Green = 1-10 • Yellow = 11-50 • Orange = 51-100 • Red = >100 spp.

Wolf Spider

Crab Spider

Orb-Web Spider Jumping Spider Palps: Male reproductive parts Male reproductive parts

Cicurina robusta lateral palp Epigyne: Female reproductive parts. Linyphiid – Sheet web weaver Lycosidae – Wolf spiders

Dime Linyphiidae (sheet web weavers)

Neriene clathrata

Male reproductive parts

Pedipalps

Genus: Bathyphantes Species: concolor Size: F = 2.3 -2.8 mm, M = 2.0 – 2.3 mm

Centromerus corrnupalpis

Ventral view

Lateral view

Female reproductive parts Ceraticelus ﬁssiceps Linyphiidae (sheet web weavers)

Walckenaeria atrotibialis

Disembolus bairdi

Eyes on raised cephalic region with pits Sheet web weaver

Walckenaeria directa(Linyphiidae:Erigoninae) Banded pattern on abdomen may be complete Or broken with paired spots

Genus: Agyneta Species: micaria Size: F = 2.0 - 2.5 mm, M = 2.0 – 2.5 mm Comments: One of the sheet web weavers.

Salticidae (jumping spiders) Phidappus audax Neon nellii 2.0-3.0 mm

Naphrys pulex 4.0-5.5mm Jumping Spider

Trapezoid sides of eye area parallel

Tibia and metatarsi without dense hairs ventrally, ventral setae clearly visible Genus: Eris Species: militaris Size: F= 6.0 – 8.0 mm M= 4.7 – 6.7 mm

Lycosidae (wolf spiders)

Carapace with “V” shaped central spot between two broad dark bands

Posterior median eyes large

Trocanters with distinct rounded notch

Genus: Pirata Species: minutus Size: F = 2.8 - 3.7 mm, M = 2.5-3.1 mm Comments: One of the wolf spiders.

Carapace with two elongated spots in light band between two broad dark bands

Wolf Spiders

Epigynum of female with median Genus: Trochosa septum in shape of inverted “T” Species: terricola Size: F = 9.0 -14.0 mm, M = 7.0 - 9.0mm

Carapace with two broad dark bands and a light central band

Longitudinal piece of median septum widest posteriorly in female Epigynum

Proximal end of tarsi I with long, stout dorsal spine

Wolf Spider

Genus: Schizocosa Brushy tibia of Species: ocreata male Size: F = 7.3 – 10.4 M = 5.7 – 8.3 mm

Wolf Spider Carrying Egg Sac Carrying young on its abdomen

Trochosa Ruricola Epigynum not wrinkled

Tibia I with two pair of ventral spines

Body covered with spatulate hairs, Thomisidae wider at the tip than at the base (crab spiders)

Genus: Ozyptila Species: praticola Size: F = 4.0 mm, M = 3.0 mm

Crab Spiders

Body spines pointed, narrowing from base to tip

Tibia I with three pair of ventral spines

Genus: Xysticus Species: pellax Size: F = 6.3 mm, M = 3.5 mm

Leg spots largest at the ends of the segments Carapace as wide or wider than long

Philodromidae (crab spiders)

Posterior median eyes further from each other than From the posterior lateral eyes

Genus: Philodromus Species: vulgaris Size: F = 6.6 mm, M = 6.0 mm

Median posterior eyes Oval and obliquely positioned

Gnaphosidae (ground spiders)

Terminal segments of spinnerets Long,cylindrical, or tubular in shape Cephalic and thoracic segments of carapace not distinctly separated

Genus: Sosticus Species: insularis Size: F = 5.7 – 7.5, M = 4.6 – 5.9 mm

Cephalic and thoracic Portions of carapace Not strongly differentiated Posterior eyes Subequidistant (almost equally spaced)

Ground Spiders Distinct abdominal pattern

Genus: Herpyllus Species: ecclesiasticus Size: F = 6.6 - 9.0 mm, M = 4.6 - 6.1 mm Corinnidae Dark carapace and abdomen (ant mimics)

Abdomen with two distinct lines

Dark bands on dorsal and lateral sides of femur

Genus: Castianeira Species: cingulata Size: F = 7.2 – 7.3 mm, M = 4.3 – 4.4 mm

Another ant mimic - front legs resemble antennae

Phrurotimpus borealis Anyphaenidae (ghost spiders)

Single pair metatarsal Two claws and claw tufts ventral spines

Spiracular slit nearer to Epigastric furrow than in Anyphaena

Genus: Aysha Species: gracilis Size: F = 6.4 - 7 mm, M = 5.7 - 6.5 mm

Two claws and claw tufts Spiracular slit centrally positioned

Metatarsus I with two pair of ventral spines

Genus: Anyphaena Species: celer Size: F = 5.3 – 5.4 mm, M = 4.3 – 4.4 mm

Clubionidae (sac spiders)

Clubiona kastoni Clubiona maritima Pisauridae (nursery web weaver)

Genus: Pisaurina Species: mira Size: F = 12.3-16.5mm M = 10.5-15.0mm Male palp

Dyctinidae (mesh weaver spiders)

Length of terminal segment of posterior spinneret less than the basal segment

Genus: Cicurina Species: robusta Size: F = 5.8 – 9.1 mm, M = 5.0 – 6.7 mm Comments:

Agelenidae (funnel web spiders)

spinnerets Eye rows subequal

Genus: Agelenopsis Species: pennsylvanica Size: F = 10-17 mm, M = 9-13 mm

Funnel Web made by Agelinidae (Hahniidae) (dwarf sheet spiders)

Horizontally placed spinnerets

Neoantistea magna Orb Web Spider - Araneus sp. Classic Orb Web Dysderidae: (woodlouse spider) Bathyphantes concolor Activity

15 Number of adults trapped Number of 10

0 8/7/98 9/4/98 1/8/99 2/5/99 3/5/99 4/2/99 6/26/98 7/10/98 7/24/98 8/21/98 9/18/98 10/2/98 1/22/99 2/19/99 3/19/99 4/16/99 4/30/99 5/14/99 5/28/99 6/11/99 10/16/98 10/30/98 11/13/98 11/27/98 12/11/98 12/25/98 Dates Schizocosa ocreata Activity

6 Number of Individuals

Number of Individuals Number of 15

3 Number of Individuals Number of 2

4 Number of adults trapped Number of

700

600

500

400

300

R² = 0.95685

200 Number of B. concolor trapped B. concolor Number of

100

0 15 20 25 30 Number of species BATCON vs Trochosa ruricola

R² = 0.61215 15

10 Number of Trochosa ruricola Number of Trochosa

0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 % BATCON Percent Lycosidae vs Mean Litter Mass

160

140

120

100

Mean Litter Mass/gr R² = 0.76237

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 Percent Lycosidae Spider Parasites: Mantispid ﬂy larvae on Clubiona Collecting Spiders

• Quantitative or non-quantitative? • Searching (without traps, etc.) – Tools: containers, aspirator • night collecting: headlight – Attempts to quantify: Timed intervals Collecting Spiders

• Litter Collection – Very efficient, but with limitations: • Fast movers • Litter present – Attempts to quantify • Volume of litter • Number of collections • Beating vegetation: Similar to sweeping Litter Reducer Collecting Spiders

• Pitfall Traps: Much used, much criticized – Operates 24-7-365 – Collects large series of common species – Efficient at obtaining “rare” species – But: Many Variables: • Size? • Roof? • Preservative? • Barriers? • Placement, duration, weather, vegetation? Pit Fall Trap Preserving and Examining Arachnids

• Killed/fixed/preserved in alcohol – 70% ethanol is best – Rubbing alcohol is OK, too • But don’t mix them. • Plastic in the field, glass for permanent • Label INSIDE vial • Examined under ethanol with a dissecting scope….don’t allow them to dry out. Specimens have no scientific value without label data

• Locality Label: Where and when Illinois: Cook Co. Chicago Botanic Garden. McDonald Woods; Oak litter. Pitfall Trap. 5 July 2000. Coll. J. Steffen • Determination Label: What Det. J. Steffen 2012 Thomisidae: Ozyptila praticola (C. L. Koch, 1837). 2 Males. Handling Preserved Arachnids

• Forceps: The main tool – Pick up spiders only by the legs – Pick up spider BEFORE rotating it…legs may break off if you “roll” the spider – A probe or pin on a pin vise can be useful, too. • Eyedropper: Useful for transferring small spiders, as well as the alcohol. Identifying Spiders

• Family--> Genus --> species – Keys – Photos, drawings: Internet – Revisions – Sometimes nothing much is available • Three types of “evidence” – Morphology: The key to identiﬁcation • genitalia important in species ID – Behavior and Ecology • Web, movement, where and when found – Gestalt: Comes with experience Web Resources

– Platnick’s Spider Catalog – Spider Species of the Great Lakes States – Sierwald, et al.

– BugGuide.net – www.ﬁeldmuseum.org (dwarf spider ID Gallery) Spider Literature Acknowledgements

Collaborators: Michael Draney University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Field & Lab Assistants:

Florrie Funk Janice Cook Charlynn Schweingruber Joan Palincar Jennifer Sylvester Jessica Price Meridith Bartley