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Woodlouse Spider

Dysdera sp. cf. crocata

Photo by John B.
Published on Project Noah
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15.4561, 119.92

Field Notes

Description:

Dysteridae; Dysterinae; Dysdera sp. cf. crocata. This is another one of those cases where I have taken a picture of a spider which seems to match numerous internet pictures, leading me to think "this will be an easy one to identify". I took the photo above in the front yard of the rice mill, but before I could get another, the spider ran inside the building, crossed an expanse of concrete flooring and disappeared under some wooden shelves stacked up with sacks of rice. I don't want to go on at great length, but I want to convey my reasons for arriving at my identification for this spider. So, a little background info:- The rice mill is busy for a short period each year, after the harvest there is a lot of rice stacked up on the shelves as mentioned above. When the rice is a more or less disposed of, the wooden shelves are carried outside to allow for a general clean up. Wood on a concrete floor in the tropics - a surefire guarantee of Woodlice. So there we have it; a spider that undeniably looks like Dysdera crocata, living in a building with a generous supply of its favourite food. Enough evidence? I think that would stand up in any courtroom. So now I am triumphant. I have identified my spider. But there is one more little formality to attend to. Has it been scientifically documented as being present in the Philippines? The answer, a resounding NO! My entire case collapses around me and I have a spider which a moment before was a source of great joy has become my problem of the week. I have to settle for less than a perfect outcome, but that's all part of the adventure (I suppose! Ho Hum!).

Habitat:

As stated above, this spider was spotted running into the rice mill and as far as I can tell, it appears to live there.

Notes:

In case you are wondering why so many of my spottings are from years ago. It is because I have been developing my interest in wildlife and nature in general throughout my retirement years here in Philippines. Because of the remoteness of the place where I live, I never had a reliable WiFi signal until a landline arrived a couple of months ago. So now I am trying to upload many of these older spottings, with some occasional newer ones thrown in. I mention this because while I was digging around to find anything that could help me with this spotting (from 2015), I came across some pictures and notes from November, 2020 which appear to show an identical spider. The case for D. crocata is building up. I will make a separate spotting for these newer pictures.

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Photographed
PublishedJune 27, 2022

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