L.variolus mating shots

[buthus]

(repost from another forum)


Well...a little early for valentine's day, but I was thinking that it would be funny if all came together in time to pair these up on valentine's. It was up to the male(s). The female is small, but she has been this size for some time now..even after feeding the crap out of her.
5 or 6 days ago, two of the males molted... sudden surprise. One really looked (very) promising ...the other, almost as much, but a bit iffy.

anyway...lots of images, sorry if you have a putz connection. Heres the the little princess. She has been moved back in fourth into the mating enclosure several times ...all attempts til now - no goes.

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-17-7_000.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-17-7_001.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-17-7_002.jpg

Great to finally snap off some shots of a widow drinking. Most of the time, u just dont think of documenting the little moments. Wasnt thinking about that here..just shooting away. Nice.
http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-17-7_003.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-17-7_004.jpg

Chow time
http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-17-7_005.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-17-7_006.jpg


Waiting for the male to strengthin up after molting. Couple nights ago i opened his cup to check how he was reacting ...and he rushed the opening. He was so ready to leave. These tend to be homebodies like the girls ...and usually just as shy. Rarely have I had variolus go for it, male or female.

The man of the hour...
http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-29-7_00.jpg

I decided to try him out ...just a test, because it was already around 5am when I discovered his frisky status.
He just sat there for about 20-25min (seems a common reaction) and I was tired and ready to pack him back up...but then he started to groove. I figured Id let him go for awhile and see if he will just go for it. I wanted to document it, but more importantly I wanted to supervise and make sure he got out alive ...only have a few of these boyz.
http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-29-7_01.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-29-7_02.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-29-7_03.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-29-7_04.jpg

Big time redecorator. She came out of her web structure and followed him around a bit, but never agressively (that I witnessed).
http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-29-7_05.jpg

There was a moment when he took a chance and checked her out. I really didnt want to mate them yet, for above stated reasons. But, didnt matter anyway... he was just looking over the goods.
http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-29-7_06.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-29-7_07.jpg

Ok..talking about web structures. These variolus make some interesting structures. Of course being forced to deal with a acrylic box, changes things, but I do have to conclude that they are somewhat specialized for their woodsy enviroment. ...lots of interesting preditors to avoid. Best described as a mosquito net ..fairly inpenetratable and thick enough to hide the female from site. The male on the otherhand felt that it wasnt tight enough and proceded to lathe n'plaster it.
http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-29-7_08.jpg

Pulled the male out around 6:15 ...about an 1.5 hrs of mostly home improvment. Give him time to dream about his new sexy girlfriend...
http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-29-7_09.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_pre-mt_1-29-7_10.jpg

Next evening... around 3am. Finally caught up with other chores...time to reintroduce the male.
He flew out of the cup, right into her webbing and moved into her hidding spot to say hello. Then did a little more work on the house.
http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt_01.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt_02.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt_03.jpg

Not to much house work though.
First palp...
http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp1_01.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp1_02.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp1_03.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp1_04.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp1_05.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp1_06.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp1_07.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp1_08.jpg

2nd palp...
http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp2_01.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp2_02.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp2_03.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp2_04.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp2_05.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp2_06.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp2_07.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp2_08.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp2_09.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp2_10.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_mt-plp2_11.jpg



All went down fairly quick ..actual mating was less than an hour. He did some more house work and visited her a few times ...may have mated again, but I didnt observe so. I did catch her (no pics) finally kicking him out ..sudden flurry and he was out the door. I collected him at that point.

__


She ended up producing 4 sacs. Unfortunately, she died froma a tragic f-up of mine. :rolleyes: I had some sticks and roots siliconed solid (so I thought) in her jar and somehow part of it came loose and I guess when I was feeding her somehow she got crushed! :rolleyes: Lost 4 important favorates so far this year...via stupid accidents. I dont think Ive become more careless, but I do know that I have an overwhelming amount of widows and shat is bound to happen.
http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_sac02_late-feb_00.jpg

I had the 4 sacs in incubation... fairly steady 85-89F, but not a steady enough humidity...at leasts thats what I'm guessing.
Opened a couple of the sacs to watch them progress and found them dry/dead. Opened the next two and one had live eggs, but only a few and the other had underdeveloped slings.
Closed both sacs back up and tried to keep them warm and more humid, but the ones eggs all ended up drying out. Here's a dry sac...
http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_sac_dry-dead_00.jpg

The other sacs underdeveloped slings have been kept alive by tender lovin care.
This is where they are at today... still have not completely absorbed their "baby fat" and it will probably be a couple weeks or more before they start really moving around and feeding.
http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_sac_force-hatch_00.jpg

http://www.moflash.net/stuff/img/spiders/var_A3-84--mD2_sac_force-hatch_01.jpg

[Huk7]

Another very interesting post of a sp that most of us in the UK can only admire from afar.

Some great pictures again too, thanks for that :D

[buthus]

Another very interesting post of a sp that most of us in the UK can only admire from afar.

Some great pictures again too, thanks for that :D
Thanks ;) I am happy to be able to have successfully bred these ...they are one of the harder latro species when it comes to mating.


So...what... the authorities over there conduct random inspections of invert keepers homes? Joking...but still curious about this. ?

[Becky]

Briliant pics! Amazing spiders but one that can stay well out of my home lol
Them lil slings are so cute!! How many u get?

[buthus]

Briliant pics! Amazing spiders but one that can stay well out of my home lol
Them lil slings are so cute!! How many u get?
They were forced hatched and more than a bit early. Many are still within the sac, so I cannot even guess..but I will anyway...say, maybe 15-30. (very small brood, but not totally unusual) I will help the rest out in a few days.

[Huk7]

Thanks ;) I am happy to be able to have successfully bred these ...they are one of the harder latro species when it comes to mating.


So...what... the authorities over there conduct random inspections of invert keepers homes? Joking...but still curious about this. ?

Oh I know exactly what you are saying and yep I agree with you ;)

In the UK we are governed by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act, which means we have to be inspected, have a setup equivalent to Fort Knox and pay a decent sum for a licence prior to being able to keep any species. We then have to specify which ones we are going to keep and the reasons why.
The exact requirements vary from area to area but for most, are just too much trouble to actually bother (guess that's what they are hoping for) and if people do bother, they then prefer to keep the venemous reptiles to at least show something bigger for all of their efforts!

[PhilR]

Licence is £150 a year in my area and you have to pay for a separate vet's visit :)

[buthus]

Sell your TV and eat ramon soup and jello for a few weeks. Lifes too short and money is just abstract bullshat we get caught up in during this life.

[Tegenaria]

Another cool sequence-nice one!