Observações de sneak-e

New Canadian species record for Bolas Spider, Mastophora timuqua!

Egg sac attached to branch of a young Black Cherry tree.

Link to original observation:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186512571

This should be a new Canadian species record for this Mastophora species!

While out night hunting for Bolas Spiders, I found this big girl along a trail edge in a young Black Cherry tree, about 6 ft off ground, feeding on a large moth. An egg sac was located on same branch she was dangling from.

The moth appears to be Xestia sp. Either X. c-nigrum or X. dolosa.

I've included photos of her when I found her, showing egg sac. And then images taken atop my cellphone.

Specimen and egg sac were collected. Spider was sent to Guelph U. and awaiting ID verification and barcoding,etc. through Dr. Gergin Blagoev.

Found on leaf. It looked very beat up, guessing from mating behavior? Missing half of left wing and was missing its rear left tibia/tarsai?

Looks like Gorytes atricornis? Bug Guide did not have much information. Legs look brighter yellow on my specimen than G. simillimus, but not sure if that is an ID characteristic?

Mastophora cf yeargani ?

Photos taken quickly and not the clearest. I will upload better pics showing more detail.

Found on tree, hanging on underside of big Maple leaf along trail edge. Approx. 5 feet off ground.

Macrosiagon cf dimidiata

• My first time seeing this particular beetle. Larger in size. Found resting atop leaf along trail edge.

Photos not the best, some were a bit dark so I used a bit of Fill Light to help accentuate detail.

Specimen collected for voucher and will be held at University of Guelph.