Savory - Arachnida 1977

280 IV. DE ARACHNOLOGIA
6. Families of Spiders
Examine and draw in outline the nine demonstration specimens
selected as representatives of the chief European families.
The following species are all readily obtainable and are suggested
as suitable for the purpose.
FAMILY
!. Gnaphosidae
2. Thomisidae
3. Salticidae
4. Amaurobiidae
5. H~Cl!;;'lllLlO.L
6. Lycosidae
7. Theridiidae
8. Linyphiidae
9. Araneidae
SPECIES
Hupyllus blackwalli
Xysticus cristatus
Sulticus scenicus
Amourobius fenestrulis
Tegenaria derhami
Lycasa amentata
Steatoda bipunctata
Linyphia triangularis
Araneus diadematus
32. PRACTICAL ARACHNOLOGY 281
9. Internal Structure
(i) The dissection of the large house spieler, Tegenaria, is most
interesting though not conspicuously easy. With but moderate skill,
however, the following should be detectable: in the cephalothorax
-poison glands (stain and mount), pharynx endosternite
in very dilute potash) ; in the abdomen,·-heart, ovaries and testes
(stain and mount), one or more kinds of silk gland (double stain
with haematoxylin and
A spider macerated in water until all the soft parts rotted
away is well worth examination. The pharynx and stomach
are more easily seen by this method than by any other and usually
remain attached to the lip.
10. Other Arachnida
A more detailed examination of such demonstration specimens as
may be available, e.g. Galcodes, l\Iastigophorus or Thelyphonus
and a small type-collection of ticks.
(ii) Examine examples of the Mygalomorphae and Liphistiidae, if
available.
7. External Structure
(i) After boiling in potash, the exoskeleton of a spider is dissected
and a set of slides made to illustrate all chief external features.
The following are suggested: (a) carapace, with eyes; (b) maxillae
with palpi and labium; (c) legs; (d) spinnerets; (e) sternun; (f)
chelicerae.
A leg, parboiled iu stronger potash, readily sheds its spines and
setae. If then mounted, the lyriform organs are more easily visible.
8. Genitalia
Female: the genital area is cut away from the abdomen, cleaned
by gentle digestion in dilute potash, dehydrated, cleared and
mounted.
(ii) Male: general treatment as in 2 (iii) above, but different
should he used. For further remarks on the treatment of
palpal organs, see T. H. Savory (1927), J. Quekett M£cros. Club. xv,
252~4.
(iii) Spermatozoa: a male spider is chloroformed, the palp
removed and crushed between two slides. This produces a smear of
spermatoza, together with some debris which is removed. The
smear is fixed with Bouin's fluid, being dried on the slide, and
the Bouin then washed off with tap water. Ehrlich's haematoxylin
is applied until the smear goes a deep red colour, when it is washed
in tap water until it turns blue. It is then dehydrated, cleared and
mounted in balsam.