Terralonus specimens still needed -- autumn is a good time to look
Just another reminder, if you are out in areas where you have found Terralonus (or in similar habitats) please keep an eye out for them and if possible, collect, alive, any that you find. Please let me know if you do so, and I will supply information on how you can send the spiders, alive, to me. A live spider is preferable to a dead one (and easier to mail!). However, if a spider you collect dies on you, we would still appreciate the specimen. Preserve in alcohol and hold for further instructions.
From what little we know about Terralonus life histories, many species appear to mature and breed in the fall, with females overwintering and laying egg sacs in the late winter and spring. The young that emerge from these sacs grow and molt through the spring and summer, finally reaching adulthood in the fall to repeat the cycle. So September to November is an excellent time to be out looking for males searching for females, females being out and about as well. Early spring is a good time to be looking for females guarding egg sacs under rocks. If you find any females with eggs, I would appreciate it if you carefully collected the egg sac as well, as I may be able to breed spiders from the eggs for the purpose of accurately matching males with females, a critical step in accurately delimiting species.
Many thanks in advance for any assistance you may be able to offer; this will be gratefully acknowledged in our revision.
Stay safe, be well, and happy hunting in the field,
Tim Manolis
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