It LOOKS like Herpyllus ecclesiasticus; an Eastern Parson Spider. However they do not build webs and are not common in New Mexico so don’t take my word for it.
You’ve got the right genus, but this species is not established in New Mexico, as you said.
That’s why I’m inclined to believe that this is Herpyllus propinquus, the Western Parson Spider. https://spiderid.com/spider/gnaphosidae/herpyllus/propinquus/
The geographic range is crucial to differentiate these two “twin species”. That’s the only alternative to a laboratory examination of the genitalia.
Ah, that makes much more sense. However, the western parson spider doesn’t make webs either to my knowledge, and the poster stated it was in a web, which is still rather odd
Some spiders make webs to rest and hide in or for their eggs. Presence of webbing doesn’t rule out a species that hunts by ambush. And yes, we use range to tell the Parson Spiders apart on this site. 🙂
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It LOOKS like Herpyllus ecclesiasticus; an Eastern Parson Spider. However they do not build webs and are not common in New Mexico so don’t take my word for it.
You’ve got the right genus, but this species is not established in New Mexico, as you said.
That’s why I’m inclined to believe that this is Herpyllus propinquus, the Western Parson Spider.
https://spiderid.com/spider/gnaphosidae/herpyllus/propinquus/
The geographic range is crucial to differentiate these two “twin species”. That’s the only alternative to a laboratory examination of the genitalia.
Ah, that makes much more sense. However, the western parson spider doesn’t make webs either to my knowledge, and the poster stated it was in a web, which is still rather odd
Gnaphosidae don’t rely on webs for preying, that’s a fact, so I’m guessing that web might have been some sort of silken retreat.
Ah, that makes sense, I did not know that. That is very interesting.
Some spiders make webs to rest and hide in or for their eggs. Presence of webbing doesn’t rule out a species that hunts by ambush. And yes, we use range to tell the Parson Spiders apart on this site. 🙂
@Flarbargason Welcome to the WEBsite! I like your simple humble profile description. This site is entirely volunteer-run with no money involved. It’s whatever we make it. I’m trying to fill-in as Moderator to liberate our one official moderator to live her off-line life and deal with her other responsibilities. She’s been faithfully taking care of this site for something like 15 years. I don’t have any of the “Power of Delete,” or ability to file photos, but I can contact our moderator. If anyone spots pornography that escapes the filters or encounters a troll, please contact me by email by… Read more »