Weekend Expedition 66: Leslie Spit

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We finally made it out to Tommy Thompson Park, AKA Leslie Spit, a natural deposit that has been added to by the City of Toronto with an ongoing filling operation. The terrain is perfect for spider hunting, as it is full of rubble and weedy vegetation. It looks like a wonderful place to explore, and probably offers great habitat for migrant raptors as well. Catherine and I went out to find some spiders, and whatever else there was to be found!

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Rubble and weeds! What else could a naturalist ask for!

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A gorgeous little garter snake!

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A tiny philodromid, hanging out on grass

 

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Awesomely cryptic crab spider (Thomisidae) on a Queen Anne’s Lace

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Tough to notice these!

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Probably the most impressive spider find of the day, a big Amaurobiid we found under rubble

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Chelicerae to die for!

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This big gal was very cooperative for photos

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Was super excited to find my first Canadian Crematogaster colony! Check out the awesome spider in there, which Catherine has a post on!

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I reckon this to be Crematogaster cerasi, due the two prominent hairs on the pronotum. A mostly tropical myrmecine genus, this is one of two Canadian species.

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Here is an amaurobiid with an eggsac

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And a giant house spider (Eratigena atrica) with eggs.

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A very bright woodlouse.

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A beautiful Pardosa, much like we found last week at Humber Bay.

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Catherine after a few hours of spidering!