#megabunus

[wild-e-eep]

I took this photo of Megabunus diadema back in June - not long after the last time I posted them on here. They are very photogenic little creatures. ^_^

[mastigusa]

The Pyrenean populations of Megabunus diadema are quite unique. In other places where it is well established (Scandinavia, UK, Ireland, and Northern France) males are rare due to the ability for females to reproduce via facultative parthenogenesis. In the Pyrenees, the sex-ratio is largely in favor of males, sometimes making up 70% of total individuals or more. (D'Amico)

Only one female observed (4th img) when I visited Cauterets last summer, and also the only individual to bear a little frontal spine, which is allegedly an uncommon variation.

I wish I could find more of these long-legged pixies but four in a day is already a treat. :o)

[wild-e-eep]

Megabunus diadema a small harvestman with distinctive eyelashes.

[bitsandbirds]

This lil guy is so gosh darn cute, oh my gosh! I always look at them and think they resemble some sort of land crab rather than a spider, especially with the little eyes on a periscope, the tucked up pedipalps and the orb body.

Phalangiid Harvestman (Megabunus diadema), Ireland