Results and Discussion
In a fascinating testament to the prevalence of parasites and the pressure imposed on their hosts, 2 of the 5 spiders collected for the experiment succumbed to infections apparently already present at the time of collection. One control female and one experimental male died within 2-3 days of collection, the former quickly sprouting a large horsehair worm-like parasite and the latter produced the fungusPurpureocillium atypicola ( formerly Nomurea atypicola) , another spider-specific ascomycete of the family Ophiocordycipitaceae (Figure 2a). The two surviving experimental hosts died after several weeks, affixing themselves to the underside of the petri lid (Figure 2b-c). The hosts were then incubated in place by sealing the plate containing the cadaver and moistened cotton ball with paraffin film (Figure 2d). The subsequent fungal growth was then subcultured and compared to the original isolate (Figure 3). Comparisons based on both microscopic examination of conidiogenous structures as well as macroscopic colony growth characteristics demonstrate Gibellula pulchra as the cause of death. The remaining control spider was eventually set free at the conclusion of the experiment.