Spider Maggots

[pebointon]

I took a photograph of a money spider using the macro setting on the camera. when i zoomed in i noticed that there were two maggots on the spider's back.
Does anybody know why? Is this maybe a symbiotic or parastic relationship?

[wildwood]

Are you able to post the photo somewhere?
I for one would be most interested in seeing this. They must be very small maggots.
I suspect the 'maggots' are some type of larva from a parasitic wasp or similar.

[pebointon]

Sure, do you know how to post a photo? i only have a video option.

[pebointon]

The photos are on my flickr account - titled 'money spider with parasitic larvae' (assuming that's what they are!) my account is pollyb88.

[wildwood]

Have seen the photo and the larvae are very small indeed. I can not even identify the spider species with certainty, let alone the passengers.
To have a symbiotic relationship both partners should gain some benefit from the other's presence, I can't see this happening with any spider.
Parasitic larvae usually hatch inside the host and eat them from the inside out.

I can't do better than suggesting that this may be an example of dispersion of insects via an intermediate host. No harm comes to either party. This is a surprisingly common practice and essential for genetic distribution among sedentary insect species.