Spiders (and other Arachnids)

[Macroramphosis]

A very young female Saitis barbipes came up to the kitchen today from the vegetable patch. I did not notice her until I was just about to wash the pumpkin. About 3mm in length. I left the highlights in her eyes deliberately.....

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[Macroramphosis]

One of the resident Zoropsis spinimanas from our garden, hanging upside down under the garden table (photo spun through 180˚). We find a lot of these stunning ground spiders in the house now as the weather cools, and they are great housekeepers. One of them killed a young rat recently, putting the cats to shame. This one is a pugnacious male, about 2" across, hopeful of finding a girlfriend before winter freezes the bits off him.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

(some of the above may not be entirely true; I was just checking you were awake...)

 

[Macroramphosis]

Incidentally, the photo above would never have been possible without a FAS screen. While I appreciate the viewpoints of those who prefer a simpler tilting screen, macro is one case scenario where a FAS screen is essential to some shots. I'm not trying to start a flame war.....just saying there are case situations for both types of screen

 

[Panolyman]

I'm wondering if any of our resident Arachnophiles could identify these creatures I found lurking on top of the bus stop in the middle of town.
They were all a good 30cm across and were frightening the living daylights out of any prospective passengers.
I think they may all be of the same species, with just slight colour variations.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

This group were hanging on the railings of the old Shire Hall building but didn't seem to be having the same effect.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Sorry, it's a bit late for Halloween but I couldn't resist posting these samples of "yarn bombing" some of the local crafts-people have decorated the town with in an effort to liven the place up. Hope I didn't frighten too many of you.......................................

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[Macroramphosis]

My big girl from August 23 (if you fancy going back to look) has done little else since I last took a portrait of her but grow fatter in her outside corner of the kitchen window, and lose a leg in return. I assume sometime along the way she met a gallant suitor who has increased her size fourfold, as she is now close to the biggest Araneus diadematus I have seen here. her abdomen is now about the size of my fourth finger nail. I'm very grateful to her for all the mosquitos she has eaten

Alas, she will soon go and find a suitable situation to lay her eggs in, and then, thin and wasted, she will crawl away into a dark corner and die. Such is the life of 99% of Europe's garden spiders. The 1% that hibernate and see out the winter invariably feed the young of the first blue tits to hatch!

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

A recently evicted tenant of my basement. SWMBO has a prejudice against animals with 8 legs, so out came the relocation device (cordless vacuum).

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

M1026351-1 by Harvey Richards, on Flickr

 

[D7k1]

Old pill bottle works without harm.

 

[John King]

Old pill bottle works without harm.

Jam jar and a sheet of paper or cardboard here.

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

I mainly use the vac for insects or spiders, it has a long crevice tool on it, so I can reach the ceiling and high up on walls. Some bugs are incredibly fast and hard to contain if I am standing on a stool. I also use a clear or semi-clear container and stiff paper to catch other intruders. I have caught a couple of hummingbirds with this method. I also use this method to catch moths which I will toss into a spider web if there is one available (outside of course).

 

[D7k1]

I still have one orb weaver (on a window with old glass that bleeds heat) still sitting in the web daily (many bugs fly all year hear in the NW). Best year ever for my Orbs but my crab spiders seemed to be down in population. Giant house spiders seemed a lot more common. More false widows in the basement also.

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

I still have one orb weaver (on a window with old glass that bleeds heat) still sitting in the web daily (many bugs fly all year hear in the NW). Best year ever for my Orbs but my crab spiders seemed to be down in population. Giant house spiders seemed a lot more common. More false widows in the basement also.

I had one orb weaver this year, the first in 4 years. It was gone after the first frost. Lots of black widows, I relocate the ones where my pets are with my weed burner flame thrower. The crab spiders that I see are so small that I have to wear my Optivisor magnifiers to find them.

 

[retiredfromlife]

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[Broddan]

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[retiredfromlife]

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[retiredfromlife]

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[John King]

Nice net casting spider. They date all the way back to Gondwanaland, apparently.

Here is a different one I found on our side window sill.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[retiredfromlife]

Nice net casting spider. They date all the way back to Gondwanaland, apparently.

Here is a different one I found on our side window sill.

View attachment 866723

I have not seen one like this yet, wonder if they are localised ?
I have been watching a few videos on them, very interesting.

 

[John King]

I have not seen one like this yet, wonder if they are localised ?
I have been watching a few videos on them, very interesting.

They are a very old family. Found in South America. I don't know if they are also found in India and/or Africa.

 

[John King]

Well, almost a good guess. They are found in Africa and India as well (all were part of Gondwanaland).

Article here:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinopidae

 

[AllanG]

Pen F with 60mm

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)