Spiders

Feb 15, 2015
667
10
Monte said:
I don't know what kind this one is but I found him as well as many others hanging at just above head level along walkways in Jamaica that I'm positive that no one was noticing or there would have been a gong show! :eek:
Toe to toe was abut 3"!
Quite certainly genus Nephila, most likely species calvipes. Quite common in Caribbean. Occasionally feed on anoles.
 
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Jan 1, 2013
1,920
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Thank you Zeidora!
Original post was in "http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=31073.30"
Latter on, I identified the spider as 'Spined Micrathena Spider' from Google. Do you think so?
-r

Zeidora said:
lion rock said:
I posted these on another thread, hope I won't get yelled at.
-r

Could be Gasteracantha. Not easy to verify in lateral view, would be easy with a dorsal shot.
 
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Feb 15, 2015
667
10
lion rock said:
Thank you Zeidora!
Original post was in "http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=31073.30"
Latter on, I identified the spider as 'Spined Micrathena Spider' from Google. Do you think so?
-r

Zeidora said:
lion rock said:
I posted these on another thread, hope I won't get yelled at.
-r
Where did you shoot it? Have a few spider books around. The images from the other post show the dual protrusion at the posterior end of the abdomen, so that is not how typical Gasteracantha look like. Macrathena does have the dual projections so is a better fit.

Could be Gasteracantha. Not easy to verify in lateral view, would be easy with a dorsal shot.
 
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Jan 1, 2013
1,920
39
Zeidora,
She was on our flowering plant on the deck. We live in Blacksburg, VA.
The shots of the dorsal side were terrible and not suitable for public viewing :'( :mad:. , such that I didn't post any.
The colorization and shape fits the description from Google for Micrathena. Photos of Gasteracantha from Google have colors of red, yellow or white and have much wider abdomen.
-r

Zeidora said:
lion rock said:
Thank you Zeidora!
Original post was in "http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=31073.30"
Latter on, I identified the spider as 'Spined Micrathena Spider' from Google. Do you think so?
-r

Zeidora said:
lion rock said:
I posted these on another thread, hope I won't get yelled at.
-r
Where did you shoot it? Have a few spider books around. The images from the other post show the dual protrusion at the posterior end of the abdomen, so that is not how typical Gasteracantha look like. Macrathena does have the dual projections so is a better fit.

Could be Gasteracantha. Not easy to verify in lateral view, would be easy with a dorsal shot.
 
Upvote 0
Feb 15, 2015
667
10
This one is at work, will only be back on Monday. If you are into spiders, a worthwhile investment:
https://www.amazon.com/Common-Spiders-America-Richard-Bradley-ebook/dp/B00ANI7OQ2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1501770342&sr=1-1&keywords=spiders+of+North+AMerica

Ubick just came out with second edition, another worthwhile addition to the bookshelf, but only gets you to genus.
https://www.amazon.com/Spiders-North-America-Identification-Manual/dp/0998014605/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_img_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=M3YK0HJAG71905MNS9JJ

Yours looks like Micrathena gracilis (Walckener, 1842).

lion rock said:
Zeidora,
She was on our flowering plant on the deck. We live in Blacksburg, VA.
The shots of the dorsal side were terrible and not suitable for public viewing :'( :mad:. , such that I didn't post any.
The colorization and shape fits the description from Google for Micrathena. Photos of Gasteracantha from Google have colors of red, yellow or white and have much wider abdomen.
-r

Zeidora said:
lion rock said:
Thank you Zeidora!
Original post was in "http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=31073.30"
Latter on, I identified the spider as 'Spined Micrathena Spider' from Google. Do you think so?
-r

Zeidora said:
lion rock said:
I posted these on another thread, hope I won't get yelled at.
-r
Where did you shoot it? Have a few spider books around. The images from the other post show the dual protrusion at the posterior end of the abdomen, so that is not how typical Gasteracantha look like. Macrathena does have the dual projections so is a better fit.

Could be Gasteracantha. Not easy to verify in lateral view, would be easy with a dorsal shot.
 
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Jan 1, 2013
1,920
39
Would be interesting to read.
Thanks Zeidora.
Though I am totally anger directed towards arachnids; any found in the house would not live too long, those outside I leave alone. Any less common gets shot.
I have a scar near the left eye a result of a spider bit, so that's the reason house spiders live a shorter life.
-r

Zeidora said:
This one is at work, will only be back on Monday. If you are into spiders, a worthwhile investment:
https://www.amazon.com/Common-Spiders-America-Richard-Bradley-ebook/dp/B00ANI7OQ2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1501770342&sr=1-1&keywords=spiders+of+North+AMerica

Ubick just came out with second edition, another worthwhile addition to the bookshelf, but only gets you to genus.
https://www.amazon.com/Spiders-North-America-Identification-Manual/dp/0998014605/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_img_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=M3YK0HJAG71905MNS9JJ

Yours looks like Micrathena gracilis (Walckener, 1842).

lion rock said:
Zeidora,
She was on our flowering plant on the deck. We live in Blacksburg, VA.
The shots of the dorsal side were terrible and not suitable for public viewing :'( :mad:. , such that I didn't post any.
The colorization and shape fits the description from Google for Micrathena. Photos of Gasteracantha from Google have colors of red, yellow or white and have much wider abdomen.
-r

Zeidora said:
lion rock said:
Thank you Zeidora!
Original post was in "http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=31073.30"
Latter on, I identified the spider as 'Spined Micrathena Spider' from Google. Do you think so?
-r

Zeidora said:
lion rock said:
I posted these on another thread, hope I won't get yelled at.
-r
Where did you shoot it? Have a few spider books around. The images from the other post show the dual protrusion at the posterior end of the abdomen, so that is not how typical Gasteracantha look like. Macrathena does have the dual projections so is a better fit.

Could be Gasteracantha. Not easy to verify in lateral view, would be easy with a dorsal shot.
 
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Jack Douglas

CR for the Humour
Apr 10, 2013
6,980
2,602
Alberta, Canada
I'm not angry, my house spiders don't bite - at least not yet. ;)

Once I trailered a collector car home from Arizona and there was a dead tarantula we found on/in it (from memory - may have been an alternate poisonous spider) but I remember it as quite large. When there the guy had cautioned us about spiders as he was digging things out. That didn't exactly impress me; guess I'm a sissy.

Jack
 
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Zeidora said:
Spiders are great pest insect removers. Except for black widows in the house (which I gently move to the outdoors), no spiders are harmed in this household. At work we have quite a few jumping spiders roving around the desks, a fun little divertissement.

Spiders are the only arthropods welcome in my house. Although I live in Georgia (USA), I have few other arthropods inside. Thank you, spiders.
 
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Feb 15, 2015
667
10
NancyP said:
Is the Audubon Guide to North American Insects and Spiders a decent beginner's field guide?

Audubon is less comprehensive for Insects & Spiders than their bird guide is for birds. It may get you to group, if you are lucky to genus maybe even species, but I would not put too much stock into it. If you are mainly interested in spiders, then I would rather get one of the other guides, because the Audubon guide is mainly insects, with an afterthought of spiders +++.

Ubick may be a bit much, because it quickly goes into anatomical parts and embolus shape. The color drawing guide is possibly better for a beginner. If you happen to live in Texas, there is a nice Texas spider guide.
https://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Spiders-Scorpions-Monthly/dp/0877192642. Should work for most of the dry south of the US.
 
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Jack Douglas

CR for the Humour
Apr 10, 2013
6,980
2,602
Alberta, Canada
lion rock said:
This is a new one in the bushes outside my office building.
Google says it was commonly known as the yellow garden spider, Argiope aurantia.
It was nearly two inches long. I didn't have my macro lens with me, so I shot it with my 24-70 as close to MFD as possible.
-r

Nice. Now 2" long - you're kidding? ;)

Jack
 
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Jan 1, 2013
1,920
39
Jack,
It was indeed about 2 inches, approximately. From leg tip to leg tip.
Body length was maybe 3/4 inch long.
Big, yet quite attractive, and it was outside.
-r

edit: here's is another shot, with iPhone.

Jack Douglas said:
lion rock said:
This is a new one in the bushes outside my office building.
Google says it was commonly known as the yellow garden spider, Argiope aurantia.
It was nearly two inches long. I didn't have my macro lens with me, so I shot it with my 24-70 as close to MFD as possible.
-r

Nice. Now 2" long - you're kidding? ;)

Jack
 

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