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bugman

August 10th, 2007 at 12:00 am

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Love Your Site
Hi!
I always thought I was odd because I love bugs (Well, mostly anyway, except for cockroaches and silverfish. Oh! And Jerusalem crickets freak me out). As a girl, I kept an old lunchbox full of snails and frequently played with them. In my house, I am the resident get-rid-of-this-spider person and promptly capture and release the offending beast outside (my husband’s a big baby about bugs). I am trying to instill that same reverence for bugs in my children — and they (my children) are turning out to be non-squashing creatures as well (yay). I live in San Diego and found your site via Sunset Magazine and fell instantly into a mesmerized state while perusing it, much to the chagrin of my five-year-old who has been yelling at me about wanting a sandwich for the last 10 minutes. I wanted to tell you about this little, beautiful jumping spider (Eris?) I encountered up near Lake Cuyamaca. It was a pretty, bronze color and seemed so smart. She (he) followed my movements, something I discovered that these particular spiders do. It would move from one finger to another proffered finger with no reluctance at all.
The spider didn’t seem to want to leave me and actually would not get off my hand to be returned to the base of the tree at which I found it. Strangely, it seemed quite tame and I had to scrooch (is that a word?) it off my hand with my finger. Are jumping spiders (Eris anyway) always so friendly. I hate to be anthropomorphic, but, well, she was sooooo cute and such a cool spider! Thanks for taking the time to maintain your site! What a wonderful thing you do. I have bookmarked your site and you are now one of seven of my bookmarks! What an honor!!!
Denise

Hi Denise,
We are happy you found us in Sunset Magazine and like our site. Jumping Spiders have excellent eyesight and seem to be fearless. As to their being friendly, we suppose friendship is in the eyes of the beholder.

Dispelling Fear (October 2, 2005)
Jumping Spider (April 8, 2008)
Jumping Spider (October 1, 2005)
Red Jumping Spider (May 20, 2006)
Jumping Spider from Borneo (March 19, 2009)