Funnel-web Spider
Hi Daniel and Lisa,
Waiting patiently for your book to arrive soon!
Meanwhile, I’ve been walking in the Smokies almost daily, and it’s always an adventure. This week, along my path, were four different Funnel-web Spiders working diligently. All four webs were still intact this morning, though one spider has yet to show itself.
Ducking gossamer already,
R.G. Marion
Funnel Web Spider
Hi R.G.,
Unless you have taken a holiday, we are guessing that this photo is from North Carolina. We are happy to hear you are excited about Daniel’s book. He hopes to be receiving a review copy this month. Thanks for sending your photo of a Funnel Web Spider.
Hello again. Actually, I’m in Cosby, TN. The North Carolina State Line is about ten miles from here, as the crow flies. It is quite a bit farther by automobile. Both being in The Great Smoky Mountains, East TN and western NC share their flora, fauna, and “bugs!”
R.G.
Funnel Web Spider
Location: Mountains of WNC
September 3, 2010 10:24 pm
Hello-
I’ve figured this is some kind of a funnel web spider. We’ve got at least 4 living in the bushes in front of our porch. This is the best shot I’ve been able to get (taken on 9/3/10). My question is, what *kind* of funnel web spider is it? There’s also some kind of shiny (and kinda slimy-looking) stuff in the web. Any ideas what that is? (If you need bigger photos, please let me know & I’ll be happy to send you the link to the Flickr pages.)
Thank you so much!
Signature: Michele
Funnel Web Spider
Hi Michele,
We are guessing WNC stands for Western North Carolina. According to BugGuide: “For this family of spiders, the web is a horizontal, sheet-like web, with a small funnel-like tube off to a side (or for some species, the middle of the web). This funnel is what the family is named for, and is used by the spider for hunting and protection. The spider will lay in wait in the funnel, and when an insect flies into, or lands on the web, the spider will rush out, very quickly check to see if it is prey, and if it is prey, bite it. The venom is fast-acting on the prey, so once the prey is subdued (within a second or two), the spider will drag the prey back into the funnel (for safety while eating, and to prevent other insects from recognizing the danger that lurks on the web…) Depending on the species, the web may or may not be sticky. If the web is not sticky, the web will actually become tangled around the prey’s feet, ensnaring it in the web. Sometimes, this may cause hardship for the spider later, because if the spider wanders across a web that is sticky… the spider does not know how to walk on a sticky web, and become prey for another funnel-web spider.“ It appears that your spider may be a Grass Spider in the genus Agelenopsis, and according to BugGuide: “The funnel web for Agelenopsis is a distinctive web, and often is noticed in bushes and grass, especially in the early fall mornings, where the dew has collected on the web. The webs can be expansive, covering several square feet, or just small webs in the grass.”
Hi Daniel-
Yes, WNC is Western North Carolina. Henderson County, to be a little more specific. Thank you so much for the information! I also appreciate you getting back to me so quickly.
Thanks again
-Michele
September 3, 2010 @ 1:04 AM
A male Green Lynx Spider, my favorite Los Angeles spider, was hunting a male Katydid while his ladyKaty watched on horrified from the door jamb. I tried to save the Katydid and removed him and his mate jumped away. Too late I thought I might have caught them and refrigerated them, perhaps allowing them to warm up and eat every few days in a feeble attempt to keep them alive for live television. {They all want bugs. I don’t travel with bugs he thought as he suddenly remembered the dead Fig Eater he had picked up on the sidewalk on the way for Armenian food.} By the time I got the idea to photograph them, the LadyKaty was gone. By the time I thought to capture them and chill them, both Katydids were gone. I could always capture and chill that trophy Green Lynx, but I can’t bear to remove him from my yard. I know he will have lots of spiderlings.
Green Lynx fails to notice the Katydid behind it
Though moments earlier the spider had been stalking the Orthopteran.
Male Green Lynx Spider
In our garden, the female Green Lynx Spiders are usually found on foliage. This beautiful male was a bit out of focus in the previously posted image, so we found a sharper one where his pedipalps really show. We hope he stays on the porch light. We are going to talk to Julian Donahue about refrigerating insects to see how long we can keep specimens in the refrigerator before our tentative October interview on local news.
Male Green Lynx Spider
My little sisters said I should ask you
Location: Denver Colorado
August 31, 2010 1:01 am
about this spider I found at work, we were wondering what kind it is. We looked through your spider pictures and didn’t see anything that resembled it. It looks bigger in the picture, the actual size is about 3 inches total and just the body is about an inch. If you have time to identify it for us that would be great. My little sisters use your site a lot for school and for fun. They are really excited!
Nick, Kailee and Miranda Johnson
possibly Carolina Wolf Spider
Hi Nick,
Your spider looks to us like it is a Wolf Spider, probably in the genus Hogna. It might be Hogna carolinensis (see BugGuide which states: “Considered to be the largest wolf spider in North America” in support of the information you have provided regarding size) or possibly Hogna coloradensis (see BugGuide). BugGuide provides this description of Hogna coloradensis: “Hogna coloradensis – PDF from The Journal of Arachnology – An 8 page paper with drawings, descriptions, and range. ‘Hogna coloradensis can be separated from all other Hogna and Lycosidae by a dark area immediately anterior to the epigastric furrow as well as a small dark area just anterior to the spinnerets, the rest of the venter is light with spots.’“ Should you care to read the entire Journal or Arachnology paper, it is also posted online.
Back Porch Spider
August 29, 2010
Hi Daniel and Lisa,
This spider has been nothing but tenacious over the last week. It has taught me to look before I step out onto my back porch. Three webs in six days were constructed overnight to trip me, to brush my hair, or to keep me from using the back steps! Here, it lies in wait for breakfast!
Is it simply “an orb-weaving” spider or something more specific?
Thanx for your time,
R.G. Marion
Cosby, TN
Great Smoky Mountains
Orbweaver Web
Dear R.G.,
Thanks so much for sending us your photo of an Orbweaver Spider and its web and providing details of the spider’s nightly activities. Each year, as summer nears an end and the warm autumn days shorten, we get countless requests to identify Orbweaver Spiders and questions regarding the danger they might cause. Spiders with orb webs in the family Araneidae (see BugGuide) are not aggressive and they rarely bite. The bite, in the unlikely event that it occurs, is not serious and will cause minor local swelling and tenderness. Orbweavers do not pose a threat and they should be left to spin their webs and capture flying insects like flies and mosquitoes. Your photo illustrates the classic orb web. We suspect your spider is in the genus Araneus.
Haitian spider?
Location: Haiti
August 28, 2010 6:22 pm
While in Haiti I was amazed to see this lovely spider hanging out beside the path. I looke at your site and it seems that you do not have any from Haiti. Is this in fact a Golden silk spider? Or am I incorrect?
Lorraine
Golden Silk Spider
Hi Lorraine,
You are correct. This is Nephila clavipes, the Golden Silk Spider, and it is the only New World representative in the genus.
Evil lerking in the fields of Ottawa
Location: Ottawa, Ontario. In a field with no water nearby.
August 28, 2010 7:04 pm
Hey Bugman,
I was trying to take an interesting picture and to do so, it involved walking through this small field.
Upon tredging through this tall grass my friend and I noticed this huge horrid looking spider!
All it’s legs were black, and about half-way towards its body they seemed to be almost clear.
It was mainly black with a yellow sploch between where all its legs meet, near it’s ”head” on its underside, then also further up along its body.
On its top it seemed really almost soft to the touch (not that I touched it)but it looked almost like suede.
It was also mostly black with a yellow sort of design.
Lasltly, it seemed to have a small-ish flat, grey head.
After we saw one we started to notice them everywhere, so I snapped a few pictures and got out!
Thanks so much
Jessica
Golden Orbweaver
Hi Jessica,
Many people consider the Golden Orbweaver, Argiope aurantia, to be the most beautiful spider in North America. They are not aggressive and rarely bite, and when they do bite, the reaction is mild and does not last long.
not a spider expert by no means lol
Location: Mississippi
August 23, 2010 2:21 pm
I was in the backyard and stumbled across this spider, was just curious as to what it was. When I first saw it, it appeared to have parts of its legs and body glowing a neon green color, when I grabbed my camera it had stopped glowing, apparently having no more need for it as it found it’s lunch.
It’s web was also huge and worthy of note as well.
Ox_King
Golden Orbweaver
Dear Ox_King,
Your spider, Argiope aurantia, has several common names including Golden Orbweaver. We have never heard of a Golden Orbweaver glowing, and we suspect it was an optical illusion caused by light striking the exceptional coloration of this spectacular spider.
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