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Western Parson Spider

On May 21, 2013 · Category: Ground Spiders and Ant Mimics Tagged With: Bug Humanitarian Award · 2 Comments

Subject: Wolf Spider?
Location: Southern California
May 21, 2013 1:03 am
Hi there. I’ve been getting a few of these spiders coming inside for a visit. This most recent one had a bit of yellow to his marking. They all have the pincers that extend from the abdomen. Am guessing they’re wolf spiders, but not sure.
This particular spider was tangled in a mouse glue pad and was easy freed outside once I got his leg free. Thanks for helping identify.
Signature: Kevin

Western Parson Spider

Hi Kevin,
This is a Parson Spider in the genus Herpyllus, and thanks to your letter, we now know that there is both an Eastern Parson Spider and a Western Parson Spider, Herpyllus propinquus. According to BugGuide: “H. propinquus is basically identical in appearance to H. ecclesiasticus, and examination of reproductive organs is needed for positive identification.” What you are referring to as “pincers” are actually spinnerets. Because of your kindness releasing this hapless Western Parson Spider, we are tagging you as a Bug Humanitarian.

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Nursery Web Spider called “Truly awful”

On May 20, 2013 · Category: Nursery Web Spiders · 2 Comments

Subject: Truly awful spider
Location: Eastern PA
May 20, 2013 5:47 pm
This was spotted on a warm morning in May in Pennsylvania, in a flat space between a gate and the post it goes up against. It was identified (I think incorrectly) at brown recluse spider. Any idea what this guy is?
Signature: Joe

Nursery Web Spider: Pisaurina mira

Joe,
You should be ashamed of yourself calling this Nursery Web Spider “Truly awful.” Nursery Web Spiders, which include Fishing Spiders, are along with Wolf Spiders among the best mothers in the arachnid world. The female Nursery Web Spider carries her eggs in her chelicerae or jaws and eventually finds a safe place when the eggs are getting ready to hatch. The safe place is often in a low tree or shrub and she spins a nursery web which she continues to guard. We believe your Nursery Web Spider is Pisaurina mira.
P.S. Here is a link to the Brown Recluse.

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Burrowing Wolf Spider

On May 18, 2013 · Category: Wolf Spiders · 2 Comments

Subject: shy spider strikes a pose!
Location: West central Texas
May 18, 2013 7:09 am
This little lady was playing peek-a-boo with me as the sun came up this morning. From what I’ve found online, she has to be a scrub burrowing wolf spider, but I couldn’t find any pics online that looked quite like her. As far as I could tell, her body was smooth, legs hairy, dark brown except for some of the top of her abdomen which was cream colored.
I managed to fend off my cat and get a series of pics as she came out of hiding. Made my day!
Signature: DeeJay, the bug nerd

Burrowing Wolf Spider

Dear DeeJay,
Thanks for sending us your photos of a Burrowing Wolf Spider, most likely a member of the genus Geolycosa. Your photos really illustrate the burrowing habits.

Burrowing Wolf Spider

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Jumping Spider

On May 16, 2013 · Category: Jumping Spiders · 4 Comments

Subject: bug found in northern Virginia
Location: Northern Virginia (Gainesville)
May 14, 2013 1:54 pm
What is this gross bug?
Signature: Laura

Jumping Spider

Hi Laura,
This is a harmless Jumping Spider in the family Salticidae, and we were unable to locate a definite match in our quick scan of Bugguide, however, we believe it is a member of the subfamily Dendryphantinae (see BugGuide), and we believe this is a male spider.

Thank you so very much! Very good to know, and I very much appreciate your service!

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Long Jawed Orbweaver

On May 12, 2013 · Category: Longjawed Orbweavers · 3 Comments

Subject: Most Intimidating Spider I’ve Ever Seen
Location: NE PA, Walnut Creek, Millcreek, Asbury Woods
May 12, 2013 5:48 pm
I was filming on the banks of Walnut Creek in NE Pennsylvania in the Lake Erie watershed when I saw this on my walking stick. I assumed it was an arachnid of some kind since it has eight legs (two being shorter than the others). It can also make a web. I have spent a year looking myself for information on what it is but cannot find anything. Now I’m branching out to other sources.
I apologize for the quality of the following pictures. They are screen shots of the raw footage I have of it. If I remember correctly, it was maybe two inches big, including leg span.
Signature: Adam S.

Long Jawed Orbweaver

Dear Adam,
This formidable looking spider is a Long Jawed Orvweaver in the genus Tetragnatha, but we are uncertain of the species, so we are contacting Mandy Howe for assistance. According to BugGuide: “These spiders spin circular (orb) webs, mostly in the horizontal plane, often just inches above the surface of water where they can intercept emerging insects like midges, mayflies, and stoneflies.” BugGuide also notes: “Larger species near water, especially along the shores of rivers and streams. Smaller species in fields and meadows.”

Long Jawed Orbweaver

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Wolf Spider with Egg Sac

On May 10, 2013 · Category: Eggs, Wolf Spiders · Add Comment

Subject: Thought u may like this…
Location: Cleveland, GA
May 9, 2013 3:43 pm
Wolf spider with egg sac? Picture taken in northeast Georgia last night.
Signature: Frog

Wolf Spider with Egg Sac

Dear Frog,
Thank you for your photo. We often get photos of female Wolf Spiders covered with spiderlings, but we don’t have many photos of them with their egg sacs. The female Wolf Spider cares for her eggs and hatclings until they begin to disperse.

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Huntsman Spider from Yucca Valley

On May 6, 2013 · Category: Huntsman Spiders and Giant Crab Spiders · 1 Comment

Subject: What is it?
Location: Yucca Valley, CA
May 5, 2013 11:15 pm
I have lived in my house for 5 years and have seen 4 of these. The first 1 was in the garage on the wall up high. The second was at the bottom of my laundry basket that came from the garage. The third was in my hall by the attic up high and the fourth was tonight in my kitchen on the wall up high. People say it is a crab/huntsman spider or a wolf spider. I have 3 kids and was wondering if they are poisonous and if it is one of the spider’s I mentioned.
Thank You.
Signature: J.B

Huntsman Spider

Dear J.B.,
This is a Huntsman Spider or Giant Crab Spider in the family Sparassidae, and considering your location, it is most likely in the genus Olios, though you photo does not have enough detail to be certain. Giant Crab Spiders in the genus Olios are native and they are not considered dangerous. You can see additional images on BugGuide. Olios giganteus is documented from Yucca Valley on BugGuide.

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Jumping Spider from Cyprus

On April 23, 2013 · Category: Jumping Spiders · Add Comment

Subject: Jumping Spider? from North Cyprus
Location: North Cyprus
April 22, 2013 12:03 am
This fellow was seen outside Kantara Castle on 21st April 2013, near 2pm local time. This is at about 630m ASL. A friend says try jumping spiders, but I can’t find it.
Thanks very much.
Signature: muymalestado

Jumping spider

Dear muymalestado,
Your friend is correct. This is a Jumping Spider in the family Salticidae, and it is most likely in the genus Phidippus. We could not determine any species identification.

Jumping Spider

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Western Parson Spider

Nursery Web Spider called “Truly awful”

Burrowing Wolf Spider

Jumping Spider

Long Jawed Orbweaver

Wolf Spider with Egg Sac

Huntsman Spider from Yucca Valley

Jumping Spider from Cyprus

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