Hi There! I want to offer you some bugs and spiders, free!!!!!!
I Love your website and I also love spiders and insects and all the critters on earth! I am a photographer { hobby-not professionally} and have some photographs that I would love to donate to your website, free, {taken by me, so not stolen from any sites. If you can use them. I will be happy…and think that I have quite a few you may enjoy. I use a canon eos digital rebel, with macro, so my shots are not too shabby, though I am still working on not jumping and losing my focus when the spiders decide to jump in my lens: haha! I am Terri S. Heisele, and the pictures I give you are stamped, so you may probably be able to see the date stamp and info in properties if you right click them. I have re-sized them a bit and you may need to re-size as well to fit your site if you want to use them. I saw you had no photo of a spider that a lady asked about that looks like it has a smiley face on it….so maybe you can update your site with my photo…? I am including a spiny orb weaver {or two} and some odd little spider, tiny, that I photo’d on my own hand-then same spider much clearer on a stone patio table. I hope you enjoy using them, and please feel free to ask me if you need any specific species in Florida { EXCEPT ANY MEMBER OF THE COCKROACH FAMILY} as it is the one species I will run thru a wall to get away from! {not kidding!haha} I am a copyrighted photographer on the site Caedes.net known as Madmaven, and the photo I am submitting to you today of the “smiley face spider” and also one pic of my spiny orb spiders are on CAEDES, so don’t be alarmed, as they belong and are copyrighted to me, and my name in full is on site under madmaven. I hope you like these, and feel free to ask for my help anytime! FREE! Best Wishes,
Terri S. Heisele
in St. Petersburg, Florida
PS: Your wonderful site helps me id many insects before I post them, so THANK YOU! I also love that you help educate people on all the wonderful living creatures around us!

Hi Terri,
Thanks for your letter and generous supply of images. For now, we only have time to post two of the spider images. The smiley faced spider you sent is actually an Orchard Spider in the genus Leucauge. The spiny spider can also be thought of as having a smiley face, and that is the Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver, Gasterocantha cancriformis.

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Some South Korean spider
WhatsThatBug guys and gals, here’s one for you.
I found this beauty while climbing cliffs near Monseongri, Yeosu, South Korea. In fact, I spotted three of these — I dodged two of them and kicked a third off my pants. I’ve not seen this particular kind of spider before, and though I’ve climbed many rocks and traveled to many beaches across the US and South Korea, I’ve never seen this spider outside of that one beach (but it’s been there every time I’ve been). This photo was taken last weekend, so obviously this bug isn’t too perturbed by the chilly weather. I thought it might be an orb weaver, but the red throws me off a little bit. Also, though it’s rather hard to see, the yellow and red sections are outlined in green. This spider has the most fascinating colors I’ve ever seen on a bug! This one was about 6cm from leg to leg. In any case, it sure is pretty (but I couldn’t get any of my female climbing partners to appreciate it as much as I did)! Is this an orb weaver or am I missing the ball?
Best,
Brandon

Hi Brandon,
We have no idea what species this is and have never seen a spider quite like it before, but it is most assuredly an Orb Weaver. We believe it is an Argiope species.

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Turkey Spider
Hi,
I got carried away & sifted through all my bug pictures since I got my digital camera & tidied up the best ones for you. I’ll send them in bunches, trying not to make any one email huge. Use whatever ones you like, however you like on your site.
Love, Marian

Hi Marian,
This is a wonderful photograph of a Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver, Gasteracampa elipsoides, formerly Gasteracampa cancriformis. Though a small spider, this gal always attracts attention. Her mate is much tinier and rarely noticed. These spiders are found in the Southern U.S. and are quite common in the Florida Keys.

Ed. Note: Marian has just become our new favorite contributor. Though everyone who writes in is a contributor, Marian originally wrote in regarding a caterpillar she photographed in her garden that turned out to be a Ficus Sphinx. Seems since she got a digital camera, she has spent hours documenting the Arthropods that visit her yard. We are beginning to wonder how much acerage Marian has in Florida since she just sent us over a dozen awesome images and we are slowly but surely posting them on their appropriate pages. What’s That Bug? looks forward to years of collaboration with our new Florida freelance photographer. Whenever we have a budget and can afford a staff, Marian along with the awesome entomologist Eric Eaton will be tops on our list.

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PLEASE HELP!
My name is Dave and my family and I were taking a tour of a house for sale in Jacksonville, FL when I came across this spider sitting in the middle of a gigantic web in the backyard. I’ve been looking everywhere for info on it and can’t find anything. I’m originally from CA and have never seen anything like it. Would you please tell me what kind it is and if its dangerous?
Thanks.
Dave

Hi Dave,
Thank you for the nice image of a Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver demonstrating a brave hand for scale. The spider is harmless, unless you are a hapless flying insect that flies into it large orb web. This spider is common in the South. Our most recent guide book list the scientific name as changed from Gasteracantha cancriformis to Gasteracantha elipsoides. This striking spider was once featured on an American postage stamp.

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