Micrathena sagittata?
Hi!
Just came across your site, and it’s fantastic! Can you confirm whether this little darling is a Micrathena sagittata? Most of the sagittata photos I have seen show this species with much more yellow than black. This photo was taken at Cumberland Island, GA, in August.
Thanks,
Karen
Hi there Karen,
You certainly do have the Arrow Shaped Micrathena here. This is a shot of the underside, hence the markings look different. Additionally, there is often much variation from specimen to specimen.
¶ Posted 09 September 2005 § ‡ ° Golden Silk Spider?
Hi from Georgia, and thanks for the site! We’ve recently stopped using chemical pesticides around the house, and we’ve seen a proliferation of lots of unusual characters, most of whom are harmless and interesting, and your site has been very helpful. Just this morning as I was taking a look at our power meter, I almost ran into this magnificent but scary creature, who has built a huge web outside the garage overnight. He’s 2 1/2-3 inches long and seems quite content even as I took his picture; however, I wouldn’t really want to have a closer encounter with him. From your site, I’m pretty sure he’s a Golden Silk Spider, but he is quite large so thought I’d confirm. Should he be relocated? I also just thought you might want to take a look at him…don’t know if he’s common for this time of year, and he is an especially good looking fellow in my estimation.
Thanks,
Judy
Hi Judy,
Yes, SHE is very attractive. Your Golden Silk Spider is also commonly called the Banana Spider, and the scientific name is Nephila clavipes. These are Southern spiders and autumn is the time they are maturing, growing to their adult size, and consequently attracting more attention. The female spider is often 100 times larger than her diminutive mate who usually lives on the periphery of her web. About 100 years ago there were experiments in using the silk of this spider, which is very strong, in textiles. It proved cost prohibitive.
¶ Posted 04 September 2005 § ‡ ° 1CM RED-BACKED SPIDER
Can you tell me what kind this is? Oceanside, Southern CA. September, 2005 – thanks.
This is some species of Jumping Spider, Salticidae.
¶ Posted 04 September 2005 § ‡ ° Spider in the Poconos
Hi,
We found this spider on our deck in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania and it appeared quite different than the typical brown spiders we see. Can you help us identify it?
Thanks,
Brian
Hi Brian,
This is a Nursery Web Spider, Pisaurina mira. Sometimes the Dolomedes Fishing Spiders are commonly called Nursery Web Spiders as well, and both genuses belong to the Family Pisauridae. These spiders do not build webs to capture prey. Instead they are hunting spiders. After the eggs are layed, the female carries the egg-sac with her and eventually builds a nursery web which she guards.
Crab Spider?
Hi. I have sure enjoyed your site. I would like this spider identified please. I found it on an immature strawberry North of Seattle, WA. She seems to be missing her top left leg (you can just barely see the stub). After she arrived, my strawberries no longer had pesky tiny tiny bugs on them. Thanks,
Betsy
Hi Betsy,
You are absolutely correct. Your Crab Spider is also known as a Flower Spider and it is great she is keeping your fruit pest free.
¶ Posted 03 September 2005 § ‡ ° Returning Spider
Hi Bugman!
I learned about your site from a friend and have really enjoyed all of the great pictures. Now, I find that I have a question of my own. For the past two weeks, a spider has found a home in our backyard. It builds a web every night and it is gone the next morning. The web consists of a single strand that stretches across the entire yard, a span of about 25 feet! The web, as shown in the photo, is then built off of this strand, and sits in the center of the yard and is attached to the ground. The spider, also shown below, hangs in the center of the web, and seems to be very nervous around people; he once crawled out of sight when one of us got too close. We also found smaller spiders of the same kind building webs in nearby plants, there were a total of six spiders. We have enjoyed seeing our spider each night and would really like to know what kind it is. Thank you for your consideration.
Signed,
Curious Spider Watcher
Southern California
Dear Curious,
There isn’t much detail in the spider, but that is a gorgeous classic Orb Web. This Orb Weaver is probably an Araneus, like a Jeweled Araneus, Araneus gemmus.
¶ Posted 03 September 2005 § ‡ ° think it’s a spider
Hello,
I was walking past my apple tree this evening and saw what I thought was a spider crawling up a web from the ground. But when I got closer I wasn’t so sure. It does have eight legs but the yellow body is hard like a crustacean. What is it? Is it poisonous?
Thanks. Janet
THE LOY’S
Hi Janet,
This is an Arrow Shaped Micrathena, one of the smaller orb weavers. Your specimen is a female. All spiders have venom, but most, like this gal, are not harmful to people.
¶ Posted 01 September 2005 § ‡ ° Who is this guy??
We saw this spider on a hike in San Diego County (near El Cajon) a couple of weeks ago. He was beautiful! Thanks for any leads,
Kristin
Hi Kristen,
She is a Silver Argiope, Argiope argentata. This southern species is usually found head down in its orb web.
¶ Posted 29 August 2005 § ‡ ° 
rss
I like This
