Small bug on the beach
August 28, 2009
Sitting on the beach, we were assaulted by this tiny bug. This small creature was very aggressive and leaped at us when bothered. He was roughly 1/4″ long.
Henry
Westhampton, NY, on the beach, about 20 yards from the water
Common Hentz Jumper
Hi Henry
We believe we identified your Jumping Spider correctly after just a few minutes on BugGuide. It looks like a male Common Hentz Jumper, Hentzia palmarum. According to BugGuide: “Males dark brown with white along edges of body, legs and jaws. Central white mark only on back half of carapace. Front pair of legs much larger than others. Females hairier, paler in color, often marked with forward pointing triangles along the center of her abdomen.”
Huntsman Spider or Fishing Spider?
August 26, 2009
Hello. I live in Charleston, SC, and noticed this spider crawling up the side of the house. Biggest spider that I have ever seen around here, hands down. At first, I thought it was a wolf spider, then thought it might be a Fishing Spider. Now wonder if its not a Huntsman Spider. Can you tell me for sure what it is? And is it aggressive? Poisonous? Thanks in advance.
freekoffhisleash
Charleston, SC
Fishing Spider
Dear freekoffhisleash,
Your spider is a Fishing Spider in the genus Dolomedes, most likely Dolomedes tenebrosus. You may compare your photo to the ones posted on BugGuide.
Yellow and Black, Scarry looking bug in friend’s backyard
August 20, 2009
My friend sent me the attached picture of a black/Yellow sorta striped bug from her back yard. 2 questions….1. Is it poisonous or does it “bite”. (she has 3 children and watches my 3 when I’m at work.) 2. What is it?
Christina J. Kuckie
lockport, IL
- Golden Orbweaver
Dear Christina,
You aren’t worried about this beautiful Golden Orb Weaver being a thief? It is also called a Black and Yellow Garden Spider, Argiope aurantia, the spider from Charlotte’s Web. All spiders have venom, but very few will bite people and even fewer are dangerous. The Garden Spider minds its own business and stays in it web. It is not aggressive.
Big moth and black widow
August 14, 2009
My son and I had a Discovery Channel moment leaving the post office yesterday. This moth was alive, and the spider was working very hard to wrap it up. It would climb up, drop a line down, throw a couple of legs over the moth, go over to the other wing, and repeat. The moth was fluttering but losing the battle.
We couldn’t believe this was right in the middle of the sidewalk (yes, there was a brick column in the *middle* of the sidewalk) at the entrance to a busy post office in the middle of the day!
I was going to take video but could only manage a quick cell phone photo before a well-meaning man came up and stomped the spider.
I think this is a real black widow, but I’m having trouble positively identifying the moth. We see them all the time here in Georgia – as the summer progresses, the moths get bigger.
Can you help?
Patty and Gabriel
Powder Springs, Georgia
Black Widow captures Regal Moth
Hi Patty and Gabriel,
We are sorry to hear that this shy and retiring, though poisonous Black Widow was stomped before getting to enjoy its gargantuan meal. The moth is a very bedraggled Regal Moth or Royal Walnut Moth. Its appearance indicates that it was already at the end of its short adult life. Regal Moths do not feed as adults, and only fly long enough to mate and lay eggs, and possibly, like this specimen, provide a nutritious meal to a lucky predator.
Green Lynx Spider
August 5, 2009
I think this is a green lynx spider. Its my first time seeing one. I found it on my kid’s sunflower. I am kind of new at this.
Chris Morris
Conroe, Tx
Green Lynx Spider catches small Bee
Hi Chris,
Thanks for doing the research to identify the Green Lynx Spider in your wonderful photograph. Green Lynx Spiders are our own favorite spiders despite their habit of waiting on blossoms for pollinating insects like the Bee that has been captured by your individual. Once, many years ago, we witnessed a Green Lynx Spider jump a foot from a rose that it was perched upon in an attempt to catch a passing butterfly. Though the spider missed its mark, it was impressive nonetheless.
Pictures of my friend Gardenia
July 31, 2009
Hi!
I hope you like the pictures I took in August ’08 of a Female Garden Spider that had made it’s home in my euonymous plant . Once I had identified her, I named her Gardenia, and she became a regular stop on my daily garden tour. I think she is eating a fly in these photos.
Brenda A
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
- Golden Orb-Weaver
Hi Brenda,
Thanks for sending us your photos of Argiope aurantia, a female Yellow Garden Spider or Golden Orb-Weaver as we call them in Los Angeles. We think Gardenia is a very fitting name. One of our gardeners, Raul, has been nicknamed Gardenia by the rest of the crew. Thanks for indicating that your photos were taken last year as we thought it was a bit early to get photos of such a mature spider.
Spider in Utah
July 29, 2009
I came across this spider while walking in a desert scrub area near a creek. It was about the size of a quarter or maybe a little smaller if I remember correctly. Any idea what it might be?
Curious about Critters
Cedar City, Utah
Red Spotted Ant Mimic
Hi Curious,
Using BugGuide, we believe we have identified your spider as a Red Spotted Ant Mimic, Castianeira descripta. According to BugGuide: “Although like most spiders this species is equipped with vemon to subdue its prey, it is not considered harmful to humans.”
¶ Posted 29 July 2009 § ‡ ° Giant spider the size of my hand
July 29, 2009
Hi WTB- My family was heading out to our above ground pool to swim on a VERY hot afternoon- approx 95 degrees F. When my husband noticed a GIANT spider sitting on top of the railing with an egg sack. I think its facinating the kids think its gross 
She wasn’t hurting anything- so I got out my camera got some good pix; and then gently moved her to our wood pile with a stick which she gladly grabbed onto without fighting…. maybe you can tell us what she is.
Sincerely, Amanda and the Weikel family
Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Fishing Spider with Egg Sac
Hi Amanda and Weikel Family,
This Fishing Spider, Dolomedes tenebrosus, is perfectly harmless, though we expect she would try to defend her egg sac if you threatened. Fishing Spiders are generally found near water and they are capable of diving beneath the surface to escape predators or to hunt prey. They can catch small fish underwater. Fishing Spiders carry their egg sacs around in their chelicerae or jaws, as opposed to Wolf Spider that drag the egg sac behind them on a silk thread. We hope your children learn your tolerance of the lower beasts.
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