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Two Spined Spider: New Zealand Spiny Orb Weaver
(12/21/2005) strange spider beetle thing
hello,
a couple of hours ago my family and i came across an odd looking
bug, it is quite small only about a cm in size about three
times the size of a ladybug. it has from what i can tell 8
legs, a red body, a black 'shell' like thing on its back,
with two small white spike like things coming of the 'shell'.
it also has a yellow ring around the bottom of the 'shell'
. the back of its 'shell' however is yellow, theres thin lines
of red separating the yellow on the 'shell' from the black.
if it helps we are in New Zealand. if you need a photo i could
try to take one, although i'm not sure if we'll still have
it depending on how quickly you reply. just so you know i'm
obviously looking for the name of it
thanks a bunch
Tim
Hi Tim,
What we know immediately is that this is a Spiny Orb Weaving
Spider. We need to do some research to see if we can identify
the species. A quick search revealed nothing. There are two
genera of Spiny Orb Weavers in the U.S.: Micrathena and Gasteracantha.
Try searching there and let us know what you find.
Update: (01/19/2007) New Zealand Spiny Orb Weaver ID...
Hi there!
I did some searching on Google and found a New Zealand
museum site with your spiny orb weaver. It calls it a Two-spined
spider (Poecilopachys australasiae) and has some basic info about it.
http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/TePapa/English/CollectionsAndResearch/Collections/InsectsSpidersAndSimilar/Spiders/Spiders_Web/What/Twospined.htm
Regards, Matthew
Wow Matthew,
Thanks so much for your quick ID.
Palo
Verde Root Borer and Golden Huntsman Spider
(12/20/2005) Palo Verde Borer Beetle & Golden Huntsman
Spider
Hello,
Great bugsite! The beetle submission on 7/2/2004 [Derobrachus
geminatus: Due for a new name.] caught my attention. While
outside in my yard on a hot July 8th, 2005 night at 11:22
p.m., in Paradise Valley, Arizona, I encountered a magnificent
bug, easily 4 or 5 inches in length! I believe this too is
an example of the Palo Verde Borer Beetle, currently known
as Derobrachus geminatus. I don't think my photograph is better
than the lovely one you have posted, but it does offer a different
viewing angle. These beetles lumbered around my property late
at night, for about a week. I suspect this was prime mating
time. Since the entomology course I took in college covered
only insects, I found myself at a loss for identifying the
eight-legged creature in the second attached photograph. I
found this spider on May 26th, 2005 at 2:20 p.m. on a warm,
sunny afternoon. It was motionless, on the ceiling of my porch.
When I initially checked your site I couldn't find a comparable
spider. However, it looks like someone submitted a picture
of the same spider on 7/14/05! Now I know it was the Golden
Huntsman Spider, Olios fasciculatus. Just thought I'd share
my picture with you.
Sincerely,
Krista
 
Hi Krista,
Thank you so much for your submission. We especially love
the Golden Huntsman Spider image.
Golden Silk Spider
(12/19/2005) gulf coast of FL
I noticed a lot of large intricate webs at a park along the
gulf coast of Florida. After searching, I finally found the
culprit. When the sun hit it, the color appeared to be more
golden or yellow. I was wondering what kind of spider this
was.
Thanks,
Jeanne - Long Island
Hi Jeanne,
This is a female Nephila clavipes, commonly known as the Golden
Silk Spider. The male is diminutive. The common name comes
from the unusual color of the silk. There was an attempt to
use the silk of this spider for textiles, and though the resulting
fabric was very strong, the labor involved proved cost prohibitive.
The other common name for this species is Banana Spider.
Trapdoor
Spider
(12/18/2005) Large Spider Identity
Hi. Although your site is very extensive, I have not been
able to determine what type of spider this is. We live outside
of Austin, TX and we found this guy in our garage. He could
have been forced into the neighborhood by nearby construction.
He has fangs and very distinctive/unusual markings on his
bottom side. Thank you so much for any information you can
give me.
Angel G
Hi Angel,
This is a male Trapdoor Spider. The female rarely leaves her
burrow and has shorter legs. The males, which are shorter
lived, leave their burrows to search for mates and often meet
untimely ends. They are not dangerous..
Marbled Orb Weaver
(12/18/2005) please identify: large yellow-orange spider with
markings
Hi,
I've attached two images of a spider that my boyfriend and
I found at the Morris Arboretum (north of Philadelphia). The
spider is fairly large (abdomen is probably the size of a
nickel), and was crawling very slowly on the grass. Would
you possibly know what it is?
Thanks,
Magi
Hi Magi,
We know by your follow-up letter that you have already identified
this Marbled Orb Weaver, Araneus marmoreus, from other photos
on our site.
Flower
Spider
(12/17/2005) Crab Spider??
My wife who dearly dislikes spiders found this on one of her
potted flower plants. She was so taken with the odd shape
and color that she took it under her care, seeing to its needs
as well as she could. She made sure the plant was well cared
for so that it would attract food; that it was protected from
too much sun and that the adjacent white flowers were sprinkled
with a light mist of water if that moisture might be needed
by the spider. I include all this because this nurturing was
so out of character I found it quite amusing. I took the picture
at her insistence because she wanted to record her discovery.
Sorry about the lack of clear focus but my camera does not
do macro. The color is pretty close although I had to jack-up
the contrast to bring it out. In about a weeks time it had
curled up a leaf with its web and made a tidy cocoon for itself.
We have a lot of flying insects around the flowers and it
never really moved around much from its spot and we don't
know how well it fared in its quest for food. We NOT spider
or even bug aficionados but are guessing at crab spider because
the front pair of legs are quite long compared with the back
pair of legs and they are usually poised separately in a front/back
configuration. It's obvious that you have scads of photos
but maybe not this one?
Thank you,
Ken and Gerry
Hi Ken and Gerry,
Thank you for the sweet letter. This is a Crab Spider, also
known as a Flower Spider since it waits on flowers for prey.
The scientific name is Misumena vatia and this lovely color
variation is one of several, but perhaps the most distinct,
that is characteristic of this species.
Banded Argiope
(12/17/2005) Argiope trifasciate (Banded Garden Spider)
Hi! LOVE your site! I used it to identify what I believe is
an Orb Weaver, Argiope trifasciata (Banded Garden Spider).
Thought you might enjoy the attached photos of one of our
dear backyard friends. She (?? we think) has graced us with
her presence for over 3 months now. She is at least 2"
long and her web is gorgeous and spans about 3 feet. I am
a Certified Veterinary Technician, so we have a VERY animal
friendly home and yard! We are using this striking creature
to teach our 3 year-old the benefits and beauty of all insects.
We go out into the yard at least twice a day to say "hello"
and see how she is doing. We even go out at night with flashlights
to wish her "pleasant dreams." We are doing our
best to instill a "ooohhhh, isn't that cool" attitude
as opposed to the more common, "ICK! GROSS!" response
and its resulting carnage. Your site is helping us do that.
Thanks and keep up the awesome work.
Carolyn
South Georgia
 
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you for your touching letter. We are thrilled we are
helping to reduce carnage.
Cross Spider: Brun Spindel Naerbild
(12/16/2005) Please help identify
Hi What's That Bug !
This summer this spider span its net right outside my window.
I took some closeup photos. It is about 1 centimeter big.
I live in Sweden. It would be interesting to know the name
of the spider.
Regards,
Thor Thorsson
Hi Thor,
We are very excited to get your photo for many reasons. First
this is a Cross Spider or Garden Spider, Araneus diadematus.
This spider was introduced to America from Europe and is now
common here. It is nice to get a view of its European cousin.
Also, two Cross Spiders, Anita and Arabella, were the first
spiders shot into space on July 28, 1973. Both Anita and Arabella
spun webs in space, but sadly, neither survived the re-entry.
We are also curious if in Sweden you commemorate the death
of Carl Alexander Clerck on July 22. He is a famous arachnologist
who published the book Swedish Spiders. He died in 1765. These
are the kinds of facts you will find in our 2006 What's That
Bug? 13 month calendar.
Australian Tarantula
(12/14/2005) burrow id??
Would you pls be able to take a guess at what lives in this
burrow??? I live in Victoria [Australia] and this hole was
found in [my garden. I pour water down the hole and it is
rebuilt the next day.]
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
WE cannot give you anything conclusive. Because of the silk,
we are inclined to guess a spider.
Thanks. I now have the occupant of the burrow. Would you know
how I go about having it identified???
Many thanks,
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
This is some species of Tarantula. They often live in burrows.
We would love to post your original burrow photo which we
seem to have misplaced. Could you please resend it. We located
a great website
by Steve Nunn devoted to Australian Tarantulas.
Hi Daniel,
I sent the pics to another gentleman and here is his reply...
"Dear Kelly,
Living in Queensland my knowledge of Victorian spiders is
not as good as it is of Queensland ones. However, your spider
is definitely a primitive spider (i.e. a mygalomorph) and
appears to be a Chenistonia species. In Queensland the equivalent
spider is Namea salanitri which also places a sheet web over
its burrow entrance during the day. Your spider has a size
not much smaller than a funnel-web but its venom is not considered
to be particularly dangerous to humans unlike funnel-web venom.
If there are more in the back yard, leave them there. They
are unlikely to do you any harm although the males may come
above ground in the breeding season (which I suspect will
be autumn for this species) and may surprise you.
Ron Atkinson
USQ CRICOS No. 00244B"
Are you sure it's a type of Tarantula? Do they have burrows???
If you can provide any further info I would be grateful. Regards,
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
We would always defer to the local expert. We can tell you
though that Tarantulas are considered Mygalomorphs. They are,
as Ron states, primitive spiders. Mygalomorphs include not
only Tarantulas, but also Trapdoor Spiders and Purseweb Spiders.
Korean Golden Orb Web Spider: mating and solo
(12/13/2005) Spider
I too like many others "fell upon" your site, and
after enjoying the photos and interesting info remembered
that I have a spider without an ID. I took this in the fall
of 03 while I was attending a retreat on the east side of
the country South Korea. During my 2 months there I got a
chance to observe these spiders. They didn't seem too active,
but one of them went through about 4 mates before she got
"hitched". No one there new what kind they were
but there were 8 of them around the front yard. The webs were
around 3-4 feet in diameter and spread from tree to tree.
I have never been interested in spiders but these ones caught
me in their web. Please help me put a name to my new friends.
Thanks Mari Baerman
Bucheon, South Korea
 
Hi Mari,
What wonderful photos of Nephila clavata, the Golden Orb Web
Spider. We have one spider in this genus in the U.S. called
the Golden Silk Spider, Nephila clavipes. We are wondering
if the common name for the Korean spider also refers to the
color of the silk. Our species also has the drastic size difference
between the diminutive male and the female who can be as much
as 100 times his weight.
Golden
Orb Weaver: Writing Spider
(12/13/2005) Is this an orb-weaver? and whats its name?
Hi
Attached is a photo of what i believe to be an orb weaver
photographed outside of summer home in beaverton Ontario,
Canada. The zigzag in the web is pretty clear. Sorry the photo
is not closer i had to use my telephoto lens on my SLR to
get the shot and im not to good with adjusting pics on the
computer. Could you tell me what Genus it is?
Thanks,
Anna Jackson
(lifetime arachnophobe recently rehabilitated)
Hi Anna,
We are so happy you are rehabilitated. We also know from your
following letter that you realize this is Argiope aurantia,
the Golden Orb Weaver. The zigzag in the web is called a stabilimentum,
and is the reason this group of spiders are also known as
Writing Spiders.
Orb Weaver
(12/10/2005) Help - what is this spider????
I live in Oak View, California (near Ventura). This guy (girl)
is outside my house. About an inch or so long with a big web
- hides during the day and sits in the middle of the web at
night.... we named him "Peter Parker" - any ideas?
Thanks, Bugman!
Cyndi
Hi Cyndi,
You might want to rename Peter as Petra. She is a female Orb
Weaver, genus Araneus.
Funnel Web Spider
(12/07/2005) Brown Spider
Hi,
I caught this spider in my house in Los Angeles, CA. It is
the second one I have caught. I thought I would take a picture
of this one before I released it in case it is poisonous.
The body is about 1/2" the legs extending about 3/4".
The legs are striped a darker brown and beige with little
barbs sticking up. The abdomen is elongated with 2 little
protrusions at the back, it is a lighter brown in the middle.
The head is light in the middle with 2 dark brown striped,
also an elongated shape. It also has two little pincer like
extensions in the front, almost like a 5th set of legs. They
are dark brown at the end. It is not a hairy spider, rather
smooth apart from the barbs. I tried to identify it, I do
not think it is a wolf spider, maybe a funnel web spider?
Thanks
Julie
Hi Julie,
You are absolutely correct. This is a Funnel Web Spider in
the Genus Agelena. We always love hearing about people who
release spiders instead of squashing them.
Red Jumping Spider
(12/04/2005) Who is this spider?
I found at least half a dozen of these spiders tucked under
the rims and between the sections of some plant 6-packs in
which I've got seeds planted. The packs are in
flats resting on the ground in the garden. This
spider is about an inch long; some of the others looked smaller. The
web is very white. I'm in Glendale (Los Angeles)
California. From general body shape and hairiness I suspect
a jumping spider, but couldn't find any pictures of one with
this lovely orange color. (Your fall 2005 web page
was down when I went looking for a picture.)
Thanks.
Sallie
Hi Sallie,
This is one of the Red Jumping Spiders in the genus Phidippus,
probably Phidippus formosus. These are hunting spiders who
do not build webs to trap prey, but adult females, according
to Hogue, "construct a funnel-like web that is usually in
contact with the soil; this structure is used as a retreat
for the adults and a safe repository for the eggs."
Lynx Spiderlings
(11/28/2005) Baby Lynx Spiders
Hi guys,
I saw the photo with the supposed baby Lynx Spiders. Here
is a photo of some that were in the field at my lake house.
Keep up the awesome work with the site.
Adam Hartmann
Jacksonville, FL
Thanks Adam.
Your photo shows the orange color of the Green Lynx Spider
spiderlings.
Silver Argiope
(11/27/2005) Help ASAP! Spider for School Project
Dear Bugman,
We love your site! Please help us identify this spider.
My 6 year old daughter needs to write a paper on a spider
this week and she decided to use this spider that has been
in our backyard in Carlsbad, CA for about a month. After looking
at your website, we think it is some kind of an orb weaver.
What can you tell us. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Gratefully,
Tamara
Hi Tamara,
We hope your daughter gets extra credit for getting her Silver
Argiope, Argiope argentata, posted online. This is a female
and the ziz-zag mark in her web is called a stabilimentum,
leading to the nickname Writing Spider. It is one of the Orb
Weavers.
Green Lynx Spider
(11/25/2005) Green Lynx Spider?
Howdy Bugman,
Love your site. I found this really cool spider while
I was trimming the bushes. She is a female, and had
1000s of young spiders in the web behind her, so I trimmed
the bushes all around but left her home intact. Looks
like a Green Lynx Spider, based on other pictures I've seen.
What do you think?
Tom Bateman
Escondido, CA
Hi Tom,
Yes, this is a Green Lynx Spider, but those things behind
her look like plant seeds to us.
Thanks for the reply. Those are plant seeds. You can't see
the young spiders in the picture - they are hiding deeper
in the web, and out of focus. If you look closely, there
is a big egg mass just below her. When I blew on the web,
the young crawled everywhere, then eventually ran back in.
TB
Cream House Spider
(11/22/2005) Spider
Hello. I love your web site.
Anyway, I moved into my current apartment about a year ago.
I have found least a dozen of these guys, but I have never
been able to get a good picture of one. I researched what
they may be, but I kind of scared myself, so I figured I’d
ask you. Today when I got home, this guy greeted me in the
middle of my dining room floor. This one is one of the smaller
ones I’ve seen, but the biggest one was about the size
of a USD penny (including legs). They’re a cream color,
and blend in very well with my cream colored, textured walls.
This was the first one I’ve seen on a floor, they’re
usually somewhere on a wall. One even decided to come down
on a lead from our exhaust fan in the bathroom and greet me
when I was stepping into the shower. > Thank you very much.
I really appreciate your help.
Laura Kennedy
Central Pennsylvania
Hi Laura,
This is a Cream House Spider. It is in the genus Chiracanthium.
Native species are usually found outdoors, but according to
Hogue, a European introduction often enters homes. Hogue also
writes: "These spiders have relativly strong fangs and have
been known to bite humans, causing a wound that is painful
and slow to heal."
Crab Spider
(11/19/2005) Flower or Crab Spider... ( Misumena vatia )
Here's a picture of a Flower or Crab spider ( Misumena vatia
) taken Sept. 4 2005 ( in Southern Ontario, Canada ). At
first glance I thought I had some kind of strange albino spider,
but after a bit of research online I found out they are just
plain ol white and red. You have a wonderful web site, I quite
enjoy seeing the different types of critters from around the
continent.... some ugly, some beautiful yet all part of natures
glory.
TTFN
Todd Nesbitt
Hi Todd,
What a wonderful photograph. We get many questions about this
particularly striking color variation of the Crab Spider.
Thanks to your image, people will now know how to identify
this harmless, beautiful spider.
South Korean Orb Weaver
(11/16/2005) 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.
Banded Argiope
(11/11/2005) Unknown Spider
Bugman,
I found this spider while hiking in Virginia. I'm from
Wisconsin and have never seen a spider quite like this one.
Could you help me out and tell me what it is? Appreciate
the time!
Adam
Hi Adam,
This is a Banded Argiope, one of the larger Orb Weaving Spiders.
They are not uncommon.
Crevice Weaving Spider
(11/08/2005) big black hairy spider
i live in the desert by palm springs and found this huge spider
it was at the bottom of a cup .looks like a small tarantula
to me .all black with grey body hairy and fangs big fangs
.It chases my finger. please help me thank you
TANYA
Hi Tanya,
We sought out Eric Eaton for advice. Here is what he believes:
"Pretty sure this spider is a Filistatid, family Filistatidae,
probably Kukulcania. There are some nice images on bugguide
you can compare to. I can't see images on my WebTV that well,
actually. Eric " These are commonly called Crevice Weaving
Spiders.
Small
Milkweed Bug and Jumping Spider
(11/08/2005) Various bugs & spiders
Hello: You have a wonderful and informative website. I applaud
your use of color pictures and your professional approach
at identifing and informing the public about various creatures
they encounter. From your site, I believe the first photo
is that of a boxelder insect. I saw him on my garage door
and wanted to take a picture. At that time, I had to leave
to make it to an appointment. The garage door opened and
closed and repeated the cycle when I returned. Still the
boxelder remained. I got my camera and shot a couple of pictures. After
dumping them to my computer, I could see that they were blurry
and had no depth-of-field. I went back out to see if the insect
was still there and he was. Then I set up the camera on a
tripod and went back out. Much to my delight, the insect
was still there. I shot the picture you see (entitled Boxelder.jpg).
The next morning I went out and found the insect laying on
the ground in front of my garage door. It was his last day
on Earth and he survived long enough to become immortalized
in pictures. The second photo is a house centipede, which
your site helped me identify. Spider1.jpg is a small spider
trying to hide in the keyhole of the deadbolt lock on my garage
door. No doubt he was hoping I didn't have a key. I have
no idea what kind of spiders are in spider2.jpg and spider3a.jpg. Any
identification would be appreciated. No insects or spiders
were harmed in making the photographs. The photos are yours
to use as you see fit. I am not making any silly copyright
claims. They are in the public domain as far as I am concerned.
Thank you, Jon
 
Hi Jon,
Thank you for the wonderful letter. Your bug is actually a
Small Milkweed Bug, Lygaeus kalmii, one of the Seed Bugs.
Your third spider is a Jumping Spider in the genus Phidippus,
Family Salticidae. We are not sure about the other spiders.
Marbled Orb Weaver
(11/06/2005) North Georgia
Dear Bugman,
My family and I were visiting the North Georgia Mountains
when we came across this beautifully colored yellow spider.
It did look very much like the color of some of the leaves
in the area. It is fall and the leaves are changing. I have
never seen one like this before. Any ideas?
Sincerely
Michael Britt
Hi Michael,
This is a Marbled Orb Weaver, Araneus marmoreus. It build
an orb web and hides in a retreat, often a curled leaf. It
is inconspicuous in the web, but will drop to the ground if
approached.
Cross Spider
(11/04/2005) we have a new "pet"...
a rather large spider (about the size of a half dollar) has
taken up residence in our entryway and we can't seem to match
it to any pictures posted in the internet. The body
is tear drop shaped. The color is a light cream with
bands of brown on the legs. The body has brown markings in
what almost looks like lizzard scales.
The bands run horizontal to the main axis of the body.
We live in the San Francisco Bay area (northern California). I'm
attaching a picture (although it's a bit far away.)
Thanks.
Diane & Katie Thomson
Hi Diane and Katie,
This is one of the Orb Weaving Spiders, the Cross Spider,
Araneus diadematus. It is originally from Europe. Some interesting
history: On July 28, 1973, Anita and Arabella, two common
Cross spiders were launched into space on Apollo Skylab 3.
They were able to spin webs in space. Anita died about six
weeks later in her cage, presumably from dehydration, and
Arabella did not survive splashdown.
Golden Huntsman Spider
(11/01/2005) Huntsman
Found this beautiful Huntsman at my parents house in southern
Arizona. Thought you might love taking a look at it.
It stayed on the table for about 4 days before
moving on to better hunting. Enjoy.
Andy Marshall
Hi Andy,
Your image of a Golden Hunstman Spider, Olios fasciculatus,
is exquisite.
Golden
Orb Weaver
(10/30/2005) okay, just one more thing
We found this garden spider bloated with eggs this summer
and thought you may be able to use the photo. Not
too clear, but the size is so impressive. Here's one that
is more clear, but doesn't show her mass so well. Very pretty
though. I like how the shadow gives it a menacing look.
Kerra
 
Hi again Kerra,
That is one large Golden Orb Weaver, Argiope aurantia.
Cobweb
Spider or Cellar Spider
(10/30/2005) Spider with sphere shaped web?
I twice found a spider (with egg sac) inside a sphere shaped
web on my house (in Southern Oregon). I've spent
a lot of time searching the Internet, but have not found another
web like this. If you cross your eyes to merge the images
in 3dspider.jpg, you can see the spider and web in 3d.
Thanks,
David
 
Hi David,
Your spider is a Cobweb or Cellar Spider. They are one of
the most common household species. Nice photo of a female
with her eggs. We know our friend Susan would be very amused
with your stereoscopic view, so we are also posting it.
Ed.
Note: (11/07/2005)
This update just in from Eric Eaton.
"The long-bodied cellar spider is certainly a pholcid, but
NOT Pholcus phalangioides. I think it is the marbled cellar
spider, Holocnemus pluchei. We could use more images of that
species on Bugguide, especially of that unique web. The specimen
shown is a female with eggs, and I wonder if the web is not
a special construction to protect her and her offspring.
Very interesting! Keep up the great work. Eric"
Spider catches Snail
(10/24/2005) our spider
Thank you for your info on the interesting spider...I'd never
seen a spider "catch" a snail...thought you might like this:
Thanks for such a wonderful website.
Jen
Hi Jen,
Not only do we love your photo, we want some of the offspring
of your Araneus Orb Weaver in our garden where the snails
are currently devouring our sprouting lettuce.
Another maternal Rabid Wolf Spider
(10/20/2005) Female Wolf Spider with Babies!
Thought you'd like to see a happy mother Wolf Spider with
her babies traversing our back patio. We LOVE your site! My
daughter and I are constantly finding bugs and looking them
up on your site. Dozens of Wheel Bugs, Conifer
Seed Bugs, Spiders, and many others have been
spared certain death because now we know what they are. Please
keep up the fantastic amount of work you do. Much thanks!
The Oxenreiders (south central Pennsylvania)
Dear Oxenreiders,
Letters like yours are worth so much to us. We are please
that you use the site as a research tool. Thank you for sharing
your fantastic photo as well.
Marbled Orb Weaver
(10/17/2005) What's this spider?
Hi!
This spider's abdomen was the size of a chapstick lid. Can
you help me ID it? Found it in central Ohio on
October 15. The picture is attached.
Thanks,
Cathy Wilson
Hi Cathy,
Your spider is a Marbled Orb Weaver, Araneus marmoreus.
Grass Spiders
(10/16/2005) Webby lawn?
Hi Bugman,
I just discovered your web site while doing a google
search in an effort to find out what is decorating our Minnesota
lawn overnight. What an amazing and informative site
you have... it's terrific! I did not, however, find an answer
to my decorating question. I don't have a photo of a
bug, but rather the results of its handiwork. It's apparently
a spider (or rather, many thousands of spiders) doing this
job. ALL of the large grassy area is covered by these webs.
Do you have any idea what does this? The only guess
I can come up with, considering that the webs are all pretty
much parallel, is that they are webs that float in the air
during the day and they drop when the breeze dies and the
dew sets in. Then again, there really wasn't much dew
this morning when I took these photos.... just the webs sparkling
in the sunlight. Or maybe it's the silks left behind by a
herd of caterpillars heading south for the winter???? Thanks
for your help!
Candis Gengler
Hi Candis,
Once, long ago, we answered this question, and it is somewhere
in the Spider archive which currently consists of five general
pages and several other specialty pages. These are Grass Spider
Webs. Grass Spiders are funnel web builders in the family
Agelenidae. Often lawns are covered as your photo indicates,
and the webs are most visible in the morning when they catch
dew.
Banded
Argiope
(10/16/2005) What's this?
Would please tell me about this spider in the attached picture.
I almost mowed it down with my tractor, but I'm glad I saw
it first.
Thank you very much
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Nice photo of a Banded Argiope, one of the larger North American
Orb Weavers.
Rabid Wolf Spider
(10/16/2005) What kind of spider?
What kind of spider is this?
John
Hi John,
Nice photo of a Rabid Wolf Spider.
Green Lynx Spider pounces on a Bee
(10/15/2005)
Daniel.
Thanks for the ID. I really appreciate it. Keep up the excellent
work
with the site. I attached a couple of photos of Lynx Spiders
for your viewing pleasure.Take care,
Adam
Hi again Adam,
The Green Lynx photo with the captured bee is a nice addition
to our site.
Green Lynx Spider
(10/15/2005) Green Lynx Mother
Hi Bugman,
You probably tire of hearing it, but your website is *the*
best insect reference on the web, bar none. I know from
studying your site you really like the green lynx spider,
so these will probably not be your best bunch of photos --
I am continually amazed at the quality of the photos your
readers send in -- but I wanted to share them with you anyway.
I have a small specialty crop farm, and as such have quite
a large insect population, both beneficials and harmful species.
I started noticing the green lynx spiders on my basil crops,
and then they quickly discovered the sunflowers and zinnias
and seem to prefer them. A few months ago, a big, beautiful
female green lynx started living on one of my giant sunflowers.
It was interesting to visit every day and see what large insect
meal she had nabbed. Most of the time we were thrilled
to see she'd captured another glassy-winged sharpshooter or
tree hopper or leaf hopper (all cool insects, but hard on
my flowers). Sadly, she also caught a bumblebee or two,
but such is the price to pay to keep her around doing pest
patrol. As her sunflower house started dying, we were
able to successfully move her to the zinnia bed. She
was surprisingly amenable, but it probably was because by
then she was pretty large with eggs. In fact, it was
hard to imagine how she could still creep up on or jump out
at prey. After we moved her to the zinnias, she chose
this lime-colored flower (naturally, it is a good color for
her!) as her new home. A couple of weeks later, we found her
with her new egg sac on the underside of her flower. Not long
thereafter, we caught the edge of Hurricane Rita and her high
winds. We thought this would bother Mama enough to move
her babies, but she merely picked another green flower stem
to move them to. A few weeks later, they started hatching.
As you've mentioned, she is fiercely protective. Every
time we go to peek at their progress, she comes out and situates
herself between us and them. It appears they are all hatched
now. It took several days. They are still hanging
out close to Mama, but growing quickly. We're hoping
many decide to stay on with us as part of our Pest Control
Department.
Laurie
Hi Laurie,
What a wonderful letter. It is nice to hear our readership
sharing wonderful critter experiences instead of the endless
stream of erradication questions we field. Confidentially,
we have taken to just deleting those without answering. We
do have a streak of vanity and never tire of getting compliments
on the site, but we maintain the site would be nothing without
the readership. You are far too humble. Your photos are every
bit as great as others we receive. thanks for your contribution.
Another Orchard Spider
(10/14/2005) And while we're at it....
Thanks,
Geoffrey Bosmann
Midway, Kentucky
Hi Geoffrey,
This is the second Orchard Spider, Leucauge venusta, we received
in two days. Your photo shows the coloration quite nicely.
Orchard Spider
(10/13/2005) Adorable green spider
I made friends with a fascinating little green and brown spider
who'd shacked up in my lampshade. I took a few photos, they're
attached. We're based in Evanston, Illinois, outside Chicago.
Any idea what she is?
Kerry Lannert
Hi Kerry,
This is an Orchard Spider in the genus Leucauge.
Rabid Wolf Spider and Spiderlings
(10/12/2005)
I believe this to be a Wolf Spider from comparing it to a
picture from your web site. I thought this was particularly
interesting being that you referenced the Wolf spider carries
her eggs for only a few days.
Ralph Plummer
Edgewood Md
Hi Ralph,
Nice photo of a female Rabid Wolf Spider caring for her spiderlings.
According to Audubon: "Female spins a silken cocoon around
egg mass, attaches cocoon to spinnerets, and drags it about.
It darkens from shiny white to dirty brown. Spiderlings ride
on female's back until ready to disperse."
Banded
Argiope
(10/05/2005) Whats that bug??
Hey Bugman! Let me first say that I think your site is great!
My brother and I work together and during our "slacking"
moments (not many) we walk outside to bug hunt. We'll probably
be asking you more questions in the near future, we tend to
find some neat looking creatures. This time though, my brother
found something on his own last. He found a crazy looking
spider in his yard while cutting the grass. He lives in Berwyn,
Illinois, a suburb right outside of Chicago. The spider has
a silver back, long legs with yellow stripes, and 2 yellow
stripes down his black belly. Do you know what he is?? We've
never seen a spider like this guy before. By the way...do
I have to check the site for your reply, or do you email me
back AND post the email and answe ron your site? Thanks a
lot for all your help!
Wendy Vargas
Chicago, IL
Dear Wendy,
Though the coloration is not typical, this is a Banded Argiope,
Argiope trifasciata. The best letters and images get posted
as well as a personal email. Some letters just get an email.
Some letters, more than we would like to admit, never get
answered.
taller than a telephone pole: Golden Orb Weaver
(10/02/2005) unknown spider
hi bugman, my husband found this spider yesterday out in our
flower garden. could you let me know if it is harmful
or not. thanx. we live in Quinnesec, MI.
kim v.
Hi Kim,
Golden Orb Weavers, Argiope aurantia, are harmless, though
they might bite if provoked. Your specimen, which appears
to be taller than a telephone pole, might do some serious
damage. We would definitely run if it came our way.
Cross Spider
(10/01/2005) crazy spider in my yard
can you tell me what this spider is. it lives in my back yard
in san francisco.
jenny howell
Hi Jenny,
Your spider is a harmless Cross Spider or Garden Spider, Araneus
diadematus. It is an European introduction.
Jumping
Spider
(10/01/2005) Great shot of jumping spider
Dear Bug Man,
I Found a spider I have not seen before in the yard.
I believe he is a jumping spider similar to the one in your
site. His legs look furrier and lighter.
He was 1/4 the size of a penny or smaller and zoomed side
to side to avoid my foot. One strange thing, there was a 2nd
one exactly like this one about 1' from him (or her?)
He seems to have been stepped on a bit and was not moving.
The living spider would not leave him. He ran from me,
but raced back to stay within a foot of the other one.
He kept his eyes on the dead spider. I don't think he
killed the other spider, but he surely would not leave him
or turn away from him despite the danger of my camera near.
Due to my dogs roaming around, I put both spiders in a jar
and relocated them over the small wall to a safe area that
has no human traffic. And last I checked, he is still
near his friend who has expired.
Steph Hart
 
Hi Steph,
Yes, this is a Jumping Spider. Many spiders in the genus Phidippus
have a similar coloration. Here is a great site on North
American Jumping Spiders.
Orange Orb Weaver
(09/22/2005) Do you know what kind of spider this is?
Hi. I believe I sent you a picture of a spider
before. This one was found out in the Conservation
District Parking Lot. I thought it may be some
kind of Orb Weaver but it's hard to say. Please
let me know what you think.
Thank You,
Cathy Hilscher
Watershed Specialist
Tunkhannock, PA
Hi Cathy,
This is an Araneus Orb Weaver. There is much color variation
within species and many species look similar and require anatomical
examination to differentiate them. It is a lovely orange specimen.
Fishing Spider
(09/20/2005) Spider
My mom took this picture in North or South Carolina last year.
I was hoping you could tell me kind of spider it is.
Maybe another Dolomedes Fishing Spider?
Joan Etzenhouser
Hi Joan,
You are absolutely correct, a Dolomedes Fishing Spider.
Huntsman
Spider
(09/19/2005) Roommate
A friend of my husband's, Tom, works in the south-east sector
of Yemen. Would you kindly help me identify Tom's
roommate? I've tried exhaustively looking through
websites to help figure out what it is but to no avail. My
husband (who also works in Yemen) thought it was a camel spider
but from the pictures I've seen of camel spiders, Tom's "roomie"
looks nothing like them.
Thank you!
Suzanne
Calgary, Alberta
Hi Suzanne,
Tom's roommate is a Giant Crab Spider known as a Huntsman
Spider. These are shy nocturnal creatures that do not build
webs. They are valuable, especially in tropical countries
where they eat roaches. They are harmless.
Male
Grass Spider
(09/19/2005) pointy abdomen spider
I've browsed and browsed your fabulous website for a match
for this spider that I keep finding in my house. there
are some almost-like-it pictures but none that I can definitely
identify as the one. could you set my mind at ease
or let me know if having this spider in my house is a risk? they
are rather large and fast and freak me out a bit, though this
one was rather calm. I think he must have just
had some traumatic event happen in which he lost a leg. I
put him in the garden. thanks and keep this great thing going. I
enjoy your site immensely.
Amy in Utah
Hi Amy,
This is one of the Funnel Web Spiders also known as Grass
Spiders, genus Agelenopsis. They are harmless. Thank you for
releasing it. You're our kinda gal.
Nursery Web Spider with her Eggsac
(09/18/2005) large NC spider in hollow tree
Dear WTB,
I have greatly enjoyed your website. I originally
found it when trying to identify the spider in the attached
picture. At least i think it was the same kind,
because that time i did not get a picture of it. Several
months later, amazingly, i saw another one and was able to
get a decent picture of it. I live in Durham, NC, and both
times i saw this type of spider it was in a local NC State
Park (two different parks). Both were originally
just outside the hole in a hollow tree. Both skittered
back into the
tree in a sort of clicky, crablike, alien way. All
i know about the first one is that it was BIG. This
one has at least a 3 inch leg span, maybe 4. The first time
i was too spooked out to get any closer, because i never got
a chance to look at it while it was still. This
time it lingered a little longer outside the hole, so i could
see that it was at least a spider and not something from another
planet. So i looked up in the hole and saw it beside
a big white thing. As i was watching, it grabbed
the white thing and moved further up in the tree (it was dark,
so maybe i was mistaken and the white thing was attached to
it / carried by it the whole time instead of beside it...
all i know is... when the white thing moved with it, it freaked
me out). My friend put his digital camera in the
tree, pointed it upward, and blindly took several photographs
with the flash. The attached picture turned out
to be pretty good and i thought, given the size of what i
can only assume is its egg ball, that you would at least find
it interesting if you can't tell me what it is. I thought
the egg ball was at least quarter size, but i don't even want
to think about how huge that would make the spider. I'm
going with "at least 3 inches" to be safe, since
i know the mind can magnify these things in retrospect.
thanks in advance!
jonathan (and terry, the picture-snapper)
Hi Jonathan and Terry,
Fabulous image of a female Dolomedes Fishing Spider, also
known as a Nursery Web Spider. These large spiders do not
build webs, preferring to stalk their prey. They are usually
found near water and can run across the water as well as dive
beneath the surface where they can remain for a half an hour.
They sometimes catch small fish. That is the eggsac she is
carrying. She will protect it fearlessly. When the time comes
she will spin a Nursery Web and deposit the eggsac. This is
the only web she will spin.
Crab Spider
(09/17/2005)
This bug looks like a kernal of corn. We found it crawling
on our lawn furniture in Pleasant Valley, PA. What is
it?
thanks,
Lynne Otrok
Hi Lynne,
This is a Crab Spider in the genus Misumena. These spiders
do not build webs, but usually wait on flowers to ambush their
flying prey. The spiders have some camoulfage ability, changing
colors with their surroundings. Perhaps yours just stepped
off of a sunflower.
Mating
Argiopes
(09/15/2005) mating Golden Garden Spiders
Here is one of a series of stills I made from video of Golden
Garden Spiders mating in my back yard in North Central Texas:
There were two males, but only the one who arrived first got
the glory. The other only watched from the other (safe)
side of the web. After each mating, the female appeared
to become temporarily incapacitated, allowing the tiny mating
male a few moments when he could move around her freely. At
all other times he was very cautious, approaching from the
female’s abdomen area, and between mating events he
stayed on the other side of the web with the other male. I
also have quite a bit of video of this. The mating
continued for a week or two, many times each day. (I
don’t know if it went on during the night.)
Bill Jones
 
Hi Bill,
Thanks for the great photos and interesting account of the
mating activity of these beautiful Argiopes.
Verrucosa
arenata
(09/11/2005) Spider question
Hi,
We found this spider when we were doing some construction
in Northern Virginia... it's brighter red in color
than the photos appear. We have searched your
website from top to bottom and can't identify
it... can you help?
Thanks!
Ross Andrews
Manassas, VA
Hi Ross,
We do have at least one image of Verrucosa arenata somewhere
on our five spider pages, but I'm sure we would have difficulty
locating it without the search engine provided.
Golden Silk Spiders cohabitate
(09/09/2005) Banana Spider Family
Hi Bugman,
I like your site. It answered a couple of what
kind is that spider questions for me that I was unable to
find out anywhere else. I live in Jacksonville
FL. These banana spiders really liked the bug traffic
my front porch light drew in the fall last year and it was
great to have them there for the trick or treaters on Halloween. I
ended up having to move them however because some of my houseguests
would literally freak out and refuse to walk under them. Alas
after moving them to a nearby bush they were around for only
about a week longer and disappeared. I have seen a lot of
brown widows, black widows, orb weavers and a few brown recluses
in and around my home. Thanks for an interesting and informative
website.
Jim A.
Hi Jim,
What a great photograph. The diminutive spider on the right
is the much smaller male Banana Spider or Golden Silk Spider.
The tiny males live on the periphery of the much larger female's
web. The female on the left appears to not have a mate.
Arrow
Shaped Micrathena
(09/09/2005) 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.
Banana Spider
(09/04/2005) 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.
Nursery Web Spider
(09/04/2005) 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.
Jumping
Spider
(09/04/2005) 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.
Flower Spider on Fruit
(09/03/2005) 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.
Classic Orb
(09/03/2005) 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.
Arrow
Shaped Micrathena
(09/01/2005) 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.
Silver
Argiope
(08/29/2005) 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.
Golden
Argiope eats Dog Day Harvestfly
(08/28/2005) Spider
I live in South Jersey and found this beauty next to my shop.
He is about 2" big and was going to eat his dinner, (
cicada) a bug as big he is. I will send a couple
of pictures. Thanks.
Frank
Hi Frank
We get so many Golden Argiope images in that we don't even
bother posting them anymore. Yours, however, is quite special.
thanks.
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