Spiders

[sandrewn]

 

 

[sandrewn]

 

 

Did You Know That Tarantulas Can Swim?

 

[Bill W]

4 hours ago, sandrewn said:

 

 

Did You Know That Tarantulas Can Swim?

 

It's doing the stroke named the crawl, but to a fish swimming in that water, it could look like dinner floating above.  

[sandrewn]

 

 

 

 

[Bill W]

5 hours ago, sandrewn said:

 

 

 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Assassin spiders Temporal range: Middle Jurassic–Recent  PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Austrarchaea sp.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Superfamily:	Palpimanoidea
Family:	Archaeidae C. L. Koch & Berendt, 1854
Diversity
5 genera, 90 species

Archaeidae, also known as assassin spiders and pelican spiders, is a spider family with about ninety described species in five genera.^[1] It contains small spiders, ranging from 2 to 8 millimetres (0.079 to 0.315 in) long, that prey exclusively on other spiders.^[2] They are unusual in that they have "necks", ranging from long and slender to short and thick. The name "pelican spider" refers to these elongated jaws and necks used to catch their prey. Living species of Archaeidae occur in South Africa, Madagascar and Australia, with the sister family Mecysmaucheniidae occurring in southern South America and New Zealand.^[1]

Assassin spiders were first known from 40 million-year-old amber fossils which were found in Europe in the 1840s and were not known to have living varieties until 1881, when the first living assassin spider was found in Madagascar.^[3]

The fossil record of this family was first identified from Baltic amber dating to the Eocene, although many taxa from these deposits have been reassigned to Mecysmaucheniidae, Malkaridae, and Anapidae. Currently valid Baltic species include Archaea levigata and Archaea paradoxa. In 2003, Afarchaea grimaldii was described from Cretaceous Burmese amber aged between 88 and 95 million years, extending the record of this group considerably, the oldest fossil known of the group is Patarchaea muralis from the Middle Jurassic (Oxfordian/Callovian) of Inner Mongolia, China.^[4]

Taxonomy

[edit]

The family Archaeidae was erected in 1854 by C. L. Koch and G. K. Berendt^[1] for one genus, Archaea, initially with three extinct species,^[3] all found in amber from the Baltic Sea or Bitterfeld in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. No living species are placed in this genus. 

[sandrewn]

 

The magnificent spider (Ordgarius magnificus)

 

 

[Bill W]

4 hours ago, sandrewn said:

 

The magnificent spider (Ordgarius magnificus)

Neat looking spider.  It appears to have nipples or two tiny shields on its back!

[Bill W]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Ordgarius magnificus
Ordgarius magnificus, Manyung, Queensland
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Araneidae
Genus:	Ordgarius
Species:	O. magnificus
Binomial name
Ordgarius magnificus (Rainbow, 1897)

Ordgarius magnificus, the magnificent spider, is a bolas spider in the family Araneidae.^[1] It is endemic to forests along the Australian east coast.

Description

[edit]

Females are up to 14 mm long and almost as wide; males reach only 2 mm. Females are creamy-white with a pattern of pink and yellow spots on the abdomen, and a crown of white and reddish tubercles on the head.

Habits

[edit]

They live in trees or tall shrubs, rarely less than 2 m above the ground. The easiest way to find them is to search for clusters of large, brown egg-sacs suspended among foliage; the spider will be found nearby, at day sheltering in a retreat made from rolled leaves and silk.

Like all bolas spiders, the female attracts male moths with an airborne pheromone. Once a moth approaches, the spider senses it coming due to vibration sensitive hairs on its outstretched legs. It is then caught with a sticky globule that is swung at the prey.

The egg-sacs are up to 5 cm long; one spider produces up to nine sacs per season, each with several hundred eggs.

 

[TalonRider]

I was thinking more along the lines of one half of a snap button. 

[sandrewn]

 

The Cobweb Hotel (1936)

 

 

 

(hard to believe this was made 89 yrs ago)

[Bill W]

4 hours ago, sandrewn said:

 

The Cobweb Hotel (1936)

 

 

 

(hard to believe this was made 89 yrs ago)

I remember watching this on a cartoon show when I was in elementary school in the 50s, and it's still as fascinating as it was then. 

[TalonRider]

I remember seeing that cartoon many, many Moons ago. 

[sandrewn]

 

 

Battle Royal

( Garden Spider vs Preying Mantis )

 

 

[Bill W]

31 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

 

 

Battle Royal

( Garden Spider vs Preying Mantis )

In a "Battle Royal" scenario, the outcome of a spider versus praying mantis showdown is difficult to predict definitively, as it depends on several factors.  While a spider might initially have an advantage with its web trapping, a mantis's strength and hunting tactics could give it the upper hand.   Ultimately, the victor could be determined by the specific species involved, their individual size and strength, and the environment of the encounter. 

 

Elaboration:

• Spider's Advantages:

  Spiders, particularly those that construct webs, can use their sticky webs to trap prey, like praying mantises. This trapping method can be effective in immobilizing the mantis, allowing the spider to subdue it. Some spiders also possess venom, which can paralyze or kill prey. 

   
• Praying Mantis's Advantages:

  Praying mantises are ambush predators with remarkable speed and agility. They can strike with great force and their exoskeletons offer significant protection. They are also capable of escaping from spider webs. 

   
• Factors Influencing the Outcome:

  The size and strength of both the spider and mantis can significantly impact the battle. The specific species involved (e.g., a large huntsman spider vs. a smaller praying mantis) can also influence the outcome. The environment where the encounter takes place can also affect the strategy and tactics of each combatant. For example, a mantis might have an advantage if it can use camouflage to ambush the spider. 

   
• Possible Scenarios:

  • Spider's Trap: A spider with a strong web might be able to ensnare the mantis, leading to a spider victory. 
     
  • Mantis's Attack: If the mantis can find a way to escape the web or outmaneuver the spider, it could attack and overpower the arachnid. 
     
  • Venom's Effect: The spider's venom might be effective in paralyzing the mantis, but the mantis's resilience and strength could allow it to resist. 
     
  • Size and Strength: A larger, more powerful mantis might be able to overcome a smaller spider. 
     
• In summary, the outcome of a spider vs. praying mantis battle is not predetermined and depends on the specifics of the encounter. 

[TalonRider]

The photographer should have included an after shot of the outcome of the battle. 

[Bill W]

6 hours ago, TalonRider said:

The photographer should have included an after shot of the outcome of the battle. 

Yes, that would have been very helpful.  I'm also curious as to the outcome of this battle royal. 

[Bill W]

11 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

 

Feeding The Sand Spider (Part 1)

 

 

Damn, this spider's web even comes with a doorframe.  😵

[sandrewn]

 

Giant Spider Attack! | Arachnids in the UK | Doctor Who - YouTube

 

 

 

(I have been a Doctor Who fan, for as long as I can remember)

[sandrewn]

 

Spider Web Spinning

 

 

[sandrewn]

 

 

 

[Bill W]

Interesting Spider Facts: 

Spiders are fascinating creatures with many unique characteristics. They have impressive abilities like producing incredibly strong silk, regrowing lost legs, and even seeing ultraviolet light. Some spiders are also skilled hunters, using traps, nets, and even camouflage to catch their prey. 

 

Here are some more interesting facts about spiders:

• Some spiders can regrow legs:

  Many spiders can regrow legs that are lost during molting or due to injury. 

   

• Some spiders can survive underwater:

  Certain spiders can trap air bubbles around their bodies to survive submerged in water. 

   

• Spiders have blue blood:

  Unlike humans, spiders use a copper-based protein called hemocyanin to transport oxygen in their blood, which appears blue instead of red. 

   

• Many spiders are nearsighted:

  While most spiders have multiple eyes, they often have poor eyesight and rely on vibrations and silk threads to sense their surroundings. 

  
  Some spiders are vegetarians:

• While most spiders are carnivorous, one species, the Bagheera kiplingi, is primarily vegetarian, feeding on plant matter and even nectar. 

   

• Female spiders can lay thousands of eggs:

  Some spider species can lay up to 3,000 eggs at once. 

   

• Jumping spiders can jump incredibly far:

  Jumping spiders can propel themselves up to 50 times their own body length, making them impressive jumpers. 

   

• Spider venom is used to liquefy prey:

  Spiders inject venom into their prey to paralyze or kill it and then secrete digestive juices to liquefy the prey before sucking it up. 

   

• Some spiders build elaborate webs:

  While many spiders use webs to catch prey, others use them for a variety of purposes, including building shelters, wrapping food, and even creating egg sacs. 

• Spider silk is stronger than steel:

  Spider silk, despite being incredibly light, is stronger than steel of the same thickness, making it a remarkably strong material. 

   

[sandrewn]

 

 

 

 

[Bill W]

6 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

 

 

I was beginning to wonder if my double-vision had returned and turned into triple-vision! 

By the way, for those of you that don't know what substrate means, I'll save you from having to look it up.  Substrate is an underlying substance or layer.  I hope that helps. 

[Bill W]

That’s Wild: Barfing Spiders Many spiders rely on injecting venom into their prey from little openings in their fangs. But a new study finds that one common spider, the feather-legged lace weaver (Uloborus plumipes), has a more novel approach to subduing its next meal: vomiting all over it. The upchucked toxins, applied after the victim has been wrapped in silk, are apparently just as lethal as other spiders’ venom.  You could even say this spider’s barf is worse than its bite.

[sandrewn]

 

Wolf Spiders & Dock Spiders or Fishing Spiders; A Comparison--Plus My Meeting With a Giant Wolf Spider!

 

Wolf Spiders & Dock Spiders or Fishing Spiders; A Comparison--Plus My Meeting With a Giant Wolf Spider! - HubPages