Spiders

[Bill W]

1 hour ago, sandrewn said:

A Peekaboo moment?

Are you hiding or are you watching for your next meal to come by? 

[TalonRider]

How about both?

[sandrewn]

7 hours ago, Bill W said:

What a good looking spider, looking ready to go out on a date. 

But what big front legs you have.  Do you use them to catch your prey? 

 

Curiously, I am wondering?

Not the most original 'Pickup line' I ever heard!

 

[TalonRider]

Here's a little something you might like.

[Bill W]

4 hours ago, TalonRider said:

Here's a little something you might like.

Venus Fly Trap 1 - Spider 0

But the rest of those snippets were wild. 

[sandrewn]

What is the fastest killing spider in the world?

 

 

 

The funnel web

 

The funnel web “classically speaking” is considered the world's deadliest spider because it “kills so quickly”. “In terms of speed of death, in Australia we say funnel web, 15 minutes, no sweat,” Raven said. “With a funnel web bite to the torso, you're dead. No other spider can claim that reputation.”

 

 

[Bill W]

10 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

What is the fastest killing spider in the world?

 

 

 

The funnel web

 

The funnel web “classically speaking” is considered the world's deadliest spider because it “kills so quickly”. “In terms of speed of death, in Australia we say funnel web, 15 minutes, no sweat,” Raven said. “With a funnel web bite to the torso, you're dead. No other spider can claim that reputation.”

 

A heck of a reputation, so let's make sure it stays in Australia. 

[sandrewn]

 

The Other Point of View

 

 

[sandrewn]

Bird dung spider (Pasilobus sp.)

The araneid spider Pasilobus sp., common in the Morobe District, New Guinea, builds its web at night close to bushes and small trees. The more-or-less horizontal web has a triangular frame that is divided into halves by a midline thread running from the apical angle to bisect the base. From the midline thread hang 4–11 pairs of widely spaced spanning threads; these are the only adhesive elements in the web. The spanning threads are viscid for only part of their length and are strongly attached to the web only at their junction with the midline thread. The outer end of each spanning thread forms an easily ruptured, low-shear joint with the lateral frame thread of the web.

When a flying insect strikes a spanning thread, the low-shear joint breaks and the thread drops below the web, leaving the insect tethered to the midline. The insect may continue to fly, on the tether, or may spin down to motionlessness. The spider rushes to the midline thread end of the tether, hauls up the spanning thread and then bites the insect. Experimental investigations of the low-shear joints and the adhesiveness and elasticity of the spanning thread are described and the results analysed. The web-building behaviour of Palilobus differs in several ways from that of most araneids and is described and compared with that of Gasteracantha and other species. The possible evolutionary origins of the Pasilobus web are outlined.

 

Evolution beyond the orb web: the web of the araneid spider Pasilobus sp., its structure, operation and construction - ROBINSON - 1975 - Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society - Wiley Online Library

 

 

[Bill W]

54 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

Bird dung spider (Pasilobus sp.)

The araneid spider Pasilobus sp., common in the Morobe District, New Guinea, builds its web at night close to bushes and small trees. The more-or-less horizontal web has a triangular frame that is divided into halves by a midline thread running from the apical angle to bisect the base. From the midline thread hang 4–11 pairs of widely spaced spanning threads; these are the only adhesive elements in the web. The spanning threads are viscid for only part of their length and are strongly attached to the web only at their junction with the midline thread. The outer end of each spanning thread forms an easily ruptured, low-shear joint with the lateral frame thread of the web.

When a flying insect strikes a spanning thread, the low-shear joint breaks and the thread drops below the web, leaving the insect tethered to the midline. The insect may continue to fly, on the tether, or may spin down to motionlessness. The spider rushes to the midline thread end of the tether, hauls up the spanning thread and then bites the insect. Experimental investigations of the low-shear joints and the adhesiveness and elasticity of the spanning thread are described and the results analysed. The web-building behaviour of Palilobus differs in several ways from that of most araneids and is described and compared with that of Gasteracantha and other species. The possible evolutionary origins of the Pasilobus web are outlined.

 

Evolution beyond the orb web: the web of the araneid spider Pasilobus sp., its structure, operation and construction - ROBINSON - 1975 - Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society - Wiley Online Library

 

I thought bird dung was white - at least that's how it appears all over my car.  I would have thought a bird dung spider was using the dung as camoflauge, so I wasn't expecting it to appear as it does.  Maybe bird dung appears different in New Guinea.  

[sandrewn]

6 hours ago, Bill W said:

I thought bird dung was white - at least that's how it appears all over my car.  I would have thought a bird dung spider was using the dung as camoflauge, so I wasn't expecting it to appear as it does.  Maybe bird dung appears different in New Guinea.  

Sorry, it was not from a lack of effort, but you would be surprised(or maybe not) on how much info I was able to find on bird poop in New Guinea (zero/nada/zilch)!!

However, info on the various birds was fascinating. My bet on the ugly poop/dung used by our spider goes to......

The Cassowary

 

What is the world's most dangerous bird? | Library of Congress

 

8 COMMON Birds That Are Found in Papua New Guinea! (2023) - Bird Watching HQ

 

[Bill W]

6 hours ago, sandrewn said:

Sorry, it was not from a lack of effort, but you would be surprised(or maybe not) on how much info I was able to find on bird poop in New Guinea (zero/nada/zilch)!!

However, info on the various birds was fascinating. My bet on the ugly poop/dung used by our spider goes to......

The Cassowary

 

What is the world's most dangerous bird? | Library of Congress

 

8 COMMON Birds That Are Found in Papua New Guinea! (2023) - Bird Watching HQ

 

Thank you.  I didn't know there was a third flightless bird that resembled the ostrich and the emu.  Very interesting, and I can see why you wouldn't want to piss any of them off.  And those three do appear to be the closest relatives to the dinosaurs.  

Edited November 6, 2023 by Bill W

[sandrewn]

Yellow Translucent Jumping Spider (Salticidae sp)

This photo was taken in Bengkulu Sumatra Indonesia. The size of body without legs is about 8mm.

 

 

[Bill W]

3 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

Yellow Translucent Jumping Spider (Salticidae sp)

This photo was taken in Bengkulu Sumatra Indonesia. The size of body without legs is about 8mm.

My, what big eyes you have.  Is that your genitals showing between your legs? 

[sandrewn]

 

 

6 hours ago, Bill W said:

My, what big eyes you have.  Is that your genitals showing between your legs? 

It depends(?), which pairs of legs are you referring to.

 

[sandrewn]

Black and Yellow Garden Spider

The spider species (Argiope aurantia) is commonly known as the black and yellow garden spider, writing spider, or corn spider.

Black and Yellow Garden Spider at Oleta River State Park

 

 

[Bill W]

5 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

Black and Yellow Garden Spider

The spider species (Argiope aurantia) is commonly known as the black and yellow garden spider, writing spider, or corn spider.

Black and Yellow Garden Spider at Oleta River State Park

The Bumble Bee spider.  The article say that beside attracting prey, it may even warn birds.  That makes sense, because it probably takes a long time for them to construct the web and they don't want birds flying through and destroying it.  

[sandrewn]

Extremely stinky harvestman (Holoversia nigra)

Mountains of Minas Gerais, Brazil

 

 

[Bill W]

35 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

Extremely stinky harvestman (Holoversia nigra)

Mountains of Minas Gerais, Brazil

I'm amazed at how different the body shape of a spider can be.  They all have eight legs, but other than that there are mass differences.  

[sandrewn]

Hyllus Diardi jumping spider close-up

I'm not sure if it needs a comb or  eyebrow tweezers? Both, maybe?

 

[Bill W]

2 hours ago, sandrewn said:

Hyllus Diardi jumping spider close-up

I'm not sure if it needs a comb or  eyebrow tweezers? Both, maybe?

Now those eyes look closer to human, unless that dark disk in the center is a reflection, and this spider definitely needs a shave. 

[sandrewn]

Psychedelic Jumping Australian has nothing but Eyes For You!

Meet the Peacock spider - this 5mm Long showoff; raises his abdomen vertically, expands his flaps and displays them like a peacock's tail. But the brilliant colouring is not just for decoration. The peacock spider earns its name when he courts a potential mate and (Maratus volans) is a native species of Australian jumping spider. It is only the males that have this bright colouring, the females are rather a dull grey. During this Tail display the male will vibrate his raised legs and tail, while dancing from one side to one another in an attempt to impress the female. Once the dance is over the abdomen flaps are folded down close against the sides of the body, like a shawl. The little spider has excellent eyesight but with four eyes it can detect prey 20 cm away, considering its size this is quite a feat. Our little friend has many names: flying spider, gliding spider and the preferred name peacock spider. Although having volans in its name suggest the spider can fly, but it actually doesn’t use its flaps to extend the distance of its jump. After mating, the male repeats the performance and dance with other females. (I’m sure there is an Australian joke here – better not, family show) This post was updated on the 16 June 2017.

 

[Bill W]

3 hours ago, sandrewn said:

Psychedelic Jumping Australian has nothing but Eyes For You!

Meet the Peacock spider - this 5mm Long showoff; raises his abdomen vertically, expands his flaps and displays them like a peacock's tail. But the brilliant colouring is not just for decoration. The peacock spider earns its name when he courts a potential mate and (Maratus volans) is a native species of Australian jumping spider. It is only the males that have this bright colouring, the females are rather a dull grey. During this Tail display the male will vibrate his raised legs and tail, while dancing from one side to one another in an attempt to impress the female. Once the dance is over the abdomen flaps are folded down close against the sides of the body, like a shawl. The little spider has excellent eyesight but with four eyes it can detect prey 20 cm away, considering its size this is quite a feat. Our little friend has many names: flying spider, gliding spider and the preferred name peacock spider. Although having volans in its name suggest the spider can fly, but it actually doesn’t use its flaps to extend the distance of its jump. After mating, the male repeats the performance and dance with other females. (I’m sure there is an Australian joke here – better not, family show) This post was updated on the 16 June 2017.

 

This spider is ready for the Pride parade.  It even dances.  Perfect. 

Now I have a question.  Do all spiders have eyes that look like human eyes, except the whites of their eyes are a blueishl green and they have more of them and in different sizes.  I think four eyes could come in handy.  

Edited November 11, 2023 by Bill W

[Zombie]

too many eyes 

too many legs 

too much hair  

*shudders*  

[sandrewn]

big-eyed jumping spider from W-Java - Yellow-lined Epeus

This male spider (6-7mm) was attracted by a small white moth sitting on the same leaf: www.flickr.com/photos/gbohne/5270341074/ Epeus flavobilineatus DOLESCHALL, 1859 (Yellow-lined Epeus), male [det. Mr & Mrs Apteryx australis, 2010, based on this photo] Genus: Epeus PECKHAM & PECKHAM, 1886 Subfamily: Plexippinae BLACKWALL, 1841 (unranked clade: Salticoida) Family: Salticidae BLACKWALL, 1842 (jumping spiders, Springspinnen) Superfamily: Salticoidea Suborder: Araneomorphae (Echte Webspinnen) Order: Araneae (spiders, Webspinnen oder Echte Spinnen) Class: Arachnida CUVIER, 1812 (Spinnentiere) Subphylum: Chelicerata Phylum: Arthropoda more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epeus_%28spider%29 more: www.peckhamia.com/salticidae/diagnost/epeus/flavobil.htm Indonesia, W-Java, 10 km S Tangerang: vic. Serpong (Kampung garden).