I was cutting wood for knives and this fellow was hiding in the pile on a piece of maple branch. I nearly inadvertently squashed it, but luckily it got away in the end unharmed. I have no clue what species it is, but it is fairly big. The cephalothorax and abdomen together were about as big as my thumbnail, that’s about 15 mm. So with the legs and all it exceeded the size of a 2 € coin. Pictures are below the fold. [Read more…]
Today, I had to change the zeolite and charcoal in the end filter at my wastewater treatment facility and other associated chores – like pumping out most of the water and removing some of the dead leaves from the end pond, etc. I usually do my best not to harm any critters whilst doing this. I counted at least five frogs and ten damselfly larvae in the pond and when changing the zeolite in the filter this poor spider lady carrying an egg sac fell into the filter from I do not know where. She was a bit wet and thus not as agile afterward as these wolf spiders normally are, thus I could take out my phone and take some pictures. She was still way too quick for comfort so I only got two where she is in focus. Pictures are below the fold.
This tiny little jumping spider was munching on a fly on my house’s wall, nearly in the same spot where I took a picture of a wasp spider a few days ago. Unfortunately, these little buggers are at the very limit of what I can photograph free hand and I did not dare to go for a tripod/monopod because it would probably bugger off.
Pictures below the fold. [Read more…]
This species is not native where I live, it migrated all the way here from the Mediterranean late in the 20th century. I have never expected to see it in my garden since it still requires a generally warmer climate than what used to be normal here. I guess we can chalk that up to global warming – and this year’s summer was uncharacteristically humid and cold, almost like it used to be when I was a kid.
Pictures below the fold, beware of an intimidating and beautiful spider. This specimen is not particularly big – the abdomen is just about 7-8 mm in length. Maybe she is not fully grown yet. [Read more…]
I was not trying to photograph this one. I did not even see it – I was aiming for a grasshopper. But the camera autofocused on this tiny spider who seems to have caught an even tinier insect.
© Charly, all rights reserved. Click for full size.
There was a beautiful, big facehugger, bright yellow like a bead. But it was raining and the next day I could not find it. I only found this tiny one, hiding behind one of the petals.
© Charly, all rights reserved. Click for full size.
I heard this orb weaver spider catch the fly when I was watering the cactuses in my greenhouse. Before I managed to fetch my camera and macro lens, it tucked itself away with the fly in a crevice and began to snack on it. I almost did not find it.
Pictures below the fold. [Read more…]
Just ask Avalus, who captured the action and is sharing it with us.
I observed another tiny zebra jumping spider between some sandstone rocks and this time, I have not only photos but also a video showing off the tiny spiders jumping prowess!
I feel like the “spider pig” song, but voiced by David Attenborough, would be an apt background music xD
Photos and video are below the fold. (I couldn’t get Attenborough, but I’m hoping Homer Simpson will suffice.) [Read more…]
Story and photos by Avalus,
While riding a bus to Work, I noticed this tiny little spider running over my hand. For the next ten minutes or so, I got strange looks from the other passengers for first intensely watching and then photographing my hand. Most of the photos were very blurry, as the autofocus had trouble focussing on the ever zig-zagging spider.
The spider started spinning a web between my knuckles and then ran between them and did this stilted pose.
We finally parted ways after leaving the bus where it jumped off and maybe floated way on a strand of silk.
Goodbye little spider, grow big and eat some mosquitos for me!
©Avalus, all rights reserved
©Avalus, all rights reserved
©Avalus, all rights reserved
©Avalus, all rights reserved
From the camera of Avalus,
fresh from the lenses are three photos of a beautiful little jumping spider (“Springspinne”) from my sisters balcony. What a tiny beauty, Legs and all about 5 mm in size. Also really fast!
©Avalus, All rights reserved.
©Avalus, All rights reserved.
©Avalus, All rights reserved.
It’s a fabulous shot from the camera of Avalus, who says
PZ’s post (Pharyngula) https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2021/04/07/spider-deaths/ reminded me of a photo I took last weekend.
Tiny spider eats really big spider, somehow this really surprised me. I wonder how she was caught. The photo does not really give the bulk of the prey justice.
©Avalus, All rights reserved
That’s a great capture, Avalus. I apologize for the delay in posting it.
This was sent in by Avalus near the end of December. I’m hoping, but not confident, that these brave little arachnids continue to survive.
I completely forgot about these pictures I took at the end of November!
Spider bridge is back!
But now with my good camera I could take nice crispy close-ups of the spiders. Also a Glowspider! Happy Holidays PZ
There are still some orbweavers left, exploiting the night-lights in the railing but in November, the railing was full of webs. Now they are a scattered few. But it is really warm, 5-15°C, we had one day of snow at the beginning of December.
The rest of the photos are below the fold.
©Avalus, all rights reserved.
This incredible shot of a Christmas Spider comes from Sally’s garden, where Winterfest happens in the summertime. (photo is below the fold) [Read more…]
Today’s photo is a teaser. It’s a plant bedecked with webs and I’m not putting it below the fold because you have to search to see the spider. It was sent in by Avalus and it’s the teaser because he also sent 2 close-ups of the spider that I’m saving to put up on Hallowe’en day. Those are the truly terrifying photos – so arachnophobes beware! The spiders are coming soon.
©Avalus, all rights reserved