I know what you’re all wondering: “WHAT DID MARY SLIP INTO MY COFFEE AND CAN YOU HAVE SOME?”
This is the book:
Common Spiders of North America, by Richard A. Bradley (Author), Steve Buchanan (Illustrator).
Pharyngula
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
Love the optivisor!
I was under the impression you drank tea, not coffee.
Enjoy your optivisor,
Oooh, NEW BOOK!
If I send you some pictures of the spider that lives on my front porch, could you identify it? I’ve become quite a fan of him/her.
#4: Maybe. Depends on how good the photograph is.
This is clearly a doppelganger. The real PZ would not have mentioned the hat.
Thanks PZ! I’ll try to get some good shots tonight.
@lb, Nerd of Redhead:
I read those as “ovipositor” and became afraid of watching the video…
@Kreator #8: Peripherals are really getting out of hand these days: https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2018/10/05/and-the-award-for-creepiest-technological-innovation-goes-to/
I thought of you when I saw this given your recent spider hobby / nascent research project:
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2018/10/photographing-the-microscopic-winners-nikon-small-world-2018/572737/#img03
It’s official: my phone camera is unsuitable for taking spider pictures. Due to its colouring and abdominal shape, I have decided that my porch buddy is a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Or something.
@11: I used to have links for bug-finder sites run by universities, but the best I can do is this:
https://www.insectidentification.org/
Obviously spiders aren’t bugs (or insects), but you can search based on common image criteria. A little Googling will get you a long way too, especially depending on your locale.
And most spiders aren’t hazardous to humans, which is why I’m not bothered by any of the ones that happen to take up residency in my home.