BS: Resident entimologist?

Subject: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: kendall
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 04:36 PM

I just saw a very unusual spider and wondered if any of us knows spiders? It's rather large, black with a gold design on its back.

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 04:44 PM

Garden orb weaver? Try that in Google images and see.

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: pdq
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 04:46 PM

entomologist: studies insects

etimologist: studies basis of words

arachnologist : studies spiders

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: pdq
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 05:05 PM

The Golden Orb Weaver makes a circular web that is stretched between tree branches, usually about head high. They show up in Summer and can grow to a rather impressive size.

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 06:02 PM

http://www.insectidentification.org/spiders.asp

http://www.spiders.us/articles/identification/

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: gnu
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 06:34 PM

If it's got four peg legs and four eye patches, it's a pirate spider.

Harrrrrrrrrrrrr

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 06:51 PM

Read the following from one of Bill's links and I'm glad I didn't have a mouthful of liquid at the time. It was in the How to Classify Your Spider section:

"Eyes

Of much importance are the eyes of the spider. How many does it have? How are they arranged? How does each eye's size compare to those around it? Most folks who are afraid of spiders don't want to get close enough to look at a spider's eyes, so consider getting a spouse . . . to do so."

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: kendall
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 07:17 PM

It's an orb weaver. Thanks Guest 999.

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: Bobert
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 07:27 PM

I love spiders and the orb weavers are some of the prettiest around... We have some varieties down here in the South... I believe there are hundreds of different species of these guys... All seem to be colorful...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 07:28 PM

I was just telling someone about a spider & web I'd seen in S. Korea. The web spanned the distance between a guy's house and his shed, which was 4' - 5'. These spiders grew pretty big there, and in Texas. I've seen them here, but they're not quite as enormous.

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 08:14 PM

",,,so consider getting a spouse . . . to do so."

My spouse would be out taking closeup pics of it....

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 09:31 PM

I believe that's "etymologist".

But I'd like to know what that spider is that's all black except for a red hour-glass sort of thingy on it that bit me when I was contemplating in the back house this afternoon.

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: pdq
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 10:07 PM

Black Widow

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 10:21 PM

Helluva last post to Mudcat, Rap.

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 11:19 PM

I have tarantulas living in the yard - their holes are distinct and if I went out with a flashlight now they'd be nearby or perched in the opening waiting for dinner to pass by. But I'd have to lock up the dogs because I can't go look at anything without them tagging along, as dogs will do.

I think what you're calling the golden orb spider must be a relative of the Argiope in Texas (more info here), a large spider that works the web day and night (a lot of the other large web spiders around here put them up and night and pull most of the strands down by day, leaving just one very high and long one to start over again the next night). The argiope web is distinctive because they build a zigzag line into it.

The tarantulas are always here, some of the other spiders seem to appear for a couple of years then disappear for a while.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: gnu
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 11:40 PM

"... if I went out with a flashlight now they'd be nearby or perched in the opening waiting for dinner to pass by."

If I went out with my hockey stick they'd be on ice.

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 18 Aug 12 - 05:11 AM

Our neighbour has been cutting down a huge hedge close to our sitting room window. MASSIVE and TERRIFYING spiders have been showing up all over the house reducing me to apoplexy and loud screams. I've never in my life seen such big ones. I assume the buggers used to live in the hedge and are seeking accommodation with us. If this goes on I'll be wheeled away to a secure mental institution. I suppose they might be these orb weaver jobbies. But I'm sorry to say they're now DEAD orb weavers as my husband has swiftly killed 'em.

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 18 Aug 12 - 05:17 AM

By the way, I believe spiders are arthropods and arachnids, so not technically insects. What does one call someone who studies spiders? (A total lunatic?) I know what you're all thinking: ignorant woman killing innocent and lovely creatures. But it's a completely irrational phobia over which I have no control. When I say they terrify me, it's an understatement. Sorry, but I just can't help it.

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 18 Aug 12 - 05:26 AM

I like spiders. Especially jumping spiders.
You know, I noticed when I play my guitar my fingers look like a tarantula.
I have long bony fingers.
(:-( ))=

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Aug 12 - 06:53 AM

August seems to be National Spider Month (or at least New Hampshire Spider Month). I've been morxing off house spiders at an alarming clip. (No wonder it's raining!)

I really don't mind these daddy long legs-type spiders, but their cobwebs are getting very annoying -- we have rough cut dark posts and beams and they have to be brushed off with a stiff brush; vacuum is useless.

All sizes from barely able to see to half dollar sized (including long legs -- bodies are quite small except, I think, the pregnant female I squished in the bathroom a few minutes ago).

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Resident entimologist?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 18 Aug 12 - 11:53 AM

Elephant facing off against a Giant Grey Spider.