Incy Wincy

[gemfyre]

This orb weaver has been spinning her web across our driveway for quite a while now. I often find myself driving straight through the web before I realise it's there. A few nights ago we noticed the web had been built off to the side - maybe she was learning. But last night it was slap bang in the middle of the driveway again, so I took a few photos.



I actually DID get the web, on the camera screen it looked like the web wouldn't show.





This is how her topside looks. All the photos I took of her other side were blurry, but it has pretty stripes all over. She is HUGE, a good 8cm from top to bottom.

Here's a shot to get some perspective of her size.

Comments

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

the wolf spiders can get to twice that size, and they live inside!!

Most of the time they just sit on the walls and mind thier own buisness, so I let 'em be to catch other bugs in the house.

However there was one once on the bathroom roof. I let him be for a while until he decided to do laps on the roof while I was having a shower. THAT was unnerving, he got moved outside quick smart after that stunt.

Re:

[lidian.livejournal.com]

*shudders* I will never shower again for the rest of my life! *thinks* Uhhh ... OK, so I'll continue to shower,but I'll definitely be checking roofs!

I had a spider crawl into the shower with me before. It was creepy. I think it was called a wood spider or something like that ... It was like a mini tarantula ... all fuzzy ... and scary looking. I did NOT like that! I scared the bejeezus out of my dad because I was screaming in terror. ROFL He had to come get it out of the shower for me (well, I covered myself up properly first).

I freak out over grandaddy-long-legs!! I just can't handle spiders at all!! Spiders, crickets, basically anything that doesn't make a good ordinary house pet (read = cats, dogs, birds, lizards, fish). ;c)

And I can't believe you have even BIGGER spiders! People here freak if they see a spider bigger than about 3cm!! I'm glad I don't live anywhere near you ... I'd die of fright! ROFL ;c)

Re:

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

*giggles*

I guess that's what a life of keeping creepy crawlies does to you. I had a cockroach on me yesterday, I just brushed the thing off and let the cat go after it.

Lucky you don't live in South America!! Where the tarantulas grow to the size of dinner plates!

Re:

[lidian.livejournal.com]

Speaking of cockroaches ....

I was showering in my dorm one morning and a frigging cockroach attacked me!!!! It was seriously attacking me! Like I was its prey or something!!!

Boy, I was screaming. I woke everyone on my floor and the floor below me (the boys floor) up. The RA came in there and had to help get it away from me. The damn thing refused to die! We put the metal trash can on top of it and stood on it ... several days later ... the damn thing was still living! I dunno what happened to it after that ... but it was terrifying. I left the school 3 days later. Couldn't handle roaches in the shower with me and in my room. *shudders*

And yeah, it is a good thing I don't live in S. America. I'd freak!! LoL

Re:

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

Cockroaches can live for about 5 days without their heads.

Maybe you smell good to cockroaches :p

Re:

[lidian.livejournal.com]

Yeah ... good and nakie! LMAO! ;c)

[morninglord.livejournal.com]

Daddy long legs arent classed as spiders, theyre classed as insects, cos their front two legs arent legs at all but feelers.
Or so I hear.
Daddy long legs have the MOST venomous poison in the entire world of any spider.
Daddy long legs have jaws so small, they cannot pierce the skin, or even make a dent on it. It would be like you trying to knaw on tank armor.
Or so I hear.
*looks at the animal specialist to confirm this*

Re:

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

I'll agree with you about the venomn thing. I don't have any good references but it's what I've heard too.

Daddy Long Legs aren't spiders but they aren't insects either. They are still chelicerates(arachnids) along with spiders, scorpions and psuedoscorpions.

[morninglord.livejournal.com]

There you go.

[leemur.livejournal.com]

I was under the impression that there were two different creatures : 'Daddy Long Legs' and "Daddy Long Legs spiders"

Something I read as a kid.

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mdaddy.html

Re:

[lidian.livejournal.com]

Hmm ... well, all I know is that they're freaky. LOL

I was told by a park ranger that they was the 2nd most poisonous ... but then again ... I didn't listen very well. I tried to find the exhibit on it ... but since I didn't listen very well ... I didn't know where it was. *chuckles*

But yeah, you're right. They can't pierce the skin ... but any open wound ... they can have a field day with! But I didn't know they wasn't classified as un-spiders. That's really neat. Thanks for the trivial knowledge!