Spiders! (Warning, arachnophobes: Photos)

BeetlesPerSqFt 7/4/2017, 12:30 am

I have lots of spiders, and many different kinds in my garden. I'll often walk around the long way or skip doing things so I don't disturb their webs (except webs at flower-level on the tomatoes because bees are important, too.)

One of the kinds of spiders in my garden hides underneath the leaves of cabbage-family plants. I've been seeing this association three years running. I assumed they must be waiting for aphids, but I was surprised to find one with a small caterpillar the other day. Go spiders!

These are three different individuals, but I think they all belong to the cobweb spider genus, Theridion. The white ball is, I assume, an egg sac that mama spider is guarding.
Spiders! (Warning, arachnophobes: Photos) Img_8910

Spiders! (Warning, arachnophobes: Photos) Img_8910

Spiders! (Warning, arachnophobes: Photos) Img_9011

Spiders! (Warning, arachnophobes: Photos) Img_9012

countrynaturals 7/4/2017, 11:56 am

Gotta tell you my spider story -- pull up a chair. Razz

We were living in Oregon, Lighthouse keepers for Cape Blanco State Park. Hubby was installing a shade screen on the back window of the motorhome, which required the use of double-faced tape.

When I came out to check on his progress, I spotted a little spider near the action. She walked over, stuck out a leg and "tested" the double-faced tape. Then she backed off a little and squatted down to watch. I thought it was cute, then forgot all about it.

Hubby's project was a 2-day job. The next morning I went out with him to get started, and there was the little spider, happily munching down on the fresh-caught fly that had gotten trapped in the double-faced tape she had been guarding all night. Cool

**Scorpio Rising** 7/4/2017, 12:48 pm

I love spiders! Great story, CN! Go Predators!

BeetlesPerSqFt 7/7/2017, 7:18 am

Great story, CN! That's one resourceful spider!

Another spider that I frequently see are what I call Hoarder spiders. They stow bits of their meals down the center of the web, and hide in the middle of it all so that they are camouflaged, and not obviously a spider in the middle of a web. Their accepted common name is Trashline Orbweavers. I don't know that they tend to attract/eat one sort of insect over any other, but I can tell from their hoards that they eat a lot of bugs in my garden.
Spiders! (Warning, arachnophobes: Photos) Horder10

Spiders! (Warning, arachnophobes: Photos) Horder10

Fiz 7/15/2017, 6:12 pm

Here's one to add to the spider collection. It has taken up residence on one of my cucumber plants. Not sure what kind it is but it's got some long legs on it!

Spiders! (Warning, arachnophobes: Photos) Img_6238

Spiders! (Warning, arachnophobes: Photos) Img_6238

BeetlesPerSqFt 7/16/2017, 9:07 am

Nice addition to the topic, Fiz! Your cucumber companion is one of the harvestmen. Possibly this species:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/712168

Harvestmen are arachnids, but they aren't technically spiders. But they look like spiders, and most of their common names include 'spider', like "daddy-long-legs spider." Mites, ticks, and scorpions are also arachnids that aren't spiders. Harvestmen don't make silk (so no webs) and don't have venom. Some catch and eat live insects, but I often see them scavenging on other food sources such as already dead insects and overripe blackberries. They are generally beneficial to have in the garden.

I don't often see them in my garden proper, but they are around the yard and I see them at parks. I've seen the kind you have, and ones that are a rusty color that I assume are a different species.

Fiz 7/16/2017, 9:25 am

Fascinating, thanks for that! I thought it might be a daddy long legs or similar. Haven't seen one in years.

When I first started the terrace garden I thought I wouldn't see too many interesting bugs since I'm off the ground and there's so much construction going on around us, but boy was I wrong. This place is just teeming with life! Nature is amazing.

countrynaturals 7/16/2017, 10:34 am

I have 2 giant wolf spiders in the Salad Bar. I respect their privacy and hope they will continue to reciprocate. affraid

Fiz 7/16/2017, 9:02 pm

Tcountrynaturals wrote:I have 2 giant wolf spiders in the Salad Bar. I respect their privacy and hope they will continue to reciprocate.

Would love to see a picture unless that would breach your agreement with them, haha.

countrynaturals 7/16/2017, 9:50 pm

Fiz wrote:
Tcountrynaturals wrote:I have 2 giant wolf spiders in the Salad Bar. I respect their privacy and hope they will continue to reciprocate.
Would love to see a picture unless that would breach your agreement with them, haha.

I will try. I didn't see them tonight.

**sanderson** 7/17/2017, 3:43 am

The first time I saw a wolf spider was indoors many years ago. Being the protective mother, I got a rolled up newspaper and swatted it on the floor. Got the big one, but her babies took off it all different directions. I didn't know they carried their babies! Shocked

**trolleydriver** 7/17/2017, 7:48 am

sanderson wrote:The first time I saw a wolf spider was indoors many years ago. Being the protective mother, I got a rolled up newspaper and swatted it on the floor. Got the big one, but her babies took off it all different directions. I didn't know they carried their babies!

That freaks me out. I don't like spiders. They give me the creeps.

BeetlesPerSqFt 7/17/2017, 8:08 am

sanderson wrote:The first time I saw a wolf spider was indoors many years ago. Being the protective mother, I got a rolled up newspaper and swatted it on the floor. Got the big one, but her babies took off it all different directions. I didn't know they carried their babies!

Yep, some spiders are also protective mothers! The wolf spiders carry the egg sac around with them, and then carry the babies for awhile, too. Some of my garden tasks take longer because of wolf spiders: When I'm digging or pulling plants and come across one that's in the way I say, "Hi! I'll want your help later." and I scoop it up and set it aside in an adjacent bed.

TD - It's natural to be creeped out by spiders - it's an evolutionarily beneficial trait.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/10/1004_snakefears.html
I like spiders, and snakes - but centipedes trip that "TOO. MANY. LEGS!" affraid

thing in my hind-brain. Cockroaches, too, because all those bristles on their legs apparently count as extra legs to me.

CN - I, too want to see a pic of your spiders!

countrynaturals 7/17/2017, 11:09 am

Okay, okay, here they are. Now I'm totally creeped out cuz they're in my camera and on my hard-drive. I think I'll have Hubby relocate them to one of his gardens. bounce

Here's Wolfy:
Spiders! (Warning, arachnophobes: Photos) Wolfy10

Here's Spidey:
Spiders! (Warning, arachnophobes: Photos) Spidey10

**trolleydriver** 7/17/2017, 1:18 pm

countrynaturals wrote:Okay, okay, here they are. Now I'm totally creeped out cuz they're in my camera and on my hard-drive. I think I'll have Hubby relocate them to one of his gardens.

Here's Wolfy:

Here's Spidey:

Squish!

Actually, when I find spiders in my veggie gardens and compost bins I usually do not harm them.

Fiz 7/17/2017, 7:42 pm

Haha, too funny. Very cool pics, thanks for sharing!

**kauairosina** 7/17/2017, 8:38 pm

Great pictures. Many thanks. Before the window washers came the other day we scooped away the spiders that they might damage. We have beautiful zipper spiders. I'll take a pictures one day.

**sanderson** 7/18/2017, 3:33 pm

True confessions, here. I do kill black widow spiders. The others I leave alone. The black widows are easiest for me to find at night.

**kauairosina** 7/18/2017, 3:34 pm

I'm not sure we have black widows here but I would kill those also.

countrynaturals 7/18/2017, 4:24 pm

kauairosina wrote:I'm not sure we have black widows here but I would kill those also.

We do and we do! Evil or Very Mad

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