This was the exact type of spider that I've written about, that I spent a summer feeding and getting to know, the one who cured me of my arachnophobia. When she swelled up pregnant with her egg sacs, the black mask on her back took on a beautiful pattern. Seeing her picture here made me smile. Thank you!!!
Let's hope your "pretty girl" doesn't wrap those gigantic legs around a small child and make it dinner!
Blech!
(Don't worry spider lovers. I'm no killer. And if this spider eats some flies I'll consider it all good. If it starts sexually harassing me or waving it's spider knife in my face when I go out to feed the cats I'm going to relocate it. Apparently, in NC this is called: a garden spider.) Blech.
No really..ladyravenfyrAugust 29 2008, 18:30:48 UTC
She is harmless, completely, to humans or actually anything larger than a grasshopper or cricket. She actually eats things that you don't like, like horseflies, and biting bugs. If you can catch a grasshopper, toss it into the web and watch her. It's fascinating to watch. And if her web gets trashed by wind or debris blowing into it, she'll get it fixed back up in no time. If she lays an egg sac on a flat surface nearby, like that post most likely, don't be alarmed. When the babies hatch, they will just blow away. I heard that they will eat the momma but I don't know if that's true. Although after mine's egg sac hatched, she was nowhere to be seen. I was really sad and missed her. But after that I was no longer afraid of spiders (although I still won't touch one).
Re: No really..goodbadgirlAugust 29 2008, 18:49:27 UTC
I try really hard to respect nature no matter how much it squicks me out so as long as she's not gunning for the little furry animals she's welcome to hang out and do her thing. I don't think I'll throw her any grasshoppers though, the same non-interference principle governs my policy: no killing/no feeding of the things that scare me.
But, she seems to be a master web spinner and there are tons of flies on the back porch because of the cat food so I think she'll be fine. :)
(Ok, I'm lying about the killing thing. I gleefully kill flies and mosquitoes, especially when they sneak into my house. And if I saw a deer tick just hanging around I'd stomp the fucker too. But otherwise, no kill.) :)
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Blech!
(Don't worry spider lovers. I'm no killer. And if this spider eats some flies I'll consider it all good. If it starts sexually harassing me or waving it's spider knife in my face when I go out to feed the cats I'm going to relocate it. Apparently, in NC this is called: a garden spider.) Blech.
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But, she seems to be a master web spinner and there are tons of flies on the back porch because of the cat food so I think she'll be fine. :)
(Ok, I'm lying about the killing thing. I gleefully kill flies and mosquitoes, especially when they sneak into my house. And if I saw a deer tick just hanging around I'd stomp the fucker too. But otherwise, no kill.) :)
I'm just glad D. found it first. :)
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Is there a way to turn OFF the date feature on your camera though? It is hugely distracting.
Love, Tina
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