With Halloween just around the corner, I figured that these photos, plucked from my vast photo archive, would be most appropriate. This beautiful, and a bit intimidating-looking spider claimed a corner of our garage as her home a few months ago. Unfortunately, Ranchman John didn't appreciate her lovely web as much as I did, and one day, she was tragically wiped away.
And she was not just any spider, but the rather unique Cat-faced Spider or Jewel Spider, which happens to be a species of Orb Weaver (Araneus gemmoides).The markings on this spider's back are thought to resemble a cat's face, complete with bumps that look like ears. I'm not sure if you see the cat by looking from the front of the spider or the back; see what you think.
This is a fairly large spider, about 20mm, or almost the size of a quarter dollar. Its habit of building its large orb webs inside barns and outbuildings, and near light sources causes an inordinate number of human encounters. It is completely harmless to humans, but no so much to insects.
25 comments :
I told you the archives were great! And the pictures are amazing, what a spider!!! Glad not to be sharing my house with him!
So sad about the loss of the spider! I have a greater appreciation for spiders now than I did many years ago. I still do not like to encounter them unexpectedly. There is a wolf spider living in the latch of Janow's stall door. It runs out every time I open it.
In that first picture, his markings look like a cartoon face with really chubby cheeks. Great shots, though. I've never seen one of these. Thanks so much for posting it. Do they just occur in the NW or can I look for them here in TN?
OH, I love those spiders - we call them "fall spiders" - and also utilize them as part of our annual Halloween decor, since they will often build their gorgeous webs outside the glass doors and windows and when illuminated by the outside lighting, are quite stunning!
Your photos are wonderful - thanks for sharing.
Ick what is he/she eating at the bottom?! It is kinda cute though...
I have a spider story:-p When I was 14 I was (supposedly) bitten by a black widow spider. The doc guessed this by the "bite" mark and my reaction to it... I was at the stables and "something" hurt/peirced my leg, but I didn't think much of it. I tried to "walk it off", but that only sped up the process of the venom working it's way through my system. With in an hour I could barely walk and my WHOLE body was cramping up - I was SCREAMING bloody murder to which my sis didn't appreciate and went upstairs, locked the door and blarred the TV...My mom was at a craft show and couldn't be reached...I called a neighbor and she brought over some Tylenol I told her she didn't undestand that I wanted to die...so she was taking me to the hospital and we ran into my mom and she flagged her down...my mom took me to the hospital, running through red lights and such:-) anyway to make a long story short they put me on morophine and valume (sp) for 3 days and I could still feel cramping in my feet! Don't mess with black widow spiders if that's really what got me!
Just when I thought I had seen everything I find out "No I have not!! Very interesting!!!
GREAT pics! I love spiders and she's a keeper. It is too bad that they tend to build webs right where folks walk, though.
Great photos. Glad she's living in your garage instead of mine.
Ahhhhhh....I am absolutely terrified of spiders, so I can't believe that I am going to say that the little face on her back is "cute!!" Too funny!
That being said, as long as they don't bother me, and they aren't poisonous, I don't mind if they spin a web and help with the fly/mosquito/gnat problem that everyone seems to have.
They are here on this earth for a reason, right??? Just as long as that reason isn't crawling up and biting me...lol!!!!
Look at those pictures coming out of the woodwork!! That spider is very hairy looking. Yikes! Gives me the heeby geebies!! The spider is pretty, in the pictures.
OK...I wrote this really nice comment just a minute ago, and Blogger lost it!!!! Grrr...
It went something like this:
Ahhhhhh....I am terrified of spiders, so I cannot belive that I am going to say that the little cat face on her back is "cute!!!"
That being said, I know that spiders were put on this earth to serve a purpose, and as long as that purpose is not crawling up and biting me, then I am fine...lol!!!
I also do not have a problem when one spins a web on or near my house, because I know that they are doing their part to keep the fly/mosquito/gnat population down.
Well that was cool! You are a font of information.
Ouuouu!
I am NOT a spider fan..sorry to say, being in front most the time during trail rides...I get them all over me as I ride through the middle of thier webs -with them in em!
I had one large brown one crawl past my arm on the couch the other night...Um, my husband had the couch disesembled and the broom and vacume out so fast!
Large and hairy and EEEEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love the spider photos! It's amazing to watch them spin a web, such amazing detail.
Great Post! Love the spider photos and all of the info.....
I have a spider post that will be up tomorrow.
Icky spider, great web though. Happy Halloween!
Hey Lisa,
I love the spider pictures. Just right for Halloween too!
Can't wait to see what else you have archived.
Have a great weekend.
Pam
Okay, this one is toooo creepy for me - don't like spiders - at all!! In the first pic, he looks like he has some sort of weird, demented face on his back...eeeeeck!! I sure hope you were using your zoom lens for those pics because otherwise you are one crazy woman to get that close to an icky old spider - ooh, I just got a creepy chill. Kudos to you though, perfect for Halloween!! We don't have any kind of spider that even resembles that here in Oregon...maybe I don't want to go to NM - but that close, I'm sure any spider would be gnarly - one last eeeuuuuuw!!
Errrr....I meant NM but for some silly reason typed NW. I've tried and tried but never gotten a good image of a spider. Cudos to you for getting TWO great images!
For some reason I typed NW when I meant to type NM. (I do know you are in New Mexico LOL)
I have tried and tried to get a good shot of a spider, but it never comes out right. Cudos to you for getting two great shots!
What perfect photos for this post. I admit that I can't stand spiders and when I first looked the top picture I thought it was fake. Very cool.
I can see the cat face. Beautiful spider. I once had a spider ride around in my side mirror for weeks. When the car moved too fast she just tucked herself in for the ride.
My Hubby would have swept the spider away too:)
I have never heard of that kind before! Amazing! Just look at the little face! Cute!
I love this! That is one beautiful creature!!! :) Happy late Halloween to all of you.
You're doing so great w/out your camera.
Post a Comment