I have been known to display my love-hate relationship with spiders here on the Refuge. Knowing my ambivalent feelings toward arachnids, on-line droogs have shared photos of a couple of cool orb weavers, the type of spider I like, versus the lycosids which freak me out.
Spider porn below the fold...
First, Spacebee of Texas shares these pictures of a fine Gasteracantha cancriformis (Crab-like orb weaver) specimen. This spider resides in her backyard, having strung up the web between a starfruit and guava tree.
Now why am I reminded of a Dalkon shield?
And the rear-view:
ST of the UK provides the photo below for my squeamish but fascinated entertainment. This is an Araneus sp. chowing down on a damselfly. ST has a pretty serious macro lens on hand. Expect to see her photographs appearing on the Refuge in the future.
I acknowledge that the above is a beautiful critter, but I can't shake the feeling of eight phantom legs and those little pedipalps scuttling over my skin.
Maybe I should get a pet tarantula as aversion therapy.
Many thanks to spacebee and ST for the photos!
Stop it. You're turning me on.
I hope we do see more of ST's photos in the future. The details in the wings of the damselfly are really beautiful.
The orb weaver is mighty freaky.
I hope we do see more of ST's photos in the future.
Count on it. There's a fine example of florotica she just sent which will appear soon. ST's talent, eye for nature and eye-popping macro lens are wonderful finds.
Warren, don't make me do the jumping spider sex dance!
While it sounds like you were joking, having one of these spiders has taught me not to be afraid of creepy-crawly things anymore:
http://www.mikescritters.com/critters/arachnids/chaco_golden_kneed_tara…
I'll go back to lurking now. I simply enjoy posting pictures of large hairy spiders.