Exotic Invertebrates, True Spiders, and Tarantulas

[jynxxxedangel]

If I could see a top view of her, I would be able to tell you which species of Latrodectus. It's definitely either L. variolus or L. mactans. The patterns on the upper part of the opisthosoma are slightly different in each species.

[AstralCrux]

So, if I take pics of the big spiders that try to invade my house you'll come over and get them and keep them as pets? Would you like to visit sometime? I'll even take you out to eastern market and we can club hop. Sorry, but the spiders scare me, so you can have them.

[jynxxxedangel]

So, if I take pics of the big spiders that try to invade my house you'll come over and get them and keep them as pets? Would you like to visit sometime? I'll even take you out to eastern market and we can club hop. Sorry, but the spiders scare me, so you can have them.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Sure, I'll take the big scary ones off your hands. Most wandering spiders are easy to keep as pets. All they require is a decent-size enclosure, made comfortable with things to hide in, and a steady supply of crickets. I would LOVE to have a Tegenaria domestica specimen, but I haven't yet come across one!

Edited September 29, 2009 by jynxxxedangel

[eatdirt426]

So I found this big booger in my garage when I first moved up here to west mich from Detroit dunno what kinda spider he/she. http://s559.photobucket.com/albums/ss38/Heavy_metal_princess26/ I dunno what kinda spider that is but I took it into the woods and set it free. I dont believe in murdering the creepy crawlies unless its a roach or fly or something that big.

[jynxxxedangel]

So I found this big booger in my garage when I first moved up here to west mich from Detroit dunno what kinda spider he/she. http://s559.photobucket.com/albums/ss38/Heavy_metal_princess26/ I dunno what kinda spider that is but I took it into the woods and set it free. I dont believe in murdering the creepy crawlies unless its a roach or fly or something that big.

It's not letting me see the picture.

Can you embed it in the thread, here?

[eatdirt426]

ok hopefully this works Edited October 2, 2009 by eatdirt426

[jynxxxedangel]

Just as I suspected, a Lycosid! Most likely a dark morph of Hogna carolinensis, or Carolina Wolf spider. Your specimen was a mature female, and one of the largest I've seen in some time! Nice find, lady!

The females carry their egg sacs with them, once they are made:

One of my favourite sights to see, is a female wolfie carrying her newborn spiderlings about, opossum-fashion. They actually protect their young for an extended period of time:

Edited October 2, 2009 by jynxxxedangel

[AstralCrux]

ok hopefully this works

That looks like the one I flushed down my bathtub 3 weeks ago.

[jynxxxedangel]

I've not seen a Lycosid that big in Michigan since I was very small. I remember my uncle caught one in a Sunrise instant coffee jar, and its legs spanned the entire bottom. I'd love to have a specimen that large!

[AstralCrux]

If I see another one I'll try to catch it. The ones that big give Val panic attacks and that makes it worse if I have to try for it, my phobia isn't as bad but I don't want near the spider.

[jynxxxedangel]

The easiest way to catch a spider or bug is to put a jar or container over the top of it, wait for it to crawl up to the bottom, and then carefully slip the lid on while it's still upside-down. Make sure there are holes in the lid, or it will die.

[jynxxxedangel]

Speaking of cool bathroom spiders...look wot I just found in me bafftub!

Now, to ID her. It's obviously a gravid female something-or-other, but I don't know much more than that.

[jynxxxedangel]

Speaking of cool bathroom spiders...look wot I just found in me bafftub!

Now, to ID her. It's obviously a gravid female something-or-other, but I don't know much more than that.

Pretty sure it's of the family Amaurobiidae, or Hacklemesh Weavers. A photograph from Bugguide.net for comparison:

[TheGimp]

<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Avicularia_versicolor_7_Fh.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

<img src="http://www.papiliophoto.com/images/Avicularia%20versicolor,%20South%20America.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

<img src="http://www.valtinho.com/tarantula/images/Avicularia_versicolor_small.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Avicularia_versicolor_9_Fh.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Avicularia versicolor (Antilles Pinktoe Tarantula).<!--sizeo:7--><span style="font-size:36pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--><i>WANT!!!!!</i><!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->

my cousin has the pink one featured at the bottom actually she named her (Rosie) go figure shes a rather pretty little thing

[TheGimp]

oh btw jynxie are you just into collecting of the living spiders or would you also be interested in the framed spiders? i found a website (i have it posted in another thread on here) and they have a wide range of insects and spiders and what have you everything from a small ant to dragon fly's to exotic beetle to exotic butterflies to scorpions and so on and so forth

what ya see here are spider webs that have been carefully removed and placed inside glass orbs or framed..and it says if someone is interested in buying one it obviously wont look like the photograph becuase well as you know..no spider spins the exact same web so you'll have your very own unique spider web

Edited October 4, 2009 by TheGimp

[jynxxxedangel]

Yes, I've seen this website before! Very interesting stuff, for sure. Actually, I am most interested in living specimens, at the moment. I enjoy observing the life cycles and feeding habits of spiders and large insects.

Did you know it's quite easy to collect and mount spiderwebs? Here are the instructions, as to how to go about this interesting hobby:

What You Need

Hair Spray

White Spray Paint

Black Poster Board

Clear Plexiglas

Find a web

Look around you -- there are webs everywhere. When you find one you want to capture, be sure to chase the spider out of the web. Ideally, you will want a web that is free of dead insects and detritus.

Spray the web

Hold the can of white spray paint about 12 inches from the web at an angle.

Spray on both sides two or three times.

Build up a thick coating

Make sure that the web has a thick, even coating of spray paint.

Spray the poster board with hair spray

This makes the board a little sticky so that the web will cling better.

Capture the web

Position your poster board behind the web.

Slowly and carefully pull the poster board against the web -- capturing the web on the board.

Preserve the web

After the paint is dry, preserve your web by covering it with clear Plexiglas, and mounting it within a picture frame.

Edited October 4, 2009 by jynxxxedangel

[jynxxxedangel]

my cousin has the pink one featured at the bottom actually she named her (Rosie) go figure shes a rather pretty little thing

All of those photographs above are actually of the same species! They are a solid iridescent bluish-green with black markings, when they are immature. The colours change each time the spider moults; the final appearance being like your cousin's spider.

[TheGimp]

All of those photographs above are actually of the same species! They are a solid iridescent bluish-green with black markings, when they are immature. The colours change each time the spider moults; the final appearance being like your cousin's spider.

ah that's interesting, i did not know that...she must have gotten her in the finial stage becuase she didn't mention it going threw a color cycle

[Head Wreck]

clearing the garden this morning, after the neighbours car had gotten in and chased out ( ). found a few curious spiders.

ITS SPIDER MONTH!

Amaurobius Fenestralis

AKA Window Spider

Nuctenea Umbratica

AKA Walnut Orb Weaver

the one here her front legs are actually on a sensory line extending to the centre of her web above and she looks similar to the missing sector spider, of which i have one indoors now sitting over an egg sac

also, i found a dead male Tegenaria duellica (BIG PICTURE)

there are big spiders, comonly known as the giant house spider, and this is the male, a good size but not the largest male i have seen.

my parents and I call these "fred spiders"

Edited October 4, 2009 by Head Wreck

[jynxxxedangel]

Nice finds, Wreckie dear.