We asked — you sent us spidey pics from the field - Homebody

We asked — you sent us spidey pics from the field

October 6th, 2008, 7:08 am · 15 Comments · posted by Cindy McNatt

I’d like to say something brave here: like don’t hate spiders cause they’re ugly. I’d like to look at the bigger ecological implications, like what the world would be like without them considering the food-chain and all.

But frankly all I can think of is be careful what you ask for. I asked you to send me pics of your current crop of spiders and I have creeped myself out trying to identify them in my field guides.

Here is a really super scary spider pic from Sophia Byerly, age 7. Hope she didn’t get too close! Can anyone identify it?

Michael Dean starts with “Creepy, sorry.” He found this Black Widow in his garage. You can’t help but wonder who the poor slob was next to her.

Dawn M. found this “fat spider” at Central Park in Huntington Beach. It looks to me like some sort or orb weaver (there are lots) with its round body and crab-like legs. Ewww, but I salute her photography skills.

Kim Martin, who is a photographer shot this spider hanging out outside her office window. Thinking it is some sort of Violin spider, but not sure. Any entomologists out there?

Nevermind. I clicked on the blog (right) Am I bugging you yet? — it’s all about bugs — and found a link to the Los Angeles Spider Survey. Turns out Kim’s spider is a Golden Orb Weaver, female.

And another orb weaver, yellow argiope with a missing leg sent in by Alain Peeri in Aliso Viejo.

More critters in the landscape:

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15 Comments

LilyC says:

October 6, 2008 at 10:53 am

Hey Cindy! You could have a regular post called “What’s that bug?” where people can send pics of the creepy crawlies they find in their garden and don’t know if they are helpful or harmful. Plus it would be cool to see what’s lurking in the gardens of Orange County…

Pam Hadjisavalos says:

October 6, 2008 at 2:47 pm

Loved Dawn M’s picture… do you have her last name?

Cindy McNatt says:

October 7, 2008 at 5:47 am

nope. It’s what she signed off with in her email.

Gene Granata says:

October 7, 2008 at 1:30 pm

Hi Cindy- I found this ugly one in a dark corner of our garage => http://www.masterpiecepumpkins.com/Graphics/bug-Spider-lantern%20(1)__________.jpg - any idea what it is?

LilyC says:

October 7, 2008 at 3:32 pm

Cindy, I wasn’t sure it was a Tarantula either, so I’ve been on an internet hunt for Southern Cal spiders that might fit what I saw better. I think it could be a Huntsman Spider that do live in this area. Here’s a picture:

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/Home/Animals/Invertebrates/Arthropods/Arachnids/Spiders/Families/Huntsman-Spiders/Heteropoda-sp/Heteropoda-sp-1.html

LilyC says:

October 7, 2008 at 3:37 pm

And I came across this cool website showing the spiders of Orange County: http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/spiders/

Gene Granata says:

October 7, 2008 at 3:43 pm

Dawn M’s spider is commonly known as a Barn Spider (not sure of the scientific name). They are common in this part of the country, typically appearing this time of the year. Even as fat as they are, they are capable of spinning webs that cover great expanses. Look for them between trees along green belts, etc.

Cindy McNatt says:

October 7, 2008 at 4:04 pm

Gene, your spider link didn’t work for some reason, but I’m thinking the spider in your garage has something to do with pumpkins. Just a guess.
Barn spider - I’m looking that up.

Cindy McNatt says:

October 7, 2008 at 4:09 pm

Another idea for Gene - if you can find the original spider post a page back, in comments Lily describes a large silvery spider she sees on her walks. They seem to favor the sidewalk after the sun goes down.
Any idea what that is?

Gene Granata says:

October 7, 2008 at 4:14 pm

Yeah, it was too long of a string and the blog text window wrapped it, thus broke the link. I will try HTML tags to see if they work:

http://www.masterpiecepumpkins.com/Graphics/bug-Spider-lantern%20(1)__________.jpg

If the above doesn’t work either, simply copy the text starting with “http:”, and copy all the text up to and including: “__________.jpg”

Then paste in your browser. (BTW- you were right on Cindy!)

Cindy McNatt says:

October 7, 2008 at 4:46 pm

ooooohhhh scary!

Dawn Macheca says:

October 8, 2008 at 12:10 pm

Gene, thanks for the information on my spider. I see many different kinds at Central Park here in Huntington Beach. I love to take pictures of them if I can get close enough without scaring them or me.
Thanks again.
Dawn Macheca