Creek Spider
This spider was sunning itself by an irrigation pond near Utah Lake last week.
I have no idea on the species or genus, but you can tell a lot about this spider just by looking at it. Notice the tall head and the large eyes? This is a sight-hunting spider. Notice the large, strong legs? This spider is built for running speed. I believe this spider is a wolf spider, but that’s about like looking at a dog and saying “Ah yes, the world-famous brown dog.” Wolf spiders use their eyesight and speed to hunt prey by running it down.
These spiders don’t normally let humans get too close. Happily, the reason it was sunning itself was that it as about 3°C (38°F) outside at the time. The reason it was sunning itself was so it could kickstart its own metabolism.
Body length on this critter was about 1cm, so it’s one of the smaller wolf spiders.
So much for being on an even keel again with posting.... completely overwhelmed IRL right now.
JFargo said,
April 18, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
That looks positively huge, creepy, and deadly. Mission accomplished for Spider Friday.
Scott said,
April 21, 2008 @ 7:56 am
Love it!
Matthew Smith said,
April 21, 2008 @ 9:31 pm
Hi David, We had a similar spider like this in our toilet the other day and my 3yrold son hasn’t stopped yabbering about how I heroically coaxed it onto a broom and released it outside. Sadly I haven’t been able to submit a heap of photos I had taken of moths, ants, cicadas and spiders because my camera was stolen. There are two consolations however: 1. the replacement camera under insurance is a DSLR rather than a point and shoot (i managed to swing an upgrade) and 2. whoever receives the stolen goods will get the fright of their lives when the see the enormous red-back spider I got up-close and personal with.
David Brady said,
April 21, 2008 @ 9:57 pm
Hi Matthew! Yay DSLR upgrades! Boo theft! But yay DSLR upgrades!
…you WILL be taking and sending in some bug pictures with the new camera, right? RIGHT?
Looking forward to seeing them. Welcome to the site!