Zebra Spider
NOM NOM NOM
This zebra spider, Salticus scenicus, enjoys a midmorning snack on the side of my house. She’s eating one of the gajillion midges that plague my subdivision.
You can tell she’s female because she’s so fat, which just goes to show how insensitive you are. I, on the other hand, can tell she’s female because she is so very, very pregnant.
Leave her alone already. She’s eating for two.
…hundred.
Slowly getting the site back onto an even keel. It's nice to get back into the old posting rhythm.
Scott said,
August 15, 2008 @ 8:45 am
Picture - Cool
Though of 200 spider babies - creepy
JFargo said,
August 15, 2008 @ 9:32 am
Definitely going with Scott on this one for the “creepy.” Pregnant spiders found inside my house get immediately relocated to the forest outside, 100 feet from my house. Regular spiders just get shooed into the backyard.
Cool picture! I love the striping.
ziyda said,
August 15, 2008 @ 12:40 pm
She is lovely, and has good table manners : )
Janet Cummings said,
August 15, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
still wondering how the best way to relocate a very large banana spider who is very pregnant…. i do not want to hurt her, but i’m getting the idea that i do not want her next to my door having her children….
JFargo said,
August 15, 2008 @ 8:01 pm
Janet, you’re a better person than I am. That’s all I can say about that situation.
tceisele said,
August 18, 2008 @ 6:26 am
About relocating the large banana spider: I’ve actually had quite a lot of success with catching spiders using a small mason jar and a playing card. You carefully put the mouth of the jar over her until it is pressed against whatever surface is behind, trapping her inside with minimum fuss. Then just slowly slide the playing card under the mouth, giving her time to climb up onto the card as it slides under her. If she’s on a web with nothing behind it, then just put the jar under her, then creep up with the playing card from above, and nudge her gently. She’s likely to drop right into the jar, and then you can put the card over the mouth. Then just take her where you want her, and pull off the card to let her go.
I’ve never had a spider run onto my hands, bite me, or get damaged doing this procedure. Your mileage may vary.
David Brady said,
August 18, 2008 @ 10:12 am
Same here. My particular technique involves a clear glass and a CD-rom in a paper sleeve–it’s larger and stiffer than a card or envelope.
That said, I’d be tempted to leave the spider in place. Her babies will hatch and disperse to nearby locations (within a few hundred yards), and set up shop eating even more bugs from your yard.
I understand if you want to move her, though. She’s completely harmless but the “creep factor” is way high on the big spiders.
Janet Cummings said,
August 20, 2008 @ 9:36 am
I seriously think my main fear is that she’s camped out right under my carport. In front of my cars. Next to my main door. I’m not really sure I want a ton of babies soon to be huge fast 8 legged creepy crawlies in my house or worse in a confined space such as the interior of my vehicles. As I’ve never seen babies hatch, I am not sure if they will automatically go to the trees outside or if they might try to take up residence inside a nice cool sheltered area.