Not for arachnophobes.

[missyburd]

Revenge for the peaks rideout, what goes around comes around! :twisted:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9627/dscf5932.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9661/dscf5907.jpg

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/4977/dscf5918p.jpg

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/662/dscf5923.jpg

Not great pics but serves the damn wasp right, gotta love nature :)

[Caddy2000]

Talking about wasps, I've got a wonderful photo of a wasp spider on my phone. Found it in my park, I'll post it ASAP

[DMC]

Must be spidey week! Took this pic in the garden on Sunday.

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/dcoats23/Random/CSC_0004.jpg

[missyburd]

DMC that one looks like it's got little lights running down its legs hehe. Nice pic!

[Bluewolf]

.

[Taipan]

Meet Mrs Tickle! :mrgreen:

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8686/dsc04719rp0.jpg

[missyburd]

awwww :-D

[SuzukiNess]

u either have a small back or that is one huge freeeeeking spider!!! :smt119
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faints

[Bluewolf]

.

[keith_d]

Mmm, nice spider. Female Theraphosa blondi perhaps??

(don't worry, the female of the species is no deadlier than the male)

[Milky Bar Kid]

OMG! OMG! OMG!

MYC thanks for the pre warning although I wasn't expecting the big feck off trantula!

I HATE SPIDERSSSSSS!

[missyburd]

I warrrrrned ye! :-P

[Milky Bar Kid]

Yeah but I never heed warnings...:smt022

[davepreston]

what warning i saw a big word beginning with A

[Bluewolf]

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[DarrenSV650S]

This bugger has been guarding the front door for the past few weeks


http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/DSCF00152.jpg

[TC3]

and i had his cousin hanging off the cage wing mirror... seems to have a bit of a leg missing
http://tc3.smugmug.com/photos/117089385_VxoFY-XL.jpg

[DarrenSV650S]

:lol:

[Jayneflakes]

Love the Tarantula photo, I had a Honduran Curly Hair for a while, that was a rescue from a student who could no longer keep her. She was named Ruby and grey to quite a size, but no where near the that of the Goliath. Ruby did not enjoy being handled and and she got bigger she became quite aggressive at times and would rear up occasionally. She only bit me once and to be fair it was not her fault, but the fault of the thicko who blew on her claiming that she was not real.

I did miss my Ruby after I had to re-home her, but luckily she went to a specialist centre who wanted her for a display and maybe even breeding. From a slightly difficult start she went on to have a happy life and I swear that she used to listen to me when I talked to her. Yes I know, they are technically deaf, but she was always attentive and seemed to like the company.

As for the Orb Spiders, this is a good time of year for them, our garden is full of them at the moment and I feel terrible if I have to remove a web to get to the shed or washing line. They are such delicate and beautiful animals. I love spiders, although I am glad that I don't live in a country populated by very poisonous ones.

[Bri w]

Love the Tarantula photo, I had a Honduran Curly Hair for a while, that was a rescue from a student who could no longer keep her. She was named Ruby and grey to quite a size, but no where near the that of the Goliath. Ruby did not enjoy being handled and and she got bigger she became quite aggressive at times and would rear up occasionally. She only bit me once and to be fair it was not her fault, but the fault of the thicko who blew on her claiming that she was not real.

I did miss my Ruby after I had to re-home her, but luckily she went to a specialist centre who wanted her for a display and maybe even breeding. From a slightly difficult start she went on to have a happy life and I swear that she used to listen to me when I talked to her. Yes I know, they are technically deaf, but she was always attentive and seemed to like the company.

As for the Orb Spiders, this is a good time of year for them, our garden is full of them at the moment and I feel terrible if I have to remove a web to get to the shed or washing line. They are such delicate and beautiful animals. I love spiders, although I am glad that I don't live in a country populated by very poisonous ones.

You love spiders? You LOVE SPIDERS!

A & E, ICU, theatres, blood, guts, smells, even the morgue with bits hanging out doesn't bother me.

Spiders ------- can you hear me from all the way over here, a long way from the spiders over there?

[Jayneflakes]

You love spiders? You LOVE SPIDERS!

A & E, ICU, theatres, blood, guts, smells, even the morgue with bits hanging out doesn't bother me.

Spiders ------- can you hear me from all the way over here, a long way from the spiders over there?

It has been mentioned by my nearest and dearest that I am a tad peculiar in this respect. However my request for another pet spider has been denied by herself, who claims that a potentially hazardous scenario could occur if I had a spider again... :pale:

I don't know what she is talking about, my Ruby only escaped a couple of times and she never wandered far from me. It is kind of nice waking up with a Tarantula cuddled in for the warmth. ;)

[missyburd]

I like the fact I put a handful of pics up and this has now turned into a spider thread :-D I'm enjoying looking at the pics though, all these people with better cameras than me haha.

And Jayne you're right they are beautiful, especially when examined close up. I've really started to appreciate the world of entomology lately, am brushing up on my identification skills and photographing practically every bug I see when I have my camera on my person, just so I can blow the pics up on the computer and have a good nosey at all their intricate details. Hold on, I sound like a right geek don't I :lol:

I do think that's why I'm most interested in birds, insects and the like, they're so accessible, you find them everywhere. Just yesterday morning I sat up in bed and there was a Jay on the conservatory roof, put a grin on my face (they're normally very elusive).

[Bluewolf]

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[missyburd]

I like birdies... they eat spiders... :lol:
Bad karma that, ever heard of the Goliath Bird-eating Tarantula? ;)

[Bluewolf]

.

[yorkie_chris]

You'll forgive me if I don't google it...

*shudder*

:oops: :lol:

Let me save you the trouble
http://www.virginmedia.com/images/amazonpinktoe-431x300.jpg

[Bluewolf]

.

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah like a scene from starship troopers lol

[Bluewolf]

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[Richie]

One I took at work yesterday.
It was hiding in my tool box.

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1138/spiderod.jpg

[missyburd]

is it dead?

[Richie]

I hope so..

[Jayneflakes]

There are some very poisonous spiders out there in the world, but none in the UK, so carefully catching a spider here and looking at it will do you no harm. I found one in work today and saved it from a splatting by one of our lads. Once I started to explain that it was a female hunting spider he was more interested, then I showed him how to identify them and what features they have. Saved the poor little ( 2.5 inch leg span) girl and let her go and hunt vermin. Spiders really are our friends, they eat the things that can harm us, do remember that folks.

I thought that handling a Goliath Bird eater was brave, they are not renowned for their docile temperament, mind you neither are Honduran Curleys, but I held mine fairly often until she got too big and bitey.

[Richie]

I have to get rid of the spiders in our house... (as her that wears the Dragon Jeans that must be obeyed..diss likes them alot..)
So I do try and catch them and them put them out side and then tell them off, as in not to return inside....


I did have a pet spider called spidy that lived in my old shed that I caught and fed flys too... but that is another story...................... (trailed dots)

[Bluewolf]

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[Richie]

found another one...

He's gonna be my outhouse toilet pet.. as I found him / her there...

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/7887/img0002wh.jpg

[Jayneflakes]

found another one...

He's gonna be my outhouse toilet pet.. as I found him / her there...



That one is a little boy, look at the end of the pedipalps for the clues, the spherical grippers are used for mating. :smt057

[gruntygiggles]

This is a Cardinal Spider, I got this pic off google, but I had one of these in an old house I lived in. It was a male one, with pedipalps enlarged for mating and was all black. It was the scariest thing I have seen as by christ it could move quickly across the floor. Finally caught it and got the video camera out. I was really enjoying looking at it, because it was not like any house spider I had ever seen before and it was super aggressive. Had it under a pint glass on the table. Only problem was, the bf came home and decided that to get a really good shot, he'd have o lift the glass up for a few seconds. I got close, he lifted the glass, I went for the shot....the spider went for me.
Obviously, the spider was not jumping for me, but it felt like it at the time and I almost hyperventilated with fear and shock. I screamed and nearly wet myself! The ex was too scared, so I had to catch it again!

I have loads of stories of spiders, including one where I cam face to face with a black widow in Texas. That was amazing, most were just scary or pathetic (on my part)!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/55/127910302_2f209cfd05.jpg?v=0

[Jayneflakes]

Awwww, lovely photo GG. Would love to hear your Widow spider stories.
Hugs
Jayne
XXX

[gruntygiggles]

Well, a pretty simple one, but amazing for me nonetheless. I was visiting a friend in Texas who took me out to his buddies house to help hang venison in the smokehouse. We'd been in there for about an hour, got all the strips hung up and were just sorting the smoker out. I was leant against one of the supporting posts and Cameron stopped in the middle of a sentence and said, "Cheryl, don't turn around and look, don't think I'm having a joke with you, just walk forward slowly, but do it now". Strangley, I didn't feel at all scared and in typical Cheryl fashion (which I got from my dad) I refused to move unless he told me what was there. He wouldn't. So, I said, "Hmmm, we're in Texas, in a dark place and it's a wooden wall behind me. It can't be a snake because you've already checked for them so I'm guessing a spider. It can't be a Brown Recluse because you woldn't be able to see it against the wood from there so it must be a Black Widow". He told me to shut the f up and just move so then I knew I was right. I did move away from the wall by about a foot and turned around to look at it. As much as spiders do make me uncomfortable, I am fascinated by them and there's no way on gods earth that I would let myself be that close and not have a bloody good look.

I turned around and there she was, proud as any spider could look, super shiney and I was amazed a actually how small it was. Well, I say small, but this spider has the biggest butt in the spider kingdom. I swear, in comparison to tarantulas, these things have the most enormous abdomen in comparison to the rest of the body and legs. Just how they move themselves is something else....lol.

She was a beauty, she just sat there on the wall, shiney black with three teeny red dots on her abdomen. I never got to see the major red marking which is on the underside, but funnily enough, didn't think it was the time to be picking her up to have a look....lol.

Next story may be about the Tarantula that stopped me in my tracks on my way to the shower block at a campsite in Arizona! The thing had a rucksack on it back and was wearing doc martins ffs!

[Jayneflakes]

Awwwww, what a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing. So this tarantula...?
Hugs,
Jayne
XXXXX

[rpwoodman]

Grunty's story reminds me of a similar situation I was in but with a jaguar. :-)

Is it just me, or are there loads more garden spiders than normal this year - masses of huge b*ggers this year. Lovely things but I keep seeing shield bugs in their webs which is a shame.

[tanis34]

we lost a fully grown pet tarantula in the house for 2 months before we found it on the stairs one night

[gruntygiggles]

we lost a fully grown pet tarantula in the house for 2 months before we found it on the stairs one night

Haha, my snake disappeared last October, just before Halloween and then, 6 months later at 11.30 on a Thursday evening my neighbour knocked on the door with my snake in her pillowcase!

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=129011

[missyburd]

Is it just me, or are there loads more garden spiders than normal this year - masses of huge b*ggers this year. Lovely things but I keep seeing shield bugs in their webs which is a shame.
I think you're right especially about the shield bugs, they're beautiful insects. I was stood at a bus stop the other day and one flew onto my leg, very pretty green and brown colouring.

[gruntygiggles]

I like Mint Leaf Beetles. One of my fav bugs because the colour is literally all over. They are incredible when you look at them up close!

http://i1.treknature.com/photos/9991/chrysomela_herbacea.jpg

[gruntygiggles]

I love that you can see the clear silhouette of the cameraman!

[rpwoodman]

I think you're right especially about the shield bugs, they're beautiful insects. I was stood at a bus stop the other day and one flew onto my leg, very pretty green and brown colouring.

Just outside my house there are a lot of those bushes with white berries on them - shield bugs seem to love them.
I took my 2 year old nephew out a few weeks ago and one landed on my arm. His parents aren't really into nature and bugs and things so he hadn't seen such things before but I put it on his arm and his face and he thought it was great crawling all over him. Hopefully he'll start to get into such things.

[rpwoodman]

I like Mint Leaf Beetles. One of my fav bugs because the colour is literally all over. They are incredible when you look at them up close!
http://i1.treknature.com/photos/9991/chrysomela_herbacea.jpg

Didn't know the name of those before now - they are super tho - I saw one for the first time earlier in the year. Can see why you like them.

[gruntygiggles]

Didn't know the name of those before now - they are super tho - I saw one for the first time earlier in the year. Can see why you like them.

They are just one of the many many creatures on this earth that make me feel completely insignificant. Just look at it. Here we are, a few evolutionary notches up from some of the animals we share this planet with and we are, in my opinion, quite boring in a physical sense. The only unique thing about us is our brain and how we use it.

Creatures like the Mint Leaf Bug show how incredible colour can be in nature. People pay thousands to have cars painted like this and it doesn't come close to being as good. Others, like Crocodiles are incredible for the adaptations that have seen them become almost the perfect predator. Woodlice are always brushed aside, chucked out the window, but they were on earth before the dinosaurs were! Many people don't know that they are actually crustaceans and you only see them in dark moist areas or roaming around in the dark is because they need moisture to live. They get their oxygen by breathing through gills on their back legs.

Crazy, amazing world this is. Whilst I don't like some things to get too close, I am still fascinated by them. Well......not too keen on flies and slugs, but hey ho!

[rpwoodman]

Woodlice are always brushed aside...

I was just discussing woodlice with my wife the other day - I think they're really cool, remind me of trilobites. And silverfish, they also look prehistoric to me.

I don't like big bluebottles - they're disgusting, but the only thing I have a real distaste for is the horseshoe crab. Again, they should be cool because they're so unchanged, but when you pick them up and all those horrble little legs get waved around... ugh!
If you've ever been to the Galapagos islands, you'll have seen the sally lightfoot crabs. They're everywhere, appearing in waves but melting away when you walk towards them. I thought they were quite nice, but most other people on the group I was with found them horrible.

But... it's all rather depressing. probably by the end of our generation, there will be no tigers left, and unless things change, there won't be fish in the oceans. I shy away from watching TV about conservation, or ones like the one last night in New Guinea, because soon it'll all be gone, before we knew a lot of it even existed.

[gruntygiggles]

I watched and thoroughly enjoyed last nights programme and that area is now safe for a few generations. The problem is, it will go at some point and there is nothing we can do to change that. Global Warming is another massive concern, but it's not causing anything that wouldn't happen eventually anyway. It seems to me, and this may be controversial, that much conservation is based on our need to cure our guilt over the effects we have had on this world. The truth is, if we weren't here, it would still be changing, that's what it does. I am a massive supporter of many conservation projects, I believe the world would be far worse off without the work of the dedicated few, however, we can't be so unrealistic to expect that we can have a major long term effect.

Chris Packham has caused a bit of an outrage by stating that he'd like to see less money spent on saving the Giant Panda. He's been blasted for it, but he has a valid point. While millions and millions were being spent on Giant Pandas, another Chinese mammal, the River Dolphin became extict last year. Not all endangered species are cute, cuddly, magnificent, impressive etc.....but that doesn't mean they don't all deserve our efforts.

Anyway, we can't save the world, no matter how much we try. When we are all gone, it will go through other changes without our influence, it's just nature.
So.......get out there, do what you can to help and make the most of it people!

[rpwoodman]

The problem is, it will go at some point and there is nothing we can do to change that...

Sure, things change - that's evolution, but surely that doesn't absolve us of responsibility - if we are negatively impacting the planet, we should do something to minimise it.
If we are saying that things die (and die out), why did Harold Shipman get put in prison (playing devil's advocate somewhat there)?

As to where we should put our efforts, sure, don't just go for the nice cuddly creatures, but again, just because we can't save everything, doesn't mean we shouldn't make an effort to save at least some of them.

(oh, and on a lighter note and possibly bringing the thread back on topic, I'm also not keen on those camel spiders either)

[gruntygiggles]

I'm sorry if it came across like I don't see the point of conservation. On the contrary I am an avid supporter of it. I would actually say, moreso than the people who are so up in arms about Chris Packhams comments. I would rather there be more control over where the money is spent. I still donate to WWF, but I have cut that dramatically and started to donate to many different specific charities that are trying to save the little known about endangered species that are out there.

I just think that, although WWF has the Giant Panda as part of its brand, they have a duty to ensure that the money is allocated fairly, not just to protect the species that are the cutest, most popular.

I'll stop my derail now. We all know there's more we can do to help the planet so lets try our best and MissYC knows how much passion I have for animals and wildlife, so I think she'll understand where I'm coming from and hope she doesn't mind.

Back on topic, they had a large black/blue tarantula on that programme ast night and it was really quite stunning. Anyone know what it was?

[rpwoodman]

Back on topic, they had a large black/blue tarantula on that programme ast night and it was really quite stunning. Anyone know what it was?

Was lovely, wasn't it? The guy who found it seemed a little skittish, but one can understand why. Do you think it was aggressive towards him or was it just trying to run but had nowhere to run to?

In Guatemala & Belize there were loads of tarantulas with pink bums, Quite pretty, but didn't look as cool as the fellow on TV last night.

PS: I don't think anyone reading this would have said your apology was required - passion for a subject comes through and to me, that's a great quality to have.

[gruntygiggles]

Was lovely, wasn't it? The guy who found it seemed a little skittish, but one can understand why. Do you think it was aggressive towards him or was it just trying to run but had nowhere to run to?

In Guatemala & Belize there were loads of tarantulas with pink bums, Quite pretty, but didn't look as cool as the fellow on TV last night.

PS: I don't think anyone reading this would have said your apology was required - passion for a subject comes through and to me, that's a great quality to have.

I just hate leaving my opinions open enough for other people to interpret in the wrong way!

The Spider last night was possibly the New Guinea Black

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dmyHDsqgpSc/SCOZ6-e4qpI/AAAAAAAAAV4/M-zeynkohRQ/s400/2008_04+8+Amazon+123+%28Small%29.jpg

As tarantulas go, I think this is the pretiest I have ever seen! The one last night had a really nice blue sheen to it. I think it was just trying to get away as it wasn't rearing at him or anything. I think he was right.....best not handle a spider when you don't know what it is or what it can do to you....lol. He looked petrified....lol.

[yorkie_chris]

I just think that, although WWF has the Giant Panda as part of its brand, they have a duty to ensure that the money is allocated fairly, not just to protect the species that are the cutest, most popular.

Protecting the cute and fluffy animals is what they need to do, as you say it is their brand image. I do not trust charities to be high in moral fibre, they are still a business.

[rpwoodman]

The Spider last night was possibly the New Guinea Black

Yeah, that looks like him. Suave I'd say. Can spiders be considered suave? :)

[missyburd]

Many people don't know that they are actually crustaceans and you only see them in dark moist areas or roaming around in the dark is because they need moisture to live. They get their oxygen by breathing through gills on their back legs.
!
And they also drink through appendages called uropods (or anus) and eat their own faeces, yumyum...



I shy away from watching TV about conservation, or ones like the one last night in New Guinea, because soon it'll all be gone, before we knew a lot of it even existed.

Thankyou for reminding me, I missed last night's so will catch up on that one this eve :-)


I'll stop my derail now. We all know there's more we can do to help the planet so lets try our best and MissYC knows how much passion I have for animals and wildlife, so I think she'll understand where I'm coming from and hope she doesn't mind.


'Corse I do Cheryl, and your posts are always a good read :-) derail away! :-P

I agree entirely with what you say about conservation, so many species are on their way out and yet they seem to be swept under the carpet to make way for the rehabilitation of cuter and more "interesting" ones (though quite what that definition of interesting is I'm not too sure as every single animal on this planet is fascinating in its own little way!). But it has to be said that so much more is being done now, particularly in small areas where locals are becoming more involved in the surveying of rarer species. Every little helps!

[gruntygiggles]

Every little helps!



Haha, do you work for Tescos by any chance? lol.;)

I do agree that the cute species need the money, but all species do, cute or not. I knew you'd understand Maria :kiss:

I'm going to find some good spider pics....just to keep the skin crawling for everyone!

[missyburd]

Haha, do you work for Tescos by any chance? lol.;)


No....not yet, maybe I should apply and mention my advertising of their slogan :-D

[gruntygiggles]

No....not yet, maybe I should apply and mention my advertising of their slogan :-D

You can even log on here in your interview and prove it!

[Taipan]

There are some very poisonous spiders out there in the world, but none in the UK, so carefully catching a spider here and looking at it will do you no harm. I found one in work today and saved it from a splatting by one of our lads. Once I started to explain that it was a female hunting spider he was more interested, then I showed him how to identify them and what features they have. Saved the poor little ( 2.5 inch leg span) girl and let her go and hunt vermin. Spiders really are our friends, they eat the things that can harm us, do remember that folks.

I thought that handling a Goliath Bird eater was brave, they are not renowned for their docile temperament, mind you neither are Honduran Curleys, but I held mine fairly often until she got too big and bitey.

We do have one venomous spider here, the False Widow (Steatoda nobilis )

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7663272.stm

[rpwoodman]

Does anyone remember this story?:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1396706.stm

I was always rather annoyed that they didn't have pics of said critters, and I never saw any follow up that said what they were, or what happened.

[CheGuevara]

Does anyone remember this story?:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1396706.stm

I was always rather annoyed that they didn't have pics of said critters, and I never saw any follow up that said what they were, or what happened.

I googled and found this:

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/myths/windsor.html

[rpwoodman]

Oh cool, thanks Che - I'd looked and not found anything other than reports of the find. The whole thing did look more than a little strange but I so wanted it to be true!!

But how very disappointing. :-(