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Simply Spiders

There's a Moth thread and one for Insects, so I thought maybe one for our Arachnid friends. If there's already a live thread out there, my apologies...

I have plenty of these spiders in the garden, mainly in the hedges. Cross Spider I believe. It wasn't too happy with the camera!

  • When I eventually decide a spider needs to be sorted out, I also use a glass and piece of paper to evict it. Only once did I have to persuade one to bend its legs before putting the glass over it!!! Not in the UK I hasten to add.

    Anyway, here's one in natural habitat.

    I think it's looking after the Nursery Web but I didn't get a look at its back to help poitively ID it

  • With that long body it looks like a Tetragnatha extensa but there may be a close relative, there is over here. Often found near water.

  • That's a large spider Nigel, those legs are looking pretty sturdy.

    Hazel I get the tetra bit but what does the rest mean? abdomen maybe?

  • It's actually not that big, Gaynor, no need to panic yet!

    I think it's more likely a Nursery Web spider although Tetragnatha extensa (Long-jawed Orb Weaver) was my second possibility. However, in the end, I felt the body just didn't look quite right for that and it was on a tent of webs, like a spiderling nursery. Although it's not the best evidence, it's pose was also quite different. I still may be wrong, mind you :)

  • Thanks Nigel, long-jawed orb weaver, interesting, the things you learn on this page:-)  

  • Unknown said:
    I think it's more likely a Nursery Web spider although Tetragnatha extensa (Long-jawed Orb Weaver) was my second possibility. However, in the end, I felt the body just didn't look quite right for that and it was on a tent of webs, like a spiderling nursery. Although it's not the best evidence, it's pose was also quite different. I still may be wrong, mind you :)

    I think you're right, the body may not have been that long! 

  • Unknown said:
    Only once did I have to persuade one to bend its legs before putting the glass over it!!! Not in the UK I hasten to add.

        Lol Nigel,    I had same problem when I encountered a Huntsman spider on my first week in Australia when it was climbing up the bedroom wall  !!    We were in a motel/apartment at the time and only had mop and bucket to hand but it worked perfectly so I could put it back in the garden  lol       Was just a harmless (would only bite to defend itself  lol )   member of the Sparassidae family.     At the time if was a pretty daunting sight because of the sheer size of this insect  !  

    post edit:    LOL  I just read this article   !!

  • You were brave putting out that size spider during your first week over in Australia Hazy, think I might have called in the reserves!!

    Very funny  article, I like the way the passengers are sitting around as if nothing is bothering them, and then you see the empty seats:-)

  • My latest Spider ... reasonably manageable!

    Inside a one inch square for perspective

    White crab spider (Misumena vatia) ........ wasn't a bit scared, even though I did find it in my bed!! Lol

  • Gosh what a big brave girl you are! LOL