Comments on: Local Wildlife

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 18:03:55 +0000

Scary is relative. Most people understand that a rattlesnake should be avoided but are attracted to the coral snake. Of the rattlesnake can make you very sick, but without immediate attention a coral snake is fatal. Of course, you have to be pretty damn stupid to get bitten by a coral snake.

Among spiders, it isn’t the big flashy ones you should worry about, it’s the small ones that hide that will make you sick.

By: hipparchia

hipparchia — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 17:04:51 +0000

i like spiders, even the scary ones [with the possible exception of the brown recluse].

i’ve always tried to catch them and put them outside when they get in the house, rather than killing them. any creature that might reduce the population of bloodsucking insects deserves a long and healthy life.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 14:56:25 +0000

The spiny is still there but the web is still moving a lot which blurs the shot. One of these days I’ll get it.

They eat a lot of mosquitoes, keep telling yourself that.

By: hipparchia

hipparchia — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 06:39:31 +0000

i look forward to the spiny orb weaver. they don’t look real either, but they’re almost cute. this one’s fascinating, but still scary, especially now that you tell me they’re bigger than that.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:39:35 +0000

It isn’t clear whether the male is normally eaten but they don’t get within range of the female until things are prepared. That’s why you never see the males in front of the females. I would assume that the females view everything on their web as food.

By: Steve Bates

Steve Bates — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:29:58 +0000

Cool picture!

Um… did she eat him?

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:06:09 +0000

I’m still trying to get a picture of a spiny orb spinner. There’s one in my Mother’s side yard, but the wind has been gusty and a with the overcast all I get is a yellow blur. Hopefully the winds will calm down tomorrow and it will still be there. It’s bright yellow with black spots and spines.

The picture is about two-thirds actual size, and she is motionless most of the time, except when “packing lunch.”

By: hipparchia

hipparchia — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:24:15 +0000

… trouble … needs to scare people … no way of verifying … but they are certainly helpful.

those were the words i couldn’t help noticing as i was looking at this photo. that does not look like a living creature. cool photo.