May 21st, 2007
mystery spider
Insect and spider activity has been picking up steadily over the past few days. Each walk in the woods and fields is marked with at least one or two exciting moments. On Saturday afternoon, while taking a break from an outdoor garden project we’re working on (more about that later this week), I found this large and very beautiful jumping spider on a poplar sapling in the little apple orchard next to the woods. Although you can’t really see this in either of the photos, the spider was carrying a small beetle.
I’ve seen female jumping spiders (Salticidae) very much like this around the farm before. They’re quite large compared to most other species, the body being at least 12mm long. The abdomen is covered with rusty brown hairs, and the cephalothorax is a frosty gray with a few tufts of long black hair on the top of the “head” (I use that term rather loosely when applying it to spiders!). The PLE (posterior lateral eyes) – eyes on side closest to the back of the cephalothorax – seem conspicuously large and are placed quite far back. The cepahlothorax is also quite rounded compared to many other jumping spiders (most tend to have a sort of square-shaped “head” and face).
I already knew that this was not one of the species that is being tracked by Spider WebWatch, but I do like to identify spiders whenever possible, as I like to keep records of my insects and spider sightings. Having looked through quite a few different spider guides, I decided to post a request for help with identification on the Nearctic Arachnologists’ Forum. Fairly soon, I received a reply from David Shorthouse, the forum administrator. He suggested that it might be a species of Phidippus, and perhaps it could be Phidippus princeps (see photo of female at the bottom of that page). There’s certainly a very close resemblance, especially the shape of the cephalothorax and placement of the eyes — I’d say it’s pretty much identical. So, that might well be the identity of these large, beautiful “mystery” jumping spiders found here at the farm.
May 21st, 2007 at 9:17 am
Those large jumping spiders are so beautiful. The green-fanged one we saw last week was just a bit bigger than this one. I’d like to see one everyday, if I could. There’s just something about them, maybe it’s their eyes which seem to look back. They’re very cool spiders.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Bev – you are so cute. (Robin above, also) the way you use ‘beautiful’ to describe these spiders. Somehow ‘beautiful’ and ‘green-fanged’ in the same sentence just cracks me up. You guys are great. Hmmm. This could become contagious – the more I look at her the more (ahem) ‘attractive’ she’s becoming:0) Great, great pixes.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Those are super shots of the little beast, Bev. And it really is furry! I’m not by any means tired of seeing our (currently only) jumping spider around – they do have cunning white chelicerae in constant motion – but they look like they wear moth-eaten toupees.
I just knew that Robin person was going to flaunt her green fangs again :-)
May 21st, 2007 at 8:07 pm
robin – I love jumping spiders. Their vision is supposed to be quite good. I’ve certainly found this to be true as I’ve watched them begin to hide when I’m far enough away that the only way they could know I was around is if they could see me from a distance of several feet. I also like how some of them can be a bit bold and will jump on my camera lens. One did that just the other day. Quite amusing!
–
Cathy – Yes, I guess beautiful and green-fanged might seem a little incongruous! (-:
I really do think they are quite beautiful though. Something about this particular spider reminds me of a horse or elephant. I think it is the sturdy body. I hope that “spider appreciation” proves to be contagious. Spiders really are quite a lot of fun to watch!
–
Wayne – Thanks! And yes, it really is a furry spider. The silvery frosting on the “fur” is really quite attractive. That’s hilarious about the moth-eaten toupees on your jumping spiders! Ha! I think you’re becoming obsessed with robin’s green-fanged spiders. I hope you find some of your own sometime soon!!! (-:
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:50 am
Bev – That is so neat. Yes! I do get the sense of ‘elephant’ in that darling spider. Imagine that. The tiniest of creatures – redolent with the spirit – the form of the greatest of land creatures.
I’m seeing God in clouds and you’re seeing elephants in spiders. Great minds . . . . ;0)
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:53 pm
What a beautiful portrait of a furry spider! Its head makes me think of an otter or a beaver.
I remember being concerned when a friend, who was quite ill with cancer and who was undergoing chemotherapy, suddenly laughed and told me, while we were talking on the phone, that he saw a small black and white spider with bright turquoise eyes looking at him from where he sat in the shaded patio of his parent’s home in Central California on the banks of a river that originated in the Sierra Nevada.
Puzzled, wondering if he might be hallucinating, I did a Google search after we got off the phone and learned about jumping spiders! He survived that terminal diagnosis of cancer. I know that the time he spent sitting by that river while ill, observing the natural world, helped him heal. And that the laughter provoked by the spider’s apparent focus on him was part of the healing.
May 23rd, 2007 at 5:28 am
Cathy – I find it interesting that certain insects and spiders often cause me to think of a particular mammal. I suppose it’s the hairy coats of some, or certain types of legs. In the case of the above spider, it’s the colour, the hair, and the very sturdy legs and body. Also, it’s one of the slower moving and more placid of the jumping spiders. Some of them are a bit hyper and do a lot of hopping around when they sense danger. This species just lumbers along, carrying their prey and trying to find a good route to move along the tree branch. That too may surprise some people — I find that certain spider species, even within the same family, have very different behaviour – especially when it comes to such things as their reaction to the presence of a human. Pretty neat.
–
am – What a great story about your friend! I can’t tell you how important nature has been (and is) to me from the point of view of healing. One of my closest friends has faced a great many serious health issues and he says much the same. I wish more people understood that aspect of nature — it might help us to do a better job of protecting it.