Thread about spiders (not for the arachnophobic!)

[Yossarian]

The Cobweb Palace saloon in 19th-century San Francisco sounds like quite the place.

Cobweb Palace was unlike any other saloon in that it had dense spider webs fixed on the bar’s ceiling. More threads draped over the shelves that stored the liquor bottles. The spiders cast a veil over nude portraits on the walls, and some of the webs reportedly grew 6 feet wide at times. But Warner refused to destroy them.

The rise and fall of SF's creepiest, spider-infested bar

Cobweb Palace was once San Francisco's premier watering hole in the late 1800s. It was home to dense spiderwebs and creatures lurking within.

www.sfgate.com

 

[moochedit]

moochedit - I reckon all pumpkins are full of spider eggs. Be careful at halloween or you might get a nice surprise.

Never have pumpkins in or outside my house. They attract trick or treators!
So this is just one more reason.

 

[Leafster]

Just been out to put some kitchen scraps in the hot compost bin and found two new residents under the lid.



Sorry I couldn't get any better photos but they both got a little agitated when I got too close with the camera.

Anyone care to come up with an ID? That egg case is probably a little over a centimetre across.

 

[Epona]

False Widow

Pic for comparison:



(Although there are occasional outbreaks of hysteria in the media about venomous spiders, they aren't generally harmful - they are very shy, leave them alone and they'll leave you alone. I have loads in my flat and they are common throughout the south of England)

 

[Leafster]

False Widow

Pic for comparison:

View attachment 349636

I thought they might be but wasn't sure.

They are quite chunky but they aren't doing any harm in the compost bin. I just didn't expect to find them there.

 

[iona]

(Although there are occasional outbreaks of hysteria in the media about venomous spiders, they aren't generally harmful - they are very shy, leave them alone and they'll leave you alone. I have loads in my flat and they are common throughout the south of England)

There's loads in my shed and they have a habit of hitching a ride in my shoes when I'm washing out plant pots and the ground's all wet. Never been bitten, they're more likely to scarper when they realise they've accidentally climbed onto a person

 

[Epona]

There's loads in my shed and they have a habit of hitching a ride in my shoes when I'm washing out plant pots and the ground's all wet. Never been bitten, they're more likely to scarper when they realise they've accidentally climbed onto a person

I have been bitten once by one, it was quite painful (I got some nerve pain radiating up my arm which was a bit alarming) and I'd rather it didn't happen again, so I would advise don't go poking at them and be careful reaching into dark corners in sheds or behind furniture etc. - but as you say they prefer to run away when they can, they aren't in the slightest bit aggressive. (Edit to add: and having them in my flat does not concern me at all).

 

[iona]

Wolf spider

More really cool spider & other bug photos by the same person here

 

[blossie33]

 

[farmerbarleymow]

This is an interesting looking spider - crab spider from Madagascar

From

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Apparently spiders have learned to write.

 

[TheWolfshead]

I read somewhere that in Earth's deep, distant past, spiders were the size of labradors. The reason they grew so large then, and don't now, is because the oxygen level was so much higher then. Something to do with the way spiders breathe.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I read somewhere that in Earth's deep, distant past, spiders were the size of labradors. The reason they grew so large then, and don't now, is because the oxygen level was so much higher then. Something to do with the way spiders breathe.

Hopefully it'll happen again with global warming - would be good to have giant spiders roaming about.

 

[TheWolfshead]

Hopefully it'll happen again with global warming - would be good to have giant spiders roaming about.

I must admit that part of me (perhaps a very small part) would like to see that. But we don't have enough trees to make the required amount of oxygen for spiders that big. Imagine finding one of those in the bath!

 

[TheWolfshead]

We could keep them as pets - like big dogs!

 

[Epona]

Wtf is going on in that picture?

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Wtf is going on in that picture?

Does look a bit suspect.

 

[Epona]

Does look a bit suspect.

Worried now about what TheWolfshead gets up to with pet dogs. Even the user name is starting to look a bit sus...

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Worried now about what TheWolfshead gets up to with pet dogs. Even the user name is starting to look a bit sus...

I'm not sure if the bestiality laws cover invertebrates though, so the picture might be legally OK.

can't believe I'm even thinking about this issue at all

 

[TheWolfshead]

I'll take the pic down. I had no idea it was this controversial! Apologies to anyone who's taken offence.

 

[moochedit]

I'm not sure if the bestiality laws cover invertebrates though, so the picture might be legally OK.

I'm not a lawyer but i'm pretty sure the spider in the picture is not real

 

[moochedit]

I'll take the pic down. I had no idea it was this controversial! Apologies to anyone who's taken offence.

We were getting the flamming torches ready

 

[TheWolfshead]

We were getting the flamming torches ready

So it would appear! Perhaps I don't see what you lot are seeing.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I'm not a lawyer but i'm pretty sure the spider in the picture is not real

Au contraire, it's absolutely real - they evolved near nuclear power plants and have since escaped and roam the country I'm afraid. I hear there is a significant population in a certain region of england.

 

[Epona]

I'll take the pic down. I had no idea it was this controversial! Apologies to anyone who's taken offence.

Not offended in the slightest, it was very funny but then I do have a filthy mind. I am sure the spider was just wanting a cuddle

 

[moochedit]

Au contraire, it's absolutely real - they evolved near nuclear power plants and have since escaped and roam the country I'm afraid. I hear there is a significant population in a certain region of england.

Fake news

 

[TheWolfshead]

Not offended in the slightest, it was very funny but then I do have a filthy mind. I am sure the spider was just wanting a cuddle

I just saw it as a pet spider being petted, but then I'm very innocent ...

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Fake news

It's true - all these scenes were filmed near you.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

That ^^ really happened moochedit and the government issued a D Notice to prevent publication as they didn't want to scare people. That's why you haven't seen it reported in the press in the UK

 

[farmerbarleymow]

This is beautiful - Gasteracantha westringi, a spiny orbweaver