Halloween comes early

[lt632ret]

This is a bit off the beaten track but I though perhapes someone might be able to shed some light on this subject. A friend came over today to have some butchering done. I had not seen him in a while so I went out to a shed full of Schrade knives to give him a couple of parts knives since I know he likes to tinker. While in there while poking around instead of having a tool or blade whack me on the head ( which usually is what happens ) this fellow appeared. ( See pics ) Now first of all I have never seen anything like this ( by the way the pics are real and this old boy is safe (but dead) under glass just to prove that he is real. ). However I must say that usually just having something fall on me is bad enough but this was worse because seeing this thing cause me to jump, fall down, and scream like a little girl. Chances are it is an endangered species and completely harmless but nothing that looks like this should be harmless.

Does anyone know what kind of spider this is and what planet it is from. I have never seen anything like this. Now you guys know that if a question on knives is asked I try to answer now I need some help. Any info appreciated. LT

 

[muskrat man]

that's an easy one lt. Seeing as how in school they called be "bug boy".
That spider is a marbled orb weaver. latin name Araneus marmoreus, dwells the entire united states. abdomen bears a marbled pattern of brown to purple , isolating several orange-yellow spots on and near the midline.
Can't recall it being venomous, or being endangered. Likes tall grass among shrubs. feeds on insects. Casts a web that resembles a spiraling orb, which is often irregular, built on low shrubs and grasses. The spider tends to be inconspicuous, hiding in a retreat made of leaves and grasses, and drops to the ground when approached.

Hope this helps, feel free to question any other insects you may come upon.
M-M

 

[redshanks]

I believe that is an Araneus trifolium, also known as an Orb Spider. It looks like it's full of eggs.

edit: Muskrat beat me to it and is correct.

 

[datsgor]

An Orb weaver, a member of the genus Araneus, the largest of all spider genera, with over 1,500 species found in it worldwide. Araneus spiders are medium-size species and their abdomens are often brightly colored. Many species have the little "window" you see in the middle of the underside of this spider's abdomen, and intricate, zigzagging and/or speckled designs on the abdomen's top side. A typical Araneus web would be the classic orb web. The spider, instead of staying in the web's center, may build a retreat in a rolled-up leaf near the web. A "signal line" composed of a special strand of silk connects the web's hub with the leaf and when the spider feels vibrations on the "signal line" the spider rushes out to see if it's caught anything! Thay are also more common it fall and early spring. Can't post a picture, but that there is your spider.... peace, John

 

[philw]

I tried to identify a spider once and was stunned and amazed at how many different species there are!

 

[lt632ret]

Well done thankyou, I should have just said sorry for disturbing you and left it alone. I guess I can bury it now. I thought it might have been predators smaller cousin. The Colors and pattern would make a great inlay for a knife or sheath. Maybe I should skin it for the hide. Are the legs any good boiled like shrimp. Poor little booger now I feel sorry for it. Although I did bang myself up pretty good when he appeared but that wasen't his fault. I will be having the service later today you are all welcome. Goodbye Booger ( I have just named him that so that I can have a name on the stone.) LT. PS I can see already, that this is going to be a long day.

 

[sheathmaker]

I am impressed!!!!! It's rare to see so much combined knowledge on a sinlge spider. I am a little taken back by the lack of response from El LobO.... with so much first hand knowledge on scorpions, one would think he'd be versed in spiders as well.

Paul

 

[textoothpk]

man, the stuff that comes down the pike here never ceases to amaze me. thanks all!
Phil

 

[jamesraykenney]

Well done thankyou, I should have just said sorry for disturbing you and left it alone. I guess I can bury it now. I thought it might have been predators smaller cousin. The Colors and pattern would make a great inlay for a knife or sheath. Maybe I should skin it for the hide. Are the legs any good boiled like shrimp. Poor little booger now I feel sorry for it. Although I did bang myself up pretty good when he appeared but that wasen't his fault. I will be having the service later today you are all welcome. Goodbye Booger ( I have just named him that so that I can have a name on the stone.) LT. PS I can see already, that this is going to be a long day.

Do not let it upset you too much... Anything that goes around looking like that is just asking to be squished...

 

[lt632ret]

After thinking it over I decided not to bury booger I was trying to think of a testimonial to this loss of innocent life. First I was going to take that fifth picture ( where he looks kind of like predator ) and use it instead of my chess piece logo. I was going to impose RIP on it and have MY AVATAR IS A BOOGER. Then I thought about it and even though I did not know him that well ( BOOGER we hardly knew ya ). I felt that it would not be fitting. Instead I took out a spray can of Poly and turned him into an eternal monument to the unnecessary loss of life. So there he sits on the little piece of dowel ( in the pictures ) which sits on one of those 3 legged plastic pizza tables ( that they use to keep the cardboard lid off the pizza. I have a little glass jar thar sits over the whole thing. After further thought he looks so good ( you know like they say about dead people at funerals,) that I am considering mounting the pictures in a frame writing the excellant explanations of what his heritage is which was generously explained in this thread and selling the whole thing on ebay. Knowing some of the things that I have seen bring big money on ebay I believe I would do well. I would of course send any profits to the ARACHNIDIA foundation ( there must be one they have BS charitys for every other useless cause ). My biggest fear is that some american front company will buy it and market it with fake Communist Chinese spiders and flood the country with fake boogers in boxes with American flags . Yes it has been a long day. Believe it or not I am now going to have the first libation of the day. Good Nite Booger. LT

 

[glennbad]

I thought it was.."good night Chesty, where ever you are"

I, like you, consider myself a rugged manly type. However, stuff that looks like that dropping on me makes me scream like a little girl too.

Booger looks like it is an endangered species, or should be. How ironic that it was housed in the same shed as another endangered species, the "quality American-made knife". This species is easily recognizable by it's quality steel, tight fit and finish, and outstanding bang for the buck. So hardy and stout is this genus, that other species try to mimic it's look, for self-preservation.

If you see these in the wild, approach carefully, and quietly. A sudden move (or bid) may cause other predators to charge (thru paypal) and capture your prey. Normal markings include staglon, sawcut and jigged delrin, and bone, although through some wierd mutation of genetics several examples have been documented marked in blue bone, orange delrin, and crimson birch.

As with every evolutionary process, this species has tried to adapt over the years to blend in with its' surroundings more easily, sporting markings of micarta, titanium, and other synthetic materials. Sadly, another similar species, which originated in Asia, is invading the territory of the "quality American-made knife", and its' numbers are dwindling.

One bright note...a sub species, genus "CSC" has appeared recently. It is a hardy species, known for its attractive markings and strong genes. It has so far been resistive to the genocidal efforts of the invasive species.

Glenn

 

[Don Luis]

Them critters are everywhere, and they are tough !!!!!.

I just found these two in my living room, I tried to stab that tarantula with a brand new LB7, but the blade broke, then I gave a big whack to that scorpion with a brand new Sharp Finger but the blade chipped....

Luis