Arachnids

Maratus pavonis Jumping Spider The spider inhabits many back yards in metropolitan areas across Southern Australia, but it is not noticed due to its tiny size of ~4mm. During mating time the male of the species is very colourful with flaps that wrap underneath its abdomen. These spiders attract mates by standing, lifting and waving their 3rd legs into the air. They then make a beautiful display by lifting flaps from the side of their abdomen and tilting their abdomen. The female watches and if she approves allows the male to mate with her. If she doesn't approve, she can take one of two actions: One is to, ignore him and walk away, the other is jump on him, kill and eat him. Photo: JeanExplored: Oct 14, 2012 #225

photographed at Braulio Carillo NP, Costa Rica

The close proximity of the blacklight coupled with the lowered exposure really brings out her textured body. Alexial is a deathstalker scorpion, Leiurus quinquestriatus. In normal light she looks like this:www.flickr.com/photos/furryscalyman/356870862 You should NEVER leave a blacklight on a scorpion long-term. The intense UV rays will eventually kill the nocturnal animal. Some pet stores market scorpion habitats with blacklights because they look cool, but they don't tell you the facts.

found wandering at night at base of soil embankment

Found on the side of the barn. Rod Crawford says In the Puyallup area, there's be no other species with an all-red abdomen.

Longitude (deg): -1.2. Latitude (deg): 51.4. Longitude (deg/min): 1° 10' W. Latitude (deg/min): 51° 20' N. Vice county name: Berks. Vice county no.: 22. Country: England. Stage: Egg case. Associated species: Calluna vulgaris. Identified by: Malcolm Storey. Photo summary: Egg sack - incomplete. Comment: 2 unfinished egg cases attached to Heather. Category: macro-photograph. Photographic equipment used: Canon EOS10D dSLR and Macro MP-E 65mm x1 to x5 macro lens.

Longitude (deg): -1.6. Latitude (deg): 51.3. Longitude (deg/min): 1° 40' W. Latitude (deg/min): 51° 20' N. Vice county name: North Wilts. Vice county no.: 7. Country: England. Stage: Adult. Associated species: Reynoutria japonica. Identified by: Malcolm Storey. Comment: on Japanese Knotweed. Category: macro-photograph. Image scaling: magnified. Background: grey background. Where photo was taken: Arranged. Photographic equipment used: Pixera Pro tethered low-resolution digital camera with bellows and Olympus Zuiko 50mm macro lens.

Longitude (deg): -1.6. Latitude (deg): 51.3. Longitude (deg/min): 1° 40' W. Latitude (deg/min): 51° 20' N. Vice county name: North Wilts. Vice county no.: 7. Country: England. Stage: Adult. Associated species: Reynoutria japonica. Identified by: Malcolm Storey. Comment: on Japanese Knotweed. Category: macro-photograph. Real world width(mm): 85.10763888889. Background: white background. Where photo was taken: Arranged. Photographic equipment used: Specimen directly scanned on HP Scanjet 5470c flatbed scanner. For some photographs of some specimens (eg leaf mines) the transparency adaptor was used.

Lower Sabie Camp, Kruger NP, SOUTH AFRICA

Uncle Tan's Jungle Camp, Kinabatangan River, Sabah, MALAYSIA

Peucetia viridans. Molino Basin, Santa Catalina Mountains, Pima County, Arizona, USA. 18 September 2012.

I am really surprised at the degree to which these amazing spiders mimic its prey. Just look at those colors..!!!

September 30, 2012, Lakeland Highlands Scrub

Taman Negara NP, Pahang, MALAYSIA

Argyrodes elevatus on the web of the yellow garden spider, Argiope aurantia. Heritage Island, Anacostia River, Washington, DC, USA. 25 August 2012.It was a rainy day and not many things were flying between showers, so I thought I'd do a little video of this Argiope sucking on its food. Initially, I didn't even see the little kleptoparasite lurking in the web. When I finally saw it, I knew immediately what it was because I had seen it in a David Attenborough movie. It was great fun to finally see one in real life. From now on, I'll have to stop and closely inspect every one of these webs.

Manyane Resort, Pilanesberg, SOUTH AFRICA

a jumping spider - Heliophanus flavipes

Maratus hortorumWe went looking for spiders again yesterday. It had rained during the week and we were in for a cloudy day. We found 3 spiders for the day. One blue and gold one, one Lycidas chrysomelas and one Maratus mungaich.In December 2014 this spider was renamed Maratus hortorum The most distinguishing feature on the males is the two spots in the middle of the patterns on the abdomen.Previously it was known as Maratus mungaich

Rio Mendoza near Pipeline Road, Soberania National Park, Panama. 20 January 2012. Thanks to James Christensen for the id.

Female Black Widow, Latrodectus mactans. Ventral view, showing the famous red hourglass. Black Widows prefer damp places. This one lives under the watering trough in a horse pasture across the road from me. The neighbor found it while flipping the trough to empty it in order to clean it and refill it. This specimen is a beautiful one and was most cooperative for the camera. The venom of the female Latrodectus macrons is a potent neurotoxin, but bites are rare--the animal must be strongly provoked to bite a human--and they are rarely fatal because the quantity of venom injected is very small. Bites may be very painful, however. The smaller male has no venom. Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 180mm macro lens, Canon Ringlite.

Seminole Ranch Conservation Area, Orange County, FL, August 2011.Species account: bugguide.net/node/view/2032

Avne, Hrault, FRANCE

This spider is an ant mimic. Isn't she lovely? Check out her great eyes. Thanks to Joe Warfel for the ID. A cropped version of this photo is posted to BugGuide.