My What Big Eyes You Have
Picture: SomekindaSpider… ID help appreciated.
A few weeks ago I found this beautiful spider living in my oregano plants. I was trimming the plant when ‘she’ scurried out and came to rest on the raised wood bed liner. I’m not a spider lover or spider hater. The only spiders I kill are the Black Widows that decide to set up house in areas of the yard the kids use or where we reach for things. Fortunately the Widows have a instantly recognizable web.
But back to this girl, I thought she needed to be seen, so I called my kids to come take a look. While they were watching her, I grabbed my 50mm macro lens, coaxed her onto a stick, hand-holding as I took shots just a couple inches from her face. I could tell she wasn’t thrilled by having this giant cycloptic eye (lens) dominating her field of vision. Fortunately, she was a willing enough model for a few moments while I snapped off a dozen or so frames.
If there are any arachnid fans out there, I would really love to know what kind of spider this is. Any help in getting a proper ID would be most gratefully appreciated. Here’s a little better look at her thorax.
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May 6th, 2011 at 11:44 am
Hi
Wonderful macro of this beastly spider – no idea what type
Cheers, Erik
May 6th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
What a beautiful image! Really lucky it held still for ya, they are kinda skittish. When you got close to it did it wave its front legs at you?
This is called a Bold Jumping Spider.
Some have been known to jump 40-50 times their body length!
And yeah, they have awesome eye site. Just like you and me it’s stereoscopic vision.
May 6th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Who says beasties don’t live in our gardens?!? Gorgeous images, Gary.
May 6th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
Beautiful shots, Gary! Jumping spiders are very cool; they have a lot of personality (for a spider, anyway).
May 7th, 2011 at 4:05 am
I was going to say metaphid jumping spider, perhaps the same as a “Bold Jumping Spider” – not sure. Have photographed these a few times around my house – for a spider, they sure do have a lot of character.
May 7th, 2011 at 8:58 am
Love the picture!
May 7th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Really cool shots of this interesting subject. It’s fascinating to me how their eyes are placed, and how they are different sizes. I’d be curious to know how that affects how they see.
May 7th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
Daring or Bold Jumping Spider; Phidippus audax
May 12th, 2011 at 11:02 am
Does anyone know if those are four eyes or two? Intriguing photographs.
June 4th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Just in time for The Green Hornet promotion, ha. I really don’t know what kind of tarantula it is, but I know I don’t want to be around it close up. ha. Gary, is it now a pet? Nice hi def. shot. Looks like a National Geo. pix.
July 30th, 2011 at 9:39 am
Bold jumping spider it is, and they are amazing! Jump increadible distances and are just tough litte spiders. Great images!