spider pictures for asimov by jessica p

[jesse]

we have some pictures of a spider that lives in our garden. :help: do you know what spider it is?:thumbsup: from jesse and david

[matt]

A big scary one... which needs a good spraying:lol:

Hi jesse:hi:

Best wishes from Canberra

[spacezebra]

A big hairy, scary one - Yikes:scared:

[Starkler]

No I dont agree that he needs spraying. :rolleyes:

The garden is the right place for the spider to live. He will eat insects and maybe even save the plants in the garden that might get eaten by those insects. When I see a big spider in my house, I do my best to catch it and put it in the garden.
Every creature has a right place to live, even snakes, sharks and other creatures that can be dangerous or nasty. They all have a place and a purpose on this earth of ours :)

[matt]

Lighten up, Geoff-O!!!

Just a little joke between friends. Am not advocating mass extermination of the species:lol:

Might be worth finding out what type of spider that is though. Could be a bit dangerous for kiddies???

[asimov]

Yeah, looks big in that photo! I have no idea what kind it is though Jessica, sorry! Nice photos! :)

[[1ponders]]

I think you will find that it is one of these (http://www.ento.csiro.au/insect_id/spiders/trapdoor_spiders.html)

Also check out his link for pictures (http://www.austmus.gov.au/factsheets/trapdoor_spiders.htm)

And Geoff is right. You should never kill spiders. Even really poisonous ones. They are all our friends. It's when we annoy or disturb them that they bite. They are trying to protect themselves.

[danielsun]

I'm only guessing but doesnt the funnel web spider normaly build that type of home?
Which is the Australian version of the trapdoor spider.

[matt]

That's what I was thinking, Paul.

And yes, they are all God's creatures and have a right to live... etc etc:rolleyes:

[[1ponders]]

It does Daniel, but the easiest way to tell the difference between funnelweb burrows and Trapdoor burrows (the funnel web is closely related to trapdoors) is the trapdoor burrows don't normally have trigger lines laid around the entrances. The trigger lines tend to be pretty obvious when you are looking for them

[danielsun]

Thanks Mr ponders!
I just learnt from your link that they are not the same spider.;)

[ving]

dont tink its a trapdoor... i cant see a door. amybe a funnelweb?
dont disturb it... and dont let it bite ya!

[[1ponders]]

Ving, not all trapdoors have doors and not all spiders that make doors are trapdoors :screwy:

[Astroman]

I would say its a Hadronyche venenata, or tasmanian funnel web.

[ving]

well if a trapdoor doesnt make a door it should change its name! :P

[danielsun]

How about a- Indian do you live in a tent cavemaking spider.

[matt]

:lol: at Dan and Ving.

Good to see some humour in here, fellas.

[ving]

I'd be more inclined to call him ralph :)

[Starkler]

Matt I just thought because it is a kids thread it was worth saying... :whistle:
You know, impressionable minds and all that.

[jesse]

thanks i like looking at spiders in books . i just saw saturn with the rings on a telescope with my dad. it was very cold

[acropolite]

The Tasmanian Funnelweb spider isn't all that prevalent except in the North East forests. I had the pleasure of turning over a log and disturbing one. It was quite a large spider and the venom was dripping from it's fangs. I took it to the local museum for ID, then preserved it in alcohol. I have some slides somewhere of it. My guess would be that the spider is a wolf spider as they're fairly common here.

[Astroman]

NOw that you mention it Phil, I went over some different pictures of the Wolf species and you can see a definite resemblance to the Wolf Spider, the Fangs and Venom sacks look pretty close but the striking feature I think was the front legs. The funnel webs seemed segmented more than the one shown where as the the Wolf dont seem to have these segments.

http://www.everythingabout.net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/arachnids/spiders/wolf_spider/african_wolf_spider_full.jpg

[ving]

i bet it was... it got down to -1 here on saturday night :eek:

[spudrick]

Hello new to the forum and I read this thread, I agree with acropolite it is a wolf spider check similar here.
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/spiders/images.aspx?id=21&pic=5
See picture of my spider :)

[Mikezoom]

:eyepop::eyepop::eyepop::help:

Is that your pet spudrick?

[iceman]

ugh! :welcome: spudrick, nice photo to make an entrance!

[Dennis]

Dear IIS Colleagues

With bated breath, quivering in anticipation, I peered into this post, with spider boldly embedded in the title, salivating at the prospect of being educated on the pros and cons of 3 vane versus 4 vane spiders, a mathematical treatise on diffraction patterns caused by curved spiders, oversize spiders, secondary mirror holders, etc....... :(

:doh:

Dennis

[spudrick]

Hello Yes it is a pet, i keep her inside in a container that emulates her natural environment. She is a Bird Eating Spider and is only a youngster. She should grow a bit yet. Actually very docile (has pretty formidable fangs!)
Yes interesting topic to begin with on an Astronomy forum but from what i read on here it seems that you guys are helpful, friendly and very knowledgeable.

lol @ Dennis