I had no idea common spiders could get this large. This one was easily about 4 inches across from leg tip to leg tip. Over 100mm - I'm not kidding - I wish I would have taken a more distant shot so you could see the scale. Many of them are this size around here - they are well fed with plenty of habitat and prey. Or is it some kind of Nursery Web Spider?

From front

If I can get a straight down view of a spider I do because it really helps nail identification. This one was easy! Probably a female. It's about an inch long, maybe a bit less.

September 13, 2022

American funnel web spiders (Agelenopsis aperta) in the hydrangea.

Brewster, Massachusetts

Cape Cod - USA

Photo by brucetopher

© Bruce Christopher 2022

All Rights Reserved

...always learning - critiques welcome.

Tools: Canon 7D & iPhone 6s.

No use without permission.

Please email for usage info.

I had to get up close and personal for this shot. This brute is near the entrance to its lair in large leaf of a milkweed plant. I am shooting through a lot of web which is what gives the focus that soft look in places. The scene was in a very awkward location so I used the articulating screen of my camera and shot this in live view with the camera deep in the spider's lair.

Funnel Web Spider

Coal Creek Trail

Lafayette, CO

Anotner funnel web spider - this one has one of his gleaming silvery fangs exposed. Zoom in for a closer look.

Arachtober 30b

Funnel Web Spider - Agelenopsis

Coal Creek Trail - Field of Spiders

Lafayette, CO

I should find out whether or not my mother needs surgery today.

Thanks for Viewing.

American spiders and their spinningwork. V.3

Academy of natural sciences of Philadelphia,1889-93.

biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4493041

...Spiders and Snakes....Then you will like this one :)

Funnel Web Spider

Remembering Jim Stafford

youtu.be/Je3EiwKArlQ

In Search of Summer Sizzlers in the Woods of Virginia.

IMG_8688

I was at the neighbouring abandoned chapel on the Buitenplaats Koningsweg compound and I spotted this web in the windowsill, with a spider laying in wait, ready for an unsuspecting prey.

I took out my extension tubes, tripod and cable release and a very large stick (in case the spider turned hostile and I would have to defend myself). I used live view zoomed in at 10x and adjusted the focus on the spider manually, which was pretty difficult at times. Live view provides the additional advantage of mirror lock-up, stabilizing the camera for those difficult macro shots.

These frames were also cropped quite a bit.

Here is a "Behind The Scenes" photo.

...and definitely knows how to use them :)

Remembering ZZ Top !

youtu.be/g77eCIdKlHY

Virginia Trail Funnel Web Spider :0

IMG_6732

Its been a while since I posted a spider,

I was painting an arbor that I make in front of my shot and

had the urge to see what left in my garden to my surprise

all my flowers doing great new buds from Dahlias tomatoes

that grew on their own and Lori yes my Cosmos are live and well

and buds all over the place,

I took this macro with my old point and shoot Nikon,

Sunny and beautiful today:-)

Please view this in large

Blue Mountains funnel-web spider - Hadronyche versuta

Springwood - NSW

Australia

The Great Fen.

Hadronyche sp. Blue Tier, Tasmania.

Hybrid Funnel-web Spider (Caladenia infundibularis) X Karri Spider (Caladenia brownii) Orchid

We're getting close to the end of our holiday and we continue to find native Orchids in the bushlands of Western Australia.

Hadronyche sp. Blue Tier, Tasmania.

September 13, 2022

American funnel web spiders (Agelenopsis aperta) in the hydrangea.

Brewster, Massachusetts

Cape Cod - USA

Photo by brucetopher

© Bruce Christopher 2022

All Rights Reserved

...always learning - critiques welcome.

Tools: Canon 7D & iPhone 6s.

No use without permission.

Please email for usage info.

Beautiful and fascinating, but one of the worlds most venomous spiders...

...so these two drops of venom can cause real troubles!

Spider Month is just around the corner! 8)

www.images-of-thornbury.co.uk

FUNNEL WEB SPIDER

2010_01_24

Muniyal, Karkala

I watched this little Agelenidae come rushing out of her home, and lift that little Armadillidiidae up with her fangs. I suppose that she was looking for a soft spot to sink her fangs into.

She wasn't successful and she retreated back to her home, while the heavily plated Armadillidiidae went on his merry way to live another day.

One of the most venomous spiders in the world. A male funnel web spider. Species ID is yet to come.

The venom from its large fangs is a potent neurotoxin, thought to open sodium channels, resulting in chaotic firing of nervous cells. The resultant rush of acetylcholine, adrenaline and noradrenaline results in the death of the victim in a sweating, twitching, vomiting, hypotensive crisis.

Thanks to Sam, my gorgeous spider-wrangling girlfriend and Dave for lending me this beauty.

I stumbled upon a large patch of invasive Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) out at Havtornsudd point on the Gålö peninsula and here is one of the inhabitants.

This is a female labyrinth spider (Agelena labyrinthica), a species which belongs to the family Agelenidae, the funnel weavers. Looking at this little lady, it is easy to see where the name comes from, right? Also, note that these have nothing to do with the Australian spiders with medically significant venom.

Just out of frame here is a male, which clearly was hoping to get lucky this day. For a short video showing more of the web and both spiders close to each other, have a look here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52227414504/

Here is a shot of just the male: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52261951462/

Part 1 is also of the female here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52227154118/

Ordem Araneae

Familia Lycosidae

Aglaoctenus sp.

Identificação Eduardo Wienskoski

Laboratório de Aracnologia - Museu Nacional

Lycosidae

De Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Los licósidos (Lycosidae) son una familia de arañas araneomorfas entre cuyos miembros se encuentran las que en Europa se llaman tarántulas. Lycos es palabra griega que significa lobo y en muchos idiomas, como el inglés, se ha adoptado la expresión “arañas lobo” como traducción de Lycosidae. En realidad, según es regla extendida, el nombre de la familia deriva del de uno de sus géneros, Lycosa. Las arañas más grandes de Europa se encuadran en esta familia, que también incluye miembros de pocos milímetros de longitud.

Nombre común: El nombre común de estas arañas se presta a confusión; en Europa se conocen con el nombre tarántulas; los colonizadores europeos de América llamaron tarántulas a la grandes arañas migalomorfas que hallaron en el Nuevo Mundo, de manera que, para los americanos, las tarántulas son las grandes migalomorfas americanas, mientras que los licósidos (que en realidad son las tarántulas originales) son denominados arañas lobo (wolf spiders).

Características: Son arañas que vagan en el suelo, excavando pequeñas galerías verticales u ocupando grietas naturales desde las que acechan a sus presas, cuya presencia detectan por las vibraciones del suelo. Las del género Pirata habitan ambientes húmedos y son capaces de correr sobre el agua o sumergirse en ésta para escapar de los predadores. No fabrican una red (salvo las de los géneros Sosippus, Aglaoctenus (Sudamericano) y Diapontia (Sudamericano), pero algunas tapizan con seda sus refugios. Las patas y los quelíceros son robustos, siendo el cuarto par de patas el más largo. Dos de sus ochos ojos son relativamente grandes y frontales, de manera que disfrutan de mejor visión que la mayoría de los arácnidos, lo que les permite orientarse visualmente y perseguir activamente a sus presas.

Los machos cortejan a las hembras con movimientos rítmicos de sus pedipalpos y levantando las patas anteriores. Una vez logrado el permiso el macho se coloca sobre el cefalotórax de la hembra y la fecunda con sus pedipalpos. Las hembras fabrican para los huevos un saco esférico que portan colgando del extremo posterior e inferior del abdomen. Cuando los huevos eclosionan, llevan a las crías sobre el abdomen hasta que realizan su primera muda. En algunos casos se ha observado que las hembras exponen el saco de huevos al sol.

Wolf spider

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, from the Greek word "λυκος" meaning "wolf". They are robust and agile hunters, and have good eyesight. They live mostly solitary lives and hunt alone. Some are opportunistic wanderer hunters, pouncing upon prey as they find it or chasing it over short distances. Others lie in wait for passing prey, often from or near the mouth of a burrow.

Wolf spiders resemble Nursery web spiders (family Pisauridae), but they carry their egg sacs by attaching them to their spinnerets (Pisauridae carry their egg sacs with their chelicerae and pedipalps).

Wolf spider

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Scientific classification

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Arthropoda

Class:Arachnida

Order:Araneae

Superfamily:Lycosoidea

Family:Lycosidae

Sundevall, 1833

Diversity

> 100 genera, c. 2,300 species

Genera

Aglaoctenus

Especie

Aglaoctenus sp

Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, from the Greek word "λυκος" meaning "wolf". They are robust and agile hunters, and have good eyesight. They live mostly solitary lives and hunt alone. Some are opportunistic wanderer hunters, pouncing upon prey as they find it or chasing it over short distances. Others lie in wait for passing prey, often from or near the mouth of a burrow.

Wolf spiders resemble Nursery web spiders (family Pisauridae), but they carry their egg sacs by attaching them to their spinnerets (Pisauridae carry their egg sacs with their chelicerae and pedipalps).

Their eyes reflect light well, and one way of finding them is to hunt at night using a flashlight strapped to one's forehead so that the light from the flashlight is reflected from their eyes directly back toward its source.

Because they depend on camouflage for protection, they do not have the flashy appearance of some other kinds of spiders. In general their coloration is appropriate to their favorite habitat.

Hogna is the genus with the largest of the wolf spiders. Among the Hogna species in the U.S., the nearly solid dark brown H. carolinensis is the largest, with a body that can be more than one inch long. It is sometimes confused with H. helluo (pictured below), which is somewhat smaller and entirely different in coloration.

Some members of the Lycosidae, such as H. carolinensis (called the Carolina wolf spider despite the fact that its range covers much of the U.S.) make deep tubular burrows in and around which they lurk much of the time. Others, such as H. helluo, seek shelter under convenient rocks and other such shelters as nature may provide. They may wander from place to place, and are therefore more likely to be the ones attracted into human habitation when the weather starts to turn colder in autumn.

There are many smaller wolf spiders. They patrol pastures and fields and are an important natural control on harmful insects.

The wolf spiders are capable of giving defensive bites, and some South American species may give bites that are medically significant. However, in general their presence works very much in favor of humans wherever they are found..

Toxicity: Wolf spiders may or may not be aggressive but will inject venom freely if continually provoked. Symptoms of their venomous bite include swelling, mild pain and itching. Though usually considered harmless to humans, the bite of some species may be painful. In the past, necrotic bites have been attributed to some South American species, but further investigation has indicated that those problems that did occur were probably actually due to bites by members of other genera. Australian wolf spiders have also been associated with necrotic wounds, but careful study has likewise shown them not to produce such results.

Teias de aranha em funil: Para escapar de algum perigo, entre outras finalidades, algumas espécies de aranhas constroem a web na forma de funil, que têm uma dupla função: a abertura maior serve para caçar, enquanto a ponta oposta do funil, que vai afilando, como um perfeito funil, termina na entrada do esconderijo (protegido no interior de árvores; entre folhas no solo; no interior do solo; debaixo de pedras; assim, ela tem cozinha e quarto na mesma web. Fios estrategicamente colocados sobre a abertura maior do funil alertam de qualquer movimento no exterior ou de um inseto preso em sua web, fazendo-a entrar imediatamente para o interior do esconderijo ou sair em busca da descuidada refeição. Na verdade, a web em forma de funil é uma genial armadilha e casa, fruto de uma construção bastante elaborada. Tão perfeita que aproximar para macro fotos é quase impossível. Dando um enorme trabalho.

Funnel-web spiders: To escape of some danger, among others purposes, some species of spiders construct web in the funnel form, that have a double function: the opening biggest serves to hunt, while the opposing tip of the funnel, that goes setting right, as a perfect funnel, finishes in the entrance it hiding place (protege in the interior of trees; between leves in the ground; in the interior of the ground; underneath of rocks; thus, it has kitchen and room in same web. Strategically placed wires on the opening biggest of the funnel alert of any movement in the exterior or an imprisoned insect in its web, making it to enter immediately for the interior of the hiding place or to leave in search the negligence meal. In the truth, web in funnel form is a brilliant trap and house, fruit of a construction sufficiently elaborated. So perfect that to approach for macro photos it is almost impossible. Giving an enormous work.

The most characteristic sign of a Funnel-web's burrow is the irregular silk trip-lines that radiate out from the burrow entrance of most species. These trip-lines alert the spider to possible prey, mates or danger.

Rain may flood burrows and the temporary retreats of male Funnel-webs, causing an increase in their activity. Funnel-webs are very vulnerable to drying out, so high humidity is more favourable to activity outside the burrow than dry conditions. Most activity is nocturnal.

Caminho das Borboletas: Principalmente no verão e na primavera é possível ver uma grande variedade de borboletas ao longo da trilha, motivo pelo qual é denominada de "Caminho das Borboletas ". Ao longo de toda a trilha é também possível observar um grande número de spiderweb, que confirma a grande quantidade de insetos ao redor.

Way of the Butterflies : Mainly in the summer and the spring it is possible to see a great variety of butterflies throughout the track, reason by which is called of " Way of the Butterflies ". Throughout all the track is also possible to observe a great number of spiderweb, that confirms the great amount of insects around.

Fazenda do Lobo: Localizada na Região Sudeste do Brasil, no Estado de Minas Gerais, é uma propriedade privada dedicada, exclusivamente, à preservação ambiental, da fauna e da flora, estando em constante plantio da flora natural, que atraem animais e pássaros, das mais variadas espécies (lobos, raposas, felinos, aves de rapina, tucanos e muitas outras aves), que crescem em número a cada novo ano.

Localizada em uma linda região montanhosa, a Fazenda do Lobo, possui um grande número de nascentes, sendo cortada por pequenos e perenes riachos, de água corrente e límpida, cuidadosamente preservados. Distando, quilômetros, dos grandes centros urbanos, o céu, à noite, é como um negro tapete de estrelas, cujo silêncio só é interrompido pelo uivar dos lobos e pelos misteriosos arrulhares das corujas. Um paraíso na terra.

O Estado de Minas Gerais está localizado no Sudeste do Brasil, fazendo divisa com os Estados de São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul e Distrito Federal. Possui uma área de 588.384 quilômetros quadrados, dos quais 5.030 são ocupados por lagos e rios. Minas possui 16 bacias fluviais. A altitude média do Estado é de aproximadamente 700 metros (9% das terras apresentam altitudes superiores a mil metros, com montanhas entre 1,5 mil e 2,9 mil metros). A temperatura varia em torno de 18ºC, com médias de 9ºC no Sul e máximas de 33ºC no norte do Estado. CLIMA: tropical Brasil Central (tropical de altitude com temperaturas médias anuais inferiores a 20ºC na maior parte do estado.

The Farm of the Wolf: Located in the Southeastern Region of Brazil, in the State of Minas Gerais, is a private property dedicated, exclusively, to the ambient preservation, of the fauna and the flora, being in constant plantation of the natural flora, that attract animals and birds, of the most varied species (wolves, foxes, felinos, birds of robbery, toucans and many other birds), that they grow, in number, to each new year. Hunting and fishing are forbidden. Located in a pretty highland, the Farm of the Wolf, possesss a great number of springs, being cut by small perennial streams, of current and limpid water, carefully preserved. Distant, kilometers, of the great urban centers, the sky, at night, is like a black carpet of stars, whose silence alone is interrupted by the howling of the wolves and the mysterious sounds of the owls. A paradise in the land.

The State of Minas Gerais is located in the Southeast of Brazil, having made verge with the States of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso of the South and Federal District. It possesss an area of 588.384 kilometers squared, of which 5,030 are busy for lakes and rivers. Minas Gerais possess 16 fluvial basins. The average altitude of the State is of approximately 700 meters (9% of lands present superior altitudes the 1 thousand meters, with mountains between 1,5 thousand and 2,9 thousand meters). The temperature varies around 18ºC, with averages of 9ºC in the South and principles of 33ºC in the north of the State. CLIMATE: tropical Central Brazil (tropical of altitude with average temperatures annual inferiors 20ºC for the most part of the state.

Three Legged Cross, Dorset

House Spider [Eratigena sp.]

ARACHNIDA > ARANEAE > Agelenidae (Funnelweb Spiders)

Taiwan

Because the fangs of the spider are large and enter with considerable force, the bite is very painful and the pain will persist for hours to days. Perioral tingling usually occurs within 15 minutes followed by tongue spasms, lacrimation, salivation, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis or severe dyspnea. Muscle fasciculations and spasms are also common. Cardiac arrythmias and cardiac arrest may occur. Severe pulmonary edema may occurs early and be fatal (Simon, 2004; Sutherland, 1972).

Treatment

The prehospital care is mainly supportive treatments

with ACLS protocols. Most bites do not result in envenomation and pain is the most common complaint. When envenomation occurs, standard life support measures and antivenin therapy are necessary. However, there is no antivenum available in Taiwan and supportive treatment is the main way. Tetanus immunization must be prescribed. Victims may be discharged safely in one day or so if they response well to antivenin. If antivenum is unavailable, the patient may need to stay more days in intensive care unit. Hypertension may be treated with alpha-blocker. Ventilator is indicated if respiratory failure is noted (Simon, 2004; Sutherland, 1972; White, Cardoso, & Fan, 1995).

October 8, 2019

A large funnel web spider (Agelenidae) has made a comfy home in the hydrangeas. It's a perfect stealthy lair to catch unsuspecting little flies as they look for Autumn sweets on a dwindling numbers of attractive petals.

Brewster, Massachusetts

Cape Cod - USA

Photo by brucetopher

© Bruce Christopher 2018

All Rights Reserved

...always learning - critiques welcome.

Tools: Canon 7D & iPhone 6s.

No use without permission.

Please email for usage info.

I was at the neighbouring abandoned chapel on the Buitenplaats Koningsweg compound and I spotted this web in the windowsill, with a spider laying in wait, ready for an unsuspecting prey.

I took out my extension tubes, tripod and cable release and a very large stick (in case the spider turned hostile and I would have to defend myself). I used live view zoomed in at 10x and adjusted the focus on the spider manually, which was pretty difficult at times. Live view provides the additional advantage of mirror lock-up, stabilizing the camera for those difficult macro shots.

These frames were also cropped quite a bit.

Here is a "Behind The Scenes" photo.

Ordem Araneae

Familia Lycosidae

Aglaoctenus sp.

Identificação Eduardo Wienskoski

Laboratório de Aracnologia - Museu Nacional

Lycosidae

De Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Los licósidos (Lycosidae) son una familia de arañas araneomorfas entre cuyos miembros se encuentran las que en Europa se llaman tarántulas. Lycos es palabra griega que significa lobo y en muchos idiomas, como el inglés, se ha adoptado la expresión “arañas lobo” como traducción de Lycosidae. En realidad, según es regla extendida, el nombre de la familia deriva del de uno de sus géneros, Lycosa. Las arañas más grandes de Europa se encuadran en esta familia, que también incluye miembros de pocos milímetros de longitud.

Nombre común: El nombre común de estas arañas se presta a confusión; en Europa se conocen con el nombre tarántulas; los colonizadores europeos de América llamaron tarántulas a la grandes arañas migalomorfas que hallaron en el Nuevo Mundo, de manera que, para los americanos, las tarántulas son las grandes migalomorfas americanas, mientras que los licósidos (que en realidad son las tarántulas originales) son denominados arañas lobo (wolf spiders).

Características: Son arañas que vagan en el suelo, excavando pequeñas galerías verticales u ocupando grietas naturales desde las que acechan a sus presas, cuya presencia detectan por las vibraciones del suelo. Las del género Pirata habitan ambientes húmedos y son capaces de correr sobre el agua o sumergirse en ésta para escapar de los predadores. No fabrican una red (salvo las de los géneros Sosippus, Aglaoctenus (Sudamericano) y Diapontia (Sudamericano), pero algunas tapizan con seda sus refugios. Las patas y los quelíceros son robustos, siendo el cuarto par de patas el más largo. Dos de sus ochos ojos son relativamente grandes y frontales, de manera que disfrutan de mejor visión que la mayoría de los arácnidos, lo que les permite orientarse visualmente y perseguir activamente a sus presas.

Los machos cortejan a las hembras con movimientos rítmicos de sus pedipalpos y levantando las patas anteriores. Una vez logrado el permiso el macho se coloca sobre el cefalotórax de la hembra y la fecunda con sus pedipalpos. Las hembras fabrican para los huevos un saco esférico que portan colgando del extremo posterior e inferior del abdomen. Cuando los huevos eclosionan, llevan a las crías sobre el abdomen hasta que realizan su primera muda. En algunos casos se ha observado que las hembras exponen el saco de huevos al sol.

Wolf spider

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, from the Greek word "λυκος" meaning "wolf". They are robust and agile hunters, and have good eyesight. They live mostly solitary lives and hunt alone. Some are opportunistic wanderer hunters, pouncing upon prey as they find it or chasing it over short distances. Others lie in wait for passing prey, often from or near the mouth of a burrow.

Wolf spiders resemble Nursery web spiders (family Pisauridae), but they carry their egg sacs by attaching them to their spinnerets (Pisauridae carry their egg sacs with their chelicerae and pedipalps).

Wolf spider

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Scientific classification

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Arthropoda

Class:Arachnida

Order:Araneae

Superfamily:Lycosoidea

Family:Lycosidae

Sundevall, 1833

Diversity

> 100 genera, c. 2,300 species

Genera

Aglaoctenus

Especie

Aglaoctenus sp

Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, from the Greek word "λυκος" meaning "wolf". They are robust and agile hunters, and have good eyesight. They live mostly solitary lives and hunt alone. Some are opportunistic wanderer hunters, pouncing upon prey as they find it or chasing it over short distances. Others lie in wait for passing prey, often from or near the mouth of a burrow.

Wolf spiders resemble Nursery web spiders (family Pisauridae), but they carry their egg sacs by attaching them to their spinnerets (Pisauridae carry their egg sacs with their chelicerae and pedipalps).

Their eyes reflect light well, and one way of finding them is to hunt at night using a flashlight strapped to one's forehead so that the light from the flashlight is reflected from their eyes directly back toward its source.

Because they depend on camouflage for protection, they do not have the flashy appearance of some other kinds of spiders. In general their coloration is appropriate to their favorite habitat.

Hogna is the genus with the largest of the wolf spiders. Among the Hogna species in the U.S., the nearly solid dark brown H. carolinensis is the largest, with a body that can be more than one inch long. It is sometimes confused with H. helluo (pictured below), which is somewhat smaller and entirely different in coloration.

Some members of the Lycosidae, such as H. carolinensis (called the Carolina wolf spider despite the fact that its range covers much of the U.S.) make deep tubular burrows in and around which they lurk much of the time. Others, such as H. helluo, seek shelter under convenient rocks and other such shelters as nature may provide. They may wander from place to place, and are therefore more likely to be the ones attracted into human habitation when the weather starts to turn colder in autumn.

There are many smaller wolf spiders. They patrol pastures and fields and are an important natural control on harmful insects.

The wolf spiders are capable of giving defensive bites, and some South American species may give bites that are medically significant. However, in general their presence works very much in favor of humans wherever they are found..

Toxicity: Wolf spiders may or may not be aggressive but will inject venom freely if continually provoked. Symptoms of their venomous bite include swelling, mild pain and itching. Though usually considered harmless to humans, the bite of some species may be painful. In the past, necrotic bites have been attributed to some South American species, but further investigation has indicated that those problems that did occur were probably actually due to bites by members of other genera. Australian wolf spiders have also been associated with necrotic wounds, but careful study has likewise shown them not to produce such results.

Teias de aranha em funil: Para escapar de algum perigo, entre outras finalidades, algumas espécies de aranhas constroem a web na forma de funil, que têm uma dupla função: a abertura maior serve para caçar, enquanto a ponta oposta do funil, que vai afilando, como um perfeito funil, termina na entrada do esconderijo (protegido no interior de árvores; entre folhas no solo; no interior do solo; debaixo de pedras; assim, ela tem cozinha e quarto na mesma web. Fios estrategicamente colocados sobre a abertura maior do funil alertam de qualquer movimento no exterior ou de um inseto preso em sua web, fazendo-a entrar imediatamente para o interior do esconderijo ou sair em busca da descuidada refeição. Na verdade, a web em forma de funil é uma genial armadilha e casa, fruto de uma construção bastante elaborada. Tão perfeita que aproximar para macro fotos é quase impossível. Dando um enorme trabalho.

Funnel-web spiders: To escape of some danger, among others purposes, some species of spiders construct web in the funnel form, that have a double function: the opening biggest serves to hunt, while the opposing tip of the funnel, that goes setting right, as a perfect funnel, finishes in the entrance it hiding place (protege in the interior of trees; between leves in the ground; in the interior of the ground; underneath of rocks; thus, it has kitchen and room in same web. Strategically placed wires on the opening biggest of the funnel alert of any movement in the exterior or an imprisoned insect in its web, making it to enter immediately for the interior of the hiding place or to leave in search the negligence meal. In the truth, web in funnel form is a brilliant trap and house, fruit of a construction sufficiently elaborated. So perfect that to approach for macro photos it is almost impossible. Giving an enormous work.

The most characteristic sign of a Funnel-web's burrow is the irregular silk trip-lines that radiate out from the burrow entrance of most species. These trip-lines alert the spider to possible prey, mates or danger.

Rain may flood burrows and the temporary retreats of male Funnel-webs, causing an increase in their activity. Funnel-webs are very vulnerable to drying out, so high humidity is more favourable to activity outside the burrow than dry conditions. Most activity is nocturnal.

Caminho das Borboletas: Principalmente no verão e na primavera é possível ver uma grande variedade de borboletas ao longo da trilha, motivo pelo qual é denominada de "Caminho das Borboletas ". Ao longo de toda a trilha é também possível observar um grande número de spiderweb, que confirma a grande quantidade de insetos ao redor.

Way of the Butterflies : Mainly in the summer and the spring it is possible to see a great variety of butterflies throughout the track, reason by which is called of " Way of the Butterflies ". Throughout all the track is also possible to observe a great number of spiderweb, that confirms the great amount of insects around.

Fazenda do Lobo: Localizada na Região Sudeste do Brasil, no Estado de Minas Gerais, é uma propriedade privada dedicada, exclusivamente, à preservação ambiental, da fauna e da flora, estando em constante plantio da flora natural, que atraem animais e pássaros, das mais variadas espécies (lobos, raposas, felinos, aves de rapina, tucanos e muitas outras aves), que crescem em número a cada novo ano.

Localizada em uma linda região montanhosa, a Fazenda do Lobo, possui um grande número de nascentes, sendo cortada por pequenos e perenes riachos, de água corrente e límpida, cuidadosamente preservados. Distando, quilômetros, dos grandes centros urbanos, o céu, à noite, é como um negro tapete de estrelas, cujo silêncio só é interrompido pelo uivar dos lobos e pelos misteriosos arrulhares das corujas. Um paraíso na terra.

O Estado de Minas Gerais está localizado no Sudeste do Brasil, fazendo divisa com os Estados de São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul e Distrito Federal. Possui uma área de 588.384 quilômetros quadrados, dos quais 5.030 são ocupados por lagos e rios. Minas possui 16 bacias fluviais. A altitude média do Estado é de aproximadamente 700 metros (9% das terras apresentam altitudes superiores a mil metros, com montanhas entre 1,5 mil e 2,9 mil metros). A temperatura varia em torno de 18ºC, com médias de 9ºC no Sul e máximas de 33ºC no norte do Estado. CLIMA: tropical Brasil Central (tropical de altitude com temperaturas médias anuais inferiores a 20ºC na maior parte do estado.

The Farm of the Wolf: Located in the Southeastern Region of Brazil, in the State of Minas Gerais, is a private property dedicated, exclusively, to the ambient preservation, of the fauna and the flora, being in constant plantation of the natural flora, that attract animals and birds, of the most varied species (wolves, foxes, felinos, birds of robbery, toucans and many other birds), that they grow, in number, to each new year. Hunting and fishing are forbidden. Located in a pretty highland, the Farm of the Wolf, possesss a great number of springs, being cut by small perennial streams, of current and limpid water, carefully preserved. Distant, kilometers, of the great urban centers, the sky, at night, is like a black carpet of stars, whose silence alone is interrupted by the howling of the wolves and the mysterious sounds of the owls. A paradise in the land.

The State of Minas Gerais is located in the Southeast of Brazil, having made verge with the States of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso of the South and Federal District. It possesss an area of 588.384 kilometers squared, of which 5,030 are busy for lakes and rivers. Minas Gerais possess 16 fluvial basins. The average altitude of the State is of approximately 700 meters (9% of lands present superior altitudes the 1 thousand meters, with mountains between 1,5 thousand and 2,9 thousand meters). The temperature varies around 18ºC, with averages of 9ºC in the South and principles of 33ºC in the north of the State. CLIMATE: tropical Central Brazil (tropical of altitude with average temperatures annual inferiors 20ºC for the most part of the state.

Ordem Araneae

Familia Lycosidae

Aglaoctenus sp.

Identificação Eduardo Wienskoski

Laboratório de Aracnologia - Museu Nacional

Lycosidae

De Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Los licósidos (Lycosidae) son una familia de arañas araneomorfas entre cuyos miembros se encuentran las que en Europa se llaman tarántulas. Lycos es palabra griega que significa lobo y en muchos idiomas, como el inglés, se ha adoptado la expresión “arañas lobo” como traducción de Lycosidae. En realidad, según es regla extendida, el nombre de la familia deriva del de uno de sus géneros, Lycosa. Las arañas más grandes de Europa se encuadran en esta familia, que también incluye miembros de pocos milímetros de longitud.

Nombre común: El nombre común de estas arañas se presta a confusión; en Europa se conocen con el nombre tarántulas; los colonizadores europeos de América llamaron tarántulas a la grandes arañas migalomorfas que hallaron en el Nuevo Mundo, de manera que, para los americanos, las tarántulas son las grandes migalomorfas americanas, mientras que los licósidos (que en realidad son las tarántulas originales) son denominados arañas lobo (wolf spiders).

Características: Son arañas que vagan en el suelo, excavando pequeñas galerías verticales u ocupando grietas naturales desde las que acechan a sus presas, cuya presencia detectan por las vibraciones del suelo. Las del género Pirata habitan ambientes húmedos y son capaces de correr sobre el agua o sumergirse en ésta para escapar de los predadores. No fabrican una red (salvo las de los géneros Sosippus, Aglaoctenus (Sudamericano) y Diapontia (Sudamericano), pero algunas tapizan con seda sus refugios. Las patas y los quelíceros son robustos, siendo el cuarto par de patas el más largo. Dos de sus ochos ojos son relativamente grandes y frontales, de manera que disfrutan de mejor visión que la mayoría de los arácnidos, lo que les permite orientarse visualmente y perseguir activamente a sus presas.

Los machos cortejan a las hembras con movimientos rítmicos de sus pedipalpos y levantando las patas anteriores. Una vez logrado el permiso el macho se coloca sobre el cefalotórax de la hembra y la fecunda con sus pedipalpos. Las hembras fabrican para los huevos un saco esférico que portan colgando del extremo posterior e inferior del abdomen. Cuando los huevos eclosionan, llevan a las crías sobre el abdomen hasta que realizan su primera muda. En algunos casos se ha observado que las hembras exponen el saco de huevos al sol.

Wolf spider

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, from the Greek word "λυκος" meaning "wolf". They are robust and agile hunters, and have good eyesight. They live mostly solitary lives and hunt alone. Some are opportunistic wanderer hunters, pouncing upon prey as they find it or chasing it over short distances. Others lie in wait for passing prey, often from or near the mouth of a burrow.

Wolf spiders resemble Nursery web spiders (family Pisauridae), but they carry their egg sacs by attaching them to their spinnerets (Pisauridae carry their egg sacs with their chelicerae and pedipalps).

Wolf spider

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Scientific classification

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Arthropoda

Class:Arachnida

Order:Araneae

Superfamily:Lycosoidea

Family:Lycosidae

Sundevall, 1833

Diversity

> 100 genera, c. 2,300 species

Genera

Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, from the Greek word "λυκος" meaning "wolf". They are robust and agile hunters, and have good eyesight. They live mostly solitary lives and hunt alone. Some are opportunistic wanderer hunters, pouncing upon prey as they find it or chasing it over short distances. Others lie in wait for passing prey, often from or near the mouth of a burrow.

Wolf spiders resemble Nursery web spiders (family Pisauridae), but they carry their egg sacs by attaching them to their spinnerets (Pisauridae carry their egg sacs with their chelicerae and pedipalps).

Their eyes reflect light well, and one way of finding them is to hunt at night using a flashlight strapped to one's forehead so that the light from the flashlight is reflected from their eyes directly back toward its source.

Because they depend on camouflage for protection, they do not have the flashy appearance of some other kinds of spiders. In general their coloration is appropriate to their favorite habitat.

Hogna is the genus with the largest of the wolf spiders. Among the Hogna species in the U.S., the nearly solid dark brown H. carolinensis is the largest, with a body that can be more than one inch long. It is sometimes confused with H. helluo (pictured below), which is somewhat smaller and entirely different in coloration.

Some members of the Lycosidae, such as H. carolinensis (called the Carolina wolf spider despite the fact that its range covers much of the U.S.) make deep tubular burrows in and around which they lurk much of the time. Others, such as H. helluo, seek shelter under convenient rocks and other such shelters as nature may provide. They may wander from place to place, and are therefore more likely to be the ones attracted into human habitation when the weather starts to turn colder in autumn.

There are many smaller wolf spiders. They patrol pastures and fields and are an important natural control on harmful insects.

The wolf spiders are capable of giving defensive bites, and some South American species may give bites that are medically significant. However, in general their presence works very much in favor of humans wherever they are found..

Toxicity: Wolf spiders may or may not be aggressive but will inject venom freely if continually provoked. Symptoms of their venomous bite include swelling, mild pain and itching. Though usually considered harmless to humans, the bite of some species may be painful. In the past, necrotic bites have been attributed to some South American species, but further investigation has indicated that those problems that did occur were probably actually due to bites by members of other genera. Australian wolf spiders have also been associated with necrotic wounds, but careful study has likewise shown them not to produce such results.

Teias de aranha em funil: Para escapar de algum perigo, entre outras finalidades, algumas espécies de aranhas constroem a web na forma de funil, que têm uma dupla função: a abertura maior serve para caçar, enquanto a ponta oposta do funil, que vai afilando, como um perfeito funil, termina na entrada do esconderijo (protegido no interior de árvores; entre folhas no solo; no interior do solo; debaixo de pedras; assim, ela tem cozinha e quarto na mesma web. Fios estrategicamente colocados sobre a abertura maior do funil alertam de qualquer movimento no exterior ou de um inseto preso em sua web, fazendo-a entrar imediatamente para o interior do esconderijo ou sair em busca da descuidada refeição. Na verdade, a web em forma de funil é uma genial armadilha e casa, fruto de uma construção bastante elaborada. Tão perfeita que aproximar para macro fotos é quase impossível. Dando um enorme trabalho.

Funnel-web spiders: To escape of some danger, among others purposes, some species of spiders construct web in the funnel form, that have a double function: the opening biggest serves to hunt, while the opposing tip of the funnel, that goes setting right, as a perfect funnel, finishes in the entrance it hiding place (protege in the interior of trees; between leves in the ground; in the interior of the ground; underneath of rocks; thus, it has kitchen and room in same web. Strategically placed wires on the opening biggest of the funnel alert of any movement in the exterior or an imprisoned insect in its web, making it to enter immediately for the interior of the hiding place or to leave in search the negligence meal. In the truth, web in funnel form is a brilliant trap and house, fruit of a construction sufficiently elaborated. So perfect that to approach for macro photos it is almost impossible. Giving an enormous work.

The most characteristic sign of a Funnel-web's burrow is the irregular silk trip-lines that radiate out from the burrow entrance of most species. These trip-lines alert the spider to possible prey, mates or danger.

Rain may flood burrows and the temporary retreats of male Funnel-webs, causing an increase in their activity. Funnel-webs are very vulnerable to drying out, so high humidity is more favourable to activity outside the burrow than dry conditions. Most activity is nocturnal.

Caminho das Borboletas: Principalmente no verão e na primavera é possível ver uma grande variedade de borboletas ao longo da trilha, motivo pelo qual é denominada de "Caminho das Borboletas ". Ao longo de toda a trilha é também possível observar um grande número de spiderweb, que confirma a grande quantidade de insetos ao redor.

Way of the Butterflies : Mainly in the summer and the spring it is possible to see a great variety of butterflies throughout the track, reason by which is called of " Way of the Butterflies ". Throughout all the track is also possible to observe a great number of spiderweb, that confirms the great amount of insects around.

Fazenda do Lobo: Localizada na Região Sudeste do Brasil, no Estado de Minas Gerais, é uma propriedade privada dedicada, exclusivamente, à preservação ambiental, da fauna e da flora, estando em constante plantio da flora natural, que atraem animais e pássaros, das mais variadas espécies (lobos, raposas, felinos, aves de rapina, tucanos e muitas outras aves), que crescem em número a cada novo ano.

Localizada em uma linda região montanhosa, a Fazenda do Lobo, possui um grande número de nascentes, sendo cortada por pequenos e perenes riachos, de água corrente e límpida, cuidadosamente preservados. Distando, quilômetros, dos grandes centros urbanos, o céu, à noite, é como um negro tapete de estrelas, cujo silêncio só é interrompido pelo uivar dos lobos e pelos misteriosos arrulhares das corujas. Um paraíso na terra.

O Estado de Minas Gerais está localizado no Sudeste do Brasil, fazendo divisa com os Estados de São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul e Distrito Federal. Possui uma área de 588.384 quilômetros quadrados, dos quais 5.030 são ocupados por lagos e rios. Minas possui 16 bacias fluviais. A altitude média do Estado é de aproximadamente 700 metros (9% das terras apresentam altitudes superiores a mil metros, com montanhas entre 1,5 mil e 2,9 mil metros). A temperatura varia em torno de 18ºC, com médias de 9ºC no Sul e máximas de 33ºC no norte do Estado. CLIMA: tropical Brasil Central (tropical de altitude com temperaturas médias anuais inferiores a 20ºC na maior parte do estado.

The Farm of the Wolf: Located in the Southeastern Region of Brazil, in the State of Minas Gerais, is a private property dedicated, exclusively, to the ambient preservation, of the fauna and the flora, being in constant plantation of the natural flora, that attract animals and birds, of the most varied species (wolves, foxes, felinos, birds of robbery, toucans and many other birds), that they grow, in number, to each new year. Hunting and fishing are forbidden. Located in a pretty highland, the Farm of the Wolf, possesss a great number of springs, being cut by small perennial streams, of current and limpid water, carefully preserved. Distant, kilometers, of the great urban centers, the sky, at night, is like a black carpet of stars, whose silence alone is interrupted by the howling of the wolves and the mysterious sounds of the owls. A paradise in the land.

The State of Minas Gerais is located in the Southeast of Brazil, having made verge with the States of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso of the South and Federal District. It possesss an area of 588.384 kilometers squared, of which 5,030 are busy for lakes and rivers. Minas Gerais possess 16 fluvial basins. The average altitude of the State is of approximately 700 meters (9% of lands present superior altitudes the 1 thousand meters, with mountains between 1,5 thousand and 2,9 thousand meters). The temperature varies around 18ºC, with averages of 9ºC in the South and principles of 33ºC in the north of the State. CLIMATE: tropical Central Brazil (tropical of altitude with average temperatures annual inferiors 20ºC for the most part of the state.

Looking down the bore of a funnel web spider nest.

A Funnel web spider awaits a prey in this crafty funnel between two rocks at Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali.

Too hazy a picture to be called a macro. Shot this dark funnel without any lights. I wish I could take a better picture. But a surprise awaited me too.

A few weeks back my friend and avid photographer Anurag Prashar and I visited the national park for an early morning shoot.

This park is home to a few leopards and they are known to have attacked and killed morning joggers in this park.

The most dangerous animal in this park, though, seemed to be the forest guard. he threw us out of the trail when we just began shooting. Apparently the tickets we had bought allowed us only onto the roads in the park. For trails there were additional tickets. That wasn't mentioned anywhere at the entry to the park or the trail. And now that we were in, could he allow us to shoot and we will pay for tickets and even penalty later.. But he wouldn't budge. "There are leopards here!" .. Apparently they don't bite people who have 'trail tickets" and/or "who speak Marathi (local language)".

So here we were, two middle aged photographers out on the road, too tired to walk back to the gate a few kilometers away to buy trail tickets and walk back. In favor of the guard, he did not seek any bribe. Against the guard, no sensitivity to two older wildlife enthusiasts, who were willing to pay.

Nevertheless, presenting here a hazy Funnel Web Spider, highlighted by using curves in PS4.

Hope this spider had a better luck in catching her prey than we had in catching some photographs.

Hadronyche cerberea

FACE-SHAPED SPIDER WEB (likely belonging to a funnel-web spider or a grass spider) - Composition Tuesday

© Erik McGregor - erikrivas@hotmail.com - 917-225-8963

canon EOS 5d mark iii - canon MPE 65mm f/2.8 1-5x - canon MT 24EX

Had to resort to using my phone which I hate doing as my camera had completely died. Time for a new camera methinks. Shitloads got done down here today, and a big fuckoff rat popped up from the sewers to come and check out the pieces.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f_p0CgPeyA

Uncertain species, possibly Ageleninae or Hololena.

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Arachnida

Order: Araneae

Superfamily: Lycosoidea

Family Lycosidae,

Lawn Wolf Spider

Hippasa holmerae Thorell 1895

I finally found this listing in the Spider Book published in Singapore. But there were record elsewhere that said the Wolf Spider could be mixed up with the Funnelweb Spider. So may be I still need the expert to confirm.

Spider Guide

The Lawn Wolf Spider

She is about 0.7 cm long.

I shot these photographs in the morning. The spiders were perching somewhere in the middle of their horizontally laid out web. They weaved their webs flat on the grass. Perhaps it was due to their horizontal spread that countless droplets of morning dew were trapped in them. They sparkled like diamonds under close scrutiny of my 100mm macro lens. I was awed and almost stopped breathing, holding still to capture them in their natural state.

We counted at least ten of these web. They look whiter early in the morning and turned more transparent as the water droplets evaporated when it reached noon. Somehow, they did not seems likely to feed on grasshopper except this one. There is a tunnel like hole at the centre of the web and that was where the spider hid himself when he encountered danger. The attack on the grasshopper was swift, about 3-4 encounter and the grasshopper slumped onto the web and the spider carried it into the tunnel and disappeared. However, when we went back about an hour later, he was up on the web again, still carrying the prey in his mouth. We notice that the grasshopper had its abdomen stripped off the outer layer. I wonder whether this spider eat or suck the body fluid from its prey.

Teias de aranha em funil: Para escapar de algum perigo, entre outras finalidades, algumas espécies de aranhas constroem a web na forma de funil, que têm uma dupla função: a abertura maior serve para caçar, enquanto a ponta oposta do funil, que vai afilando, como um perfeito funil, termina na entrada do esconderijo (protegido no interior de árvores; entre folhas no solo; no interior do solo; debaixo de pedras; assim, ela tem cozinha e quarto na mesma web. Fios estrategicamente colocados sobre a abertura maior do funil alertam de qualquer movimento no exterior ou de um inseto preso em sua web, fazendo-a entrar imediatamente para o interior do esconderijo ou sair em busca da descuidada refeição. Na verdade, a web em forma de funil é uma genial armadilha e casa, fruto de uma construção bastante elaborada. Tão perfeita que aproximar para macro fotos é quase impossível. Dando um enorme trabalho.

Funnel-web spiders: To escape of some danger, among others purposes, some species of spiders construct web in the funnel form, that have a double function: the opening biggest serves to hunt, while the opposing tip of the funnel, that goes setting right, as a perfect funnel, finishes in the entrance it hiding place (protege in the interior of trees; between leves in the ground; in the interior of the ground; underneath of rocks; thus, it has kitchen and room in same web. Strategically placed wires on the opening biggest of the funnel alert of any movement in the exterior or an imprisoned insect in its web, making it to enter immediately for the interior of the hiding place or to leave in search the negligence meal. In the truth, web in funnel form is a brilliant trap and house, fruit of a construction sufficiently elaborated. So perfect that to approach for macro photos it is almost impossible. Giving an enormous work.

The most characteristic sign of a Funnel-web's burrow is the irregular silk trip-lines that radiate out from the burrow entrance of most species. These trip-lines alert the spider to possible prey, mates or danger.

Rain may flood burrows and the temporary retreats of male Funnel-webs, causing an increase in their activity. Funnel-webs are very vulnerable to drying out, so high humidity is more favourable to activity outside the burrow than dry conditions. Most activity is nocturnal.

Caminho das Borboletas: Principalmente no verão e na primavera é possível ver uma grande variedade de borboletas ao longo da trilha, motivo pelo qual é denominada de "Caminho das Borboletas ". Ao longo de toda a trilha é também possível observar um grande número de spiderweb, que confirma a grande quantidade de insetos ao redor.

Way of the Butterflies : Mainly in the summer and the spring it is possible to see a great variety of butterflies throughout the track, reason by which is called of " Way of the Butterflies ". Throughout all the track is also possible to observe a great number of spiderweb, that confirms the great amount of insects around.

Fazenda do Lobo: Localizada na Região Sudeste do Brasil, no Estado de Minas Gerais, é uma propriedade privada dedicada, exclusivamente, à preservação ambiental, da fauna e da flora, estando em constante plantio da flora natural, que atraem animais e pássaros, das mais variadas espécies (lobos, raposas, felinos, aves de rapina, tucanos e muitas outras aves), que crescem em número a cada novo ano.

Localizada em uma linda região montanhosa, a Fazenda do Lobo, possui um grande número de nascentes, sendo cortada por pequenos e perenes riachos, de água corrente e límpida, cuidadosamente preservados. Distando, quilômetros, dos grandes centros urbanos, o céu, à noite, é como um negro tapete de estrelas, cujo silêncio só é interrompido pelo uivar dos lobos e pelos misteriosos arrulhares das corujas. Um paraíso na terra.

O Estado de Minas Gerais está localizado no Sudeste do Brasil, fazendo divisa com os Estados de São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul e Distrito Federal. Possui uma área de 588.384 quilômetros quadrados, dos quais 5.030 são ocupados por lagos e rios. Minas possui 16 bacias fluviais. A altitude média do Estado é de aproximadamente 700 metros (9% das terras apresentam altitudes superiores a mil metros, com montanhas entre 1,5 mil e 2,9 mil metros). A temperatura varia em torno de 18ºC, com médias de 9ºC no Sul e máximas de 33ºC no norte do Estado. CLIMA: tropical Brasil Central (tropical de altitude com temperaturas médias anuais inferiores a 20ºC na maior parte do estado.

The Farm of the Wolf: Located in the Southeastern Region of Brazil, in the State of Minas Gerais, is a private property dedicated, exclusively, to the ambient preservation, of the fauna and the flora, being in constant plantation of the natural flora, that attract animals and birds, of the most varied species (wolves, foxes, felinos, birds of robbery, toucans and many other birds), that they grow, in number, to each new year. Hunting and fishing are forbidden. Located in a pretty highland, the Farm of the Wolf, possesss a great number of springs, being cut by small perennial streams, of current and limpid water, carefully preserved. Distant, kilometers, of the great urban centers, the sky, at night, is like a black carpet of stars, whose silence alone is interrupted by the howling of the wolves and the mysterious sounds of the owls. A paradise in the land.

The State of Minas Gerais is located in the Southeast of Brazil, having made verge with the States of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso of the South and Federal District. It possesss an area of 588.384 kilometers squared, of which 5,030 are busy for lakes and rivers. Minas Gerais possess 16 fluvial basins. The average altitude of the State is of approximately 700 meters (9% of lands present superior altitudes the 1 thousand meters, with mountains between 1,5 thousand and 2,9 thousand meters). The temperature varies around 18ºC, with averages of 9ºC in the South and principles of 33ºC in the north of the State. CLIMATE: tropical Central Brazil (tropical of altitude with average temperatures annual inferiors 20ºC for the most part of the state.

Blue Mountains funnel-web spider - Hadronyche versuta

Springwood - NSW

Australia

Teias de aranha em funil: Para escapar de algum perigo, entre outras finalidades, algumas espécies de aranhas constroem a web na forma de funil, que têm uma dupla função: a abertura maior serve para caçar, enquanto a ponta oposta do funil, que vai afilando, como um perfeito funil, termina na entrada do esconderijo (protegido no interior de árvores; entre folhas no solo; no interior do solo; debaixo de pedras; assim, ela tem cozinha e quarto na mesma web. Fios estrategicamente colocados sobre a abertura maior do funil alertam de qualquer movimento no exterior ou de um inseto preso em sua web, fazendo-a entrar imediatamente para o interior do esconderijo ou sair em busca da descuidada refeição. Na verdade, a web em forma de funil é uma genial armadilha e casa, fruto de uma construção bastante elaborada. Tão perfeita que aproximar para macro fotos é quase impossível. Dando um enorme trabalho.

Funnel-web spiders: To escape of some danger, among others purposes, some species of spiders construct web in the funnel form, that have a double function: the opening biggest serves to hunt, while the opposing tip of the funnel, that goes setting right, as a perfect funnel, finishes in the entrance it hiding place (protege in the interior of trees; between leves in the ground; in the interior of the ground; underneath of rocks; thus, it has kitchen and room in same web. Strategically placed wires on the opening biggest of the funnel alert of any movement in the exterior or an imprisoned insect in its web, making it to enter immediately for the interior of the hiding place or to leave in search the negligence meal. In the truth, web in funnel form is a brilliant trap and house, fruit of a construction sufficiently elaborated. So perfect that to approach for macro photos it is almost impossible. Giving an enormous work.

The most characteristic sign of a Funnel-web's burrow is the irregular silk trip-lines that radiate out from the burrow entrance of most species. These trip-lines alert the spider to possible prey, mates or danger.

Rain may flood burrows and the temporary retreats of male Funnel-webs, causing an increase in their activity. Funnel-webs are very vulnerable to drying out, so high humidity is more favourable to activity outside the burrow than dry conditions. Most activity is nocturnal.

Caminho das Borboletas: Principalmente no verão e na primavera é possível ver uma grande variedade de borboletas ao longo da trilha, motivo pelo qual é denominada de "Caminho das Borboletas ". Ao longo de toda a trilha é também possível observar um grande número de spiderweb, que confirma a grande quantidade de insetos ao redor.

Way of the Butterflies : Mainly in the summer and the spring it is possible to see a great variety of butterflies throughout the track, reason by which is called of " Way of the Butterflies ". Throughout all the track is also possible to observe a great number of spiderweb, that confirms the great amount of insects around.

Fazenda do Lobo: Localizada na Região Sudeste do Brasil, no Estado de Minas Gerais, é uma propriedade privada dedicada, exclusivamente, à preservação ambiental, da fauna e da flora, estando em constante plantio da flora natural, que atraem animais e pássaros, das mais variadas espécies (lobos, raposas, felinos, aves de rapina, tucanos e muitas outras aves), que crescem em número a cada novo ano.

Localizada em uma linda região montanhosa, a Fazenda do Lobo, possui um grande número de nascentes, sendo cortada por pequenos e perenes riachos, de água corrente e límpida, cuidadosamente preservados. Distando, quilômetros, dos grandes centros urbanos, o céu, à noite, é como um negro tapete de estrelas, cujo silêncio só é interrompido pelo uivar dos lobos e pelos misteriosos arrulhares das corujas. Um paraíso na terra.

O Estado de Minas Gerais está localizado no Sudeste do Brasil, fazendo divisa com os Estados de São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul e Distrito Federal. Possui uma área de 588.384 quilômetros quadrados, dos quais 5.030 são ocupados por lagos e rios. Minas possui 16 bacias fluviais. A altitude média do Estado é de aproximadamente 700 metros (9% das terras apresentam altitudes superiores a mil metros, com montanhas entre 1,5 mil e 2,9 mil metros). A temperatura varia em torno de 18ºC, com médias de 9ºC no Sul e máximas de 33ºC no norte do Estado. CLIMA: tropical Brasil Central (tropical de altitude com temperaturas médias anuais inferiores a 20ºC na maior parte do estado.

The Farm of the Wolf: Located in the Southeastern Region of Brazil, in the State of Minas Gerais, is a private property dedicated, exclusively, to the ambient preservation, of the fauna and the flora, being in constant plantation of the natural flora, that attract animals and birds, of the most varied species (wolves, foxes, felinos, birds of robbery, toucans and many other birds), that they grow, in number, to each new year. Hunting and fishing are forbidden. Located in a pretty highland, the Farm of the Wolf, possesss a great number of springs, being cut by small perennial streams, of current and limpid water, carefully preserved. Distant, kilometers, of the great urban centers, the sky, at night, is like a black carpet of stars, whose silence alone is interrupted by the howling of the wolves and the mysterious sounds of the owls. A paradise in the land.

The State of Minas Gerais is located in the Southeast of Brazil, having made verge with the States of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso of the South and Federal District. It possesss an area of 588.384 kilometers squared, of which 5,030 are busy for lakes and rivers. Minas Gerais possess 16 fluvial basins. The average altitude of the State is of approximately 700 meters (9% of lands present superior altitudes the 1 thousand meters, with mountains between 1,5 thousand and 2,9 thousand meters). The temperature varies around 18ºC, with averages of 9ºC in the South and principles of 33ºC in the north of the State. CLIMATE: tropical Central Brazil (tropical of altitude with average temperatures annual inferiors 20ºC for the most part of the state.

I was at the neighbouring abandoned chapel on the Buitenplaats Koningsweg compound and I spotted this web in the windowsill, with a spider laying in wait, ready for an unsuspecting prey.

I took out my extension tubes, tripod and cable release and a very large stick (in case the spider turned hostile and I would have to defend myself). I used live view zoomed in at 10x and adjusted the focus on the spider manually, which was pretty difficult at times. Live view provides the additional advantage of mirror lock-up, stabilizing the camera for those difficult macro shots.

These frames were also cropped quite a bit.

Here is a "Behind The Scenes" photo.

Don't mess with one, these spiders have highly toxic venom.

Please contact me jvdb74@hotmail.com for use of this photo