Jumping Spider in our rain gauge!
Hah - I found this little spider inside the rain gauge on our upstairs deck today! It's a more complicated rain gauge than the coffee can I used to use, as it has a small inner tube which measures hundredths of an inch and overflows into a larger outer tube which can hold up to ten inches. There's a funnel-like lid on top that directs water into the small tube. The spider seems to want to be inside and made no effort to get away when I took the lid off today. I believe it's a Jumping Spider (Salticidae), probably genus Phidippus with those reddish colors, and possibly a Johnson Jumper (Phidippus johnsoni). I've actually seen a spider inside the rain gauge before, see this photo. Maybe it's an omen of a big rain tonight? Arachtober 24. (San Marcos Pass, 24 October 2021)
Jumping Spider in our rain gauge!
Hah - I found this little spider inside the rain gauge on our upstairs deck today! It's a more complicated rain gauge than the coffee can I used to use, as it has a small inner tube which measures hundredths of an inch and overflows into a larger outer tube which can hold up to ten inches. There's a funnel-like lid on top that directs water into the small tube. The spider seems to want to be inside and made no effort to get away when I took the lid off today. I believe it's a Jumping Spider (Salticidae), probably genus Phidippus with those reddish colors, and possibly a Johnson Jumper (Phidippus johnsoni). I've actually seen a spider inside the rain gauge before, see this photo. Maybe it's an omen of a big rain tonight? Arachtober 24. (San Marcos Pass, 24 October 2021)