Orb weaver

[DreadedNeith]

Not a tarantula but I found a cool little orb weaver on my deck. I walked out onto my back deck and almost walked right into it. I've always loved the patterns on these guys.

 

[DreadedNeith]

And here it is wrapping up it's dinner.

 

[nedaK]

I once had a huge black and yellow Argiope orb weaver on my patio. It would eat all the hornets in my neighborhood. Unfortunately one day I found its web destroyed and the spider missing, but there was an egg sac behind the remains of the web so that’s good I guess.

 

[DreadedNeith]

I once had a huge black and yellow Argiope orb weaver on my patio. It would eat all the hornets in my neighborhood. Unfortunately one day I found its web destroyed and the spider missing, but there was an egg sac behind the remains of the web so that’s good I guess.

Those are really cool. I've only been lucky enough to see one in real life. I'd love to have one as a pet.

 

[DreadedNeith]

Here's another one I found this morning. You can see the tiny hairs on its pedipalps and legs.

 

[nedaK]

Here's another one I found this morning. You can see the tiny hairs on its pedipalps and legs.View attachment 39606

That one is a recently molted mature male I believe.

 

[DreadedNeith]

That one is a recently molted mature male I believe.

I can't tell the difference. I thought the first one was male because of the boxing gloves on the pedipalps. How can you tell?

 

[nedaK]

I can't tell the difference. I thought the first one was male because of the boxing gloves on the pedipalps. How can you tell?

Boxing gloves

 

[DreadedNeith]

So they're both male?

 

[nedaK]

So they're both male?

Yes.