I was bit by a brown recluse (that's what the MediQuik doc said) when I was a teenager. You don't know when it happens but then it started to swell just above my ankle around a hole that started getting bigger each day. Finally, went to the doc and they pointed out the light red "veins" running out from the bite (now a hole about half the size of a dime) throughout the swollen area. I remember ignoring it at first then I got really really really tired for some reason and showed it to my mom. Off to the doc who gave me some meds and all was good.
I've seen brown recluse, black widow, scorpion, tarantula around here. It is cyclical what you see the most of though. One year I saw several brown recluse but haven't seen any in a few years. Same with scorpion. I used to see tarantula a lot when I was younger but haven't seen many in the last 15 years or so.
I don't know what this is but it is about 3" in size and had a huge web built under a porch. Someone told me it is called a banana spider but I am not sure.
The janitor at my high school said he was bit by a black widow. Said he felt it when it happened so he went to the doc before it started eating flesh like mine did.
That was long ago but I remember it because we were swapping "spider bite" stories and my biology teacher was wanting to show off mine and his bites to her science classes.
Last edited by Arky-X; 11-30-2019 at 12:16 AM.
That's what we call a barn spider here. The zigzag pattern in the middle of the web is their trademark. They are a species of orb weaver, Argiope aurantia.
I've commonly seen them in...barns. They tend to prefer open, higher spaces. A really cool looking spider and web.
I can find a brown recluse in minutes here. A black widow in half an hour maybe. They're all over the place, but it's the same old rule for them as it is for most things in life; look before sticking you hand in.
Noodlers ignore that one though.
Not everyone gets necrosis (loxoscelism) from a brown recluse bite, nor does everyone have a serious reaction from a black widow bite. Both typically happen when the spider is squished against the skin, in places like bed or putting on clothes, especially clothing that's been hanging in dark closets for extended periods. Always turn those winter clothes inside out before first wearing them for the season...you may find a forgotten $20 bill too!
Keeping a lot of paper or cardboard boxes in the home is a bad idea, because that is what brown recluse are attracted to. Their natural environment is rotted wood, where they eat insects. Black widows love damp, dark places, like cellars and crawl spaces, but they are at home anywhere dark, like closets.
In the spring and summer here, a light shined onto the grass reveals thousands of reflective dew like dots, but they're actually spider eyes. Wolf spiders like you wouldn't believe, all over the place. They occasionally come in the house, but they're just lost. They look more terrifying then what they actually are. As solitary hunters, they scurry around a lot.
Anyone who doesn't like spiders in the house, should count themselves fortunate if they see a house centipede. (Scutigera coleoptrata). They look weird, but are spider munching machines.
I found this tarantula in the pasture about a month ago. I was excited to see it. They used to be very common, but I think the fire ants hurt their population. I'll take tarantulas over fire ants all day, every day. I did pester it to get the fang shot. They mind their own business and like to avoid humans. Actually, I was moving a tool box in the shop and found a tarantula next to it. When I was taking it to the wood line is when I seen this other one in the pasture.
A couple more from here.
The story of three wheels and a man...
We had those banana spiders everywhere in Indiana when I was growing up. I haven't seen a single one since we moved to southern Kentucky.
Tarantulas are pretty docile... At least the ones I've handled although I'll admit that it might be a different story for a spider that wasn't bred and raised in a terrarium
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That squished one looks interesting.
I really try to ignore that swat impulse, because it typically causes a bite or sting. I've gotten pretty good at taking a look first, but not always.
We have small scorpions here and the only time I've been stung was swatting at it before I knew what was on me. The sting isn't much worse than a honey bee, but not quite a red wasp. Like many other predatory crawly things, they like dead and rotting wood.
A good source of local spidey info here are dirt dauber nests. They will be full of spiders, like crab spiders and a whole lot of color variations I haven't seen around here. They paralyze them for the nest and each nest cell will have one of more spiders. They are excellent spider hunters and I've seen them flying with their prey many times.
The story of three wheels and a man...
Wolf Spider I seen today.
These guys are all over the place here, and I see them running across the floor a lot. Not a threat to humans, not aggressive, but don't run away either. This one was small. It has some fuzz on it's legs from he dusty cup I took it outside in. I dislike killing spiders, and just take them outside when found in the house.
The story of three wheels and a man...
I keep running into spiders every weekend, but more often than not they’re the same species.
These are a few I haven’t seen before. The first one was so small I wouldn’t have seen it had it not built it’s web on the handle of my gate. He had to be coaxed into posing.
This next one was small too, but had a massive egg sack in relation to her body.
I just noticed that there’s what appears the be the remains of a second spider in the first photo. Considering the squares in the wire mess in that photo are only 1” the cameras that come on our phones there days are pretty amazing.
Last edited by El Camexican; 02-14-2020 at 09:55 AM.
I was getting rid of some rotten firewood yesterday, so there was definitely a chance in finding some critters in there.
I don't know what this one is.
I seen these egg sacks, which I was expecting. Only one spider here makes these and has this thick & crappy looking web. I didn't see her right away though. Not until later.
After coming back for another load, I found sexy black. Look at those strong legs.
She was moving around a lot, so I had a difficult time trying to get a good picture.
The story of three wheels and a man...
Ran into this little guy while changing a battery on a yard light this morning. It wasn’t until after I shook him off and went back to pulling the battery out that I realize there were two of them. If you look closely at the photo you’ll see the backside of the other one in a crack along the edge. So small, no wonder I keep getting bites even though I haven’t seen spiders.
This one was swinging in front of my face from the overhang of the house the other day. I had to break his line and swing him onto the wall of the house to take the picture.
Dang you folks have good "spidey senses" to find those things! I just got back from Huatulco, Mexico and didn't see a single spider; the copious amounts of drinking might be the issue? I think the resorts fumigate at night to keep the fat, sweaty Canadians happy without scaring them away. We'll shoo away a black bear from the porch but face a spider or scorpion..........nope! I did see a red ant about 3/4" long with a head about 1/4" wide with wicked pinchers, wouldn't want to get bit by that sucker.
Trikes
1970/71 US 90 (Aquarius Blue)
1970/71 US 90 (Future Project)
1972/73 US 90 Camo Project (110 Big Bore)
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1977 ATC 90 w/83 110 motor (Fugly)
1982 ATC 70
1983 ATC 70 (Ladybug)
1973 ATC 70
1965 Marketeer 3 Wheel Golf Cart with 1986 Honda 250 drivetrain
TF 2015
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