Spined Micrathena Orb Weaver Spider - Micrathena gracilis
by Carol Senske
Title
Spined Micrathena Orb Weaver Spider - Micrathena gracilis
Artist
Carol Senske
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
This is good, uncomplicated information from Wikipedia. Here is the link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spined_Micrathena
"Micrathena gracilis is a spider in the family Araneidae (orb-weavers), commonly known as the Spined Micrathena. This spider spins a moderately large (can be 30 cm (11.81 in) or more across), very tightly coiled web, often in wooded or brushy areas. It is completely harmless to humans.
The only web-building members of the species are the females. Females are 8-10 mm long. They exhibit a bulbous abdomen with a total of ten spines. Males exhibit a fair amount of sexual dimorphism. They tend to be around only half the size of the females. Also, they have fewer spines, a flatter abdomen, and a slightly lighter tone. Although males can produce silk, they mostly use it in the mating ritual, which frequently also proves fatal.
Micrathena gracilis hatches in the spring, the image of an adult. After the summer's growth, the female lays eggs in a sack. These remain relatively dormant through the winter months. The general life span is one year in length."
Anecdotal note:
We call them "bag spiders" because their abdomens look like sacks - LOL. It is generally their webs that cause us to get "web-faced" as we walk through the woods.
This picture was taken in Green Lane, Pennsylvania, USA, on September 2, 2012.
Uploaded
January 25th, 2013
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Viewed 1,279 Times - Last Visitor from Jarrettsville, MD on 04/15/2024 at 8:48 AM
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Comments (5)
Conni Schaftenaar
this is a totally AWESOME spider, Carol - never have seen this kind before! Thanks for sharing, F
Bob Orsillo
Carol this is so interesting. Isn't amazing what is out there. Awesome photograph. V/F
Carol Senske replied:
"My object all sublime, I shall achieve in time" and I WILL get a really great shot of these spiders and people will see them as gorgeous. Thank you for your unending kindness and support. Even spiders need love.
Latha Gokuldas Panicker
Love this fascinating work by the natures architect , Carol !!! (f/v)
Carol Senske replied:
These are quite strangely shaped spiders. Although their appearance is fierce, they are pretty small and not at all a problem for people (except when we walk into a web and must peel it off as Doris said:>). Thank you for your nice comment and for the V/F. You're so kind to visit!
Doris Potter
Very interesting! I like your term "web-faced". It brings back memories of frantically trying to peel off webs after I obviously walked right into them unknowingly.
Carol Senske replied:
We are part of a universal population of folks who've walked right into an "invisible" web. Then, as you so aptly described it, the frantic brushing and maybe even some bad words! No one thinks of the poor spider loosing all that silk and having to totally rebuild:>). They "don't get no respect!" LOL
Sharon Burger
wicked good Carol...v/f
Carol Senske replied:
She does look a bit wicked, doesn't she - LOL. Big thanks for the V/F, of course, and for the chuckle:>)
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