I'm not sure what species this one is exactly, but from the look of it, it doesn't matter because it's dead (note the legs curled up under the body and the shriveled abdomen). It doesn't however look like a dangerous species, such as a Black Widow or Brown Recluse.
goritju
Apr 2, 2004 4:41 PM
But what about the egg sack - and the inhabitants that it once shielded, they have moved on!!!!
serpentnut
Apr 5, 2004 8:41 AM
The spider in that web did not live there. What you are looking at is a species of fishing spider (I believe), that has been captured by a web-spinning spider. Ifi had my guess I would say the spider that perviously lived in that web was a Common house spider. Here's the thing...Fishing spiders do not spin webs. House spiders are found in almost every dark dry corner, and their webs are scattered and strong. Once that big spider gets tangled in the web, the little house spider goes to town throwing even more webbing on the much larger spider, further incapacatating it. Eventually the prey spider is totally immobile. Then the house spider invenomates it and the battle is over. I have seen this happen time and time again. The large terrestrial spiders just can't move well in web structures. And as far as the babies, yes there was probably a clutch, but they have lon since moved to other dark corners to catch big bugs of their own.
Leeee
Apr 16, 2004 3:59 PM
yah . at a party once someone threw an audax jumper in with my super huge giant house spider and the lesser species ate it. from what i heard phiddipus bit and then retreated. speed and preciseness make a powerful hunter
