Spiders? SPIDERS? SPIDERS!!!! If you've click on this thread, you might be thinking that. But fear not, this is a thread for the sharing for spider-like information, like so: Uh... Opps.. that's the wrong sort of spider. So, basically, this is a thread for sharing spider like information, such as you are usually never more than 3 feet away from a spider at all times, the exceptions being, in an airplane, swimming, or on a jet ski. Spiders are what help keep the insect population down, such as malaria bearing mosquitoes, wasps, house flies, horse flies, etc. There are over 40,000 distinct species of Spider, ranging from spiders the size of your pinky nail, to the size of your palm, with fingers outstretched. There are only five known species of Spider that are actually deadly to Humans. These include the Brazilian Wandering Spider, the Australian Funnel Web, the Brown Recluse, the Black Widow, and the Six-eyed Sand Spider. Out of these, most people in North America will only come into contact with the Black Widow, and sometimes the Brazilian Wandering, as they like to hide in Banana bunches. There are other very venomous spiders out there, but they do not always cause certain death in humans. Now, there is also some fossils that prove that spiders used to be larger than they are today, such as the size of House cats. Before spiders, Scorpions, spiders cousins, where the dominant athropod of the seas. I'll let this section of BBC's Walking with Monster's show you these guys: (Skip to the 3:55 mark for the Scorpions) [video=youtube;qP-Auo8CE9A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP-Auo8CE9A&feature=player_embedded#t=233s[/video] Now, this thread isn't meant to scare anyone, this is for information, facts, and other assorted details to allow those amongst you to learn about these amazing creatures. Now, some pictures! Jumping Spider. This little guy would be about the size of your pinky fingers nail, if not smaller. Be careful, they can jump. This is your standard Wolf Spider. These spiders are unique, in that they are one of the few that do not spin webs. Instead, they hunt for their prey, like wolves. This is the Cobalt Blue Tarantula. These guys are about the size of your palm, and they are rather aggressive, however, they can be kept as pets. Last and not least: The Solifugae, or Camel Spiders, as they are commonly known. These creatures are not actually true Spiders, but a separate species, much like Scorpions are. Some of the myths surrounding these creatures are completely untrue. Like they can "run 30 Mph". No, they can run at max of 10 Mph, for short distances only. Now, I open the floor for question, pictures, or stories! If you are interesting in learning more, and don't feel like sorting through Google for answers, because looking at more spiders makes you queasy, don't hesitate to ask!
Camel spiders aren't a sub-species, they are a sepperate order if I'm not mistaken, like boatsmen (the creepy long legged things) ticks and whipscorpions. If you ever feel like creeping someone out, put a whipscorpion on their pillow. They won't sleep for weeks! Here is one of the less scary ones: http://blepharopsis.deviantart.com/art/whip-scorpion-1-69058425
Interestingly, only 5% of black widow bites result in fatalities, and that only counting the people who DO NOT receive antivenom. With antivenom, they practically never kill. They really get a bad rap. Brown recluses don't usually kill either, but they cause necrotization around the area of the bite. The pictures are gruesome enough that I'm not putting any here
Don't you apprieciate all of the amazing variety that athropods have to offer? And eewwww... That's a nasty bite. Sure happy there aren't any of those in these parts.
Yep, Atlanta is pretty much right in prime territory for those bastards. I know two people in my family that have been bitten by them.
Atlanta, eh? I've lived in Conyers, Douglasville, and in Buckhead. I know the area well. I've seen several of the little fellows but have never been bitten.
No, it's fine. I know that they are a separate species entirely, just related via the family, but I wasn't really paying attention near the end. MOAR SPIDERS Trapdoor Spider. These guys dig or find holes in the ground, then build a web door camouflaged to match the surrounding forest floor.
