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Ziplining spider
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Ziplining spider

by Carolyn Derstine

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted July 23, 2012109 views6 comments
This guy looks like he is ziplining! :wink: Not sure what type of spider this is but there are a fair amount of these in my gardens. Is it a Spiny Orbweaver? It does make an orb web and he is about 1/4" in size. The flower buds are of a Japanese Anemone.

Canon Rebel T1i. 180mm macro lens. F/20 for 0.8 sec. ISO 200. Tripod mounted, flash.

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on July 23, 2012 at 9:02 PM
Love the comp and the title, Carolyn. I can't help with the ID. I've never seen anything like it, but you did a good job of showing the ziplining action. My caption: '' 'Free ziplining ride,' said the spider to the fly." :wink:
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on July 24, 2012 at 10:03 AM
Great detail. The spider could almost use his prey as a chairlift. You did a wonderful job on this one
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on July 24, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Just to clarify: This photo is only of the spider; he is not holding any prey. What looks like prey is actually a strange-looking part of the spider! In my insect book there is a photo of a similar looking spider called a "Spined Micrathena". To quote from that guide: "the spiny abdomen of females is believed not only to make them unpalatable, but also to break up their image and conceal them from predators". Not sure of ID specifically but probably in this family.
Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments
Comment posted by Tonia Graves on July 24, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Very cool-looking spider Carolyn! I've never seen this type of behavior before. Nice greens in the background really make this stand out. Nicely seen and captured.
Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Jones on July 24, 2012 at 9:00 PM
What a cool idea to shoot this spider this way! That's a great angle on what appears to be normal web construction, but the zip line analogy really works well. Your composition is also perfect for emphasizing that idea, and the blurred background in this case is perfect, too. I'm no spider expert, but those with a spiny abdomen that I know of are all orbweavers, and the fact that you saw it make an orb web sure seems to confirm that.
Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 28, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Unique, interesting, & fun image, sure looks like "Zipliner" to me Carolyn :smile:
You may be correct on the ID, would need to see it larger to really tell though.
TFS this wonder :wavey:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments