` Found these living on/about a small tree & the ground-cover plants surrounding it's base near my place... This one's set up shop amid the leaves of the plant at the base of the tree. About the size of a quarter out to the edge of it's "leg-span". There are several more lurking in similar "carpet webs" around the tree, so I presume it's their invasion base camp. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! This one's lurking in a dried out leaf at the edge of a classic orb-web. Can't tell how big she is overall - I presume it's a female. The body's a bit bigger than a good sized pea. I dig the "paint job" she's sporting. Seems to suggest Touch me and die... Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Anybody know if either one's dangerous ? Deadly dangerous, that is...
Oh gawd that creeps me out. I try not to kill them, because of the fact they kill other bugs so well.
I LOVE spiders! I used to own a tarantuala-- she was amazing! I loved watching her devour small critters. When she molted every year or so it was equally amazing. NICE PICS! ~String
the diadematus is the second one btw, the first one I think is a Pardosa, which is a kind of Lycosidae or wolf spider they're both harmless, be nice!
Try licking them. If they are poisonous, they usually taste bad. Most Wolf Spiders can leave a nasty welt and some itching, but not much more (of course, unless you go into anaphylactic shock). I kill wolf spiders inside, but usually leave them alone outside (depending on location).
Spiders are so nice creatures. Common belief in many countries is that they are bringing good luck. So, I suggest that you keep an old chap. Because, what you have in your backyard is lovely example of European Garden Spider. As Varda said Araneus Diadematus.
My wife keeps a "spider jar." When she finds one in the house she traps it and lets it loose outside. If you have a true infestation then you have to control them like any other animal population that's out of control. But if these guys are just out there doing their job, then they're killing insects right and left. Leave them alone or you'll have a much worse problem.
Not to split hairs OP, but isn't the word arachnophobes, not arachnophiles? I don't think anyone of us wants to sleep with the spider. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Arachnophile is a person who likes spiders. Arachnophobe is a person who hates/fears spiders. ~String