Big Spider! What is it?

Originally posted by FudgeStix
It could be a none native spider, insects get shipped over in crates and what not so maybe look further a field

Yup we got some nice brown recluses that way I believe.

God why do I click on things that I know aren't going to let me sleep?

Hurm, I'm going to add my vote to the 'monstrously huge wolf spider' idea. I've seen some horribly large ones in my basement.

Originally posted by apc
99% sure it's a wolf. We get them all the time around here. They're great spiders to keep around. They eat bugs and other more dangerous spiders.

If you want to creatively confirm wolf, gently restrain one of its legs. Wolves will quickly drop the leg and run away. Don't worry, it'll grow back.

Lol, and if its the nefarious man eating spider from hacknakistan, it will kill and devour you in under 12 minutes.

But try it anyway..

Catch the beast in a jar, and take it to your local University and have them identify it for you.

They'll usually do it free of charge.

Who knows? You may have found a new species.

*Double post - sorry.

[edit on 20-3-2007 by GENERAL EYES]

haha I wouldn't go near that thing man it looks dangerous! and anyway if it's managed to get that big then it rightfully deserves it's place there!

Ok I just read something interesting in one of the link pages,under facts ,the Wolf spider can leave you with a bite that will eat away 1 cm of your skin per month and in 7 years your whole arm would be rotted off and there is no medicine for this infection and it does not happen with everyone but certain people it will.How true is this?My Mother collects wolf spiders in a jar as pets

Thanks for all the replys guys! lots of good info here.

AlBeMet

Ok ya it seems to be true,there is a whole group of large spiders including the wolf spider that if they are threatened and they bite as self defence .You can get a bite that will hurt and if left untreated by a doctor with basic anti biotics (but no real cure) A condition called necrosis or Necritis(I forget the name) that will keep eating your skin just like Flesh eating disease ---- Warning------- ok here is a source picture but don't look at it if you are sensitive to gruesome pictures.....

www.e-bug.net...

I will be informing my mother to cut out that insane hobby she has!Although some articles say Wolf spiders are harmless as they rarely ever bite,other articles on the web say many spiders will bite if they feel threatened some how like if you pick it up and hurt it,it will bite you ,same goes for Tarantulas that many people use as pets and a whole group of other large common spiders.If you are prone to infection than the Necritis could develope(My Mom is prone to large infections from just a small scratch)

[edit on 20-3-2007 by mistr_b2]

[edit on 20-3-2007 by mistr_b2]

Originally posted by mistr_b2
Ok ya it seems to be true,there is a whole group of large spiders including the wolf spider that if they are threatened and they bite as self defence .You can get a bite that will hurt and if left untreated by a doctor with basic anti biotics (but no real cure) A condition called necrosis or Necritis(I forget the name) that will keep eating your skin just like Flesh eating disease ---- Warning------- ok here is a source picture but don't look at it if you are sensitive to gruesome pictures.....

www.e-bug.net...

I will be informing my mother to cut out that insane hobby she has!

[edit on 20-3-2007 by mistr_b2]

Ewwwwwwww!! If I was not afraid it would have carried me away I would have stomped on his head! My kids play out there!

I think your kids will be ok out there as long as they dont do what I did as a kid.I would grab the spider and start yanking it's legs off for fun,I don't know why I would do that or how I had the courage even,as an adult I am terrified of all spiders now.

One more interesting Wolf spider fact I read from someone here I think,if you touch a leg the spider will quickly amputate it and run away.

Originally posted by mistr_b2

One more interesting Wolf spider fact I read from someone here I think,if you touch a leg the spider will quickly amputate it and run away.

Yes the leg keeps twitching to keep your attention while the spider makes its escape.

Kind of like how killdeer birds fake having a broken wing to move you away from there nest.

AlBeMeT

So I sent my Mother an e-mail with these other pictures that show the full progression of a small tiny bite to a full blown infection,hopefully she gets the message to not handle the monster size spiders(I know what a weird hobby eh?)anyway on this web page you can see the progression.......

www.e-bug.net...

Ha ha,can you say ....Zombie

[edit on 20-3-2007 by mistr_b2]

It is NOT a Wolf Spider...

It is a Fishing Spider, as referenced earlier...

I work in a Science Museum...

We get them in all the time with people freaking out about them..

Their color is variable, as is the size...

I have seen them as big as your hand, and as small as a golfball...

Well fishing spider or not ,any spider as big as your hand has fangs large enough to go through your skin so I would still not recommend for anyone to pick it up and play with it.To kill it,don't swat it with your hand just crush it with something.Or just walk away,they don't attack people for no reason.

Here is some info on the fishing spider

NURSERY-WEB & FISHING SPIDERS

WHAT ARE NURSERY-WEB & FISHING SPIDERS?

Nursery-web and fishing spiders are large, hairy spiders in the family Pisauridae. These spiders are patterned with black, brown, and gray markings. Although very difficult to distinguish from wolf spiders, nursery-web and fishing spiders are usually slimmer in build than wolf spiders. Like all spiders, nursery-web and fishing spiders have 8 legs, 2 body parts, and fangs (called "chelicerae"). Nursery-web and fishing spiders have 8 eyes.

Thanks for the insight Azazelus...

So do fishing spiders actually fish? That would be totally awesome. See this eight legged monster surface out of a river with a trout clutched in its fangs.

Don't get me wrong, the things can scare the heck out of you...

But, they usually run away if something bigger is near..

I have heard tales of them finding a pumphouse or other moist environment and dwelling by the hundreds....of the larger size mind you....

One guy had brought one in for us in a jar sometime last year...He had caught it on his bedroom wall...It was the largest one I have ever seen....With it's legspan, it was larger than the size of my hand....

At home, they get into our garage during the summer, and pretty much dwell in and out until winter comes...This is the main reason I cleaned out my garage this past year....

They are bad for getting inside one of those small plastic waste baskets we have out there, and because of the slope, they cannot climb back out...

We release them when we can, but often forget to check or catch it too late...

EDIT: Yes, they can fish...They catch waterborne insects and small minnows.... I have never witnessed it, but have been told by the insect folks up here that it does happen...

EDIT #2:

Fishing spiders live throughout the United States, although they're particularly abundant in the South. They lurk along the edges of ponds and streams, and when insects drop to the water, these spiders rush across the surface to attack. They can also dip their legs underwater and grab swimming tadpoles and small fish.

Source

EDIT #3: Sorry for all the edits, but this page has some more interesting info...

[edit on 20-3-2007 by Azazelus]

Wow! a spider that can catch a small fish,what will God think of next?This is something I would love to see in a video.If anyone knows of a video like that catching a fish please post the link.

Oh...the animal kingdom is amazing...

We have a bird-eating spider as well...It is not native though...

I have seen a praying mantis eat a mouse...

I've also seen a giant centipede (Scolopendra) catch, and eat, a bat....