#sphodros

[apsciencebylyn]

I was hoping I wouldn't miss the Spring(ish) emergence of purseweb babies again for the 3rd straight year, and it seems I barely did miss out, but there remained one (1!!!) derpy little child who hadn't ballooned off this evening 🥹

Back in 2021 I didn't know we had any mygalomorphs in Florida, and happened to come across a few clusters of newly-emerged babies at this location; they're easy to spot, as they all make a messy trail of silk on their way up to the top of low plants to disperse - often tree fronds of palmetto. I found a few with the characteristic mess of silk this evening, but just spiderling left! She has no idea how much she made my day.

Sphodros abboti

[snototter]

An Atlantic purse-web spider (Sphodros atlanticus) shows off its threat position in Georgia, USA

by Noah K. Fields

[calosoma-amitch]

MICROSCOPE MONDAY

Purse-web spider (Sphodros sp.), Fishers Island, NY. August 2015. 

One of the few tarantula-like spiders found north of the Mason-Dixon, purse-web spiders live up to their name by spinning silken “sock-shaped” pockets around tree trunks or cavities in the soil. The spider resides at the bottom of these silk-spun pockets, and when it detects vibrations from insects crawling above, it uses its enlarged fangs to stab and envenom its prey.  Now that I’ve moved into my new house, I should be able to resume posting at a regular schedule. 

[apsciencebylyn]

Did not have a great mental health day (not helped by the constant steady rain for every bit of daylight), so a good portion of it was spent building an enclosure for my Pet Tube (Sphodros abboti, purseweb spider), and she seems happy with it already. So there's that. 🤎

[weltraumbesty]

Good old-fashioned nightmare fuel. My little purse-web spider (Sphodros sp.) catches a cricket, then methodically repairs the damage done to its web.