bunnicula
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posted on November 23, 2000 10:33:16 AM
As I was typing in the root canal thread just now, a cute little spider walked up the side of my monitor & perched there watching me. I escorted it back outside, but am interested in finding out what kind it was. (Sorry--didn't think to pull out my Mavica & get a picture!)
It was about 1/4 inch long & seemed to be covered with fuzzy black "fur." The upper side of its back body area (what is the proper term for that)was red.
(NO, it was not a black widow--I know what *those* look like)
When it sat still, it pulled its legs up close to its body, and its eyes faced forward. When I urged it onto a piece of paper for transport outside, it hopped instead of crawling.
Some kind of wolf spider, maybe?
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HartCottageQuilts
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posted on November 23, 2000 11:44:36 AM
No idea, but your buddy sounds both cute and gregarious. Our giant 4" Golden Silk disappeared during a storm. Place doesn't feel the same without her.
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toomanycomics
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posted on November 23, 2000 11:54:05 AM
have NO idea
seems to me that you have a 'bug' on your computer 
would love have seen him/her though
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spazmodeus
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posted on November 23, 2000 12:07:36 PM
Hey bunnicula,
Sounds like a member of the family known as "jumping spiders." I quote from "Spiders and Their Kin" (a book I've had since I was eight):
Jumping Spiders (Salticidae) are among our most attractive spiders. Most have bright colors, often with irridescent scales. A large family of more than 2,800 species. Jumping spiders are most abundant in the tropics, but about 300 species occur north of Mexico and many in Europe. All are small, most less than 0.7" long.
Jumping Spiders are active during the day and like sunshine. They walk with an irregular gait and leap on their prey, sometimes jumping many times their own length ...
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Muriel
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posted on November 24, 2000 08:34:13 AM
EEEEWWWWW!!!!!!!!!
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bunnicula
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posted on November 24, 2000 10:07:29 AM
Spazmodeus: Thanks! It certainly was an attractive little spider, and the description fit him except that it didn't mention the fuzzy fur. Actually, I quite like spiders. I escorted him outside because he obviously wasn't a house spider and belonged out in the great wilds. Spiders do so much good for us that I never have understood the dislike so many people hold for them.
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HartCottageQuilts
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posted on November 24, 2000 10:25:19 AM
I think they are eminently kewl.
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xardon
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posted on November 24, 2000 04:49:12 PM
My guess is it's a member of the itsy-bitsy family of spiders.
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macandjan
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posted on November 24, 2000 04:58:31 PM
No problem - he's welcome as long as he stays out of my socks.
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mcjane
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posted on November 25, 2000 07:32:11 PM
Hello Susan, How right you are about spiders, they are worth their weight gold.
Our existance depends on them. If all the spiders on Earth were gone tomorrow we would soon follow. They kill billions of insects a day & if it were not for them the insects they hunt would defoliate the Earth in about two months, and we would starve to death.
They are marvelous creatures.
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spazmodeus
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posted on November 25, 2000 07:41:38 PM
No worries about spiders freezing over winter, either -- their blood has a natural anti-freeze in it. They just go dormant and wake up again come spring.
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mcjane
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posted on November 25, 2000 08:44:44 PM
spaz:
I'm glad to hear that. There isn't much to the little guys & one has to wonder how they survive the Winter, now I know.
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bootsnana
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posted on November 26, 2000 03:02:22 AM
I thought they all just migrated to MY house for the winter.
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mcjane
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posted on November 26, 2000 11:38:58 AM
bootsnana:
No, only half are at your house, the rest are spending the Winter with me. 
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bootsnana
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posted on November 26, 2000 11:45:04 AM
mcjane
The two houses on earth they know they'd be safe. I love the little critters too!
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bunnicula
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posted on November 26, 2000 11:50:39 AM
Make that three houses
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mcjane
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posted on November 26, 2000 12:23:40 PM
wow The list is growing, that's great.
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BlondeSense
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posted on November 29, 2000 12:11:55 AM
Add mine too! We had one or two living by our back door that I was almost tempted to name. Though I wouldn't go as far as to say I love 'em.
Problem is, our dogs like to play with them until they break. Crickets too. 
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