Australian Garden Orb Weaver Spider
Yes, I'm still a recluse and I'm still playing around with my Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd digital camera to occupy my time. I've tried another of times to photograph a Rosella or a Little Wattlebird to show you, but they're far too elusive. So this Australian Garden Orb Weaving Spider, Eriophora sp. (Araneidae) will have to do.
Having nothing better to do at 1.20am (It’s bloody hot here) I ventured out into the front yard and photographed this little orb weaver spider trying to catch dinner; bugs and the like. The body is only about three quarters of an inch, and about an inch and a quarter long taking into account the legs, all eight of them.
Having nothing better to do at 1.20am (It’s bloody hot here) I ventured out into the front yard and photographed this little orb weaver spider trying to catch dinner; bugs and the like. The body is only about three quarters of an inch, and about an inch and a quarter long taking into account the legs, all eight of them.
Garden Orb Weaving Spider - top view
Orb weavers are fairly harmless, but if you happen to get bitten the symptoms are usually insignificant with perhaps some minor or mild local pain, numbness and swelling. If you're really unlucky nausea and dizziness can occasionally occur. Mind you walking into their web could be enough to send you over the deep end, either that, or give you a coronary.
Garden Orb Weaving Spider - bottom view
As for our family up in the far north of Queensland, Cyclone Yasi, although devastating to others, left them pretty much alone, thank God.
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18 comments - care to make one?:
What a pretty spider! Fantastic photo! Hope all is going well for you. Glad to hear your family is safe and sound. Storms everywhere causing major damage. Stay safe where you are and concentrate on healing. :)
Hi Moonshadow and thank you. How are those snow storms going over there? Are they over yet?
Yes, our family is alright. The power and comms just went back on but water restrictions are in place.
A ship carrying 2750 tonnes of essential supplies steamed into Townsville on Friday to resupply north Queensland. What an effort by all.
Take Care,
Peter
Peter that is not small spier. I can tolerate anything below 5 mm, anything bigger than that, and hairy like yours on the photo gives me goose bumps. Well I have to tell you Peter, you should do more photography, it is well know sport around the world, and you are showing good photo signs. Hope your treatment is going well, and too bad for the heat. I suffer from being cold every night, and lucky me I cannot take my camera with me to bed, lol. Glad to hear that the cycle omitted your family. Anna :)
Hi Anna! Big spider? The beauty of enlarging and cropping makes this little fellow far bigger than he or she really is.
Now, how do you tell the sex of a spider?
That one has me stumped, can anyone tell me if it is a he or a she.
Yes, I have plenty of time to put towards capturing what my eyes didn't really see until now.
My camera restricts me a great deal when trying to get close to something out of this world. Perhaps in a few years I'll be able to get something more to my liking.
My family up north are coping well with the destruction caused by this freak of nature extremely upsetting for the whole of Australia.
Take care and keep warm,
Peter
LOL
What a beauty and those are great photos!
The feral child thought it was wonderful of you to freak his mother out lol ;)
Hi Jayne and thank you. Yes, it freaked my wife out as well. Even more so when she goes to the computer as the desktop background is a giant sized image of the same spider.
Take Care,
Peter
Peter:
The pictures are great, like a profesional.
Spiders and me have never gotten along. It's just one of those things. If you flash a spider in my face, it's like Kryptonite to Superman. I get weak and dizzy. And I come from a place where tarantulas and black widows are as common as house flies. So you'd think I'd be used to them. But as far as I'm concerned, the only good spider is a daddy long-leg.
Happy to hear that your family is safe. Weather can be devastating.
Happy trails.
Hi Swubird and thank you! The only thing stopping me from becoming entangled in the web was my trusty lighter.
Yes, I was lucky with this one as I had "Fluke" on my side. Now, what's my Kryptonite? The "Sun" unfortunately.
Take Care,
Peter
Hey Peter!
The photos are absolutely gorgeous: you've got talent, mate!
Now, you call that being harmless? I'd say that these spiders are fairly dangerous...my goodness. It gave me a whole new perspective on the spiders on my balcony (I keep them as a biological fly catcher LOL).
Loved them pictures: artistic (for real)!
Cheers
Excellent photos, Peter, of an arachnid who will never be welcomed by me, no matter how good a photo capture he makes!
I could gag just taking a look at him from the safety of 2-D. No doubt if I were home alone and came face to face with him I'd be out the door and screaming to neighbors for help!
All kidding aside, your photos are excellent. But I'll still say I'm glad YOU are the one who took them.
I thought of you this week, with the typhoon coming on the heels of all the other disasters. Here's wishing you and your family and friends are all safe.
And thanks so much for recommending that HDR site to me. I will have to broach this new subject as soon as I catch up on blogging and housework...
Hope you are feeling good, Peter.
Hi Max! A little too much flash but I've learnt a new trick thanks to AusPhotography that will prevent that.
Now, Swubird was telling me about tarantulas, do you have anything that big where you live?
BTW Today is the last day for my face treatment. I have another two weeks left for my nose then it will be time for the surgery once both areas have healed.
Take Care,
Peter
Hi Lynda and thank you. This one is harmless enough, it's the Redback and Funnel-web spiders we have to watch out for.
Yes, Australia has recently experienced the worst mother nature can throw at her: cyclones, floods and fire, with the clean up and rebuilding to take forever. Our family is now safe, thank God.
I thought you'd like to know about HDR - another Ace up your sleeve perhaps.
Take Care,
Peter
Hi Peter,
From where I'm standing, the flash offered some sort of sophistication to that pic.
"Now, Swubird was telling me about tarantulas, do you have anything that big where you live?"
Oh no, we do not have tarantulas here. Our spiders are hairless LOL...
"BTW Today is the last day for my face treatment. I have another two weeks left for my nose then it will be time for the surgery once both areas have healed."
Thanks for the update, mate. Everything will go ok for you and your poor nose :).
Supporting you from across the oceans, I wish you a merry weekend :D
Max
Hi Max! It's 3.36am here with no luck trying to get some shuteye. Just crusing the net until
I fall off my perch.
Your spiders are hairless? What about harmless? Thanks for prompting smiles from my poor old face, much appreciated.
Take Care,
Peter
Peter,
The heat does that: it keeps us from sleeping. But I will keep you company, if you wish.
Yes, our spiders are hairless and fairly harmless (I mean, they do not come after you and they are not poisonous although they seem to generate screams - most women like to scream when they see them *nodding*).
You are most welcome :D.
Have you heard? Egypt has re-written its history! This is a historical day, no doubt - democracy has won!
Hi Max and thank you. It's not the heat but the pain. I think the valium and sleeping pills are starting to kick in finally. Yes, I read your announcement on buzz - my reply - Good News! Now, what's your tip for the new leader? and will he/she be pro American?
Take Care,
Peter
Heebyjeebies…
WOW!
I love nature and these images are a delight! It is interesting how perspective can change the way we view things…it helps that you clarify the actual size of these behemoth hairy legs…kind of reminds me of an ex-girlfriend from Italy…
Hi Livingsword and thank you! I'm honoured by your presence. As for hairy legs, I was told they're making a comeback. El natural perhaps but not to everyones liking.
Take Care,
Peter
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