Encountered a tiny spider today atop the trash can. He was much smaller than his photo.

[George McGovern]

[Skittles]

1. wow, so cool!

I am both fascinated by and scared of spiders (their erratic movements freak me out when I am trying to trap and evict them) - but they are awesome critters

[George McGovern]

3. Me too Skittles. They are awesome, I agree.

From time to time we see one in the house or in the shower stall and we and them have a live and let live unspoken agreement. Thank You.

[Skittles]

5. I actually TELL them

I don't MIND that you exist, you just cannot exist IN MY HOME. Now BEGONE!

[EYESORE 9001]

2. Wearing a backward-facing scary mask

Gives me the willies

[George McGovern]

4. I'll make sure he gets nowhere near you EYESORE 9001! Thanks!

[calimary]

18. Maybe that's the whole idea.

Threat or self-defense. Take yer pick.

Or maybe both!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. That's a scary looking spider.

[George McGovern]

12. Indeed it is PoindexterOglethorpe. Fortunately it and I were safely separated outside.

I have been away from DU for awhile, nonetheless, it is good to hear from you again. Thanks!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

45. I am glad you were safely separated from the spider.

I occasionally get a black widow spider in my house (I'm in Santa Fe, NM) and when that happens I squash them. When I first lived here, a snake came inside. Snakes I sort of know, and as a child in upstate NY (a bit north of Utica) we had garter snakes every spring, so I'm good at handling snakes. The one that came inside was an Arizona bull snake. And neither of my cats, who were also in that room with me, appeared to even notice that it was inside.

If you ever get to visit, there is currently a Bug Museum here: https://www.bugandreptile.org/ When my son was here we went there, and it was my favorite of all the things we did together. Lots of bugs, reptiles, and snakes, and the man who runs it can let you hold some of the critters. How cool is that?

My son's favorite was the National Museum of Nuclear Science: https://www.nuclearmuseum.org/

And I'm delighted you're back!

[Easterncedar]

7. Beautiful.

Nice picture. Should I ask my spider expert friend about it? If so, where is this?

[George McGovern]

13. Sure Easterncedar! We are located in central Washington state. Let me know. Thanks!

[Easterncedar]

44. My friend says it is some kind of jumping spider

Perhaps it is or is related to Evarcha hoyi, which may mean something to you? I am interested in spiders, but I don’t know much at all. “Hoy’s knobbed jumping spider” would be the common name.

[NCgayguy]

8. Amazing Close Up

Dear George,

That's a really nice close up. I have a rule in my home. "There's a whole world out there for you to explore, don't come into my home!" I spray my door entries, garage entrty and window ledges with vinegar on a regular basis and it seems to work or maybe I'm just lucky!

[George McGovern]

14. Whatever works NCgayguy. Glad you like the photograph anyhow. Thanks!

[slightlv]

9. We welcome spiders here around our house. If we see one in the house

we'll take it outside before the cats can catch sight of it. We've always considered Grandmother Spider to be the harbinger of good luck and good news.

[George McGovern]

15. Cool slightly! I really like your attitude toward "Grandmother Spider" and her effect on life.

When we find a spider in the house we always let it be. I feel no right to deprive it of life. As far as we know our cat has never tried to eat one. Thanks!

[Diamond_Dog]

10. I am a total scaredy cat over any spider bigger than a house fly.

That’s a pretty flashy looking one - I’d leave him alone though!

[George McGovern]

17. He grabbed my attention out beside the porch, Diamond_Dog, and a camera happened to be handy.

I did not bother him. Thanks!

[Cirsium]

11. Looks like a jumper

That looks like a jumping spider. Harmless. They hunt insects.

[George McGovern]

19. I didn't know Cirsium. He was on top of the trash can and did not attempt to jump. Thanks!

[Runningdawg]

16. A VERY hungry and thirsty Tan jumping spider that poor baby is starving

If she's still there could you give her a qutip dipped in water?

[George McGovern]

20. How did you know Runningdawg? I checked, she is long gone. Oh well . . .Thanks!

[Runningdawg]

43. I love spiders and keep them around the house - we have 3 jumpers currently

We live in OK and while everyone else complains they have fiddle back and widows - we have none. Our jumpers eat them.
Spiders dehydrate easily, some may look dead for days or assume the "death curl". They get dehydrated and then can't hunt. Offering a qtip dipped in water can save them. We had this incident this week in our home. Husband found one on the laundry basket, who was too weak to run away. We put her in the kitchen window, gave her a wet qtip, sprinkled a little sugar around it to draw flies. She latched right on to that q tip. An hour later she was moving. 4 hours later she was gone but there was a dead fly on the qtip. I think I got my first spiddy tip LOL

[bigtime]

21. Spiders are our allies

In the battle against insidious bugs! Let them be! You only need fear black widows and brown recluse.

[George McGovern]

24. That is my thinking big time. Leave them be. Thanks!

[buzzycrumbhunger]

22. They are fascinating

… but I mainly see black widows and orb weavers (outside) and wolf spiders (inside).

My favourite encounter was when my daughter came screaming out of her (very messy) bedroom because she had moved a box and a wolf spider jumped about 6’ high and screamed (the spider, not her!) I admit a 6” leg span made him quite intimidating but I think the poor thing was more traumatized than she was.

[yorkster]

23. Sorry but oh jeezus.

That would have me screaming...

[buzzycrumbhunger]

25. LOL

Yup. He was a big boy, but our bedrooms shared sliding doors to the lanai at the time and we got spiders and wee lizards coming in a lot. Could have been worse, considering we’re in Florida.

[yorkster]

28. Oh, Florida.. Now I get it.

Seen a few interesting specimens down that way. Would love to get over my general fear of creepy crawlies, but I think it's some kind of atavistic, limbic brain thing.

I had to cover up the picture while scrolling down to read your reply, lol.

[George McGovern]

27. I hope the photograph had a more favorable response yorkster. Thanks!

[George McGovern]

26. Cool story buzzycrumbhunger! Trauma all around.

A 6” leg span WOULD have made him quite intimidating! Thanks!

[yorkster]

29. George. your photo didn't "tewify".

For one thing actual size was hard to determine and the colors were nice.
Glad to be seeing your shots again.

[George McGovern]

36. Thank You!

Yeah yorkster, I thought about taking a normal size picture, but the dang thing was so tiny, y'know. It was colorful.

I have been away from DU for awhile. Feels good posting again.

[Figarosmom]

30. Looks like what we used to call

Daddy long legs.

[Martin68]

32. Not a daddy longlegs. They have much longer legs.

[George McGovern]

37. Beats me Figarosmom, I don't know one spider from another, what they are, that is. Thanks!

[Martin68]

31. I Love spiders. Looks like a jumping spider.

[George McGovern]

38. Thanks Martin -- you're the third respondent to identify. Spiders do have their place in the world I think.

[OAITW r.2.0]

33. Eh spiders, they are cool....Ticks on the other hand., watch out for those little bastards.

[George McGovern]

39. I agree re: spiders. But our Shadow picks up some tick -- hitchhikers and we keep an out for them. Yuk!

[niyad]

34. Just gorgeous. The upper portion looks like a face.

[George McGovern]

40. niyad -- Never have I heard "gorgeous" referring to a spider. But I agree. Thanks!

[niyad]

42. Some spiders are incredibly beautiful. I was thinking that your image would

make a great pin. Silver, of course, topaz or smoky quartz for the body, maybe moonstone for the leg segments. I have 5 spider pins, and one of your spider would be a great addition.

[LoisB]

35. Lovely coloring.

[George McGovern]

41. I thought so Lois. Glad you agree. Thank You!