a journal about spiders found around Western PA
There's a reason I don't have many blogs about the family Salticidae (salt-TISS-id-ee) AKA jumping spiders. These active, fuzzy spiders are SO mobile that I've always felt badly about keeping them cooped up inside a container. Plus, they have more anthropomorphic qualities than other spiders with those big eyes looking at me as they pace... Continue Reading →
It was a warm, sunny day in the outskirts of the city. The windows were open and the sheer curtains were billowing in the breeze. The day was lazy with the cats perched on the window sills, ears and tails twitching. I was digging around in my supplies when I heard the strangest sound. It... Continue Reading →
Single male spider seeking mature female. Must have pitted carapace, be between 6 and 7 mm, and have white "T" marking on the front of the abdomen. Likes to hang out, do ropes courses, and enjoys romantic insect dinners at twilight.*** I was visiting family in the Jefferson Hills area south of Pittsburgh over the winter... Continue Reading →
The "slower" days of winter in the spider world aren't slower because there aren't any spiders to find, they're slower because they're harder to find. I did a few sweep net samples in November and December in Frick Park to see what was out there and scooped up some spiders that were new to me.... Continue Reading →
False WIDOW? Right away, people get nervous about the name. It's the perfect cue for scary music and another reason to be afraid of spiders. But it's not. The first thing everyone wants to know is, "Are they venomous?" All spiders, except for the family Uloboridae are venomous, so when an article boasts, "VENOMOUS SPIDERS... Continue Reading →
On a mild day at work in early April, a spider appeared seemingly out of nowhere (as they usually do) in the cafeteria. I could tell it was a wolf spider (family Lycosidae) by its shape and characteristic eye pattern, but I wasn't sure which kind. There are a whole bunch of wolf spiders in... Continue Reading →
What the heck is "Spider Camp"?? It popped up this past spring (2018) on the American Arachnological Society facebook page: "Spider Biology summer course at Stone Lab (Ohio State University) - can be taken as a workshop". I applied immediately. This endeavor instantly became my summer highlight. I could not wait! I have never taken a... Continue Reading →
Last July, at a spider presentation in Sarver, PA, an enthusiastic mom/daughter scavenger hunt team found an orb weaving spider with her egg sac. They found a lot of other cool spiders, too - I should've asked if they'd be willing to go with me on every spider hunt. Since the spider was displaced and seemed... Continue Reading →
