a journal about spiders found around Western PA
Below are a dozen spider sacs pictured with their adult counterparts. The range is eastern US, mostly Western PA, but I frequently visit relatives in Florida and the Carolinas so there are some representatives from there. Most of the sacs pictured were made or hatched in captivity so I could get an identification. Sometimes, what... Continue Reading →
I typically don't write about tarantulas, but SpiderMentor wouldn't be SpiderMentor without mentioning Chandra, the chaco golden knee tarantula (Grammastola pulchripes), who was my go-to gal for educational programs and events. Sadly, she passed away this month (October 2023) of old age. With her large size and beautiful markings, she'd easily get everyone's attention and... Continue Reading →
If you have a basement, like most of us in Western PA do, you probably have your very own population of these cool, harmless spiders. Commonly called barn funnel weavers, Tegenaria domestica are large (ten millimeters from head to abdomen), brown spiders that make flat webs with a tunnel in a corner or crevice. They... Continue Reading →
The crunchy ground on a cold February afternoon was holding everything captive except for the chickadees and squirrels. My hike was purposeful. I was keeping up a good heart rate, rhythmically breathing in icy air and exhaling vapor. At the top of a hill, I stopped to take in the view. I could see the... Continue Reading →
One of the most difficult questions I am asked is, "What's your favorite spider?" I never have a consistent answer to this and usually go with what is holding my attention at the moment. In this moment, my favorite spider is hands-down, the crab spider. There are about 130 of them found in North America.... Continue Reading →
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