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Jody Melanson · Jul-23-2008, 08:21 AM #1

One of my sons caught this huge Dock Spider. Dock Spiders are the largest Spider in Ontario, Canada. Dock Spiders can run across the water in pursuit of their prey. They can also dive underwater and their hairs will capture air bubbles allowing them to stay underwater for 15 minutes. They will catch small fish, tadpoles, etc...while down there. She is carrying an egg sac.

1

2

3

She was really holding onto that egg sac. She had her fangs in the front of it, two legs holding at the front and a bit of web from her hind end to hold the back. She was very fast when moving.

4

5

She was so big, to get this image, I had to take off the tubes to be able to get her all in.

6

We released her back on the dock. She was so large, she couldn't get between the boards to get back under the dock. She had to go down the side and under. Quite impressive.

7

Paul Iddon · Jul-23-2008, 08:25 AM #2

Wow, that second image is mammoth!

cmorganphotography · Jul-23-2008, 08:35 AM #3

I should note that I had a bad dream about spiders laying eggs in my legs and arms last night and they hatched and ate me.
Mother Nature wants us to be afraid. Why else would something look like that. It's insane how big she got and the size of the egg sac.

I'm going to have more bad dreams.

**GOLDENORFE** · Jul-23-2008, 09:47 AM #4

great shots Jody, looks similar to our english RAFT spider.
phil
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenorfe/

teamracephotos · Jul-23-2008, 01:30 PM #5

All are great, but number two jumps right out at you. MM

**Skippy** · Jul-23-2008, 02:33 PM #6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jody Melanson

One of my sons caught this huge Dock Spider. Dock Spiders are the largest Spider in Ontario, Canada. Dock Spiders can run across the water in pursuit of their prey. They can also dive underwater and their hairs will capture air bubbles allowing them to stay underwater for 15 minutes. They will catch small fish, tadpoles, etc...while down there. She is carrying an egg sac.

She was really holding onto that egg sac. She had her fangs in the front of it, two legs holding at the front and a bit of web from her hind end to hold the back. She was very fast when moving.

She was so big, to get this image, I had to take off the tubes to be able to get her all in.

We released her back on the dock. She was so large, she couldn't get between the boards to get back under the dock. She had to go down the side and under. Quite impressive.

Hi there Jodi, isn't it nice when someone finds you something special to photograh

I was looking at the egg sack, it's quite thick in it's construction,
reminds me of a texture of a Shammy Cloth.

When they lay an egg sack like that, do you know if they take it everywhere with them, or do they hide it when they go in and under the water?

That would be quite an effort to lift an egg sack that big off the ground high enough to run around.

In the profile shot Image 4 you can see how high her legs and body are already off the floor, yet the sack is still touching the floor.

Gosh what a face, I bet she has a decent pair of fangs too.

Excellent Series Jodi

thanks for sharing .... Skippy

.

Lord Vetinari · Jul-23-2008, 09:55 PM #7

Wonderful captures Jody.

Kevin · Jul-23-2008, 10:45 PM #8

*shudders*

fine series, sleepless nights.

dadwtwins · Jul-24-2008, 12:03 AM #9

I love this series, absolutely fascinating.

canon400d · Jul-24-2008, 01:42 AM #10

Quote:

Originally Posted by dadwtwins

I love this series, absolutely fascinating.

Great shots Jodi
Regards
Bob

GraphyFotoz · Jul-26-2008, 12:55 AM #11

DANG IT!!!

You sure know how to make my skin cRaWl!!

Great shots

but the bigger a spider is.....the faster I can run in the other direction!!

~~~Shiver~~~ (Graphy is a sqirm'in)

tlee · Jul-26-2008, 07:47 AM #12

Very cool! My husband will sometimes find me bugs to photograph--but he'd NEVER go near a beauty like that! Awesome images. Thanks for sharing. I love viewing, and learning about different insects.

evanherk · Sep-28-2009, 11:41 PM #13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jody Melanson

One of my sons caught this huge Dock Spider. Dock Spiders are the largest Spider in Ontario, Canada.

The 'legs' that it uses to hold on to its egg sac are not counted as legs. They are called 'palps' and have a function like insects' antennae. Spiders have eight legs and 2 palps. In male spiders they are also mating organs.

But the pictures are lovely.

Bart

cadred · Sep-29-2009, 12:48 PM #14

I think if I saw that, I'd run the other way!

12986dude · Jul-30-2012, 07:47 PM #15

I used to have a phobia of spiders, until I went kayaking over at Pollywog pond....Thats when I realized how big they get in the wild....still have the phobia....never realized in the Adirondacks we have spiders the size of medium sized tarantulas....I was looking at a cluster of sundew plants looked a few inches over, the spiders legs were drawn close to its body in defense and it was still 2 inches long!!! never back paddled so fast in my life.....

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Jul-23-2008, 08:21 AM #1
Jody Melanson ^OP Capturing God's Creations Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 412	Huge Dock Spider One of my sons caught this huge Dock Spider. Dock Spiders are the largest Spider in Ontario, Canada. Dock Spiders can run across the water in pursuit of their prey. They can also dive underwater and their hairs will capture air bubbles allowing them to stay underwater for 15 minutes. They will catch small fish, tadpoles, etc...while down there. She is carrying an egg sac. 1 2 3 She was really holding onto that egg sac. She had her fangs in the front of it, two legs holding at the front and a bit of web from her hind end to hold the back. She was very fast when moving. 4 5 She was so big, to get this image, I had to take off the tubes to be able to get her all in. 6 We released her back on the dock. She was so large, she couldn't get between the boards to get back under the dock. She had to go down the side and under. Quite impressive. 7 __________________ There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness!

Jul-23-2008, 08:25 AM #2
Paul Iddon Major grins Join Date: May 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, England Posts: 2,469	Wow, that second image is mammoth! __________________ Link to my personal website: http://www.pauliddon.co.uk Canon Users Only Website: http://www.canon-fodder-forums.com/

Jul-23-2008, 08:35 AM #3
cmorganphotography I can haz fotergrafs? Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: IOWA Posts: 979	I should note that I had a bad dream about spiders laying eggs in my legs and arms last night and they hatched and ate me. Mother Nature wants us to be afraid. Why else would something look like that. It's insane how big she got and the size of the egg sac. I'm going to have more bad dreams. __________________ http://cmorganphotography.smugmug.com/ * http://member.onemodelplace.com/member.cfm?P_ID=214042

Jul-23-2008, 09:47 AM #4
GOLDENORFE Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: WIRRAL UK Posts: 3,950	great shots Jody, looks similar to our english RAFT spider. phil http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenorfe/

Jul-23-2008, 01:30 PM #5
teamracephotos MSMiller Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Winter Park Florida Posts: 486	Truly Amazon! All are great, but number two jumps right out at you. MM __________________ “I love not man the less, but Nature more.” — Lord Byron

Jul-23-2008, 09:55 PM #7
Lord Vetinari Smugbug Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Worthing Sussex UK Posts: 10,214	Wonderful captures Jody. __________________ Brian V. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/ http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/

Jul-23-2008, 10:45 PM #8
Kevin Major grins Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 236	shudders fine series, sleepless nights.

Jul-24-2008, 12:03 AM #9
dadwtwins Forever a Novice Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 802	I love this series, absolutely fascinating. __________________ My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/

Jul-26-2008, 12:55 AM #11
GraphyFotoz Have Camera will travel Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South-Central NY Posts: 2,261	DANG IT!!! You sure know how to make my skin cRaWl!! Great shots but the bigger a spider is.....the faster I can run in the other direction!! ~~~Shiver~~~ (Graphy is a sqirm'in) __________________ Nikon Cooloix P7700 \| Canon Powershot SD780is(EDC) Bag- LowePro Slingshot 100AW See my work @ http://www.graphyfotoz.smugmug.com/

Jul-26-2008, 07:47 AM #12
tlee Perma Grin Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,090	Very cool! My husband will sometimes find me bugs to photograph--but he'd NEVER go near a beauty like that! Awesome images. Thanks for sharing. I love viewing, and learning about different insects. __________________ [FONT=Comic Sans MS]-----T :D www.studioTphotos.com "Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons." ----Ruth Ann Schubacker [/FONT]


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Sep-29-2009, 12:48 PM #14
cadred Big grins Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 77	I think if I saw that, I'd run the other way!

Jul-30-2012, 07:47 PM #15
12986dude Beginner grinner Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: N.Y. Posts: 1	I used to have a phobia of spiders, until I went kayaking over at Pollywog pond....Thats when I realized how big they get in the wild....still have the phobia....never realized in the Adirondacks we have spiders the size of medium sized tarantulas....I was looking at a cluster of sundew plants looked a few inches over, the spiders legs were drawn close to its body in defense and it was still 2 inches long!!! never back paddled so fast in my life.....