Scary critters...

SunGlo

They are definitely not cute and cuddly.

Have fun,

Phil



Black and Yellow Garden Spider (non-venomous, 3 inch length)



Black Vulture

dlplumer

Very nice shots. I actually think that black bird is kinda cute

SunGlo

dlplumer wrote:

Very nice shots. I actually think that black bird is kinda cute

Thanks Dan. Not sure I agree with the "cute" part of your comment, but to each their own. That's why they make vanilla and chocolate ice cream...not everyone likes the same thing.
:lol4

IraRunyan

Thats a great capture of the spider, although a little "hot" on the left side. Is that a pice of glass in the background?

SunGlo

IraRunyan wrote:

Thats a great capture of the spider, although a little "hot" on the left side. Is that a pice of glass in the background?

Thanks Ira. I had to shoot through the screen in a pool cage. That's what the squares are that your seeing. The web/spider were about a foot away from the screen. There was no way to get a clear shot.

Here's a shot taken earlier today...same location, different lens, different technique.

IraRunyan

I like this second shot much better. It's more pleasing to the eyes.....

SunGlo

IraRunyan wrote:

I like this second shot much better. It's more pleasing to the eyes.....

Thanks again Ira.

Maestro

Nicely done. I call these golden orb weavers. Am I incorrect or does it also go by the Garden Spider name as well? Great portrait of the Black Vulture too!

SunGlo

Maestro wrote:

Nicely done. I call these golden orb weavers. Am I incorrect or does it also go by the Garden Spider name as well? Great portrait of the Black Vulture too!

Thanks Stephen. You are correct. It has several different names. I guess it depends on where you live which you use. It's harmless to humans, but the size usually scares the heck out of everyone.

Here are a few of the names that I found:

Black and yellow garden spider
Black and yellow orb weaver
Golden orb weaver
Writing spider

I guess you could also add "Holy @#!% what a big spider!" to that list.

JenGrace

I think they're also called argiope spiders. So many names for one little critter. That vulture surely looks fierce!

Docdpp

We call them Golden Orb Weavers in Tx. Nice second shot. I have a big one hanging around my pigeon loft, I think I'll see what I can do tomorrow. You inspired me.

doc

SunGlo

JenW wrote:

I think they're also called argiope spiders. So many names for one little critter. That vulture surely looks fierce!

Thanks for your comment Jen. You are correct on the name. Here's some of the information I've found.

· Kingdom: Metazoa ((=Animalia) multicellular animals)
· Phylum: Arthropoda (arthropods)
· Class: Arachnida (spiders, harvestmen, scorpions, mites, etc.)
· Order: Araneae (spiders)
· Family: Araneidae (orbweavers)
· Genus: Argiope (garden orbweavers)
· Species: Argiope aurantia

· Common Names: <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Yellow</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Garden</st1:PlaceType> Spider, <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Yellow</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Garden</st1:PlaceType> Orbweaver, Black and Yellow Argiope Spider, Yellow Argiope, Writing Spider, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Golden</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Garden </st1:PlaceType></st1:place>Spider, Golden Orb Weaver<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

SunGlo

Docdpp wrote:

We call them Golden Orb Weavers in Tx. Nice second shot. I have a big one hanging around my pigeon loft, I think I'll see what I can do tomorrow. You inspired me.

doc

Thanks doc. Now if I could just inspire myself to clean out the garage.:D

Cato

Nice shot of the black vulture. There's a couple by me, they hang out with the turkey vultures.

SunGlo

Cato wrote:

Nice shot of the black vulture. There's a couple by me, they hang out with the turkey vultures.

Thanks Cato. The big question is, "How can something so beautiful and graceful in the air be so ugly and clumsy on the ground?"

Maestro

SunGlo wrote:

Thanks Stephen. You are correct. It has several different names. I guess it depends on where you live which you use. It's harmless to humans, but the size usually scares the heck out of everyone.

Here are a few of the names that I found:

Black and yellow garden spider
Black and yellow orb weaver
Golden orb weaver
Writing spider

I guess you could also add "Holy @#!% what a big spider!" to that list.

Thanks for the info!