Harvestman on a housebrick (Phalangium opilio)
Paul Iddon
Registered Users Posts: 5,129 Major grins
I actually have 4 or 5 decent shots from various angles of this young harvestman.
The harvestman is very distinctive with a round, compact body and extremely long legs. Although it looks like a long-legged spider, it isn’t one. It is one of the Opilones, a group of arachnids closely related to spiders. Unlike the spiders, it has no silk glands so is not able to spin a web. It does not have fangs and does not produce venom.It catches its insect prey by using hooks on the ends of its legs. These arachnids defend themselves by secreting a foul-smelling fluid. If they are caught, they are able to shed a leg to escape.
Anyway, this one is on a housebrick and I had to turn the brick around a few times to keep the bugger in view. Trust me, with legs as long as these, they can shift at a hell of a rate...
This is the first one. Ringflash used.
Opinions and C&C as always encouraged.
Exif:
Camera Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 450D
Image Date: 2009:06:19 22:35:56
Flash Used: Yes (Manual)
Focal Length: 105.0mm
CCD Width: 4.18mm
Exposure Time: 0.025 s (1/40)
Aperture: f/9.0
ISO equiv: 400
White Balance: Manual
Metering Mode: Spot
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
Paul.
The harvestman is very distinctive with a round, compact body and extremely long legs. Although it looks like a long-legged spider, it isn’t one. It is one of the Opilones, a group of arachnids closely related to spiders. Unlike the spiders, it has no silk glands so is not able to spin a web. It does not have fangs and does not produce venom.It catches its insect prey by using hooks on the ends of its legs. These arachnids defend themselves by secreting a foul-smelling fluid. If they are caught, they are able to shed a leg to escape.
Anyway, this one is on a housebrick and I had to turn the brick around a few times to keep the bugger in view. Trust me, with legs as long as these, they can shift at a hell of a rate...
This is the first one. Ringflash used.
Opinions and C&C as always encouraged.
Exif:
Camera Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 450D
Image Date: 2009:06:19 22:35:56
Flash Used: Yes (Manual)
Focal Length: 105.0mm
CCD Width: 4.18mm
Exposure Time: 0.025 s (1/40)
Aperture: f/9.0
ISO equiv: 400
White Balance: Manual
Metering Mode: Spot
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
Paul.
0
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Paul.
Link to my personal website: http://www.pauliddon.co.uk