Giant Huntsman Spider in Florida - World's Largest Spider

Video: Giant Huntsman Spider in Florida

The world's largest spider the Huge Pantropical Huntsman Spider (Heteropoda venatoria) is alive and well and living in Florida Backyards. At about 3 1/2  inches wide and 4 1/2 inches long it is the largest of the Backyard spiders I have documented. Also called a Giant Crab Spider, it is an introduced species from Asia that is now living wild in subtropical areas of Florida. Ambush hunting for large insects like Palmetto Bugs and small lizards at night. Note this one only has seven legs. They are beneficial spiders that should not be killed. More information can be found at:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in317

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Video: Giant Huntsman Spider in Florida

Video: Giant Huntsman Spider in Florida

Spiny Backed Orb Weaver Spider Spinning a Web

Spiny Backed Orb Weaver Spider Spinning a Web

Video: Spiny Backed Orb Weaver Spider Spinning a Web

Spiny Backed Orb Weaver Spider spinning a web - one of Nature's amazing creatures. To see a video of it spinning a web check out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwLn11KJS9Y

Orchard Orb Weaver Spider

Video: Orchard Orb Weaver Spider

This Orb Weaver Spider is relatively common in Florida and looks like it has red lights glowing on it for defensive purposes, Despite the appearance of two bright red triangles on its abdomen that look like at first glance like an hourglass it is not poisonous like the Black Widow - its "teeth" would have trouble penetrating human skin in any case, but it is very beneficial feasting mostly on mosquitoes and small flies.  

These colorful, delicate spiders make circular webs that are usually positioned horizontally or at an angle to the ground, and they typically hang in the middle of their webs. The carapace appears yellow-green, darker on the sides. The abdomen is somewhat elongated and can be variably colored with silver, greens, yellows, reds and some blues. The legs are slender and long.

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Video: Orchard Orb Weaver Spider

Spiny Backed Orb Weaver Spider Spinning A Web

Video: Spiny Backed Orb Weaver Spider Spinning A Web

Spiny Backed Orb Weaver Spider masterfully weaving a web set to Classical Music. Because of it's stunningly bizarre beauty it is natural that the Gasteracantha cancriformis is called by many names - the star spider, spiny-backed orb weaver, spiny orb weaver spider, crab-like orb weaver spider, crab-like spiny orb weaver spider, crab spider, jewel spider, spiny-bellied orbweaver, jewel box spider, smiley face spider or sometimes in the Philippines, the king. I think of it as the happy smiley-faced spider as it really seems to enjoy its work and is a joy to have around the Backyard! Watch as this beautiful spider fastidiously works its magic set to classical music:

Habanera by Bizet

Solo Cello Passion by Doug Maxwell 

Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairies by Tchaikovsky

Closeup views of another Spiny Orb Weaver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQnOjocYgMk

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Video: Spiny Backed Orb Weaver Spider Spinning A Web

Pseudo Scorpion or False Scorpion

Video: Pseudo Scorpion or False Scorpion

A nest of pseudo scorpions is uncovered when I replace a rotten board on the backyard fence. An amazing and extremely small creature in the arachnid family - it has scorpion like pincers, but no tail stinger. This is a new species for me. It is about 1/10 of an inch long and moves extremely fast and has a great "reverse gear". No doubt harmless and beneficial, unfortunately I disturbed its nest with several baby Pseudoscorpions or "Scorplings" which are white. The mother seems to display very strong maternal characteristics as she scrambles to check up on the youngsters. Amazingly, fire ants were on the move right next to their nest and even when exposed you can see the fire ants swerve quickly to miss the pseudo scorpion as they pass on the fence post. The fact that two incredibly small creatures can be approaching each other at a relative high speed and sense each other and react in a fraction of a second says something about the miracles of Nature that never cease to amaze!

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Video: Pseudo Scorpion or False Scorpion

Marbled Orb Weaver Spider - Nature's Art Canvas

Video: Marbled Orb Weaver Spider - Nature's Art Canvas

This is the second Marbled Orb Weaver Spider I have encountered in two weeks. This one has very unusual marbling that looks like a work of art on its back. In fact the "painting" looks a bit like Beelzebub befitting it's nickname as the Pumpkin Spider, perfect for Halloween.  Its "head" is not as orange as the other Marble Orb Weaver seen two weeks ago in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSGsvwilKU8

These spiders appeared to be in the process of dying as near freezing weather settled in. They have lain their eggs which will hatch next spring. I can hardly wait!

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Video: Marbled Orb Weaver Spider - Nature's Art Canvas

Video: Marbled Orb Weaver Spider - Nature's Art Canvas

Brown Widow Spider Invasion !

Video: Brown Widow Spider Invasion !

Brown Widow Spider Mother and her multitude of youngsters are heading out for a night of feeding. Oddly Mr. Brown Widow is nowhere to be found - - oh --- right! Poor guy. The problem is they are living in my chaise lounge - the Brown Widows are getting to be a bit of a problem these days. They love lawn and patio furniture and this is one backyard critter that I do have to dispose of. They are more toxic than Black Widows, but they are not as likely to bite or bite hard, but they have a habit of making their homes where people like to sit. Their "webs" are sloppy and often have hanging debris in them looking untidy and old or unused, but they are not. Look before you sit! I plan to do a more in-depth blog on the Brown Widows in the future - maybe it's two warm winters in a row, but they are everywhere now!

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Video: Brown Widow Spider Invasion !

Video: Brown Widow Spider and empty Egg Sac!