3 days to go!

There have been some great spider finds in Utah so far this week, and we're excited to see what else you come across! The bioblitz runs through Sunday 8/7, so there are three more days to find spiders! Know others in central or southern Utah? If so, spread the word! We'd love to see more observations come in from across the state. You can see the map of current observations here. More Spider Fest fun:

  • NHMU will be at Spider Fest on Antelope Island this Saturday. We'll be helping to guide spider walks, answer your spider questions, take pictures of the local arachnids, make g spider art, talk about tarantulas (presentation by Christy Bills at 2pm), and share some highlights from this bioblitz (presentation by Ellen Eiriksson at 3pm). See you there?
  • Interested in submitting spider photos to iNaturalist that can be ID'd as much as possible? Read our guide to making ideal spider observations on iNaturalist.

@tigerbb and @yulianaspiderz, what observations have you been excited to see come through so far?

Posted on August 5, 2022 05:14 PM by nhmucitsci nhmucitsci

Comments

Hi all! Yuliana here. I've gotten to look at all 130+ spider observations, thank you everyone! Keep them coming :)

~ These observations stuck out to me for various reasons:
A. The stunning Antrodiaetus spp. observation by @karliannew (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/129564774); this is a cool find, I'm happy you got to see a Mygalomorph/ Antrodiatidae in real life :)
B. An example of maternal care in spiders can be seen in this observation by @prowan of a female Lycosid spider with her hatchlings (her babies!) hanging out with mama on the dorsal side of her abdomen (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/129186148).
C. A cool photo by @groundfaller of a charismatic-looking spider of the Family Salticidae (jumping spiders) manipulating and eating its prey with its pedipalps/chelicerae (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/129156091)
D. This observation by @kondase helps us appreciate the variety of spider appearances. Look how "glossy" the Western Black Widow's body appears, compared to "hairy" spiders (i.e. tarantulas, wolf spiders) and spike-y spiders (Gastercantha spp. [Family Araneidae]). We can even see most of her hour-glass-shaped-red-coloration, as exhibited in adult female Latrodectus hesperus (Family Theridiidae) spiders (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128949783).
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~ The following are spiders I personally find stunning and/or I would love to be able to see in real life:
E. This observation by @wildewilderness shows us a neat spider of the family Dysderidae. I think Dysdera spp. coloration is unique & I find their intense-looking chelicerae (fangs) fascinating (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128941447).
F. This observation by @kondase of a Kukulcania spp. spider (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128951953)!
G. @alexanimalphotos was fortunate to see a couple Gnaphosid spiders - this jet-black Gnaphosid may be shocking at first glance. Also, notice the unique length ratio of cephalothorax and abdomen in this photo by him (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/129380119, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/129040047)
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~ The following observations I have spent more time with due to my personal difficulty IDing them to Family, and I'm excited for a fellow spider-fan(s) to help ID the following:
H. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/129411150 by @hmcentire
I. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/129207510 by @alexanimalphotos
J. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/129411150 by @hmcentire
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Thanks again and happy weekend,

Yuliana

Posted by yuli_spiderz over 1 year ago

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