Mirror Mirror on the Wall

 

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest spider of them all? You are little jumping spider, you are. No you are not seeing two tiny little spiders, but one spider and its reflection in the mirror. Stay calm, I don't want to harm you, only take your portrait.

Red Spider Mites

A few days ago Lynda complained of this baby spiders that had enveloped her roses in the kitchen. She had to cut the buds off to get rid of them. This morning the spiders were back. After some investigations we discovered that these were red spider mites, pests to the roses, so now we have to find a natural solution to rid ourselves of these plant eating pests.

Dark Web

Two spiders arrived home this evening in their terrariums, both had made nests inside the soil, so I couldn't get any good photographs of either of them but you get the idea how they loved the dark web.

Teensy Weensy

Teensy weensy spider, yip Sánchezis back. Now imagine this Chaco Golden Knee tarantula was actually on the loose. First of all the cats would have had her for breakfast, secondly imagine sleeping and itsy bitsy comes crawling onto your pillow.

Sánchez

First Day of the month and Day 3 of our move, finally we are out of the cottage and in our new home and there are boxes everywhere. Now where did I pack that?

Oh look what I found creeping out of the woodwork, Sánchez, Dael’s female Chaco Golden Knee tarantula. All our animals including us and the spider, survived the move to our new sanctuary. I still have to dog proof the boundary fencing running along the Nature Reserve as I don’t want my Italian Greyhounds running amok in the Botanic Gardens below and the cats noses are out of joint as they have been locked up in a small room during the move and now for the rest of the week confined to the house.

Big Fat Mama

Just off our patio we have this beautiful female seven banded legged golden orb web spider. Seven well because she has only seven legs, maybe a lucky escape from a bird. She is a big fat mama of a spider, about 10cm in diameter. Compare this amazon to her mate, a male banded legged golden orb web spider just above her on the edge of her web. Interesting the size difference, I suppose any bigger male would be dinner. At least it is good to know this tiny male is aiming big.

These are beautiful spiders, not sure how the venom affects humans but I’ll keep my distance thank you very much. They spin a golden sticky web up to 2 metres between trees to catch the night insects so that she can fill her pantry.

Nou Gaan Ons Braai

This morning Jade was supposed to go for her operation to fix her broken leg but because her bones where long and thin, the vet was very concerned about the success of the operation so he decided to use an external fixator. The operation was postponed till the afternoon but when I arrived to visit after work, I found out that a vet in Brits got to hear about Jade’s trauma and offered the use of his surgery and plating equipment to my vets at a fraction of the cost going to the specialists. So my vet jumped at the opportunity and rushed Jade the hour’s drive north to the town of Brits. They had not returned back from Brits so all I could do was go home and wait.

I arrived home to find load-shedding. This is sole electrical supplier, Eskom’s failure to run, manage, and plan our electrical grid. Okay maybe it is because it is a government organisation and bonuses get paid even if they fail so why work at all. Anyway as South Africans all we could say was “Bly kalm, ons gaan nou braai” which is directly translated, “Stay calm, we are going to now barbeque”.

So we joined the nintsy weeny spider making her web on the patio and started the braai. Being mid-week we didn’t find much braai meat in the freezer so staying calm we made do with what we had. Chicken breasts, potatoes, and butternut stuffed with spinach feta and ham. We sat on our patio enjoying our dinner by lantern in the darkest Africa while the night creatures kept their distance.

The report back from the vet was that Jade’s operation was a success, praise God. Lesson to be learnt here is that when you find yourself in darkest Africa and in a sticky predicament just say these words “Nou gaan ons braai”.

Tarantula Hawk

Oh my, what a start to the New Year. Seeing a Tarantula Hawk in action is a blessed start to 2014 although my friend Delia, an arachnophile, would be quite upset, but that tarantula was over 10cm in diameter. From Eagle Owls to poisonous Rinkhals snakes, now I have some of the brood of Ungoliant to deal with. I wish I knew what type of Great Spider this is, unless Delia could help.

Getting low down on the ground I tried to get into the fast action of this female Spider Wasp dragging her freshly caught dinner back to her burrow where she will lay her single egg inside this paralysed tarantula.

This is a good start to the year. Now breathe deep and take the plunge.

Chilean Rose Tarantula

Some time ago I posted a photo of a Sri-Lankan Ornamental Tarantula's molted cuticle, well this time it is the slightly smaller Chilean Rose Tarantula's turn to molt. The Chileans are more docile than the Sri-Lankan which is why they are so popular as pets.

Delia, who breeds exotic animals, brought this molted cuticle in this morning as a gift for Matthew.

My Spider Sense is Tingling

Tis the weekend and my spider senses are tingling as you lay your head down to sleep, let me read a little while you sleep...

"Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,
"Tis the prettiest parlour that ever did you spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there."
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."

"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin;
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, "Dear friend, what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome--will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see."

"Sweet creature," said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise;
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you'll step in a moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again;
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing:
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple--there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead."

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;
Thinking only of her crested head - poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour--but she ne'er came out again!

And now, dear little children who may this story read,
To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counselor close heart, and ear, and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the Fly.

This famous poem was written by Mary Howitt in 1829 and was enough to put any naughty boy in place. As for the spider in the photo, well not quite a spider but the molted skin of a tarantula. Thanks to Delia gave Matthew the recently molted skin of one of her pet tarantulas and of course this gave me a perfect opportunity to test my Canon S100 macro feature. See my Facebook album Spider Sense for more photos.

Rain Spiders come with Rain

While it is not raining as yet, another sign has arrived that rain is near. While putting my Vespa away I noticed a large spider on the side door. Taking a closer look it reared up in defence and that's when I recognized a beautiful Rain spider with a diameter of over 10 cm. Using a torch to take the photo did not do justice with the beautiful markings and colour. Matthew was keen on having it as a pet but I said no because it is better off keeping are garden safe from pests.