This is not my pic but I wanted to show you another gravid Green Lynx spider that was identified as such from a reliable web site.
This is possible but not necessarily where you might find a Green Lynx spider. Unlike the Crab spiders who adapt their specific camouflage and choose flowers that most match their coloration where they await in perfect disguise for prey that they succomb with little effort the Lynx spiders are very energetic and stealthy predators! Both of these spider groups, the Crab spiders and the Lynx spiders are considered to be web-less spiders. This does not mean that they cannot produce the same "silk-like" threads that other spiders use for webs but instead they use their webbing as hold-fasts much like a climber might use to scale a cliff. It helps if a prey puts up a difficult struggle to attach a few threads to something to maintain position!
It has been several weeks (and I am already tearing my hair out!) momma Green Lynx spider has hovered so very protectively over her chache of eggs. She has not eaten anything and she looks so ematiated that it is a wonder she is still able to defend her young to be with such skill! What she does is kind of a dance moving round and about the egg case when there is a threat. Always here long legs cover the case like an umbrella.
I suppose I should introduce what would have been the likely daddy:
This should also demonstrate why they are called a Lynx spider. They patiently wait for their prey and when something of appropriate size moves within range they move as quickly and with the stealth of a Lynx, darting after the prey and they may or may not bring that prey to a meagerly webbed station as in this pic to consume it. Their legs are equiped with long stiff hairs...almost barb-like which allow them to literally cage in their prey as opposed to what many other spiders do throwing nets of webbing over their prey.
I hope to soon be able to show you all momma Green Lynx Spider's babies! I thought that I could wait until they were born to create the complete story...Like I said I would never make a good dad!
Michael/ natureguy
Wow! How come you see all those different kind of spiders? You must look for them. I only see about 3 kinds in our yard, including black widows who like shadowy places.
ReplyDeletePatience...patience...patience, thats what it takes. Great pictures
ReplyDeleteActon Buff, that is why I have so many plants and live in an environment that has so much going on...I HAVE NO PATIENCE! Something has to be happening all of the time or I just get lost! When spider babies don't seem to want to come there is almost always something else going on to distract me!
ReplyDeleteMichael/natureguy
Joan, Even in neat little yards like yours there are certainly more than just three species of spiders! By the way there is now a Brown Widow spider out and about in So. CA. It is smaller but has the same red hour-glass marking underside of the abdomen. I have both here and they have never posed any threat to us. I always get nervous about the Brown Recluse spider...it always reminds me of monsters under the bed or in the closet! I am convinced that our Cobweb spiders (alias Daddy-long-legs...this is not the real daddy!) help to keep other spiders under control. They will go after anything small enough whether it be a young spider, ant or mosquito. They have a potent venom but you would have to be the size of a mosquito for it to do anything to you. Whenever the ants decide they need something indoors there are always several Cobweb spiders hanging out there. The end result is literally hundreds of shriveled up dead ants below each spider!!! I feel that it benefits all concerned to occaisionally suck up the cobwebs of the Cobweb spiders with your vacuum but not the spiders themselves!!! I suppose that there are few of you out there who are able to appreciate the symbiotic relationship that we have with the Cobweb spider. They do not represent an "unclean" environment but a balanced one that we should always have with nature whether we are indoors or out!
ReplyDeleteMichael/natureguy
Michael, I must admit that my first inclination when I see a spider in the house is to step on it. But your post was fascinating and very interesting. Great pictures too, it makes so much difference to your blog! See you at Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Paul
Paul,
ReplyDeleteThere may be some spiders that are worth squashing but for the most part they are really some of our best friends in the natural world! Let me add a small anecdote...Let's just imagine that we truly have nearly destroyed our planet and all that is mostly survived are the cockroach and the rat...wouldn't you like to have a few spiders hanging around to deal with all those cockroaches?
Love,
Michael/natureguy
I sent your blog site to Marcia. She had this crazy video of a spider posted on her blog. Also, I am letting Paul know about this blog.
ReplyDeleteHi, Mike -
ReplyDeleteI have often told Stewart the same thing - that it's a balance of nature to have spiders. They are not all bad because they regulate the insect population!
Joan...Please also explain to Stewart that it is not just that spiders control insects that are harmful to our lives but they create a balance that makes us stay alive just as the insects that these spiders eat also give us the precious gift of survival upon this EARTH!
ReplyDeleteLove you most,
Michael/natureguy