Nov 17, 2006

Camping Is Right Out

The wolf spider is one reason why I'll be avoiding Australia for the time being. I don't think I would ever be the same if I stumbled across this lady spider staring at me from her hole in the ground. It certainly makes camping under the open skies an impossibility for me. I know they are unusually dutiful parents (well, the mom at least), and that their bite isn't dangerous, but that doesn't help at all. They're big spiders, and those two front eyes look like they know too much.

Photo courtesy: Stavros Markopoulos

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6 comments:

  1. mist1November 17, 2006

    Oh, that's scary. Won't be sleeping well tonight.

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  2. AnonymousNovember 17, 2006

    I won't be travelling much... especially not to Australia... thanks to the Ugly Overload blog. Please let me stay in Controlled and Safe Territory!

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  3. Raging WombatNovember 20, 2006

    Ya, I seriously don't know what I would do if I encountered this in the wild. Most likely die of fright, I guess.

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  4. AnonymousNovember 28, 2006

    Sorry to dissapoint you, but wolf spiders are found all over the world! I found this one in my garden, in Crete, Greece. The reason we usually don't notice them is because they are shy animals, easily scared off by humans. They hide during the daytime (under rocks or in holes they dig in the ground) and they prefer to hunt (insects of course) by night. They are totaly inoffensive and really the only way for them to bite you is to stick your finger in their lair and only because they would feel threatened! And even then, their bite wouldn't be more painful than the sting of a bee or wasp, because their venom is very mild. They rely on their size and speed to subdue their insect prey so they are not really poisonous. Hope this helps to ease your fears :-)

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  5. Raging WombatNovember 28, 2006

    Ah! AAAHHH!! I know we have wolf spiders in California, but I hope nothing this large. Thanks for freaking me out. Also, thanks for the correction, and for the wonderful photo. That was an amazing picture.

    I've always hoped to visit Crete one day. I don't think even this spider lessens that desire.

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  6. AnonymousDecember 16, 2006

    yep. they have those in michigan too!

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