Jeff sent me this photo of a spider he found in Kumano Hongu. Kumano Hongu is the sight of several shrines in Japan, but I can't imagine finding any tranquility there with these creepy crawlies cruising around.
However, some entertainment is to be had with these spiders, even if serenity is sacrificed. The local kids like to catch them and make them fight. Are children the same everywhere? I've tried the same thing, but, alas, pill bugs don't fight.
BTW, is there an arachnophile (ahem...) who can identify this? And no, it isn't called a Japanese Fighting Spider.
Thanks for the photo, Jeff. May all of your travels bring you such lovely encounters.
Mar 16, 2007
Serenity NOW!
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13 comments:
I assume you meant me. ;)
It's a type of argopie spider. They're the orb weavers and can reach as much as 5" in leg span. They're fairly defensive if you mess with their webs, but you can't blame them. They always put a big visable streak in the middle so birds and mammels don't wander into them.
That's about all I can tell you without looking up more info on the latin name. It's Argopie sp., I believe.
I believe it's spelled "Argiope".
The pill bugs was the funniest thing I've read on here. Hilarious! I do love the color bands on the spider. I may have to design something around it.
rasmus- You're probably right. I didn't take the time to look up the spelling.
*steve irwin voice* "What a beuty! Whoo! ;)
Hey Jade is it a species of Argiope that is so often milked for silk? There are even people who weave cloth from it.
arachnophile- I believe those are the golden orb weavers. I don't think they're from Japan, though. I'm pulling that from memory, so I may be off.
SWEET TEXTILES!
I want spider silk boxers.
You're right jade. I got it mixed up with an African nephilid. That's quite the memory dude!
One little point of interest though: The silk of Argiope aurantia (a North Am. sp.) is used in gun-scopes. :D
Brandon - Heh, cool yes? It's time-consuming so it's really small-scale stuff. Some people make fishing nets and the odd scarf but nothing marketable.
Aw man, there goes my Drow-ish fantasies for spider-silk bedsheets... ;-)
(Husband: "Honey, I love you, but I still refuse to wear that black skin-paint and white wig...")
--TwoDragons
OMG, i remember these things spanning the path all the way up the maountain to Mitake shrine. they scarred the hell out of me. I'll have to find the pictures of their webz. ah!
Berstler
lmao Denita! Seriously... Stop it. :p Damn Drow have all the best textiles.
Wow, drow references! I like all of you more and more!
And, you are all so much smarter than I am...
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