"Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
09/27/2015 at 20:42 • Filed to: None
1
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"Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
09/27/2015 at 20:42 • Filed to: None | 1
| 16 |
Tired of all your friends bringing home big catches and all you can find are daddy long legs? Tired of being made fun of for not getting big game in spider season? All you need is a flashlight or headlamp to bag a big one.
(This is just for fun. Spiders can be dangerous so don’t mess with them unless you’re a professional)
Hold the flashlight near eye level. When you see a reflective spec like animal eyes in headlights that doesn’t go away when you move, it’s a spider. Asphalt and driveways have reflections but they’re much smaller, less reflective, and only reflect under direct angles. The spider eyes may flicker as you or the spider moves but doesn’t disappear like rocks will.
That blurry (sorry iPhone pics) reflective speck in the top picture is actually a spider’s eye(s). I’ve noticed this trick only works for hunting type spiders like wolf spiders. My guess is they have larger eyes relative to their body size and since they hunt at night they need them bigger to see prey.
The owner of the reflective speck.
I find the ones in leaves and mulch are easier to identify with the flashlight at first but blend in better than on asphalt or driveways.
I suggest looking in leaves, pine straw, mulch, or at the base of trees or bushes to get an idea of what to look for and for greater chances of finding spiders before looking on more sparkley surfaces.
The bigger the spider the bigger the reflection.
Xyl0c41n3
> Funktheduck
09/27/2015 at 20:58 |
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Wolf spiders actually have REALLY good vision, and they’re pretty smart, to boot. Did you know they can live for up to 18 months?
I don’t much care for spiders, but if I see a wolf spider, orb weaver, or tarantula, I leave them be. They’re good lil (HUGE) guys that I know are working hard to keep pest insects like cockroaches and aphids in check.
I had a seven-legged wolf spider in my apartment for a while (dunno what happened to its eighth leg, it was like that when I found it). We had an understanding... I wouldn’t kill it if it didn’t jump on me or invade my personal space. It worked out. He eventually found his way outside, so I hope he’s living a happy life eating all the mosquitoes we had after this spring’s record rains. :D
DoYouEvenShift
> Funktheduck
09/27/2015 at 20:59 |
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Im no spider hunter myself. But I learned the flash light trick several years ago.
Before I installed a back yard light at our old house. I would take a flashlight with me to walk my dogs at night. I noticed dozens of reflections on the grass one night.
Curious, I walked up to the biggest one and was rewarded with a huge ass spider.
While Im not really freaked out by spiders, I found an alternate location for my dogs.
MM54
> Funktheduck
09/27/2015 at 21:07 |
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Having been bitten by a wolf spider before, no thanks. I’ll stay inside...
smobgirl
> Funktheduck
09/27/2015 at 21:11 |
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Never going outside after dark again.
Lekker
> Funktheduck
09/27/2015 at 21:15 |
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Funktheduck
> Xyl0c41n3
09/27/2015 at 21:26 |
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I leave spiders alone or relocate them to outside most of the time.
We fortunately don't have tarantulas here. We do get some really big wolf spiders though.
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Funktheduck
> DoYouEvenShift
09/27/2015 at 21:27 |
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Yeah. It can be disturbing to think you're not surrounded and to turn on a light to see all those eyes.
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Funktheduck
> MM54
09/27/2015 at 21:28 |
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They're all around you. I don't think I've been bitten by one.
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Xyl0c41n3
> Funktheduck
09/27/2015 at 21:32 |
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The tarantulas usually hide or stay out of sight. But one day a Mexican red rump tarantula wandered into my office a couple of months ago and started climbing up the leg of our CEO dude, who, of course, freaked out. Heh. A coworker caught him in a beer stein and he and I relocated him outside.
The state parks around here actually host night hikes where they hand out UV flashlights and show people how all the tarantulas and scorpions hang out in the trees.
Photo not actually the spider in question:
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Funktheduck
> Xyl0c41n3
09/27/2015 at 21:43 |
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Not sure how I’d react with one of those coming up my leg.
It's pretty freaky when you realize how many bugs are around us. I'll often just stare at a spot of grass and be surprised by how much movement you'll see in a short time.
desertdog5051
> Xyl0c41n3
09/27/2015 at 22:29 |
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Tarantula’s in these parts migrate in late August. It is sad to see them crossing highways by the hundreds and knowing most will never make it to the other side. I rescued about 30 or so one year by picking them up with a spatula and flinging them across the road.
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Xyl0c41n3
> desertdog5051
09/27/2015 at 22:49 |
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I bet that was a sight!
I remember one time I was road tripping late at night after a week or so of strong rain. Thousands upon thousands of frogs had emerged thanks to the rain and were all trying to cross the road to God knows where. For 2-3 hours, I was running over frogs in the middle of nowhere. I felt awful about it, but there was nothing I could do. There was nowhere to stop, and even if there had been, I would have had to wait til dawn. :-/
jpomonkey
> smobgirl
09/27/2015 at 23:27 |
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Especially without shoes!
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desertdog5051
> Xyl0c41n3
09/27/2015 at 23:39 |
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I know that feeling of helplessness. Poor things.
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DoYouEvenShift
> Funktheduck
09/28/2015 at 08:15 |
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One night, I pulled up to my driveway and counted at least 10-15 of these guys. Turns out it was some kind of migration/mating season so they were everywhere.
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Funktheduck
> DoYouEvenShift
09/28/2015 at 09:05 |
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I would have stayed in my car a little longer. Not out of fear but wouldn't want to step on one or almost step on one and make it angry