Spined Micrathena

[Survivor7]

Used to see these (or something very similar) at my mom's house. Thought about going sometime and trying to find one to keep. Anyone here have some info they would like to share? Like when to start looking or whatnot. Thanks

 

[Peter Clausen]

I'd guess late summer, like now to the harvesting of pumpkins is good orbweaver weather (well, maybe not in Ohio). I had a friend that would keep spiny orbweavers in her home, including the bedroom. They had a few broods each summer.

 

[agent A]

yesterday at my great aunt's condo there was a huge orb weaver about as wide as a quarter and was very agressive and when it spun the web around its prey it was amazing! also there are some tiny baby spiders at my house, I think they're orb weavers, not sure

I didn't have a camera on me yesterday but the spider was amazing, I have a feild guide and I'll look through it to try and see what it was

I'd agree that now is a good time to look

 

[lancaster1313]

I love my local orbweavers, Especially the Spiny orbweaver!

Gasteracantha cancriformis is the most common around my yard. Around here, many people call them Crab spiders.

I like to hand them small moths sometimes, but if they get spooked they will drop from the web and almost disappear! As colorful and bright as they are dorsally, ventrally, they are nearly the same color as our soil. I find it to be a very cool defense. B)

As a child, I used to love handling them, especially because most folks were afraid of them on account of their appearance.

 

[Peter Clausen]

I've never heard of anybody raising the Micrathena specifically, but my friend used to get the G. cancriformis in at least three colors. She isolated them, if I remember right, to produce red, yellow and white specimens. There may have been a bluish one too, but I'm not certain. Their egg sacs were neon green. The Micrathena's care must be about the same, but they're larger, aren't they? I saw lot of Gasteracantha in Hawaii too, a few years ago.

 

[ExoticOddities]

I love my local orbweavers, Especially the Spiny orbweaver!

Gasteracantha cancriformis is the most common around my yard. Around here, many people call them Crab spiders.

I like to hand them small moths sometimes, but if they get spooked they will drop from the web and almost disappear! As colorful and bright as they are dorsally, ventrally, they are nearly the same color as our soil. I find it to be a very cool defense. B)

As a child, I used to love handling them, especially because most folks were afraid of them on account of their appearance.

There is some confustion here, which is quite understandable: the Spiny-Backed Orbweaver is Gasteracantha cancriformis, while the Spined Micrathena is Micrathena gracilus.

Hope this clarifies!

Jack

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[lancaster1313]

There is some confustion here, which is quite understandable: the Spiny-Backed Orbweaver is Gasteracantha cancriformis, while the Spined Micrathena is Micrathena gracilus.

Hope this clarifies!

Jack

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My post intro "I love my local orbweavers, Especially the Spiny orbweaver!"Survivor7's post "Used to see these (or something very similar) "

This is what triggered my post. It was kind of like, "If you like that spider, you might like this similar spider as well."

I never meant to imply that the spider I mentioned was the same species as the topic title. I was only expressing my interest in a common local species that I admire. Is the Spined Micrathena not an orb making spider? Please inform me, as I do not want to be confused.

 

[ExoticOddities]

I never meant to imply that the spider I mentioned was the same species as the topic title. I was only expressing my interest in a common local species that I admire. Is the Spined Micrathena not an orb making spider? Please inform me, as I do not want to be confused.

Gosh, no need to be defensive

I merely thought you were confused and I only tried to help. I just figured, since there is no such thing as a "Spiny Orbweaver" (which is the term you used), I thought the distinction would be helpful to clarify the differences among the actual species that do exist, namely the Spiny-Backed Orbweaver (which you mentioned) and the Spined Micrathena (which is the actual species asked about in the thread topic).

Since the title of the thread was specific in reference to the "Spined Micrathena," and since you posted reference to the (non-existent) "Spiny Orbweaver," I thought that you might in fact be confused. However, if you really knew it all along then I appologize for assuming the contrary ... but my post still might have helped others who did not know this difference

Again, I don't believe I said anything to cause anyone to be defensive, so cheer up and have a good one

Jack

.

 

[lancaster1313]

Gosh, no need to be defensive

I merely thought you were confused and I only tried to help. I just figured, since there is no such thing as a "Spiny Orbweaver" (which is the term you used), I thought the distinction would be helpful to clarify the differences among the actual species that do exist, namely the Spiny-Backed Orbweaver (which you mentioned) and the Spined Micrathena (which is the actual species asked about in the thread topic).

Since the title of the thread was specific in reference to the "Spined Micrathena," and since you posted reference to the (non-existent) "Spiny Orbweaver," I thought that you might in fact be confused. However, if you really knew it all along then I appologize for assuming the contrary ... but my post still might have helped others who did not know this difference

Again, I don't believe I said anything to cause anyone to be defensive, so cheer up and have a good one

Jack

.

No problem. I didn't realize the importance of the common name, as that spider has other names. I could have called it a Crab spider, and my local peeps would have known what it is. :lol: We both know it is definitely not a Crab spider. :lol:

Sorry about that. It has been a rough morning for me IRL. :mellow:

 

[lancaster1313]

But really, who wouldn't be confused if they came across this from wikipedia:

"Gasteracantha cancriformis (the crab spider, spiny-backed orbweaver, spiny orbweaver spider, crab-like orbweaver spider, crab-like spiny orbweaver spider, jewel spider, spiny-bellied orbweaver, jewel box spider or smiley face spider) is a species of spider."

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[ExoticOddities]

Well, that is exactly why I was trying to help with the confusion :lol:

The "Micrathena" part of the original post distinguished it from the other species, but yet their common "spiny" name can confuse anyone.

Anyway, no problem, we all have bad mornings ... but I was only trying to help not to be mean or rude

Jack

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