Net casting spider in Kentucky (Deinopidae)

[CRX]

So I am literally posting this from my phone looking at the spider, but this camera is fracked and I have to get a relatives camera in a little bit to get a visible pic. You guys know the net casting spiders, that throw their web on prey and they usually sit in a distinctive pose. I believe I found one here in central KY on a flower pot as I was smoking in the backyard. Do you all know if this species is natural here? Should I collect this specimen if its that rare?

 

[CRX]

This is exactly the spider I got here, just mine is different colored and its very tiny but exactly same legs and posture https://bugguide.net/node/view/2378721/bgimage

 

[drurymercy]

I love netcasters!!a website has some ogre faces spiders has me drooling. I’ve never seen one so that will be way too cool if u have some right in your backyard!! And of such an adorable one! How tiny like a jumper?

 

[CRX]

I love netcasters!!a website has some ogre faces spiders has me drooling. I’ve never seen one so that will be way too cool if u have some right in your backyard!! And of such an adorable one! How tiny like a jumper?

Hi, I ended up collecting it. I believe this is Deinopsis spinosa, the one on wikipedia is exactly the same spider I have. I have him in a little enclosure, we'll see if he spins a web. If he doesn't take ill let him go. Some immediate observations:

They are extremely fast, faster than you would expect from a spider like that

They like to play dead, if you prod them at all they're prone to assuming the death curl

And I will try and get some pics and yes he is very tiny, about mid jumper size. If this is a genuine Spinosa, I think this is actually significant as KY is way far north of their reputed range.

 

[drurymercy]

Hi, I ended up collecting it. I believe this is Deinopsis spinosa, the one on wikipedia is exactly the same spider I have. I have him in a little enclosure, we'll see if he spins a web. If he doesn't take ill let him go. Some immediate observations:

They are extremely fast, faster than you would expect from a spider like that

They like to play dead, if you prod them at all they're prone to assuming the death curl

And I will try and get some pics and yes he is very tiny, about mid jumper size. If this is a genuine Spinosa, I think this is actually significant as KY is way far north of their reputed range.

Ssssooooo cool!!!! lol they always look bigger in the pictures so it’s nice to know they are a little smaller!! Those eyes and how they hunt I’ve seen videos of how they hunt. They look insanely fast!!!! Can’t wait to hear how cool it’s hunting is!! And can’t wait to hear if they use webs more like widows and orb weavers or more like jumpers!! Now I got to check out in my forests just in case

 

[aaarg]

i certainly wouldn't expect to find one in KY but i guess stranger things have happened. hurry up and get pics lol

 

[Brewser]

Was a Net used to "Catch" Deinopidae...

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Curious... Was a Net used to "Catch" Deinopidae...

Makes me think of sparticus tv series where certain warriors throw nets .. but in this case you catch a net web hunting spider with a net. The irony 🫥

 

[CRX]

Sorry my camera is so bad, I attached two pics that I hope show the form of the spider well. I'm actually going to let him go tonight since he's so small, I don't know if pinhead crickets are even small enough.

 

[zsiciarz]

Can you take a picture that has the spider in good focus? I doubt that's a Deinopidae, my guess would be an Argiope species or some similar Araneidae.

 

[aaarg]

yeah definitely more araneid vibes, looks like Gea heptagon

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

That X shape is a hallmark of Argiope. Hard to see there, but A argentata is my guess. If you found a big orb web with z-like thick webbing, that’s what you got (Argiope). Best to let her go as she needs to build a big orb to hunt.

 

[drurymercy]

Sorry my camera is so bad, I attached two pics that I hope show the form of the spider well. I'm actually going to let him go tonight since he's so small, I don't know if pinhead crickets are even small enough. View attachment 478847
View attachment 478848

That is tiny!! Cute

 

[CRX]

Thanks everyone, I released her last night back into the plant I found her

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Thanks everyone, I released her last night back into the plant I found her

k
I never see Argiopes here anymore.

 

[CRX]

k
I never see Argiopes here anymore.

I definitely used to see them alot more. I never see giant females anymore, its sad. Honestly, I think all bugs/spiders are dying off. There used to be more bugs at our lamp lights and there just isnt anymore, there hasnt been for many years. There's this thing called the windshield phenomena its a real thing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windshield_phenomenon

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I definitely used to see them alot more. I never see giant females anymore, its sad. Honestly, I think all bugs/spiders are dying off. There used to be more bugs at our lamp lights and there just isnt anymore, there hasnt been for many years. There's this thing called the windshield phenomena its a real thing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windshield_phenomenon

All I see are tiny moths and stuff nothing larger this year , I saw wooly bear but I didn’t have a camera on me and it ran away so fast it was gone when I returned . Pesticides pretty much killed everything off.

 

[CRX]

All I see are tiny moths and stuff nothing larger this year , I saw wooly bear but I didn’t have a camera on me and it ran away so fast it was gone when I returned . Pesticides pretty much killed everything off.

Its sad beyond words man. It makes me sad. I remember when we used to see cecropia moths and lunas, they did use to come around. And even praying mantis. Eastern stag beetles. My mom saw 1 praying mantis this summer and we hadn't seen one before that in 3 years. We are actually in the middle of a literal extinction its called the Holocene extinction event and its still ongoing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinction

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Its sad beyond words man. It makes me sad. I remember when we used to see cecropia moths and lunas, they did use to come around. And even praying mantis. Eastern stag beetles. My mom saw 1 praying mantis this summer and we hadn't seen one before that in 3 years. We are actually in the middle of a literal extinction its called the Holocene extinction event and its still ongoing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinction

Yep I posted on it what a tragedy

https://arachnoboards.com/threads/6th-extinction-real-or-hoax.310046/