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Just a few new L.bishopi, L.geometricus, and L.reclusa pics....
New L.bishopi / L.geometricus / L.reclusa pics
- Thread starter JPD
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Are you handling a L. reclusa? Very great pics.
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L.reclusa are actually quite docile as are the Widows. I do handle them all. I have been bitten by the Red Widow, L.bishopi, however, it was obviously a dry bite because I observed no ill effects.
While I don't recommend the handling of them to others, I do it, but I am also well aware of the risks involved and am willing to deal with the effects of an envenomation if it does occur.
I am very passionate about the Widows. They are probably the most maligned of all of the spiders. They are beautiful, gentle, creatures and I suppose my purpose in handling, as moronic as it may sound, is to demonstrate their gentleness.
While I don't recommend the handling of them to others, I do it, but I am also well aware of the risks involved and am willing to deal with the effects of an envenomation if it does occur.
I am very passionate about the Widows. They are probably the most maligned of all of the spiders. They are beautiful, gentle, creatures and I suppose my purpose in handling, as moronic as it may sound, is to demonstrate their gentleness.
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How do you do when picking them up?
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The key is to let them crawl onto your hand. If you reach into their web, you can almost assure that you will be bitten. The L.geometricus are probably the most skittish and will almost always drop from the web into a fetal like position until they are left alone. I would be very surprised if one would even attempt a bite. Another good rule.....never mess with them when they have an eggsac. The L.bishopi bite happened when I first received the spider and I had not noticed the eggsac in her container. I popped off the lid and she crawled out, however, she must have felt as though her eggsac was in jeopardy.
Many times, when I take the photographs, the spiders will drop on their silk lines to the table and I find myself corraling them as I would one of my T's, which is a really bad habit.
The pics that I posted of the L.bishopi on this thread were taken as she hung from my hand on a silk strand. Fortunately, she was very well behaved and remained there until I was finished.
I do want to reiterate though that handling them is not the best course of action.
Part of my business is doing educational shows for schools, corporations, and private parties. In the shows is when I do most of the handling and it is done, as I mentioned, to demonstrate that they are not the monsters that people make them out to be.
I grew up hearing the horror story from my mom about how I almost reached into a "nest" of Black Widows when I was a toddler. After I began to study the widows and of course find out that they don't actually "nest" together, my childhood fears soon subsided.
Many times, when I take the photographs, the spiders will drop on their silk lines to the table and I find myself corraling them as I would one of my T's, which is a really bad habit.
The pics that I posted of the L.bishopi on this thread were taken as she hung from my hand on a silk strand. Fortunately, she was very well behaved and remained there until I was finished.
I do want to reiterate though that handling them is not the best course of action.
Part of my business is doing educational shows for schools, corporations, and private parties. In the shows is when I do most of the handling and it is done, as I mentioned, to demonstrate that they are not the monsters that people make them out to be.
I grew up hearing the horror story from my mom about how I almost reached into a "nest" of Black Widows when I was a toddler. After I began to study the widows and of course find out that they don't actually "nest" together, my childhood fears soon subsided.
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My turn to hold them!!! Don't worry Jason, I am prepared to drive you to the hospital if ever needed. ;P
Awesome pics, I champion the Widow every opportunity I get. I have nothing but absolute admiration for this spider and Loxosceles too. During my teens I was more haphazard, catching Black Widows with my bare hands, by gently coercing the Widow into a fetal position and grasping the cephalothorax between thumb and forefinger like you would a tarantula with the legs safely and gently pinned back. Very safe and easy to apply if you are an experienced invert enthusiasts, but never grasp the Widow's abdomen as they coat themselves with an oily secretion and can slip free. I am not encouraging this type of handling btw and it definitely provokes the Widow to bite too. Now, I use different creative methods that usually involve corraling the spider.
Last week I had two eggsacs of L.hesperus hatch and while gently assisting the spiderlings, one must have accidently crawled onto my hand near the knuckles, well I had some abrasions and small scratches and accidently smashed the small spiderling unknowingly until a small alcohol-like burn alerted me. Looking that my knuckles I discovered a small greasy smudge with tiny legs. This stunned me and gave me even deeper respect for the Widow. No other systematics occured and I ignored it. Today, a week after the fact I am fine, but if I had detected any other systematics I would have rushed myself to the hospital. Was this envemonation, I can't say but that strong alcohol-like sting spoke volumes.
Being a Widow collector and enthusiasts, I've witnessed the docile nature of the species. Biting is only a last ditch survival effort by the spider who would prefer to flee or play opposum. So far, I have not gained the nerve to handle the Widow though I know there is very little risk involved. Another strong factor is my pride and dignity doesn't allow me to take the plunge. But all power to you, JPD, you have as much understanding and familiarity as I do of what the Widow is and isn't capable of.
Thanks for sharing the pics JPD, the Widow is my favorite invertebrate and that bond seems to grow stronger with every new acquisition to the collection. As I am typing I look over at the ones I have in my bedroom, they are serene. The L.hesperus in the ten gallon tank had just added additional silken constructs and now lies still waiting I suppose for a prey item to stumble by. All is serene.
Last week I had two eggsacs of L.hesperus hatch and while gently assisting the spiderlings, one must have accidently crawled onto my hand near the knuckles, well I had some abrasions and small scratches and accidently smashed the small spiderling unknowingly until a small alcohol-like burn alerted me. Looking that my knuckles I discovered a small greasy smudge with tiny legs. This stunned me and gave me even deeper respect for the Widow. No other systematics occured and I ignored it. Today, a week after the fact I am fine, but if I had detected any other systematics I would have rushed myself to the hospital. Was this envemonation, I can't say but that strong alcohol-like sting spoke volumes.
Being a Widow collector and enthusiasts, I've witnessed the docile nature of the species. Biting is only a last ditch survival effort by the spider who would prefer to flee or play opposum. So far, I have not gained the nerve to handle the Widow though I know there is very little risk involved. Another strong factor is my pride and dignity doesn't allow me to take the plunge. But all power to you, JPD, you have as much understanding and familiarity as I do of what the Widow is and isn't capable of.
Thanks for sharing the pics JPD, the Widow is my favorite invertebrate and that bond seems to grow stronger with every new acquisition to the collection. As I am typing I look over at the ones I have in my bedroom, they are serene. The L.hesperus in the ten gallon tank had just added additional silken constructs and now lies still waiting I suppose for a prey item to stumble by. All is serene.
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Not a Widow thread has passed that I have not seen you comment on Stormcrow...and always so eloquently.
I am glad to know that there is at least one widow enthusiast out there besides myself.
I really can't explain what my fascination is with the widow. Perhaps it is the gentleness of a creature with a bite that packs such a wallop.
How is your collection looking?
I would be happy to send you some L.geometricus. I am currently working on getting some L.variolus, L.mactans, and some more L.bishopi.
The L.bishopi will have to be raised up and then once I breed them, I would be happy to send you a few of those too.
I am hoping to get 50 spiderlings very soon.
I am also working on getting some European species as well.
Well, let me know if you are interested in some of the L.geometricus and others in the not so distant future
I am glad to know that there is at least one widow enthusiast out there besides myself.
I really can't explain what my fascination is with the widow. Perhaps it is the gentleness of a creature with a bite that packs such a wallop.
How is your collection looking?
I would be happy to send you some L.geometricus. I am currently working on getting some L.variolus, L.mactans, and some more L.bishopi.
The L.bishopi will have to be raised up and then once I breed them, I would be happy to send you a few of those too.
I am hoping to get 50 spiderlings very soon.
I am also working on getting some European species as well.
Well, let me know if you are interested in some of the L.geometricus and others in the not so distant future
Thank you for kind comments JPD, as of this moment my collection is sorely lacking L.bishopi and L.variolus. The L.geometricus and L.mactans are far too few, and welcome plenty more additions. And the L.hesperus, well they are numerous and never lacking. In the coming weeks, I planned on acquiring L.bishopi, L.geometricus, and L.mactans. And desire L.variolus too.
If you are up for trading, I have 200-300 L.hesperus 'lings available (perhaps even more)? Tommorrow I am heading to Petco to purchase some flightless fruit flies for them as they look ripe to prey and feast.
I know what you mean about this deep interest in Widows, once I started keeping them and caring for them, they soon became individuals simply not another spider. They are perfect predators, probably one of the best in all the animal kingdom. And their venom has properties that are absolutely unique and deeply fascinating. Widows are also well adapted to radical change and hardy as cockroaches (oops, what a nasty comparision). Awesome pets and often find myself studying these captives for great lengths of time. And always tempted to interact with them, to become a physical part of their world. I think there is a anthropomorphic psychological connection between them and me, that borders on something freudian, lying just beyond the reaches of my subconscience psyche (lol).
If you are up for trading, I have 200-300 L.hesperus 'lings available (perhaps even more)? Tommorrow I am heading to Petco to purchase some flightless fruit flies for them as they look ripe to prey and feast.
I know what you mean about this deep interest in Widows, once I started keeping them and caring for them, they soon became individuals simply not another spider. They are perfect predators, probably one of the best in all the animal kingdom. And their venom has properties that are absolutely unique and deeply fascinating. Widows are also well adapted to radical change and hardy as cockroaches (oops, what a nasty comparision). Awesome pets and often find myself studying these captives for great lengths of time. And always tempted to interact with them, to become a physical part of their world. I think there is a anthropomorphic psychological connection between them and me, that borders on something freudian, lying just beyond the reaches of my subconscience psyche (lol).
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Just hard to see....look closely between the other two. I had to take a second look myself though............stop scaring me like that man.
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the L. Reclusa, is that the Brown Recluse Spider?
last night when i was cleaning out my roach tanks in the back yard, a spider, about 1.5" looking just like that one in your picture, was on the side of my house, under the light
i live in connecticut, central area, south of hartford, are they common around here? might have been something different, but it looked just like that spider in the pics, i never seen a spider like it before either
last night when i was cleaning out my roach tanks in the back yard, a spider, about 1.5" looking just like that one in your picture, was on the side of my house, under the light
i live in connecticut, central area, south of hartford, are they common around here? might have been something different, but it looked just like that spider in the pics, i never seen a spider like it before either
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l reclusa is the brown recluse, also known as the violin spider, and the fiddleback, because of the violin shaped marking on its back.
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Wonderful pics JPD. I love widows and would have some of my own if my roommate hadn't drawn the line at scorps and tarantulas. Doesn't seem too keen on the idea of his cats being bitten. Loser. Anyway....I am keeping one L. reclusa. It's one of my favorites though it is a bit less exciting than any of my Ts. How did you get the one in the pic to hold still long enough to hold? Mine seems so skittish. Every time I try to hold it it runs and it is faster than any T I have.
Anyway....I am keeping one L. reclusa. It's one of my favorites though it is a bit less exciting than any of my Ts. How did you get the one in the pic to hold still long enough to hold? Mine seems so skittish. Every time I try to hold it it runs and it is faster than any T I have.Angelique Reed
Arachnopeon
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Wicked pics! I had two widows a year or so ago. Kept them in my friend's auto shop (my parental unit was not going to allow them anywhere near the house). My widows were placed haphazardly near a generator & were fried. :8o Enough of the sob story...now to the question. I fed my widows strictly moths that I captured. What do you feed yours?
Don't fret, Wolvie, there are no Brown Recluse species edemic in Conneticut. Angelique, welcome to the boards. I feed my Widows store bought mealworms, superworms, and crickets. Occassionally they feast on a spider from the yard. Haha, my L.hesperus in the ten gallon has been working very hard in the last week, the web has grown into quite a complex maze of vertical and horizontal lattice of silk.