photo test - spider
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:34 am
by cheshirekat
Creepy spider in my strawberries.
[img]https://lh3.ggpht.com/cheshirekatttt/SHWMTXO0RjI/AAAAAAAABIM/KJ3zJhjW6Ck/s800/jun292008%20%2048059-BugManHelpMe.jpg[/img]
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:18 am
by cynthia_h
Great photo!
At least spiders don't eat our plants; they eat the bugs which eat our plants.
Do you have a fear of spiders? Maybe this is why you called "her" creepy?
My house rule is that spiders don't belong in the house. But they're welcome to the outside of the house!
Spiders found inside the house have "broken the rule" and may be vacuumed up, depending on how I feel about it.
Cynthia H.
USDA Zone 9, Sunset Zone 17
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 3:50 am
by cheshirekat
If I had a choice, I'd rather be close to a bee than any spider. I know they are beneficial to gardeners and non-gardeners alike because they take care of the pests. Maybe it bothers me that I never know what they are doing - they look like they have something sinister they want to do. And, I've never seen a spider eating bugs. Whenever I've seen them, they are just hanging out and looking at me like I might be tasty.
On the other hand, bees are always busy doing something and can't really be bothered with paying any attention to what I'm doing most of the time. Sometimes it feels like the bees are pets. When it's really hot out, the bird bath dries out quickly. I refill it every day, sometimes twice a day or more on the days I don't work so they don't have to drink hot water. The bees are anxiously flying around me and the birdbath because they want the water now. I can just about hear them saying, "Hurry up, will you?! I don't have all day and I'm thirsty." Actually, I have four bird baths to refill of different sizes. But the bees know they can count on me to refill the deepest one every day and there are always a few of them around who seem to think I fill it too slowly and I have to coax them to move out of the way so the water spray doesn't damage their little wings. But at least they show their appreciation by letting me get really close to watch them drink without attacking. They will turn around, look at me with their big eyes, then drink more.
I don't like the spiders but I don't kill them indoors or out. I prefer to vacate the area they are in quickly. Just because I don't know what they are up to, I don't think it gives me the right to kill them. Sometimes the urge to squash them is overwhelming but I can't remember the last time I killed any of the little creepy things intentionally.
What makes you say the spider is a "her"? Do you know what this one is? What does the male look like?