Insects and Spiders and the like

[TortoiseShell]

I think I know which ones are yellow jackets, since they are the ones that used to invade our family reunion picnics. Nasty buggers. One time I got stung for absolutely no reason - I wasn't moving, wasn't doing anything, just sitting there. Stung my arm. No wonder I get panic attacks.

I did have a wasp sting me when it was raining out - it was mad about the rain so stung the closest thing (me). At least that's my reasoning, I didn't do anything to offend it.

I've had some sort of giant massive wasp hanging out on my front steps. My neighbor says it's trying to find a mate and won't hurt me, but I literally just stand there for 10-15 minutes until it gets bored and flies off. I can't get into my house when it's there.

[Rosewind]

Wow, bug freaking hugs to Swirly. At this rate, guys like you will take over my thread.

Nah, we're just sharing in your enthusiasm. There can be only one Bugmaster.

[Stonetribe]

I think I know which ones are yellow jackets, since they are the ones that used to invade our family reunion picnics. Nasty buggers. One time I got stung for absolutely no reason - I wasn't moving, wasn't doing anything, just sitting there. Stung my arm. No wonder I get panic attacks.

I did have a wasp sting me when it was raining out - it was mad about the rain so stung the closest thing (me). At least that's my reasoning, I didn't do anything to offend it.

I've had some sort of giant massive wasp hanging out on my front steps. My neighbor says it's trying to find a mate and won't hurt me, but I literally just stand there for 10-15 minutes until it gets bored and flies off. I can't get into my house when it's there.

I'd like to add that in addition to Swirlys statement that almost any bug will only attack in self defense if they are being harrased and in danger, they will also attack in self defense if they think, they are in danger. They are much smarter then we give them credit for, don't get me wrong. But they are still just arthropods, and they can make mistakes just like you and me.

Nah, we're just sharing in your enthusiasm. There can be only one Bugmaster.

Awww, your too sweet.

[starswirlthebearded]

Oh there is one wasp that I am forever afraid of... The Asian Giant Wasp.... Those things are just scary. I'll spare you the details, but they kill people in Japan more than almost any other creature.

[Stonetribe]

Just a reminder, I am going to do a highlight on jumping spiders. I've just been a bit really lazy lately is all. Here, look at this adorable jumping spider to tide you over.

[Talex]

Oh there is one wasp that I am forever afraid of... The Asian Giant Wasp.... Those things are just scary. I'll spare you the details, but they kill people in Japan more than almost any other creature.

^These

these are like the things of my nightmares. They say the more you know about something the less scared you'll be. HAHAHa! NOPE. Did a bunch of research on these guys and it only makes me less easy about them. freakin stingers growing up to a cm in length and such, gawhd....But they don't kill as often as you would think. However, they are EXTREMELY territorial. Forget leaving them alone. If you see one you need to get going.

freakin asian wasps..... *shudder*

if you're wondering how "giant" they are, just look at your hand, now look at your knuckles. From the knuckle of your pinkie finger to the knuckle of your index finger is about how big they are. (2 to 2.5 inches) scurry....

Forgive me if I'm wrong on anything, this is from memory. I just wanted to share my fears with you all.

Oh, and cute spider! ^^ those guys are always fun to watch jump around

[Stonetribe]

After much procrastination, I'm finally doing the Jumping Spider highlight!

Out of all the kinds of spiders known on this earth, Jumping Spiders make up the majority, about 13% of all species. Jumping Spiders live in a wide array of habitats including Tropical and Temperate forests, scrub lands and deserts, and mountainous regions. They can range dramatically in terms of color, but all Jumping Spiders can be identified as such by one particular feature, their eyes. All Jumping Spiders have a recurring pattern in the front row of their eyes with the inner two always being more prominent then the outer two.

As the name implies, Jumping Spiders posses efficient leaping capability's. Surprisingly, a Jumping spiders ability to leap has little to do with it's legs. Rather, Jumping Spider's bounds, which is very often multiple times it's own body length, is made possible thanks to their well developed book lungs, a respiratory organ found in arachnids, and internal hydraulic system.

While they do use their jumping prowess for navigation purposes in varying frequency, it comes into play much more crucially when on the look out for it's next meal. Jumping Spiders are active hunters, patrolling around when looking for prey. Jumping Spiders have excellent eyesight as far as arachnids are concerned, aiding them greatly when looking for prey as well as pouncing on it. When they do jump, they always do it prepared. Whenever a Jumping Spider jumps, it always attaches a line of silk to wherever their jumping from. That way, should the jump miss, they prey shakes them off, or anything else that might go wrong does, they can use their "safety harness" to climb back to where they jumped from.

Jumping Spiders can be found to exhibit surprising intelligence and be very adaptive when hunting. The many various species are observed employing numerous different hunting strategies for different kinds of prey. Some species are specialists, using a certain tried and true method for catching a predetermined kind of prey. Other's are shown to alter their strategy's for different targets making it possible for them to nab pray much, much, bigger and more dangerous than themselves, as show here.

[Chocoswirl]

YAAY!

Would it be possible to have a pet Jumping Spider? :3

[Stonetribe]

I just did a quick search on jumping spider lifespan, and to my surprise, I found that they can live for 2 to 3 years. Keeping that in mind, I'd say yes! I think I'll look into it some more later.

[Chocoswirl]

I just did a quick search on jumping spider lifespan, and to my surprise, I found that they can live for 2 to 3 years. Keeping that in mind, I'd say yes! I think I'll look into it some more later.

Ooh! I want one so badly! They'd be perfect for pest control, and they'd be so adorable! Plus, I wouldn't mind playing a few pranks on my sister with it.

[Chocoswirl]

This particular jumping spider seems to love the camera:

I also just learned from a bit of quick studying that almost all jumping spiders are curious, and aren't usually aggressive. :3

[leodylandy]

is it bad to say that i hate all bugs and i will kill a spider on sight. and those jumping spiders freak me out .

[Stonetribe]

Ooh! I want one so badly! They'd be perfect for pest control, and they'd be so adorable! Plus, I wouldn't mind playing a few pranks on my sister with it.

Just be careful when handling them. Not because their dangerous, no, but they do tend to be small. You wouldn't want them getting hurt or lost!

is it bad to say that i hate all bugs and i will kill a spider on sight. and those jumping spiders freak me out .

Not at all, we're all entitled to our own opinions, and fears can't be helped. However, I would you like it if you could keep talk of how you hate spiders out of this thread. The main point of this thread is to learn and share positive interest about arthropods. If you are afraid of bugs though, may I recommend you read some of my previous highlights? Fears are very often derived from a lack of knowledge on a subject. By learning more about something one is afraid of, they often find out that what they fear is actually much less dangerous then they thought. I can proudly say I have helped some of the now regular's of my thread feel much more comfortable around insects and spiders. I've even landed someone a job at their local pet store! This is just a suggestion though, you are not expected to read about your fear because of me.

Regulars? Care to back me up?

[Rosewind]

is it bad to say that i hate all bugs and i will kill a spider on sight. and those jumping spiders freak me out .

I used to feel that way too. Spiders are great for taking care of bugs -- every spider you kill might have gone on to kill hundreds more insects that all produce offspring. You might think twice about killing a spider on sight, especially if it's just doing its own thing and leaving you alone. If you're worried about getting bitten, do a little research and you'll find that ALL spiders only want to get away from you, and only bite when they are threatened. Check out some of the previous spotlights. Bugmaster has given me a refreshed view of arthropods, and I'm not swift to take the life of one unless it is truly bothering me as a result.

That said, jumping spiders are cute! Great spotlight, Bugmaster!

[Stonetribe]

Thanks Rosewind, you've always been a loyal follower of this thread.

I'd also like to announce that just the other day, my pet spider Rosey (not to be confused with the forumer Rosewind above) has laid an egg sac! I was awfully confused and a little worried when I realized what it was, but after a little research, I found that it's actually pretty common for female spiders to lay unfertilized eggs should they not find a mate. Good thing too. I would have to let her back into the wild if there were spider-lings on the way.

You really do learn something everyday.

[Chocoswirl]

Thanks Rosewind, you've always been a loyal follower of this thread.

I'd also like to announce that just the other day, my pet spider Rosey (not to be confused with the forumer Rosewind above) has laid an egg sac! I was awfully confused and a little worried when I realized what it was, but after a little research, I found that it's actually pretty common for female spiders to lay unfertilized eggs should they not find a mate. Good thing too. I would have to let her back into the wild if there were spider-lings on the way.

You really do learn something everyday.

I found that out yesterday. If they don't lay the eggs, they'll die from explosion. Ouch... What if humans had to do that?

[Stonetribe]

Woah, I didn't know they'ed die if they didn't lay the eggs... :!:

Anyways, lets get back on the topic of Jumping Spiders. Anymore comments on this eight legged cuties?

[Chocoswirl]

One guy has been raising them for a long time, and he said that one of his spiders died, but it was the only one out of all his females that didn't lay her eggs when she was supposed to, so he gathered the evidence and came to the conclusion that they were forced to lay their eggs. He also has a degree in biology, so I think it's safe to assume he's right.

ALL YOUR JUMPING SPIDERS ARE BELONG TO ME

[Rosewind]

Thanks Rosewind, you've always been a loyal follower of this thread.

I'd also like to announce that just the other day, my pet spider Rosey (not to be confused with the forumer Rosewind above) has laid an egg sac! I was awfully confused and a little worried when I realized what it was, but after a little research, I found that it's actually pretty common for female spiders to lay unfertilized eggs should they not find a mate. Good thing too. I would have to let her back into the wild if there were spider-lings on the way.

You really do learn something everyday.

You do know that a female spider can mate and hold on to the male's seed until she's ready to lay eggs, right? Those eggs might very well have spiderlings in them.

[Stonetribe]

You do know that a female spider can mate and hold on to the male's seed until she's ready to lay eggs, right? Those eggs might very well have spiderlings in them.

Good catch Rosewind. As I have mentioned before, I found her in my shed. I'm not sure about the exact life span of her species, but judgeing by how much she's grown between then and now, I'd say she came into my care at relatively age. I'll be sure to keep an eye on it though.

[starswirlthebearded]

Well here is something interesting...

http://www.nature.com/news/photosynthesis-like-process-found-in-insects-1.11214

[Bellosh]

Since this is the insect thread, I was wondering if anyone has idea on what insect I encountered a few minutes ago. It could jump really high, but its jumps did not cover much horizontal distance. It was a tad smaller than a cricket, and apparently it has a very tough exoskeleton (yeah, I'm another one of those guys ). Any info on these thingies will be appreciated.

[Stonetribe]

Since this is the insect thread, I was wondering if anyone has idea on what insect I encountered a few minutes ago. It could jump really high, but its jumps did not cover much horizontal distance. It was a tad smaller than a cricket, and apparently it has a very tough exoskeleton (yeah, I'm another one of those guys ). Any info on these thingies will be appreciated.

Sorry, but your going to have to provide a better explanation than that for me to have any chance of identifying it.

[Stonetribe]

Well here is something interesting...

http://www.nature.com/news/photosynthesis-like-process-found-in-insects-1.11214

Neat find swirly! If you hear of any developments on this, I kindly ask you to share it with us.

[starswirlthebearded]

Neat find swirly! If you hear of any developments on this, I kindly ask you to share it with us.

Will do master of arthropods. I'm always reading science publications and such. If anything arises I'll be sure to let it be known here.