Mystery Bug (maybe someone can identify it)

I got home tonight and saw this in a spiderweb. I'm not a bug expert, but decided instantly that it would make a cool photo. This was shot with my T4i, Tamron 17-50 2.8, 50 mm, f11, 1/200, ISO 800, with fill light provided by an off-camera YN-568. The front of the lens was maybe 4 or 5 inches from the bug, real up close and personal. I'm still playing around trying to find the best tradeoff between noise reduction and sharpening, though I don't find the level of noise in this image to be excessive.

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Spiny Orb Weaver

http://en.m.wikipedia.​org/wiki/Spiny_orb-weaver

Nice find!! And pic!

Thanks.

I like the part in the link where it says the bit is GENERALLY harmless.

LOL! Yes...I'm horribly afraid of spiders so I would be fine with my 300mm getting that shot! Ha ha!
Look forward to seeing more!

Great find! We used to have these EVERYWHERE when I was growing up in Miami in the early 80s. We used to collect them as kids and see who could hold the most in their hand at one time. They would hide their heads and retract their legs when held, similar to a crab or turtle. My mom would find them in my pockets after washing my clothes and get upset at me.

I haven't seen one of those in a long time. They don't have those in North Carolina and much less in Canada!

lehmanncpa wrote in post #16283264
They don't have those in North Carolina and much less in Canada!

I live about 30 miles northwest of Atlanta, I've never seen one of these before. I wonder if they're migrating north.

groundloop wrote in post #16283307
I live about 30 miles northwest of Atlanta, I've never seen one of these before. I wonder if they're migrating north.

If they like Miami, they should like Georgia. Hot and humid most of the year. It doesn't get cold enough to kill them in the winter in Miami, so they just hide underground, inside sheds, anywhere they can get warm. But come summer, those spiny things are everywhere. They're harmless, but the spines are very sharp and fairly rigid - similar to a rose thorn.

Maybe global warming is bringing them further north. I much prefer these to the black widows we have in NC. Eeek!

We see them all the time around citrus trees here in Central Florida. I always called them crab spiders, because they look like crabs. I can't tell you how many times I've gone leaping around off my mower looking the fool, when I ran through a web and felt one of them crawling on my face (always seem to be at face height). Cool spiders but not crawling on my face unannounced!

Steve

those are all over costa rica as well. nice find!

Great find though.