THE SPIDER THREAD

Sorry it took so long, was out of town. They love flies, crickets, mealworms, moths & grubs. Can be bought at pet stores or just catch them around the house. The do not set webs like other spiders, the hunt their prey. Neat watching them hunt the things down!

Same spider as above, Leroy, different posie (red dahlia). I was hoping on posting a shot of my other spider but returned from a 3 day trip only to find he escaped. After searching through the enclosure, it seems "Larry" did not escape but had built an egg sac!!!

Biggest spider I've ever seen in Iowa.

Possibly the Ugliest!

A shot of the rear end as he lays down the "bungee cord" safety line on a tiny daisy.

I believe this is a Zebra jumper? Please correct if wrong.

The smiley face was actually there.

AHHH.. I've been trying to think outside the box for a form of mesh small enough to hold the smallest jumpers & still give ventilation. I've used the net used to hold baby fish separate in a tank & it is perfect. Never thought of nylons, great idea. I use coffee filters in my temporary enclosures. Works well but no good once wet, hence temporary enclosures.

I also looked into the glass cookie jars. The glass is so cheap it's hard to even watch the spider. I found the exact same cookie jar just a few aisles away but made from plastic. The plastic is so much more clear and easier to see through. You know when the glass version is only $2 more than the plastic version, the glass is cheap. Best part of the cookie jar is the side lid, you don't have to destroy the hammock every time you open it.

Wanted to take a few more shots tonight but all 3 of my jumpers are busy so here are 2 more from the other day.

Not sure of the species but quite different from the Bold jumper I've posted earlier, and MUCH smaller. I love the colors. It's abdomen looks a little disproportional to it's head. The last time I saw this I came home from a 3 day trip to find an egg sac!!

Might be a Regal (Phidippus regius) Jumping Spider. Has some similarities .

Thank you. I thought all regals were black but I guess I never paid attention to the different coloring of the females.

I discovered these in the hedge in my garden a few weeks ago.

This is my first jumper, Larry. We came home after a 3 day trip to find a huge egg sac in the enclosure. We now call him Lucy!!