tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375437543163166340.post2204057320671755197..comments2011-12-18T03:00:19.600-06:00Daniel Spurgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06657235685995551851noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375437543163166340.post-48736908770404083572011-12-18T03:00:19.600-06:002011-12-18T03:00:19.600-06:00Hee! I just did a websearch for my favorite backyard spider from my childhood in Pennsylvania.<br /><br />I was a strange tomboy and used to watch them build their webs -- in fact, I confess I sometimes tore the webs to watch them work on repairs. Also, I&#39;m afraid I fed them ants and other unfortunate victims to study them. (I discovered that this spider will give a violent wiggle when it detects something on the web, trying to snarl whatever it is on sticky strands.) <br /><br />I love the way orb weavers measure so accurately and simply, which again I learned from this spider. One of their back feet traces the previous orbit of the spiral. The gap between that outstretched toe and the spinnarets being constant, the spiral is absolutely regular in spacing as they circle around and around going inwards on the spokes with a little tap-tap-tap movement to anchor the strand on each spoke.<br /><br />Your son has probably never heard of the TV show Babylon 5, which was an excellent SciFi show over a decade ago, but the &quot;Minbari&quot; race had spaceships and headgear that looked exactly like a spined micrathena. <br /><br />And there you have it. Fan mail for an unfairly maligned spider. I nominate it for &quot;Coolest carapace&quot;.E. Brundigehttp://www.squidoo.com/daring-jumping-spidernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375437543163166340.post-17499334036170217872011-07-25T12:55:02.703-05:002011-07-25T12:55:02.703-05:00There is a female spined micrathena at my parents&#39; house in morgan township, ohio. I have never seen one before. Are they common out here?Shannonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375437543163166340.post-67892946193270537542009-09-03T08:38:05.757-05:002009-09-03T08:38:05.757-05:00Hi Frank- thank you very much for the useful feedback! What state do you live in? I live in North Alabama. While hiking a weekend or so ago- we saw a few of these spiders- one had built her web right across the trail. As I mentioned in my article- these are very inconsiderate spiders for hikers- or maybe it is us hikers that are inconsiderate to her! :)Daniel Spurgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06657235685995551851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8375437543163166340.post-61626563163021581102009-09-01T20:21:09.113-05:002009-09-01T20:21:09.113-05:00I just encountered a Spined Micrathena the other day and I am fascinated by her. She has been in the same spot at work for a few days and is very interesting to watch. I had read that they are somewhat clumsy spiders. I can attest to that. Three times I attempted to drop an ant into her web and before she could reach it , the ant had fallen out. One time when she did reach it in time it seemed as if she had cut it out of the web and then threw it to the ground. <br /><br />Strange looking and strange acting but very interesting to view.Frankhttp://stripercoastsurfcasters.usnoreply@blogger.com