TWO SPIDERS IN THE WOODS

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(Edited)

Today I drove about forty kilometers north of my hometown ...

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... to take a walk through the woods, and see what's going on in that inland area, considerably different from the surroundings of my seaside home.

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The foliage is still lush and green. More than like autumn, this part of the year looks like another spring. And just like in spring ...

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... I encountered some interesting creatures along the way.

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This small spider ...

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... was the biggest catch of the day. A real trophy ...

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... because I've never seen this species before. I mean, not in nature. Only in photographs.

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This is the Hyptiotes paradoxus, a spider from the Uloboridae family.
Uloboridae, commonly known as the cribellate orb weavers or hackled orb weavers, are pretty peculiar spiders. The only non-venomous spiders. Besides their peculiar lack of venom glands, the shape of this spider is also pretty interesting and unique. Only a couple of species are present in Europe. They are both well camouflaged and hard to spot. This is the second species I photographed in nature. Spiders from this family do not use an adhesive on their webs. The very fine fibers on each strand of silk serve to entrap the prey. In absence of venom, the Uloboridae rely only on wrapping their prey thoroughly in silk to immobilize them completely.
Hyptiotes paradoxus, being a member of the genus Hyptiotes of the Uloboridae family, has another interesting and kind of spectacular characteristic.
Spiders from this genus are commonly known as Triangle spiders. That's because, unlike in other web weavers, their web is not constructed in a circular pattern, the orb, but as a triangle. These spiders use this unique web design to capture the prey by collapsing the web on the insects and immobilizing them with silk. The spider is usually sitting in one corner of the triangle. When an insect gets stuck on the triangular web, it looks like the spider is teleporting inch by inch to the struggling prey, as the trap collapses in sequences on the insect.
With its front legs, the spider tugs a thread within the larger structure of the web, building up tension. With its back legs, it holds another thread that anchors it to a surface such as a branch, but it leaves lots of slack. That extra thread coils up near its silk-manufacturing organ.
When the Hyptiotes paradoxus releases the coiled anchoring line, the arachnid rockets forward with astonishing speed.

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In these three shots, the spider is climbing along the curved stem of some dried-out plant, so you can see him out of his usual hunting pose.

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After this exciting encounter with an amazing little creature, I continued along the narrow path through the forest ...

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... passed by a car tire that somehow ended up here, among the trees ...

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... and, after some more walking that led me across the small clearance surrounded by oaks ...

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... I found another cool spider.

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This is the Micrommata virescens, a species from the Sparassidae family.

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Spiders from this family are commonly known as Huntsman spiders. Micrommata virescens it's mainly diurnal. Does not build a web, and hunts insects in green vegetation, where can rely on its speed and camouflage.

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On my way back to the car ...

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... while passing under the oak trees ...

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... I found these two colorful mushrooms. The poisonous Omphalotus olearius. After this shot, I drove to a small town about twenty kilometers further, but that's another story. This one ends here.

As always in these posts, the photographs are my work - THE END.



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11 comments
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beautiful photos ... I like to see these enlargements.

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(Edited)

Thanks :) For the enlargement just click on the photo. That will open a new tab with only that picture.

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Are the first photographs really spiders? I don't think I've ever seen a spider like that. Amazing to see the green spider. Some really awesome photography.

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Your photography is awesome! I love green spider, it’s so beauty spider! I have never seen it. You are very nice shots as always.

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all pictures are very good, you are very good at taking clear pictures i like everything, good luck always to you buddy👍😍

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