February 26, 2024

Super-sized Spinnerets - Spinnerets and Spigots observation of the month, Feb. 2024

This month's featured photograph is of Hersilia setifrons, taken by Ruan Booysen, a macro-photographer from South Africa! The above photograph is his fantastic image showing the extremely long posterior lateral spinnerets, which can sometimes exceed the length of the entire spider, making them have the longest spinnerets of any spider relative to their size!

Question 1.: When/where/why did you photograph the spider?

This spider in the photograph is from a town called Kuruman in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. It was photographed as part of a public outreach event called a "Spider Walk", hosted by the Spider Club of Southern Africa. This was a species that I have never photographed before and it was the perfect opportunity to tick it off my bucket list!

Question 2.: What photography equipment did you use for the photo(s)?

The photograph was taken using a Canon 7D Mk I equipped with the Canon 100 mm macro lens, as well as a custom diffuser.

Question 3.: How long have you been into photography? How long have you had your equipment?

I started my photography journey near the end of 2017, and up until about a month ago I have been borrowing some gear from my girlfriend's father. I immediately started with macro photography before even knowing how to use the gear properly!

Question 4.: What do you do aside from photography?

I am currently busy with my PhD in arachnology, and my work focuses on the taxonomy and systematics of spitting spiders (Araneae: Scytodidae: Scytodes).

Question 5.: Do you fear or dislike spiders? Do you remember when you've ever feared or disliked spiders?

Not at all! I fell in love with them when I was very young, often rearing spiders I find in the garden... at my parents' expense of course.

Question 6.: What is your favorite spider? And what is your favorite you've observed?

It is very difficult for me to say which spider is my favourite, but my heart does start beating faster when the pelican spiders (Archeidae) start popping up! I have only managed to photograph one once.

Question 7.: If you could travel anywhere in the world to photograph spiders for a day, where would you go?

I would say it would have to be Asia. There are some pretty awesome stuff in those forests, and I would love to see those primitive Liphistiidae!

Note: The above answers were slightly edited for clarity.

Posted on February 26, 2024 01:37 PM by huttonia huttonia | 0 comments | Leave a comment

January 22, 2024

Enlarged and Engrossing Spigots and Elongated and Intriguing Spinnerets - Spinnerets and Spigots observation of the month, Jan. 2024

This month's featured photograph is of Herpyllus ecclesiasticus, photographed by Suzzane Labbé, a birder and bird-photographer from Canada! The above photograph is her stunning image showing the enlarged piriform gland spigots on elongated and cylindrical anterior lateral spinnerets, used for making sticky, tape-like silk!

Question 1.: When/where/why did you photograph the spider?

August 14, 2023, at home in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec, in a residential neighborhood with lots of trees. I photographed this spider because I like to document all living things and submit these observations to iNaturalist. This way, I feel like I'm doing my bit to help science.

Question 2.: What photography equipment did you use for the photo(s)?

Since March 2021, I've been photographing with a Canon R5, a mirrorless camera that I really like, and, for insects, I use the RF100mm F2.8 MACRO IS USM. I also use a Canon Ring Flash and, for spiders, I use a large white bowl. The bowl prevents the spider from running away and, after the shoot, I put it back where I had picked it up. In this particular case, I'd been observing the spider for a few days already, and that day I found it lifeless.

Question 3.: How long have you been into photography? How long have you had your equipment?

I bought my first camera in 1998 and mainly photographed the flowers in my garden. I'm self-taught and take photos mainly to document my observations. My first iNaturalist spider photo was taken on September 2, 2007 (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/42188597).

Question 4.: What do you do aside from photography?

I'm retired after a career as a Human Resources Manager. My main activity is birdwatching and photography. I record all my observations in eBird and, on my outings, I like to document all the nature around me, including spiders.

Question 5.: Do you fear or dislike spiders? Do you remember when you've ever feared or disliked spiders?

I used to be afraid of spiders and even today, when they make a sudden movement, I'm not totally at ease, but I try as much as I can to overcome this fear. However, I love them and find them fascinating.

Question 6.: What is your favorite spider? And what is your favorite you've observed?

I'm very fond of Salticidae, and in June 2023 I photographed one during a stopover on my way back from a trip to the Magdalen Islands. This may be the first record for the province of Quebec. I'm going back there next June in the hope of seeing it and collecting a. It has been validated in iNaturalist by G.B. Edwards, a professional arachnologist, but to add it officially to the list of Quebec mentions, it is important to have a specimen (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/167574336).

Question 7.: If you could travel anywhere in the world to photograph spiders for a day, where would you go?

Excellent question. The world is a big place, and there are spiders almost everywhere. A little research on iNaturalist tells me that there are many beautiful and colorful species of Salticidae in the Philippines!

Note: The above answers were slightly edited for clarity.

Posted on January 22, 2024 01:51 PM by huttonia huttonia | 0 comments | Leave a comment

November 30, 2023

Wasp-mimic With Surreal Spinnerets - Spinnerets and Spigots observation of the month, Nov. 2023

This month's featured photograph is of Orsima ichneumon, photographed by Nicky Bay, a hobbyist macro-photographer from Singapore! The above photograph is his stunning image showing the bizarre yet beautiful spinnerets of this spectacular jumping spider.

Question 1.: When/where/why did you photograph the spider?

Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Question 2.: What photography equipment did you use for the photo(s)?

I used Olympus EM10m4, Laowa 50mm 2:1, Godox TT350.

Question 3.: How long have you been into photography? How long have you had your equipment?

About 15 years. The equipment ... about 3 years old.

Question 4.: What do you do aside from photography?

I am a software engineer.

Question 5.: Do you fear or dislike spiders? Do you remember when you've ever feared or disliked spiders?

I'd fear crushing spiders accidentally. Otherwise, I'd let the small ones run on my hands sometimes.

Question 6.: What is your favorite spider? And what is your favorite you've observed?

Too many favorites over so many years, so let's just look at 2023. My favorite would be the bolas spider: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/173425783

Question 7.: If you could travel anywhere in the world to photograph spiders for a day, where would you go?

I've had the opportunity to photograph in most of the locations that I've wanted to go. I'd go for the Son Doong Cave in Vietnam, which is pretty inaccessible or inconvenient. But it should have lots of undiscovered microfauna.

Note: The above answers were slightly edited for clarity.

Posted on November 30, 2023 01:16 PM by huttonia huttonia | 0 comments | Leave a comment

October 26, 2023

Six Spinnerets and Lots of Spigots - Spinnerets and Spigots observation of the month, Oct. 2023

This month's featured photograph is of Hexathele sp., photographed by Robert Briggs, a New Zealand macro-photographer! The above photograph is his stunning image showing the posterior lateral spinnerets and their spigots (the small cones bearing hairs on the underside).

Question 1.: When/where/why did you photograph the spider?

I photographed the spider on a sheet of white paper when I decided to release it from captivity.

Question 2.: What photography equipment did you use for the photo(s)?

At the time, I took these photos with a Canon 80D and a Pentax 50mm on extension tubes with a diffused flash. These days I use a Sony A7 3 with a Laowa 85mm 2x lens for macro shots.

Question 3.: How long have you been into photography? How long have you had your equipment?

At the time (2019) I had been practicing photography for about 2 years.

Question 4.: What do you do aside from photography?

Aside from photography, I work! It's the only way to afford it.

Question 5.: Do you fear or dislike spiders? Do you remember when you've ever feared or disliked spiders?

I love spiders, and I often see an irrational fear of spiders in people around me, so it makes me feel sorry for the person as they are unable to see how interesting spiders really are.

Question 6.: What is your favorite spider? And what is your favorite you've observed?

My favourite spider is probably Trichonephila edulis. They fly overseas to New Zealand as spiderlings from Australia during summer and are occasionally spotted in their giant golden webs. I hope to one day come across one. My favourite spider I have observed is Isopeda villosa, the Australian huntsman spider, established in parts of Auckland. I have observed large individuals of that species at Cornwall Park and some juveniles at Victoria Park.

Question 7.: If you could travel anywhere in the world to photograph spiders for a day, where would you go?

If I could travel anywhere to photograph insects and spiders, I'd go to Peru.

Note: The above answers were slightly edited for clarity.

Posted on October 26, 2023 11:09 PM by huttonia huttonia | 0 comments | Leave a comment

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