When you check out spider webs really carefully, you can often discover really cool-looking tiny spiders, like this Arrowhead Orb Weaver spider (Verrucosa arenata) that I spotted yesterday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. If you look really closely in between its uppermost legs, you can see some of its multiple eyes looking straight at you. Information on BugGuide.net indicates that this spider is unusual because it rests in the web with its head up, not head down like most other Orb Weavers.
It’s hard to get a sense of scale when you look at this image, but I’d estimate that this little spider was less than an inch in length (25 mm). It was hanging in the air in its web at the edge of a trail when I first spotted it. I was able to move in pretty close with my macro lens—unlike many other spiders, it did not scurry away to the edge of the web. Sharpness is always an issue when shooting at at close range, but my monopod helped to steady me enough to get a relatively sharp image.
You may not like spiders, but you have to admit that this is a cool-looking spider.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Very cool looking, Mike! Great detail and capture of those colors.
This was the first post to greet me this morning in my reader. I gasped and quickly scrolled past as I think I said before about my “delight” over spider pics! LOL! One day a beautiful butterfly, the next day ….! One just never knows what may show up. Your spider pics need to come with a warning. Ha Ha!
I do have to admit that even though I quickly scrolled past, that this is the most colorful spider I have seen.
You do have a way of capturing unique shots!
Yeah, I know that my spider photos will get a mixed reception–sorry if I inflicted any psychic trauma on you. I deliberately included the word “spider” in the post’s title, but I suspect it is the photo that catches our eyes first, more than the words in the title. I try to capture images of what I see and experience as I wander about and, for better or for worse, that includes spiders and some other creepy crawlies. Hopefully you can scroll quickly. 🙂
No problem!! I believe I will recover. 🙂
Who knows perhaps someday I will actually be able to say , “what a pretty spider!” That’s not a challenge though! 🙂
Excellent detailed picture, Mike. A little creepy, but interesting for sure.
Nice Mike! That is One Cool looking spider. Well done!
Thanks, Reed. Whenever I see a spider web, I always look closely to see it the spider is still around. Sometimes, like on this occasion, I am pleasantly surprised by what I find.
Thank you for sharing! Bill
William A. Krithinithis
Bkripto@gmail.com