tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14134625.post4404348509025828072..comments2024-01-21T08:26:38.739-08:00Comments on Mostly Macros: Spider seasonGabe W. Beasleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10633946838279357894noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14134625.post-7431748277654378942018-07-04T12:53:40.924-07:002018-07-04T12:53:40.924-07:00Jumping spiders are so awesome! How many differen...Jumping spiders are so awesome! How many different species are there? I had one "move in" to my bedroom years ago. He (or she) stayed up in the corner of the ceiling while I was up and moving around (can't blame him!). At night, when getting ready to go to sleep, I would open the window and lie in my bed reading by a bedside lamp. Because of the light being on at night, tiny little "no-see-um" bugs- probably gnats--would come through the screens to get near the light. Little Jumper would scoot and spring (stalking!) from the corner of the ceiling over to the wall above the lamp. When one of the little gnat-type bugs landed, he would maneuver carefully into place on the wall a few inches higher. He would fasten the end of a silk thread to the wall, and, once he had everything worked out, he would push into his back legs, get set, and spring straight out from the wall. He had apparently spun exactly the right amount of silk for the distance, because when he reached the end of his "rope," he'd swing down and land directly on his target. If he missed, it wasn't very often. Watching him swing down onto his prey, I used to imagine him doing a tiny little Tarzan call ("Aaaaahhh-weeaaah-eeeeaaa, eee-aaa-eee-aaa!" I'm not sure how much math it would take me to calculate distance from the target, how far out I'd need to swing, and how much rope to let out, but I doubt I could do it before the gnat flew away--and the little jumping spider did it over and over.<br /><br />I always imagine them having a Mexican accent, because what I take to be their mouth-parts are usually a contrasting color,covered with hairs, and look like a big handlebar mustache. With their two large, front-facing eyes, it's really easy to anthropomorphize.<br /><br />I hope you don't mind me commenting; I just saw your Jumping Spider photo, and it brought back fond memories. Most spiders I can take or leave--we have mostly little ones around here, and they can do as they like as long as they don't make a habit of strolling across me while I sleep--but I really like the Jumping Spiders.<br /><br />JenniferJMixxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07235918247206108342noreply@blogger.com