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The-Dude-L-Bug — She's got Pre-Brooding munchies
Published: 2012-07-03 15:21:06 +0000 UTC; Views: 470; Favourites: 17; Downloads: 0
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Description
I watched this spider for some time and it was having considerable trouble getting around.I can't say if the reason is age or reproductive state.
Judging by the reduced grip & climbing ability, I'd say this is an older female Phidippus Audax - possibly one of the survivors from last season.
The extreme fullness of the abdomen however indicates to me she's getting ready to lay eggs.
Females will not eat until after their spiderlings hatch, so they gorge themselves on every bug they can get in preparation for brooding.
LOL! This big fly basically committed suicide by landing right in the bullseye killzone - right front of her.
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Comments: 11
Wow. (*blush*)
Thank you very much for the wonderful comment.
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Thanks...
for the 
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That is so creepy and yet, so cool. The detail is fantastic in this shot, looks amazing on full view!
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Yes, she's a beautiful and supremely USEFUL spider.
I gotta say Darings are amongst the most effective fly catchers of the all jumpers!!!
LOL! She's may have some climbing difficulties right now, but she's still a stone cold killer. I've seen her a dozen times now in the same basic area... and about half of those occassions she's had either a Green or Blue Bottle in her fangs.
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Wonderful shot Jim!
you using a ring light for this? or just daylight..
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LOL! No flash - all my AA batteries were dead so I had to improvise. The reflection in her eyes is from one of my small studio lights on a long extention cord.
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ah, necessity, the great mother of improvisation! Well done !
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