Photograph by Lou Shackleton.
Photography contest, Honorable Mention.
Rabidosa rabida -- rabid wolf spider.
7 Comments
ksplawn · 17 June 2013
"I know, mama. But he was my spider. I'll do it."
Sinjari · 17 June 2013
ksplawn said:
"I know, mama. But he was my spider. I'll do it."
I figured the rabid wolf spider would be the rabid wolf.
Scott F · 17 June 2013
Are those eggs on the spider's back?
ksplawn · 17 June 2013
Scott F said:
Are those eggs on the spider's back?
They were.
JimboK · 17 June 2013
Scott F said:
Are those eggs on the spider's back?
I'm pretty sure those are recent hatchlings/spiderlings; according to the caption-link.
Mark Sturtevant · 18 June 2013
Mother wolf spiders exert considerable parental care (for a spider). The female attaches the egg sac to her abdomen and carries it around until the eggs hatch. She afterwards carries the babies on her abdomen, which is what is going on in the above picture. I have read that the babies will do some cannibalism upon each other during this time. They disperse once they have molted to a slightly larger size. From then on they are on their own.
teebee · 19 June 2013
ksplawn said:
"I know, mama. But he was my spider. I'll do it."
Beautiful! It's worth a month of looking through ignorant and hateful comment sections on the web just to find this sort of proof that there are still truly clever people around. Made my day, thank you.
7 Comments
ksplawn · 17 June 2013
"I know, mama. But he was my spider. I'll do it."
Sinjari · 17 June 2013
Scott F · 17 June 2013
Are those eggs on the spider's back?
ksplawn · 17 June 2013
JimboK · 17 June 2013
Mark Sturtevant · 18 June 2013
Mother wolf spiders exert considerable parental care (for a spider). The female attaches the egg sac to her abdomen and carries it around until the eggs hatch. She afterwards carries the babies on her abdomen, which is what is going on in the above picture. I have read that the babies will do some cannibalism upon each other during this time. They disperse once they have molted to a slightly larger size. From then on they are on their own.
teebee · 19 June 2013