Pier Spiders!

  It appears to be a season for spiders (or spider doppelgangers) and for weird names.  For the past few days, I have had more run ins with the critters than I really want.  At least (so far) all of the spiders have been non-venomous but that still does not help when you find one crawling up the pant leg or suddenly dropping from a tree into your hair.  Normally, I do not mind spiders as I look at them as helpful critters but, once in a while, I draw the line.  Black widows are a no-go for me since I have already been bitten once and I wish not to go that route again.

  The spider, today, has a funny name.  It is called a long-jawed orb weaver.  Now, go figure...long jawed?  We found this spider down on the pier.  It had spun a web between a pier post and the pier planking.  What first caught our eye was that it was long and skinny. The spider was close to two inches in length! I had no idea what type of spider it was even though I had found them often enough in the greenhouse.  It took a bit of research for long, skinny spiders to find its identification.  

  Long-jawed spiders seem to love spinning webs over water so look for them by piers, over creeks or near ponds. They seem to have no fear of the water which may be due to the fact that they can literally walk on water.  It is also here, they can catch numerous gnats, mosquitoes and other water loving insects.  The spider has long front legs and is often seen with its legs stretched far in front making it look like a stick.  The spider uses this as a method of stealth.  It can hide from its prey but also hide from its predators.  Sometimes it will cling to a slender branch, plant stem or even a thin wire or rope.  Its ability to blend with its surrounding is pretty amazing!  The female has long jaws, as well, which gives it the common name.  The male's jaws are shorter.

  Our spidery friend was left undisturbed since we appreciate it eating gnats and mosquitoes.  Walking back up the pier, we realized that earlier, we had passed nigh on a dozen of the creatures hiding along the pier planks.  They were almost impossible to see at first glance!  Creepy-crawlies are everywhere!