Spiders and Wasps Appreciation

[Hrairoo]

oh my god.

i have ALWAYS been the "weird bug girl" in my friend groups and workplace, aha. i adore spiders, and i get a lot of my family sending me pictures of critters they find and asking what it is/is it dangerous/can you come over and take it away please. just this past month, i rescued an adolescent tarantula (!!!) from the warehouse of the place i work at, just to make sure the guys working there wouldn't harm her. i herded her into a tupperware container and took her out to the hill across the street where i released her. it was the first time i'd ever seen a wild tarantula even though i've been living in the desert for about 15 years now, and i was SO excited. i think my coworkers think i'm a freak


"FLEE, BROTHERS!! SCATTER!!!"

I too am the one who rescues folks from spiders and bugs in the house. That's really great though, seeing a real wild tarantula.  it's a cool thing to be thought a "freak" about. People, in my experience, respect those who are not fearful of the creepy crawlies as others are.

New vid by Tarantulas with Shanti where she was readying two T's to mate and in the middle of the night, they made music to each other. HD Tarantula Sounds | Tapping and Drumming

That is so perfect. ^^ It's very eager on the male's part, don't you think? How he thrums to jump right in and respond.

A couple more videos of spiders talking dirty. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1GalkM3KM4s

NSFW | spooder porn: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cZpIbvqU3rM   

An aside... This feels like a pervert type thing but am I the only one who finds the stance of in-mating tarantulas kind of erotic looking? Not like actually getting off on it but like "oh! That's kinda sexy-pretty." Like, the male cradling the female's legs up above him and her body arched just so. *blushes* I will likely regret sharing this information.

[Beorning]

I'll admit that I'm not the greatest fan of spiders in real life...

I used to be arachnophobic in my teenage years. I got over it somewhat when my family purchased a tiny lot of land out of the city to build a summer home. For the first few years, we didn't have an in-house toilet there, so we had to use a wooden outdoors toilet. And the first outdoors toilet we used was tiny... and full of spiders, harvestmen etc. So, going there had the effect of immersion therapy for me - at least, I'm jumping away screaming at the sight of a spider anymore...

Still, I don't feel comfortable around spiders. I can read about them without any problems, but I don't like encountering them...

I see that some people have no problem picking spiders up etc. I admit that I can't do this. One of the reasons is that they look really flimsy. I'm scared I'd end up breaking one of their legs off... that would be gross 

As for wasps and hornets, I'm scared of them, but it's a rational fear, I think. I was bitten by a wasp once and it wasn't a pleasant experience - all the swelling etc. As for hornets, their venom can be actually dangerous - so, for me, a hornet appearing equals trouble. Interestingly, when I was a kid, I spent one of the summers in my uncle's summer home... and there was a hornet nest in the house's attic. My grandmother got bitten once there...

Still, can't deny wasps and hornets are beautiful. Very graceful critters. If only they didn't bite...

Anyway, keep coming up with interesting science facts about these critters! I like reading what you find. As I said - scientifically, spiders and wasps are a cool subject.

[Blythe]

Very pretty yet ominous looking

I am here to fanboy about one of my favorite wasps. The tarantula hawk wasp. They are this glorious sort of blue-black looking color, and their wings have this sort of rusty look (and a few seem to get more vivid redder wings).

- These bois are big. Around 2 inches or so.
- Actually, the biggest parasite-type wasp, if I remember right! They prey on tarantulas to continue their lifecycle.
- Terrifyingly painful sting--possibly one of the most painful in the entire world. Second only to the bullet ant on the Schmidt sting pain index!
- Adult ones can get drunk 'cause they eat fermented fruit. 
- Not a lot of animals will risk preying on these wasps, but roadrunners are known to try!
- Dudebros don't have a stinger--just the ladies!
- Part of the order of Hymenoptera. Females are able to determine sex of their offspring.

Thank you for coming to my tiny one post TEDTalk on the Tarantula Hawk Wasp. <_<

[Oniya]

- Adult ones can get drunk 'cause they eat fermented fruit. 

The real question is: are they mean drunks?

[Blythe]

The real question is: are they mean drunks?

This is question I don't know the answer to but now I am going to end up researching online in my free time because I want to know that answer very badly. <_<

[Hrairoo]

*blinks* omg, I need to put an alert on this thread! I love the tarantula hawk wasp! A couple youtube videos have shown these gals taking down tarantulas and although it may seem cruel, it is fascinating watching nature work like that. There's one I watched with a family out on a walk and they spot a tarantula by the side of the road and start to video it and this hawk wasp comes by and starts attacking it. And the mother in the background is bemoaning the tragedy but the father and son are there just for the observation of the interplay between these two creatures in the natural way they interact. It is sad to see something die but at the same time, I am supremely enamored with both animals as predators. Thank you so much for sharing, Bly. I do love them; they are so wicked looking with pretty firey wings.

[Beautiful Poison]

Like a creepy-crawly polished gemstone! I ran across this little fella and had to post it here!

[Endorphin]

That's a stunning shot, Beautiful. is that one of yours?

I love the idea of this thread. Anything vespine or arachnid instantly gets my appreciation and amazement, including scorpions; which I'd also place into this category.

Interesting thougt for the day: Imagine what's going through the mind of a female black widow (redback, praying mantis, etc) as they're being courted by the male of the species, with the female fully aware that he'll be the next item on the menu for lunch. That's just damn brutal!

[Hrairoo]

Like a creepy-crawly polished gemstone! I ran across this little fella and had to post it here!

That really is gorgeous, BP. Just the variety of colors and the iridescent quality has me swooning. And those gams! What do they say? A mile long.  *objectifies the spooder*

Agreed, Endorphin. Those are my favorite species/families. I love scorpions too! Omg! With little hairs all over their bulky stingers. They're just so damn brutal and tough looking. For such small things, nature knew how to make the perfect little predators.

[Beautiful Poison]

Hahaha looord no, she's not one of mine but I found the little guy and thought he'd be amazing in this thread.

I also found a stunning

praying mantis

I decided to add here just for appreciation but I put it in spoilers cause it's not exactly a wasp or a spider. <3

[Endorphin]

That totally looks more like origami than anything else!

[Oniya]

That one might be, but orchid mantises are real:

(CW - there is a portion of the video that shows the mantis eating a fly.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdfGCscTMak

[Endorphin]

That's more like it!

I may have even watched that exact footage a few weeks back; without the circa 1991 Lemmings music.

[Beautiful Poison]

Aaand that's why I shouldnt post without my glasses on... whoops...    I had good intentions?

[Hrairoo]

Aaand that's why I shouldnt post without my glasses on... whoops...    I had good intentions?

Heeeeee!  I am certain everyone appreciated the addition; I know I did. It's such a pretty pinkie mantis, even in folded paper form.

[Oniya]

It's still a form of appreciation. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itsPGJXZdJI

[Beautiful Poison]

I'm pretty sure THESE aren't paper... at least.

[clonkertink]

Newly discovered neon-green spider named after the 'Lady Gaga of mathematics'

Honestly, this article pulled double duty in informing me that there is a "Lady Gaga of Mathematics." Once you've Oohed and Awwed over the pretty green spider, give Cédric Villani a google. He has... quite the fashion sense.

[Hrairoo]

*dusts off thread adjusting knicknacks to look nice for new visitors*

It's not a spider or a wasp but I saw this video on ticks and thought it was educational and entertaining. I learned some things, as well as laughed out loud a couple of times.

[YourBlackness]

Pardon my possibly inappropriate post, umm I'm fairly new still, BUT the conversation of appreciation must/may include formicophilia... and I'll quote the forum direction "academic nature"  and I wish to focus/follow this and nothing else.  Perhaps my unique view point is my own and nothing else.  I'll remind you, that we are on a forum where people play out fantasies.  My interest and observation has always been an ecological/biological fascination.  I think mentioning any "philia" brings an over simplification, a 'straw man' to the topic.   So ignore my post if it adds nothing, or delete it entirely!  google the word and you'll get straw-man examples of every shape and size... but I think they center on an untouched idea.

Insects/arachnids are the most unique and alien life we could ever imagine yet examine!   Apply that to today's modern world of no limits, constant exploration and expansion of one's sexuality!  Transgenders!!! WOW what a alternate viewpoint and yet it is reality for some.  For me that's a farfetched idea, but the model exists for the extremes of reality and imagination to coexist.  These forums are nothing but a realm of thought, theory, and fantasy; some quite bland, and others FAR too specific to play out.  But if you're trying to expand your viewpoint/imagination what could be more fascinating than insects and arachnids?  Just look at the numbers of their species vs ANY other on our planet.  Marine biology might come close, but only because it's night and day, dry and wet worlds. 

We humans and mammals bumble around with simple ways, but in their world exists every modus operandi imaginable!  And we've only scratched the surface of their kind.  Locusts and Cicada!!! the species varies and hides for DECADES and other intervals!  Find me another non insect cockroach that can survive nuclear winter!  Wow how can you not be in awe of their weakness, yet overwhelming strength of multiplicity and diversity!  The last living being on Earth will be an insect hands down.   

Thoughts? 

[Endorphin]

I found this exquisite high-res image the other day and just had to share. Stunning!

[Hrairoo]

Thoughts?

I think you should have read the thread first or at least the OP more carefully. Yes, all insects and arachnids are acceptable to post about.

From my OP:

I love bugs and insects. I find them fascinating and beautiful. I just wanted to carve out a little learning discussion place where people can post pictures, videos, and information and facts about creepy crawlies.

I'm fixated on spiders and wasps at the moment, so, to give this thread focus, those are the two I'll mostly be posting about. But if you have a love in your heart for a different insect or bug or you know some cool fact that makes another type of bug wicked awesome, please, share with us. With me, I mean. I wanna know cool bug things.

So, feel free, YourBlackness! Join in the fun. 

Locusts are amazing. I read something a few months ago that they are essentially grasshoppers but something happens to them. They get changed. It sounded like the cool beginning blurb of a zombie story, so that's why I remember it. But I'll have to dig up the resource because it's genuinely fascinating on its own.

[Hrairoo]

I found this exquisite high-res image the other day and just had to share. Stunning!

Gorgeous. They're such efficient killers and help gardens so much.

[Oniya]

Locusts are amazing. I read something a few months ago that they are essentially grasshoppers but something happens to them. They get changed. It sounded like the cool beginning blurb of a zombie story, so that's why I remember it. But I'll have to dig up the resource because it's genuinely fascinating on its own.

If the StoreHouse isn't failing me, it has to do with population density reaching a certain critical point, at which point the swarming behavior kicks in.  It is, however, stupid-o-clock for me, and I might have that misfiled.

[Endorphin]

Grasshoppers and locusts are the same species. It's the conditions of drought ---> abundance which act as a catalyst for the change in numbers and behaviour. There may be physiological differences, too, which are driven by hormones. There's a pre-flight stage where they essentially hop around grazing in swarms, then they grow wings and then plague the landscape.