(I do kinda feel bad for the people who own the vehicles, though, but they must not use them very often given the sheer amount of webbing between them. Not to mention all the spiders. And there are many spiders pictured.)
ETA: (Unless the spiders can move in and do all that in a matter of hours, real fast and collaboratively, like a speedfreak barn-raising. But I’m almost sure they can’t. That’s silly. Don’t even think about it.)
I don’t think they’re Redbacks, Derleth. Redbacks favour dry, sheltered spots (logs, rocks, junk piles, dunnies) and their web has an upper retreat area that’s kind of a tangled funnel.
At a guess, I’d say what you have there are spidey mcspiders…
That first picture is really cool. I wonder how long I could entertain myself throwing hapless insects into that tangled mess and see which spider gets to the victim first.
I’d have to concur that they’re probably not redbacks. Something about their shape and their size seems off to me. My shed’s got masses of redbacks in it, and even in epic proportions their webs just don’t spread out like that. They prefer to keep them low and tight in against walls and corners.
I like that pic of the tarantula. The spiders on the web don’t do much for me except make me itch.
I couldn’t walk through that web, though, and I generally like spiders/tarantulas. But I do live in upstate NY and we don’t have any of the really freaky ones. I don’t think.
I’ve been selling some of my photos at craft shows, and that one is always good for at least one sociological observation of the difference between pre-teen boys and their moms.
There was a giant house spider in the bathtub this morning. Roomie’s cat came into the bathroom when I was in it, so I put him in the tub so he could see it. He sniffed it a bit, and tentatively pawed at it, obviously curious. The spider would curl up to protect itself. (Note: The cat was not being aggressive; just curious.) When the spider would try to hide under him, he’d move away as if slightly disturbed. Before things got out of hand, I put the Penalty Jar down and the spider crawled into it.
I forgot about the spider, and roomie asked, ‘What’s up with the spider in the bathroom?’ I told her I’d take it outside. I brought the jar out, and the cat was nearby; so I thought I’d let her out. Roomie said, ‘Please don’t.’ So I took her out and dumped her near the house so she might crawl under. (Erm… The spider, not the roomie.)
Later, roomie said I’d taken the spider out too soon. She said there was some sort of bug in the tub. (Said bug apparently went for a swim in the toilet after roomie caught it with some tissue.)
ETA: The GHS was pretty puny; only about half the size I see here in the Autumn. Maybe an inch and a half span.
My wife and I were just reminiscing with our 17yo son today about a funny thing from his past.
He was about 12 or 13 and came inside saying he couldn’t mow the front yard because there was a spider out there. We investigated, and sure enough there was an Orb Web spiderin a web on the house. At least 22 feet from the nearest point of grass in the yard.
I assured him he was in no danger, and told him to get mowing. Kids, jeez. :rolleyes:
A few minutes later my wife came in laughing and pulled me to the front window.
Our son was mowing, but crying his eyes out. Every lap he took brought him near the house (but 22 inches farther each pass) and he was mouthing - or yelling- “I hate spiders, I don’t want to die.” and similar lamentations with every pass.
It was the funniest thing, but I guess you had to be there.
It doesn’t help that he finds thesein the yard or shed or the basement on occasion…
