Spider ID

[Jusselin]

I screamed like a girl when I realized I walked past it and was only a few inches away! :rotfl: Spiders are my one weakness!



Anyone got any idea what it could be? I've ruled out Brown Recluse/Hobo spider, this was MUCH too large to be either. Plus the body shape/marking don't look very similar. The closest I've been able to find is a Giant House Spider, which definitely describes this mofo. He was probably just a little bit bigger than a sand dollar.

I sprayed him with Goo Gone Gel to slow him down, plus anything with petroleum distillates tends to kill them pretty quick. Then I hit him with my hand that was in an oven mit, and you can see, he didn't squash! And as scared as I was, I know I smacked the pooh out of him too!

:thumbsdown::thumbsdown::thumbsdown:

[DigitalScape]

Looks like you got yourself a Wolf spider - Hogna lenta (http://bugguide.net/node/view/126984). No need to scream (or kill it) - harmless to you.

[Jusselin]

sweet, where is google when you have a life or death choice to make right lol, i need google life alert

[S-Man]

I actually encourage those guys to stay in my house. The bigger the better. They catch flys, mosquitos, roaches and other unwanted bugs. It's amazing to see them jump on a fly on the wall.
Some can get pretty huge too. I've seen them as big as 4" across from leg tip to leg tip, and bodies as large as a quarter. Almost like a small tarantula.

I recognize them because to me they look kind of like sunflower seeds :)

[johnastovall]

If you don't like spiders, don't go out for fast food in Cambodia.

[Jusselin]

Originally Posted by S-Man

I actually encourage those guys to stay in my house. The bigger the better. They catch flys, mosquitos, roaches and other unwanted bugs. It's amazing to see them jump on a fly on the wall.
Some can get pretty huge too. I've seen them as big as 4" across from leg tip to leg tip, and bodies as large as a quarter. Almost like a small tarantula.

I recognize them because to me they look kind of like sunflower seeds :)

lol chu are cray-see, i would rather spray for roaches and bugs and kill the spiders too, they are ALL un welcomed guests

[angiem357]

Man, whatever. I'd would have sprayed that thing with anything handy. I realize wolf spiders eat a lot of undesirables, but they're still horrible-looking.

I accidentally stepped on one outside when I was getting out of my truck and it was a mother with about 15 bajillion babies on its back. When I sort of winged it (it wasn't a full on stomp) all the babies went running for their pathetic little mite-sized lives and I went hot-stepping it all over the driveway, screaming like a 7-year old, scared to death they were all going to seek refuge up my pants leg.

Then, to seek revenge for scaring me, I sprayed them all with some leftover Malathion. The carcasses littered my driveway for a few days.

I think I have PTSD. I can still see it if I close my eyes. I still have nightmares. Good job for oven-mitting it, Jusselin!

[Jusselin]

Originally Posted by angiem357

Man, whatever. I'd would have sprayed that thing with anything handy. I realize wolf spiders eat a lot of undesirables, but they're still horrible-looking.

I accidentally stepped on one outside when I was getting out of my truck and it was a mother with about 15 bajillion babies on its back. When I sort of winged it (it wasn't a full on stomp) all the babies went running for their pathetic little mite-sized lives and I went hot-stepping it all over the driveway, screaming like a 7-year old, scared to death they were all going to seek refuge up my pants leg.

Then, to seek revenge for scaring me, I sprayed them all with some leftover Malathion. The carcasses littered my driveway for a few days.

I think I have PTSD. I can still see it if I close my eyes. I still have nightmares. Good job for oven-mitting it, Jusselin!

lol....yeah i would have grabbed hairspray and a lighter if i didnt think it was going to disapear before i got back from the bathroom

[S-Man]

That makes me sad, Angie
Poor baby spiders. That's how they carry their young.

I'm all for protecting my family from lethal or dangerous snakes, spiders (i.e. brown recluse, black widow etc.) even dogs and other animals, and will not hesitate to kill one if it threatens a loved one. But I do love animals, and it saddens me to see a useful animal and it's young be exterminated with extreme prejudice.
It's ironic though- I stomp every and any cockroach in sight. Yes, I know they are useful too, I just can't stand 'em.
So I guess I can relate...

[angiem357]

Sam, normally I'd totally agree with you. I'm a huge animal lover with a personality disorder, apparently, since I like to hunt too. Normally I'd never just squash something - especially since it was outside where it belonged (i'm smart enough to use that home defense spray around my perimeter to keep the kreepy-krawlies out of my house), but I'd partially maimed the mother anyway, and then the panic and heebies took over and...well...you know how it ends.

Am I redeemed for trying to save all the pillbug/rolly-poly things that come in my school building so they won't get squashed by insensitive 9th graders?

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by angiem357

Man, whatever. I'd would have sprayed that thing with anything handy. I realize wolf spiders eat a lot of undesirables, but they're still horrible-looking.

I accidentally stepped on one outside when I was getting out of my truck and it was a mother with about 15 bajillion babies on its back. When I sort of winged it (it wasn't a full on stomp) all the babies went running for their pathetic little mite-sized lives and I went hot-stepping it all over the driveway, screaming like a 7-year old, scared to death they were all going to seek refuge up my pants leg.

Then, to seek revenge for scaring me, I sprayed them all with some leftover Malathion. The carcasses littered my driveway for a few days.

I think I have PTSD. I can still see it if I close my eyes. I still have nightmares. Good job for oven-mitting it, Jusselin!

OMG - cracked up entirely at this!

[S-Man]

Originally Posted by angiem357

...Am I redeemed for trying to save all the pillbug/rolly-poly things that come in my school building so they won't get squashed by insensitive 9th graders?

Heh, I do the same thing. If I'm on a sidewalk and see an earthworm crossing or a rolly-poly (I call them 'doodle bugs'. I don't know why, I was just raised calling them that) I'll pick it up and toss it to the safety of the grass.