Welp, there is a bird-discussion topic (owned by @wvbirder) and a herp discussion topic (owned ny @man4nature ). So, inspired by these, why not one for spiders and scorpions? So here is the place for fellow spider-lovers to discuss about arachnids; from encounters, favourite species, tips and tricks, etc. Arachnid lovers, UNITE!
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Say hi to my new jumping spider species!
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/268728482
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BTW I’m really happy someone finally made this topic!
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Is it for discussions or mainly another thread for pictures?
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This is a great idea!
Some of my favorites are harvestmen, crab spiders and wolf spiders. Vinegroons are cool too, and so are scorpions, but I usually only get to interact with the spiders and harvestmen, so those are the ones I love and remember watching and holding when I was little.
If anyone has any tips on getting pictures of flighty spiders with a macrolens, I would appreciate them!
Also, I would recommend changing the title so it says ‘topic’ or ‘thread’ rather than ‘forum’, since this arachnid discussion is a part of the bigger iNat forum :)
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My absolute favourite species is Arkys alatus but i have many others https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/106666755
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How about a spider that was bitten by a radioactive cat?
(Orchard Orbweaver, ventral view)
But yeah, showing our pics is fun, but I agree we need to do more than that.
Here’s my big spider hunting trick for YEAR ROUND outdoor arachnid watching: look for long, outdoor pedestrian tunnels and/or road bridges where you can access the area where wall and bridge meet. Great sources for spiders.
I’ve found living spiders outside in a local pedestrian tunnel on New Years day, and I live in Ontario, Canada. Some of my rarest finds in fact like this American Dewdrop (first in Canada):
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I was hoping for a bit more discussion, but anything is welcome.
Should I add a question of the week?
If so, here’s one: What was the coolest spider behavior you’ve ever seen? Mine was watching an orbweaver spin its web, or the day I saw a spider absolutely devour a dragonfly.
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Woah! That’s awesome! My new favorite as well 
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A pat on my own back for personal growth!
I have worked to calm the 60 years of arachnophobia through my camera lens and now can photograph them with my hand held iPhone. I now can get close enough with the phone to also use my clip-on lens.
I still do NOT like to be surprised by them… walking into webs across my path is still a big deal.
Sometimes I get a warning message from above:
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Has anyone here seen a headless arachnid? I recently saw a headless cockroach walking quite normally, so I’m curious, as I only have seen examples of this from insects.
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I haven’t so far. I think only roaches can survive being beheaded (For a while).
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The reason they can is because they have a de-centralized nervous system, but this is a feature not exclusive to them and can be found in other insects, [I have seen a video of a Stag beetle walking without a head] so I think other arthropods could also do this.
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personally, I just think spiders are really neat. orb weavers? beautiful engineers. crab spiders? camouflaged sit-n-wait hunters with the patience of an eternal being. wolf spiders? gorgeous fuzzy hunters. jumping spiders? adorable and remarkably smart. ogre spiders? truly frightening looking faces and their retinas burn up and regenerate every day (I am vastly oversimplifying this), inject them directly into my veins I love them so much. tarantulas? stunning, ancient smoothbrains. I could go on! <3
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I don’t think it would work out very well, in part at least due to the “hydraulic” nature of arachnid locomotion. losing the head would lead to rapid depressurization and dehydration and it’s basically game over at that point.
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