From the Annals of Arachnophobia Vol. 5, Issue 2

I have been known to display my love-hate relationship with spiders here on the Refuge. Knowing my ambivalent feelings toward arachnids, on-line droogs have shared photos of a couple of cool orb weavers, the type of spider I like, versus the lycosids which freak me out.

Spider porn below the fold...

First, Spacebee of Texas shares these pictures of a fine Gasteracantha cancriformis (Crab-like orb weaver) specimen. This spider resides in her backyard, having strung up the web between a starfruit and guava tree.

Now why am I reminded of a Dalkon shield?

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And the rear-view:

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ST of the UK provides the photo below for my squeamish but fascinated entertainment. This is an Araneus sp. chowing down on a damselfly. ST has a pretty serious macro lens on hand. Expect to see her photographs appearing on the Refuge in the future.

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I acknowledge that the above is a beautiful critter, but I can't shake the feeling of eight phantom legs and those little pedipalps scuttling over my skin.

Maybe I should get a pet tarantula as aversion therapy.

Many thanks to spacebee and ST for the photos!

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I can't shake the feeling of eight phantom legs and those little pedipalps scuttling over my skin.

Stop it. You're turning me on.

I hope we do see more of ST's photos in the future. The details in the wings of the damselfly are really beautiful.

The orb weaver is mighty freaky.

I hope we do see more of ST's photos in the future.

Count on it. There's a fine example of florotica she just sent which will appear soon. ST's talent, eye for nature and eye-popping macro lens are wonderful finds.

Warren, don't make me do the jumping spider sex dance!