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Black-and-Yellow Argiope

Submitted by cfox@mit.edu on

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Black-and-Yellow Argiope (Argiope aurantia) - Wildwood Park, Harrisburg, PA - 2017/09/03.

The immediate surroundings of our hotel aren't good moth hunting (nor is the cool, rainy weather helping), but I bring you a large spider.

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Large black and yellow spider, on web, with vegetation and golden rod blossoms.

Goldenrod Crab Spider (UV Flashlight)

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I bought a UV flashlight with the hope of using it to find caterpillars. It's roughly 395nm, and makes it really easy to find bird poop and tennis balls. Found a few caterpillars too, as well as a number of spiders, including this one. She's nicely camouflashed on the aster in visible light, but stands out sharply in UV.

I think it's a female goldenrod crab spider (Misumena vatia) but not sure I have a good enough view to be completely sure. Jaffrey, NH, 2016/08/27.

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White spider on white aster flowers, black background

Cross Orbweaver

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An old friend, the Cross Orbweaver (Araneus diadematus). Somerville MA, 9/12/2014.

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Cross Orbweaver
Cross Orbweaver

Another Spider

Submitted by cfox@mit.edu on

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I'm working on ID'ing more of the moths in my photo collection; I shall resume daily moths soon. This is a spider I've been watching on our porch; it's some Agelenid, I can't get closer than that with the tools I have. Somerville MA, 8/27/2014.

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Spider (Agelenid) on web

Unknown Spider

Submitted by cfox@mit.edu on

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This spider is not small, but really fabulously well camouflaged. I don't have an identification yet. Cambridge MA (Amesbury Street), 8/25/2014.

I was actually on an urgent errand when I spotted it; five photos later, I got a phone call suggesting that the problem had spontaneously resolved itself.

The interest in moths was in large part launched by acquiring an excellent field guide (the Beadle & Leckie Peterson Guide); I do not have an equivalent for spiders, though I have just ordered one. Suggestions welcome, either on the ID, or on a guide I might like.

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Spider, well camouflaged on granite curb stone
Spider, on wood chips
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