A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Rabidosa rabida
A typical rabid wolf spider has a dark gray cephalothorax with two light longitudinal stripes extending across the top and a narrow light line on each lateral margin of the thorax. The abdomen has a dark median band, notched on each side in front of the middle of the abdomen, with several pairs of light spots on the rear part of the abdomen. The first pair of legs is often black or dark brown, and the other legs are brown. Females average 16 to 21 mm long, Males are typically much smaller than females, measuring an average of 13 mm in length. Rabidosa rabida is most often found in wooded areas, cotton fields, and buildings. These spiders usually reside among litter, rubbish, in holes, under rocks, and on low foliage in these areas. Some individuals have been found around ponds or in deep burrows with a turret of debris.
Meadow.
Enormous wolf spider - a good 2" including legs!
Really very nice, Karen. And I like your description of how you get the photos. I may try that, too, this summer!
Thank you Greg! There isn't too much of a story here I'm afraid - last year I attempted to photograph all of the spiders I found on our property in their natural habitat, but the unfortunately the results were less than spectacular especially with the smaller ones. So I invested in a macro converter & have also started to carry an empty yoghurt pot around with me as the macro lens is no good at all when everything takes one look at me with my camera & runs for cover! I still try to get a few photos of them in their natural setting & then (provided the spider isn't guarding eggs) I gently coax it into the pot so I can focus a bit better. Afterwards I release the spider back exactly where I captured it. This lady was a little trickier than usual as she was able to jump considerable higher than the sides of the pot! This led to an interesting game of catch for a few minutes before she calmed down enough for me to get my shots! I love getting a decent macro shot as it really does show how incredible so many of these creatures are - which you just can't see with the naked eye.
Haha! Yes Carol, I have finally discovered the secret to macro photography - find yourself a HUGE subject!
These guys aren't too scary though I understand they can give a painful nip!
R u sure this spider isn't in the sequel to THE FLY? It looks half spider and half man. Or something? HA!
OK, now, I am just telling you Karen, I am absolutely, totally freaked out by your spider. And you know I am known in my little circle of friends as spider girl. That macro of its face is UNBELIEVABLE! Too close for me. Too detailed. Just amazing! I'm scared! HA!
Thanks Agustin! We seem to have a number of different species of wolf spider around here but I'm only just starting to photograph them & I'm not sure how common this particular species is.
Spotted on Feb 23, 2012
Submitted on Feb 23, 2012
