"Is there an Arachnologist in the house??"

**Tattoo Bradley** · 31st August 08, 09:35 PM

Since we have such a hugely diverse, and some of the most educated in one place, here on XMTS I figured it was worth a shot. The wife and I just purchased a new home and we've been finding critters.

I squished a pretty good sized brown scorpion last night. Anyway, tonight Nikki spotted this gal spinning her web in a bit of grapevine on our back fence. Anyone here know what sort of spider she is?

**Highland Logan** · 31st August 08, 09:57 PM

It look like a Orchard Spider (Leucauge venusta). This is just a quick guess from the web based on the picture. Here is a good spider site, and has a picture which seems to match yours marked as "18 June, 2004". Just scroll down to see it and the possible type.

Frank

**Birddog** · 31st August 08, 10:02 PM

From what I could find, it looks to be an Orb-Weaver Spider. Looking further, that seems to be a generic term. Try this website: http://www.whatsthatbug.com/spiders4.html

**Tattoo Bradley** · 31st August 08, 10:05 PM

Hmmm
interesting. Mine was definitely weaving an orb shaped web....

Interestingly enough I once new a guy who was an Air Force Entomologist... too bad I don't have his contact info anymore.

**Riverkilt** · 31st August 08, 10:10 PM

Just be sure it isn't a brown recluse - violin shape on the belly...you ARE in New Mexico....

Good luck with the scorpions. Hope they're not too thick. Phoenix Fire Dept finally had to abandon a fire station because there were so many scorpions where they built it...they just kept multiplying and coming. They finally converted it from a fire station to an admin building that was only used during the daytime.

Ron

**ccga3359** · 31st August 08, 10:16 PM

It's a spider TatBrad.

**Tattoo Bradley** · 31st August 08, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Just be sure it isn't a brown recluse - violin shape on the belly...you ARE in New Mexico....

Good luck with the scorpions. Hope they're not too thick. Phoenix Fire Dept finally had to abandon a fire station because there were so many scorpions where they built it...they just kept multiplying and coming. They finally converted it from a fire station to an admin building that was only used during the daytime.

Ron

Yeah, Brown Recluces are freaking terrifying.

She's definitely not one of them, as I keep my eyes peeled for them. Those are tiny little dudes, about the size of a quarter... this gal's a big 'ol fatty.

**Tattoo Bradley** · 31st August 08, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by Tattoo Bradley

Since we have such a hugely diverse, and some of the most educated in one place, here on XMTS I figured it was worth a shot. The wife and I just purchased a new home and we've been finding critters.

I squished a pretty good sized brown scorpion last night. Anyway, tonight Nikki spotted this gal spinning her web in a bit of grapevine on our back fence. Anyone here know what sort of spider she is?

Originally Posted by ccga3359

It's a spider TatBrad.