Black-and-Yellow Argiope Spider (Argiope aurantia) juvenile

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Black-and-Yellow Argiope Spider (Argiope aurantia) [juvenile]

Also called writing spiders, banana spiders

The stabilimentum of adults is in a zig zag pattern. Juveniles stay within a circular “bullseye” stabilimentum and seem almost invisible until they acquire their coloring as they age.

These spiders are pest control machines. I’ve seen them eating grasshoppers on numerous occasions, some much larger than themselves. They also are my favorites because they capture May Beetles before they can fly into the house at night when the door opens.

Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-24_spider_blackandyellow_argiope.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2020/07/16/along-came-a-spider/

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Tropical Orb Weaver Spider (Eriophora ravilla) juvenile

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Tropical Orb Weaver Spider (Eriophora ravilla) juvenile male

This youngster was hiding in some webbing it used to create a shelter in the leaves. The bright green coloring is an attribute of juveniles.

Learn: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/spiders/tropical_orb_weaver.htm

Learn more: https://bugguide.net/node/view/535156

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

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Arabesque Orbweaver Spider (Neoscona arabesca) male

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Arabesque Orbweaver Spider (Neoscona arabesca) male

One of the Spotted Orbweavers.

Larval host: Ichneumon Wasp (Acrotaphus wiltii) source: http://bugguide.net/node/view/44031

Diet: insects

Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/1991

Learn more: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4753653#page/495/mode/1up

Shown on Florida Native Plant: PINEBARREN GOLDENROD (Solidago fistulosa)

My take:
Dont be Spooked by Spiders
http://web.archive.org/web/20150330133737/http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/dont-be-spooked-by-spiders.html

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Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans) with Sharpshooter Prey

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans) with Sharpshooter prey

appears to have snagged one of the Sharpshooters which feed on the plants.  Love when nature keeps things in balance.

These spiders do not construct a web capturing prey by grabbing it when it gets close. It will capture pest insects but also will be found with pollinators in its clutches which may upset some, but Ive seen it with stink bugs and leaffooted bugs and similar so it is quite beneficial in my book.

Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-48_green_lynx_spider.htm

Learn more: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/green_lynx_spider.htm

and more: http://bugguide.net/node/view/2032

Shown on Florida Native Plant: PINEBARREN GOLDENROD (Solidago fistulosa)

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2017/10/07/and-in-this-corneractive-arachnids/

My take 2: Lynx Spiders: Its a boy and a girl and a boy etc.
http://osceolaflgardenblahblahblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/lynx-spiders-its-boy-and-girl-and-boy.html

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Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans) with prey

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans) with prey

This lucky gal captured a syrphid fly (Toxomerus sp.).

These spiders do not construct a web capturing prey by grabbing it when it gets close. It will capture pest insects but also will be found with pollinators in its clutches which may upset some, but Ive seen it with stink bugs and leaffooted bugs and similar so it is quite beneficial in my book.

Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-48_green_lynx_spider.htm

Learn more: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/green_lynx_spider.htm

and more: http://bugguide.net/node/view/2032

Shown on Florida Native Plant: : Spanish Needles (Bidens alba)

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2017/10/07/and-in-this-corneractive-arachnids/

My take 2: Lynx Spiders: Its a boy and a girl and a boy etc.
http://osceolaflgardenblahblahblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/lynx-spiders-its-boy-and-girl-and-boy.html

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Red House Spider (Nesticodes rufipes) with egg sac

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Red House Spider (Nesticodes rufipes) with egg sac

 

New to my buggy life list.

Usually found in dark areas. This one was inside a cardboard box left outside to be broken down for recycling.

Infraorder Araneomorphae – True Spiders
No Taxon Entelegynae
Family Theridiidae – Cobweb Spiders

Learn: https://bugguide.net/node/view/77745

Feeds on ants.

“We think these observations indicate that the immature forms of N. rufipes are the only spiders in this rearing room that are capable of successfully invading and attacking ant colonies on a regular basis.
…We do not think such invasions would take place in the field – because the conditions imposed on the ant colonies are very artificial – but we do feel it is possible that the immatures of this spider are well-adapted to capturing and escaping ants. ” source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/216804223_Immatures_of_Nesticodes_rufipes_Araneae_Theridiidae_Causing_Considerable_Damage_to_Ant_Colonies_in_the_Laboratory

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Cellar Spider (Pholcidae family)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Cellar Spider (Pholcidae family)

Usually found in dark areas. This one was inside a cardboard box left outside to be broken down for recycling.

Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/9608

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Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans) with egg sac

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans) with egg sac

These spiders do not construct a web, capturing prey by grabbing it when it gets close. It will capture pest insects but also will be found with pollinators in its clutches which may upset some, but Ive seen it with stink bugs and leaffooted bugs and similar so it is quite beneficial in my book.

Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-48_green_lynx_spider.htm

Learn more: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/green_lynx_spider.htm

and more: http://bugguide.net/node/view/2032

Shown on Florida Native Plant:  WATER COWBANE (Tiedemannia filiformis)

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2017/10/07/and-in-this-corneractive-arachnids/

My take 2: Lynx Spiders: Its a boy and a girl and a boy etc.
http://osceolaflgardenblahblahblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/lynx-spiders-its-boy-and-girl-and-boy.html

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Arabesque Orbweaver Spider (Neoscona arabesca)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Arabesque Orbweaver Spider (Neoscona arabesca)

One of the Spotted Orbweavers.

Larval host: Ichneumon Wasp (Acrotaphus wiltii) source: http://bugguide.net/node/view/44031

Diet: insects

Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/1991

Learn more: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4753653#page/495/mode/1up

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

My take:
Dont be Spooked by Spiders
http://web.archive.org/web/20150330133737/http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/dont-be-spooked-by-spiders.html

This Larra Wasp was the chosen prey for the above Arabesque Orbweaver Spider (Neoscona arabesca) and was hanging from a single string of silk across the Bidens.

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Regal Jumper Spider (Phidippus regius)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Regal Jumper Spider (Phidippus regius)

Regal Jumper Spider (Phidippus regius) female

I think they are the cutest spider in the world. This is a female.

Males are black and white with blue eyes. Very beneficial, I have even seen them capture and eat invasive cuban treefrogs.

Regal Jumping Spider (Phidippus regius)

predatory

Learn: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/regal_jumping_spider.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: GOLDENROD (Solidago sp. likely fistulosa)

another photo: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/regaljumpingspiderfemalegoldenrodmay2019full.jpg

Photos from 2013: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/regal-jumper-spider-phidippus-regius/

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Nursery Web Spiderling (Family Pisauridae)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Nursery Web Spiderling (Family Pisauridae)

I tried to identify this guy (gal?) but wasn’t coming up with a match.  So I checked the unidentified juveniles section of bugguide.  Found one who could probably be this one’s long lost twin.

Learn: https://bugguide.net/node/view/27515/bgpage

Order Araneae – Spiders
Infraorder Araneomorphae – True Spiders
No Taxon Entelegynae
Family Pisauridae – Nursery Web Spiders

Shown on Florida Native Plant: OAKLEAF FLEABANE (Erigeron quercifolius)

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2019/04/11/population-explosion-spider-style/

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Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans)

These spiders do not construct a web capturing prey by grabbing it when it gets close. It will capture pest insects but also will be found with pollinators in its clutches which may upset some, but Ive seen it with stink bugs and leaffooted bugs and similar so it is quite beneficial in my book.

Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-48_green_lynx_spider.htm

Learn more: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/green_lynx_spider.htm

and more: http://bugguide.net/node/view/2032

Shown on Florida Native Plant: TICKSEED (Coreopsis sp.)

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2017/10/07/and-in-this-corneractive-arachnids/

My take 2: Lynx Spiders: Its a boy and a girl and a boy etc.
http://osceolaflgardenblahblahblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/lynx-spiders-its-boy-and-girl-and-boy.html

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Masked Chafer Beetle (Cyclocephala sp.)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Masked Chafer Beetle (Cyclocephala sp.)

Adults nocturnal, come to lights. Larvae feed on roots. This one was in the clutches of a tiny spider under the patio light.

Family Scarabaeidae – Scarab Beetles
Subfamily Dynastinae – Rhinoceros Beetles
Tribe Cyclocephalini
Genus Cyclocephala – Masked Chafers

Learn: https://bugguide.net/node/view/11449

Learn more: https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/masked-chafer/

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Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans)

Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans)

These spiders do not construct a web capturing prey by grabbing it when it gets close. It will capture pest insects but also will be found with pollinators in its clutches which may upset some, but Ive seen it with stink bugs and leaffooted bugs and similar so it is quite beneficial in my book.

Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-48_green_lynx_spider.htm

Learn more: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/green_lynx_spider.htm

and more: http://bugguide.net/node/view/2032

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2017/10/07/and-in-this-corneractive-arachnids/

My take 2: Lynx Spiders: Its a boy and a girl and a boy etc.
http://osceolaflgardenblahblahblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/lynx-spiders-its-boy-and-girl-and-boy.html

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Spinybacked Orbweaver Spider (Gasteracantha cancriformis) with prey

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Spinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis) with prey

This one was smaller than the diameter of a pencil eraser so I suspect male which are substantially smaller than the females.

Learn: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/G_cancriformis.htm

Learn more: https://bugguide.net/node/view/2026

Was hanging from Florida native plant: SWAMP BAY (Persea palustris)
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Arabesque Orbweaver Spider (Neoscona arabesca)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Arabesque Orbweaver Spider (Neoscona arabesca)

One of the Spotted Orbweavers.  Seems this one is missing a leg.

Larval host: Ichneumon Wasp (Acrotaphus wiltii) source: http://bugguide.net/node/view/44031

Diet: insects

Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/1991

Learn more: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4753653#page/495/mode/1up

Shown on Florida Native Plant: PINEBARREN GOLDENROD (Solidago fistulosa) 

My take:
Dont be Spooked by Spiders
http://web.archive.org/web/20150330133737/http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/dont-be-spooked-by-spiders.html

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Starbellied Orbweaver Spider (Acanthepeira sp. possibly venusta)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Starbellied Orbweaver Spider (Acanthepeira sp. possibly venusta)

“It is exceedingly difficult to separate some Acanthepeira specimens from the southeastern United States and it appears that three species interbreed” source: http://bugguide.net/node/view/1994

Because of the small size, I believe this is A. venusta.

Shown on Florida Native Plant: TURKEY TANGLE FOGFRUIT; CAPEWEED (Phyla nodiflora)

Diet: insects

Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/1994

My take: http://web.archive.org/web/20150330224710/http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/new-spider-in-my-life.html

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Sheetweb Spider (Florinda coccinea)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Sheetweb Spider (Florinda coccinea)

This tiny red spider is a member of the Sheetweb Spiders family (Linyphiinae). Easily overlooked in the garden, the best time to see them is early morning when the dew forms on their grass-based webs and glistens in the sun. Food for birds. predator to other insects.

Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/67291

Learn more: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/spiders/sheet/sheet.htm#fcoccinea

Shown on Florida Native Plant:  TURKEY TANGLE FOGFRUIT; CAPEWEED (Phyla nodiflora)

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Tropical Orb Weaver Spider (Eriophora ravilla) juvenile

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Tropical Orb Weaver Spider (Eriophora ravilla) juvenile

Eriophora ravilla

This young spider was sitting in the center of the seedhead of Florida native Bidens alba. This should give you an idea of just how tiny a spider it was.  The bright green coloring which is an attribute of juveniles is what caught my eye.

Learn: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/spiders/tropical_orb_weaver.htm

Learn more: http://bugguide.net/node/view/24094

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Labyrinth Orbweaver Spider (Metepeira labyrinthea)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Labyrinth Orbweaver Spider (Metepeira labyrinthea)

New to my buggy life list. Tiny….smaller than a pencil eraser.

Learn:  http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/25433#page/226/mode/1up

Learn more: http://bugguide.net/node/view/24094

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

Another from a few days ago showing the interest web design:

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