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Spiny Backed Spider, Pictures and Information

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Spined Micrathena, Micrathena gracilis

Those spiny backed little spiders you may have seen in your yard, are Spined Micrathena, Micrathena gracilis. I noticed one that was spinning her web between a trash container, and our fence. I watched her for a while as she spun her web, and checked back on her everyday, till she disappeared after about 4 days. Later I found another that had spun a web across a walking path. It was very interesting to see them catch insects, and than secure their victims with silk. I think they are pretty neat looking little spiders, so I thought I would share some of my photos.

Close up of the spider building her web.

These little spiny backed spiders are very efficient at building webs. They waste little motion. In this photo, the spider is putting some of the final touches on her web. Only the female Spined Micrathena builds a web.

More on Spined Micrathena Spiders

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Spined Micrathena

An online resource devoted to North American inse more...0 points

Side View of Spined Micrathena

Spined Micrathena spiders a a very unique appearance when compared to other spiders. They are not very large, with their body being only about the size of a pea. Most of the insects that I observed them catching, were small in size, probably mosquitoes and other small flying insects.

Spiny backed spider in the center of her web.

Which is the creepiest spider in this group?

Just for the fun of it, pick the spider in this group you think is the creepiest looking.

Goliath Bird Eater Tarantula

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Goliath Bird Ea... 3 points
Spinne

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Spinne 0 points
Towpath of Doom

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Towpath of Doom

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Towpath of Doom 0 points
Female Garden Spider

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Female Garden S... 0 points
Virgil

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Virgil 0 points
spider

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spider 0 points
spider

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spider 0 points
faxingblackwidow (2)

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faxingblackwido... 0 points
Iain holding Tarantula

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Iain holding Ta... 0 points
20110516-DSC_0559.jpg

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20110516-DSC_05... 0 points
Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens

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Chromatopelma c... 0 points

Have you ever seen a Spined Micrathena Spider?

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Spider and Prey

This photo shows an insect that has been caught in the spiders web. With a closer look, I noticed that there were small white things on the body of the insect, that appeared to be eggs.

Close up of insect victim with eggs on it.

This is a closer view of an insect that the spider caught. Maybe a reader who knows more about these spider could comment on whether those are spider eggs, or eggs from another insect.

More About Spiders

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Nic Bishop Spiders by Nic Bishop

Nic Bishop Spiders by Nic Bishop

For the first to third grade set, spiders are fasc more...1 point

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Time For Kids: Spiders! by Editors Of Time For Kids

Time For Kids: Spiders! by Editors Of Time For Kids

From deserts to forests to inside your living room, more...1 point

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Spiders and Their Kin by Herbert W. Levi, Lorna R. Levi

Spiders and Their Kin by Herbert W. Levi, Lorna R. Levi

Enjoy and Learn!Expert Knowledge!Easy-to-Read!This more...1 point

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Are You a Spider? by Tudor Humphries

Are You a Spider? by Tudor Humphries

Did you know that when a spider's web is damaged, more...0 points

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National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders

Spiders, bugs, moths, butterflies, beetles, bees, more...0 points

More Spined Micrathena photos

They look like they could stick you.

They look mean, but are so small.

Working on her web.

Spiny Orb-Weaver Spinning it's Web

If you have never watched a spider construct it's web, this video shows how efficiently they move. A spider web is such an intricate structure, but these tiny little creatures make it look easy, as they move about, not wasting any motion, as they spin round and round the web.
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What do you think of spiders?

  • jadehorseshoe Dec 23, 2011 @ 11:06 pm | delete
    VERY Nice Lens!
  • goo2eyes Oct 16, 2011 @ 4:46 pm | delete
    they are all over our house and garden. they give me a lot of work. they nest under the chairs, in our attic bedroom, just all over.
  • Tipi Oct 16, 2011 @ 3:09 pm | delete
    Amazing photos and I love how you tell about the Spiny Backed Spider, watching the web being made is like watching a skilled artist!
  • Widemouth Sep 15, 2011 @ 1:00 am | delete
    Great research! Nice clean lens.
  • vallain Sep 3, 2011 @ 10:21 pm | delete
    Your photos with your own notes make this quite interesting. Blessed by a squid angel and will be featured on The Best Insect Web Pages on Squidoo.
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