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Nursery Spider


Nursery Spider
Photo Information
Copyright: Steve Reekie (LordPotty) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 144 N: 3872] (12503)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-11-03
Categories: Spiders
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ-2-S
Exposure: f/4, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Spider, Araneae (Spiders) II, Pisauridaes (Nurseryweb spiders). [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-03-17 3:47
Viewed: 4955
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Nursery or Nurseryweb spider, Dolomedes minor, is a native of New Zealand, but is certainly not endemic. I believe they are probably found in most countries,at least in temperate or tropical regions.
They can grow to a relatively large size,around 7 or 8cm in length,and are known by gauze like nests which envelop the outer twigs of branches.
The spider is usually brownish with pinkish grey and black streaks on the cephalothorax (combined head and thorax).The legs are relatively long making the nurseryweb spider a very fast runner....but not as fast as my wife when she spots one.
When I found this one,it ran up onto this Banksia cone,and I thought 'Now there's a shot' Unfortunately,the sun was very bright,and,as you can see,parts of the cone are very overexposed,even though I've darkened the image as much as I can.
I still think its pretty cool though.
Hope you do too.
red45, Janice, dew77, marhowie, Fisher, PDP has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To PDP: DolomedesLordPotty 1 03-18 23:52
To Fisher: workshopLordPotty 1 03-17 14:28
To marhowie: molluscs ?LordPotty 1 03-17 14:25
To marjan: Thanks MarjanLordPotty 1 03-17 05:47
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Critiques [Translate]

I donīt spiders at all. But your photo is very good. How far you was when you made this photo?

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2005-03-17 4:30]

I like spiders Steve. Lovely pose of this one - like saying - mine! mine! mine! Picture slightly overexposured in some areas but great subject and composition. Good work!

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2005-03-17 5:02]

Steve, I bet I'd run faster than your wife if I saw one of these. They live in the bush, don't they. Please, no where near Murrays Bay I hope. It's a pity the spider is hard to see here, but it is good for you to show it. TFS.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2005-03-17 5:16]

Spider is camouflaged...Photo doesn't have the best quality (as you'd written the faults) but with your perfect notes it's good.The main subject 'Nurseryweb spider' detailed very well...TFS

Hello Steve, Good detail & the molluscs make it an interesting & out or the ordinary shot. Other than than the mentioned over-expose it's a great shot. Thanx!

A critter!!!
Excelent capture, to bad about the exposure. Well done on the composition.
I did a workshop to help abit.

Mike

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-03-17 17:01]
  • [+]

Hi Steve, it's a lovely spider. Dolomedes belongs to the family Pisauridae (we call Pisaura mirabilis the Nursery Web spider). In the UK we have two speices of Dolomedes - D. fimbriatus and D. plantarius, the latter is very rare and is protected - you even need a licence to photograph them. Dolomedes hunt on water and low vegetation. I have a few pictures of D. fimbriatus in my collection. These are great looking beasts - does this species walk on water?

The photo is very dark in places and as you say overexposed in others, it's saving grace is that the eye can be seen. Good work Steve.

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