Any spider experts?

[mezz]

Here is a picture of the spider my oldest daughter found on their open porch floor this morning. Unusual looking for our area, any idea's? I looked at some pictures on one site, but could not find this one. She swept it off the porch floor as she was coming out of the house, it was apparently trying to get in the screen door & freaked her & her dog out. Any help would be greatly appreciated. If I find it, I will be smashing it.-Mezz

 

[mrsrunningbear]

Pretty sure it's a wolf spider, but not 100% sure. Check out the link. I sure hate Wolf Spiders tho! Poor Hubby has to kill them because I scream and run when I see them

http://michiganspiders.blogspot.com/2011/05/wolf-spider.html

 

[Lost Sheep]

mezz,

Im not an expert by any means, but to me that looks like a common Wolf Spider

 

[mezz]

It kind of looks like a Wolf Spider, but, the thing that throws me is the 2 light colored dots on the top rear portion of the back (abdomen). Personally, I've never seen one like it before, not even a Wolf Spider, then again, not looking for them either, they bug me, in fact, they kind of creep me out. If anybody else has any idea's, throw them at me. Thanks Mrs bear & Lost Sheep for your thoughts.-Mezz

 

[KipiMak]

Looks like a fishing spider. They are pretty similar to wolf spiders. They seem to like our bathtub.

 

[mvedepo]

Dark Fishing Spider

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4902983038_633cb773db_o.jpg

 

[anonomoose]

The segmented looking legs give this one away. One of the species of Fishing Spiders. They chase prey like the wolf and carry their young on their back until they are old enough to disperse off on their own. Long legs let them run fast....since they eat those chicken sized skeeters you folks have, I would let them live and hope they reproduce. Females can live for three years if left alone...

Speaking of bugs...how's the bug population running this year in dah north??? South they are non-existent.

 

[mezz]

Thanks guy's. This thing is fast, very elusive! The bug poulation has not been too bad, we do get our occasional bursts of sand flies & such during the early evening, but not real real bad. Skeeter poulation seems to be down, so far, but that can change with the weather. Another reason why I love winter so much more!-Mezz

 

[qber]

Had these in mn usually on the saeach where their legs blended into the sandy background Look up sand spider Arctosa.

 

[whitedust]

Normal bug season this year but seeing more snakes. Saw a snake yesterday that looked like a rattler while I was cutting up fallen tree but no rattle. Thought it was best to leave it alone. lol I'll be keeping my eyes open today before I start to cut make sure no visitors.

 

[mezz]

Well, that damn spider found it's way into their house, in fact, my 4 y/o grandaughter found it in her toy / play room while playing the other day. Of course it freaked her right out as she let out a blood curdling scream , the spider froze on the floor, she probably scared it stiff, needless to say, the rest is history.-Mezz

 

[ranger_dave]

could have been a gopher, bull or fox snake, they all kinda look like a rattler, even shaking their tail(no rattle sound, unless it's hitting leaves) but a real rattler will hold its tail up high so you can hear the rattle. actually the gopher snakes, along with the bull and fox , are good to have around. eat a lot of rodents

 

[m8man]

ah, that was gross Mezz, actually nasty. How big was the bugger?

 

[mezz]

That thing was close to 4" in dia. The thing that was so trippy about this thing was how fast & elusive it was. Like I said, needless to say, the rest is history.-Mezz