Strange Crab/Spider combo- found in central Florida
Posted by sarah pletcher on January 12, 2007
Q: My father mailed this 'spider' to us in Vermont- he found it in his garage in central Florida. It seems to have shiny hard shell with points, with a regular spider body.
Any ideas?
Habitat: suburban/yard
State: Florida
Habitat: suburban/yard
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A: Thanks for sending the photos - very helpful!
Your spider is one of the Micrathena spiders. These spiders often have a hard, shiny abdomen with spine-like projections. There are quite a few species of these in tropical climates but some can even be found in Vermont and other northern areas. These are certainly interesting spiders to look at but are often a bit scary for people when first encountered.
I found some great photos of one species of Micrathena (not yours) with some interesting info. Check out: www.fcps.edu
Thanks for asking.
John Wiessinger ( January 13, 2007)