A huge Cross SPIDER in our garden today
By thefortunes
@thefortunes (2367)
Netherlands
September 12, 2007 3:30pm CST
This shot was taken this afternoon. I was in the garden trying to shoot some nice photos of my cats for the new cat blog of mine, and there it was, a huge cross spider. Why huge? He, or she was with the size of at least 1 inch, and this inch was only it's body, without the legs in the equation...pretty scarry, and especially so for people afraid of spiders.
I let him be of course, and didn't kill the creature. Outside he/she can't be of any harm to us, besides, I am pretty superstitious, and in Italy, where I have lived for 8 years, people believe spiders are bringing cash to the household, and no one ever kills them.
A day or so ago, TheSpy started a discussion about him being a spider, so this photo I dedicate to him:)
6 people like this
18 responses
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
12 Sep 07
I'm one of those strange people who think spiders are beautiful. I used to have a pet tarantula the size of my hand and I loved him dearly.
This one is a definite 10 on the "what a beauty" scale! I don't kill them either. When I find house and garden spiders in my house (usually in the shower) I put them outside. Like you said they eat the bugs that I really don't like around the house, like flies and mosquitos.
Great picture!
1 person likes this
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
12 Sep 07
hehehe Bionicman, what is stopping you really ;)M Be prpared though to feed her/him with living worms, which are yukkie, but what gives ;)
1 person likes this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
12 Sep 07
That is a very gross looking spider. I would have been afraid to try to kill it incase it got on me!!
I have never heard that spiders in your house bring you money. I am a spider killer, so I guess that is why I am broke:)
In the US we also say kill a spider and it will rain.
1 person likes this
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
12 Sep 07
Hiya Sunshine, and thank you for contributing in the discussion ;) And until I went to live in Italy I didn't hear about it too, but it makes sense, so, Stop killing the spiders and your money flow will get better, try and see ;)
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
16 Sep 07
At times nature and it's laws seem to crude and mercyless for me...
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
14 Sep 07
Hi ElicBnx, and thanks for contributing in this one :) and adding to our little knowledge in regards. And yes, I know that some spiders eat their male, but this one too? :)
@Bionicman (3958)
• Czech Republic
12 Sep 07
Very cool.
I have too pretty big spider in my garden for weeks now and I let him be.
Here's a picture but quality is bad cause I shot it with cell phone and it looks smaller than in real life.
http://imimageshack.usg267./img267/174/spiderih9.jpg
@Bionicman (3958)
• Czech Republic
12 Sep 07
OK here it is. Don't expect much heh
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/6956/spiderwy6.jpg
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
12 Sep 07
Hiya, wow, I liked his/her yellow stripes a lot, plus if it is a big sized one, is a great thing to be able to observe it often and maybe make some shots of it with a camera next time :) and Bionicman, don't be so harsh on yourself too, as the photo was made with a mobile and not a camera, so it is a great shot giving the fact where it was made with ;)
1 person likes this
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
12 Sep 07
Hi Bionicman, thanks for your comment and contribution ;) The URL link you placed doesn't work so I can't see your spider unfortunately. Try submitting it again
1 person likes this
@alstaxidermy (269)
• United States
12 Sep 07
you know, i dunno why that thing is big, but it looks just like the ones we have here at our apartments!! There are lots of trees and lots of spiders!!! we never kill them, I'll be sure to share the "bringing money to the house" part with my family, as they will lkike that - we never have heard that before- but they look just like that one in the pic and they seem to mostly come out at night and even hide in the daytime when it gets hot! We call them baby tarantulas! nice to see we are not the only people with huge mutant spiders!
1 person likes this
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
12 Sep 07
Hi Alstaxidermy, and thank you for contributing in this discussion :) Glad others don't kill these creatures as they eat all the ugly flies that bother me so much :)
And what Italians do is simply take the spiders outside, and leave them be, instead of killing them in the house. This way the flow of money remains undisturbed they say ;)
1 person likes this
@thegeppo (13)
• Italy
13 Sep 07
that's true ^_^ Here in Italy we never kill spiders 'cause they bring cash to us ^_^ err... we BELIEVE that spiders bring cash to us... but i think that euro coins are too heavy for them at this time so they'll never bring money to us ç_ç
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
14 Sep 07
Hi Thegeppo and thanks for adding your responce in here and for confirming how folks do in regards to spiders in Italy :)
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
14 Sep 07
Btw, Euro or no Euro - we're all screwed in the EU, so lets hope the spiders in and around our homes will bring us some cash luck :)
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
13 Sep 07
I will take the big ugly ones outside when I am in my own home. But, when I am working I take them down with at broom or a duster. Many of the homes get infested with spiders if they go unchecked.
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
14 Sep 07
Hi Elusive, and thanks for contributing in this discussion :) Well, you do take the spiders out in your own home, so you're doing the right thing :)
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
16 Sep 07
This spider was in Italy? I tell ya I am glad our spoders in the States aren't that ugly. But I did start a discussion yesterday about a big fat spider I killed in my back yard. Check that one out. I don't believe in those superstitions etc like the spider bringing money etc. But I respect that you do. Hope it helps as well. Thats one ugly spider. I rated the photo and left a comment as well.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
16 Sep 07
Hi GP Bob, no, the cross spider from the photo is here in The netherlands, but I have lived for 8 years in Italy and know from when living there about the believes inregards to the spiders. I saw your discussion about the spider but didn't want to reply in it because you killed it, and it was of no use repeating what I wrote in here either :)
TheFortunes
@susieq223 (3742)
• United States
16 Sep 07
This seems to be a day for spiders. I just answered another discussion with a picture of a spider! I have never seen a spider with the markings that your picture shows. It is almost pretty, if a spider can be pretty! I seldom kill spiders either. I am not superstitious about them, but they eat bugs and heaven knows we have plenty of those in Florida, so I leave spiders alone as long as they let me alone!
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
16 Sep 07
Hi Susieq223, and thank you for responding in this discussion :) Yes, the markings are pretty cool, and this is the first one I ever see with a cross mark here. And I am glad you see the usability of spiders killing flies, as these are totally disgusting especially when you eat something and they come and sit on it, fruits, begetables, meats, salads, drinks, whatever.
Have a nice week ahead
TheFortunes
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
16 Sep 07
Hi Wiccania, some say the cross spiders are venomous, but I don't know really as I haven't been bitten by one until now. Who knows, there are many species between spiders and cross spiders, and some look big due to the long legs these have, but for me the bigger the body part the bigger the actual spider is ;) Have a nice week ahead
TheFortunes
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
12 Sep 07
Hi Matte and thank you for contributing again ;) And whatever the reason for not killing the spiders - is ok with me, be it too much rain, or stopping the flow of money, both are sounds reasons ;) And yes, even if the spiders are ugly, they kill and eat the more ugly flies ;)
1 person likes this
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
12 Sep 07
Exactly Matte, I simply cannot stand the flies, as these insects fly and sit everywhere, on ll the dirty things around, and than they fly on the food, so disgusting really, and i am trying to never have them inside the house, which is difficult in the summer with everything open, like doors, and windows, and whatnot.
@vijay1wdv (357)
• India
13 Sep 07
That was a nice experience. I have not seen such big spiders. In my house, there are spiders, but very small. The largest will not be more than 2 centimeters. I do not know what i will do if i find quite a big spider like that. Likely kill it.
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
14 Sep 07
Hi Vijay1wdv, do not kill a spider if you wish to prosper :)
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
14 Sep 07
Hi Mrdinesh, and thanks for contributing and linking the photo :)
@bobbyfries (63)
• United States
13 Sep 07
that's really big bug but the superstitioon about bringing cash is something i would agree eith. 'cos i lived their
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
13 Sep 07
Wow. That thing is huge. I would have never had the quick sense to take a picture. I would be to terrified to act rationaly. I think I wolud stll be hiding in the house waiting for someone to come kill it for me.
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
13 Sep 07
Hi Happythoughts, hmmm, do not be afraid please, these spiders do not jump on people :) As long as you let it be, no harm will be done to you, at all. Don't let a spider be killed in front of your home or inside your home, just remove it without harming it, and you wont risk cashflow troubles :)
1 person likes this
@michaeldadona (5684)
• Malaysia
13 Sep 07
You mean in Italy, italian people believe spiders are bringing cash to the household?. WOW that was great!!!
The genus Argiope (SPIDER) includes rather large and spectacular spiders that have often a strikingly coloured abdomen. These are well distributed throughout the world, and most countries in temperate or warmer climates have one or more species, which look similar.
Dear thefortunes, do have any link that related to the Italian believe about spider? Care to share.
Michael.
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
14 Sep 07
Hiya Michael, and thanks for your responce my friend :) And no, I am talking here about my own expirience in Italy and no sites that I know off.
@briarose (124)
• United States
13 Sep 07
Oh wow I saw this on your website and was going to ask about it but than I was distracted by the flowers:) A spider this big would have made me nervous and I definitely would not have gone near it. I don't kill most bugs never had since I was little and people laugh at what I'll go through to save a bug from the pool but now I will have another reason to tell people why they should not to kill them, except they can't hold me accountable if the cash doesn't start flowing;)
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
13 Sep 07
LoL Briarose :) these spiders do not jump onpeople, so dont be nervous about them, and no, no one could hold you accountable hehehehe!
1 person likes this
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
12 Sep 07
Hi jep983, I guess it or he, or she has eaten many, may flies and this is why it has become huge ;) Just kidding (and hiping) but who knows?
1 person likes this
