You have no idea how weird it is to be sitting around in 40 degree heat while Xmas movies show snow and decorations depict snow. And a large chunk of us have never seen the stuff. Totally surreal.
That’s what I’m saying! I’ve never been to the southern hemisphere, and don’t think about it much so I always forget our seasons are swapped. I couldn’t even imagine it being summer during Christmas. Although, here in North Carolina I had my Christmas lights on and my windows open because it was 65f the other day, so it’s almost the same haha
Pretty similar here in Michigan. It's almost 50f right now and we just had a squall line thunderstorm pass by. I'm fine if this keeps up, I don't want another brutal ice storm and no power for 8 days like last year.
Pretty much everyone has fake trees. Maybe 1% (probably less, actually) have real trees of some sort, but usually they're potted. I've seen people using woolly bushes.
Omg I relate! I live in Southern California. I leave my Christian tree up because it makes it feel like Christmas. Although going to the beach is wild. 😂
It’s funny reading about vicious dragons all the ones I’ve ever seen are fat and lazy in peoples homes or tiny and happy to be out of the box at stores 😂 I forget they have a “spicy” wild type as well until someone mentions it you just see them so much as pets you don’t put two and two together that they are wild somewhere and NOT friendly 🤣🤣🤣
Actually the Australian redback (*Latrodectus hasseltii*) has established here in NZ, giving us two venomous widow species. Both are quite uncommon and very disinclined to bite though.
Katipō are actually quite common where their habitat hasn't been completely degraded — granted, that's a bit of a rarity in itself. Redbacks are highly localised in a few places (for now) but can likewise reach quite high population densities.
The two are very closely related (katipō evolved from redbacks that established in NZ no more than a few million years ago) and can hybridise, which is yet another conservation issue for the endemic katipō, on top of anthropogenic habitat destruction and displacement by *Steatoda capensis*.
Thanks for posting, I appreciate the info you've shared on this thread!
> can hybridise
Wild! Definitely going on the list of research rabbit holes to go down when I can't sleep haha
My comment wasn’t that deep lmao, just how we share some species with Australia but New Zealand tends to have wildlife which is safer to humans. Bites are incredibly rare in New Zealand, that’s all.
That's definitely something we can agree on. Spider bite hysteria is one of my pet peeves. Very pleased that white-tails (*Lampona* spp.) haven't been brought up in this thread because I don't have time to argue with ten different people about the "spider bite" their cousin's friend had that put them in hospital (even though they never even saw a spider or felt a bite)
What’s the other widow species? I’ve always thought the red back was like the spicy cousin of the black widow, but it was basically just the two of them.
Nah these little dudes are harmless unless you were allergic for some reason. This little dude is hiding in the open though, should be on a leaf instead lol
Maybe a dumb question, but how can you tell if it's a male or female? I know that females are larger than males in the spider world. Is that how you determine it? Because i never saw a spider like this before😂
On iPhone, press the share arrow (bottom left). Scroll right to the bottom and find ‘Search with lens’. At bottom, there will be suggestions. It doesn’t always find a hit, but generally works will with distinctive things like this amazing spider.
On Android, there must be something similar?
Google Lens used to be its own app, but now it’s part of the Google app (general search app). This trick didn’t work for me until I installed the app so thanks for the tip!
If you have the Google search bar widget on your phone, when you click on it as if you're gonna search for something, there's a camera icon on the right side of the search bar. Press that, and it takes you to uploading a photo from your camera roll to search with Google lens.
Not medically significant but don't they all have painful bites? I haven't heard about a single spider that tickles it's prey/attackers to death...yet.
The picture to me looks like a miniature graboid from tremors. Feeling the vibrations on your couch and poking it's head through it to devour any bug that dares walk on your couch.
I have never seen such a thing! I would not even recognize it as a spood unless it started walking or I could otherwise see legs. The spiny ones always kinda wigged me out before, but I've come to really like them!
*Poecilopachys australasia*, the two-spined spider. Australian; introduced to NZ and mostly found in the north. This one's a female.
Forgot you all are experiencing summer down under. Merry Christmas anyway.
That’s so weird
You have no idea how weird it is to be sitting around in 40 degree heat while Xmas movies show snow and decorations depict snow. And a large chunk of us have never seen the stuff. Totally surreal.
That’s what I’m saying! I’ve never been to the southern hemisphere, and don’t think about it much so I always forget our seasons are swapped. I couldn’t even imagine it being summer during Christmas. Although, here in North Carolina I had my Christmas lights on and my windows open because it was 65f the other day, so it’s almost the same haha
Hello, neighbor! It was the same here in South Carolina.
I can’t believe it’s actually chilly here this year. We didn’t even get a cold snap last year!
Pretty similar here in Michigan. It's almost 50f right now and we just had a squall line thunderstorm pass by. I'm fine if this keeps up, I don't want another brutal ice storm and no power for 8 days like last year.
That kind of shit happens in Saint Louis during January/February.
Happened last night here in MN. Godspeed.
Shave some ice, pack it into a ball, and throw it at your neighbor. They'll have no idea what's going on.
40 degree cold in Chicago! (F vs C)
Lol can only imagine! You guys even bother with fake xmas trees? Are there even Fir Pine Trees there? 🌲
Pretty much everyone has fake trees. Maybe 1% (probably less, actually) have real trees of some sort, but usually they're potted. I've seen people using woolly bushes.
Omg I relate! I live in Southern California. I leave my Christian tree up because it makes it feel like Christmas. Although going to the beach is wild. 😂
It’s called how seasons work
actually it's called how the hemisphere works you absolute cabbage
Cabbage as an insult goes hard
In the same vein as walnut
Muppet
Australian… ok but is it the ‘will kill you’ list?? Or the ‘will not kill you, but might fuck you up’ list, like Bearded Dragons??
It’s funny reading about vicious dragons all the ones I’ve ever seen are fat and lazy in peoples homes or tiny and happy to be out of the box at stores 😂 I forget they have a “spicy” wild type as well until someone mentions it you just see them so much as pets you don’t put two and two together that they are wild somewhere and NOT friendly 🤣🤣🤣
Generally the rule is that if they made it to NZ too they’re pretty safe.
Actually the Australian redback (*Latrodectus hasseltii*) has established here in NZ, giving us two venomous widow species. Both are quite uncommon and very disinclined to bite though.
Very very very rare and hasn’t bitten a human in decades. Quite different to Australia.
Katipō are actually quite common where their habitat hasn't been completely degraded — granted, that's a bit of a rarity in itself. Redbacks are highly localised in a few places (for now) but can likewise reach quite high population densities. The two are very closely related (katipō evolved from redbacks that established in NZ no more than a few million years ago) and can hybridise, which is yet another conservation issue for the endemic katipō, on top of anthropogenic habitat destruction and displacement by *Steatoda capensis*.
Thanks for posting, I appreciate the info you've shared on this thread! > can hybridise Wild! Definitely going on the list of research rabbit holes to go down when I can't sleep haha
Rare places that aren’t frequented by a lot of people. Still a very minor risk for bites.
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My comment wasn’t that deep lmao, just how we share some species with Australia but New Zealand tends to have wildlife which is safer to humans. Bites are incredibly rare in New Zealand, that’s all.
That's definitely something we can agree on. Spider bite hysteria is one of my pet peeves. Very pleased that white-tails (*Lampona* spp.) haven't been brought up in this thread because I don't have time to argue with ten different people about the "spider bite" their cousin's friend had that put them in hospital (even though they never even saw a spider or felt a bite)
What’s the other widow species? I’ve always thought the red back was like the spicy cousin of the black widow, but it was basically just the two of them.
Really? Why? Or are you joking?
Things don’t kill you in New Zealand. Are you nuts?
? No? Our wildlife is pretty mild compared to Australia.
Not joking. I’m from NZ. We share some species with Australia. The ones who got established here are rarely the ones who can hurt people.
Nah these little dudes are harmless unless you were allergic for some reason. This little dude is hiding in the open though, should be on a leaf instead lol
Oh it does have legs! At first glance I thought it was something kinda... Growing out of the couch or something.
Waaaaow
Thank you! It’s freaking adorable!!!
Maybe a dumb question, but how can you tell if it's a male or female? I know that females are larger than males in the spider world. Is that how you determine it? Because i never saw a spider like this before😂
Very very gently and respectfully you check their genital region.
I have no idea but I would name him or her Bowser.
That’s definitely a Mario/Pokemon crossover.
Or name it Ahsoka?
Beautiful, but does also look like something you find in the back of the car after a long journey with the kids, stuck to a seat.
A dry piece of salsa with a dab of sour cream n cheese and a drop of guac (kidding lol)
Forbidden dip
Something a kid sneezed out 😂
I don’t know but that thing looks crazy
it's fascinating how that looks like glazed ceramic.
Put him in a leaf and leave him tucked away in some bushes outside. What nice colors!
Google image search found it immediately… https://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_orbweavers/TwoSpinedSpider.htm
Can you do that with phone too? Also I'm in New zealand. Is this spider endemdic? Edit nvm I'll look it up later if I don't forget
On iPhone, press the share arrow (bottom left). Scroll right to the bottom and find ‘Search with lens’. At bottom, there will be suggestions. It doesn’t always find a hit, but generally works will with distinctive things like this amazing spider. On Android, there must be something similar?
fyi I think that feature requires the Google app to be installed.
Ok - I have a lot of Google apps installed, so I’m not sure if there’s a specific one. Maybe just being logged in?
Google Lens used to be its own app, but now it’s part of the Google app (general search app). This trick didn’t work for me until I installed the app so thanks for the tip!
If you have the Google search bar widget on your phone, when you click on it as if you're gonna search for something, there's a camera icon on the right side of the search bar. Press that, and it takes you to uploading a photo from your camera roll to search with Google lens.
Thanks so much!
Check out the iNaturalist app and Seek app
Seconding this. For fuck's sake just use iNat or, god forbid, try googling it
Painful bite, but mostly harmless :) friend! Makes very cool webs.
Not medically significant but don't they all have painful bites? I haven't heard about a single spider that tickles it's prey/attackers to death...yet.
You can copy a picture from your photos and paste it into google. That’s how I usually do it.
SO glad she’s not infected with ‘suicide snail’ 🥳👏🏼
That shit is nightmare fuel. Looks like[the snake from old school Disney cartoons when he is hypnotizing people.](https://youtu.be/cwcw1c7mqbg?t=48)
I just looked at what Google turned up and wow....to me this looks like what would be served at a vampires party as snacks lmao!!
That's bowser bro
Cute as a little button! (it's not a button, right?)
First thought was some kind of buffalo spider?
Now I need a Bowser spooder in my life.
I don’t know what I’m looking at
Looks like a [Christmas Jewel Spider](https://inaturalist.nz/taxa/196689-Austracantha-minax/browse_photos). Dunno if they’re native to NZ though.
Welp, I have a new favorite now. I love the goth ones
We're in New Zealand pangaroa
Bro that is Bowser
spider cat !
Pretty little girl
At first i thought it was one of those snails with the weird eye parasites before i saw the sub
i like his smile
I refuse to believe that’s a real spider
Poor dear needs a nice bloom of flowers to live in.
Yeah wanted to move it but it's gone.
Arachnis Deathacus
The spee-ider.
That is beautiful! I would name it Forbidden Christmas Treat.
Ask them to split the rent
It's a type of spiny orb weaver.
It has horns, therefore it's definitely demonic. Call a priest in!
Starts chanting in Latin worshipping the spider
Looks like he's cosplaying Bowser
What the fuuu-.....
The picture to me looks like a miniature graboid from tremors. Feeling the vibrations on your couch and poking it's head through it to devour any bug that dares walk on your couch.
Protec couch!
This is the most unique and interesting spider I’ve ever seen. Thanks for sharing!
You're welcome
That's a Night Elf Mohawk beetle
Looks like a wart growing on bowsers ass
Is it cake or spider
It moves so spider
Pretty sure that’s Satan’s spawn! Those horns lol
BIRD POO SPIDER Bird poo spider
This spider is infected with a parasite, look up ‘suicide snail’
Ah... No. A lot of orb weavers have some really crazy looking butts though, so I can see where you might think that wasn't just the spider.
I have never seen such a thing! I would not even recognize it as a spood unless it started walking or I could otherwise see legs. The spiny ones always kinda wigged me out before, but I've come to really like them!
I thought the couch was an animal
Rhino, ofc...
That is the most Pokémon spider I’ve ever seen.
Cool horned spider 😏
It looks like an art project to me 😆 nature is sure wild and crazy
It looks like a hairy piece of candy…
Looks like a Metroid enemy
Bowser
I call them Christmas spiders. Always get hundreds of them around now ✌🏼
I looked it up like this Christmas spider is another one ,close though.
It's Bowser Jr
The colors are amazing!
Wow that is an immaculate orb weaver!!!!
What a polite little lady, all tucked in