Who Needs Garden Gnomes?
We've posted numerous times in the past about how everything seems smaller in Japan, except the bugs and arachnids. The fellow to your left, hanging out on his web, was a recent neighbor of ours... at least until a few hours ago when I finally got around to taking care of some yard work that Nicki has been Our yard was literally covered in tall weeds, tall grass, and low hanging spider webs. So this evening, after work, I went after the webs with our cheap store-bought rake, which proceeded to break on me as I was swinging it violently towards one of the unsuspecting spiders in the yard. Fortunately, the rake broke at a point where I could still use the full length of handle to swat away the rest of Spiderland.
Doing my end-of-summer yardwork got me thinking a bit about the previous three months of summer and how much fun we have had. We've posted many of our summer pictures already, but we've taken so many that I thought I would share a few more in the Gallery.
Enjoy! In the meantime, I'll be thinking about the upcoming winter months, when I'd happily take in all the spiders in Japan for a few minutes of summertime heat! Okay, maybe not.
posted by Unknown | 11:05 PM
12 Comments:
I'll trade you some of your chilly weather for one of our 90 degree days. I want it to get cold SO bad. Creepy picture...
What Mike doesn't mention is the little community they built in our front yard. I think he interupted their protest for better health care when he demolished their webs.
LOL, I took the SAME picture...we had about 15 (not kidding) living in our front porch. I killed the little ones, but couldn't get up the nerve to kill the 3 HUGE ones...made Alan do that.
OMG Negishi Nightmares are returning! Those little buggers (pun intended) are absolute HUGE aren't they? You know it's a great photo when it gives you the heebie jeebies even when thousands of miles away in California.
I have a backlit picture of one of those buggers from the Imperial Gardens.
What's wrong with you all? These spiders are beautiful. Here in England, the autumn has been full of fantastic colourful spiders (likely a lot smaller than these I admit, can't judge size from the photo) and we haven't killed a single one. Nor will we. Live and let live..
Wembley
Jeff, I'd love to see that photo...
Wembley, we actually maintain a healthy spider sanctuary in our backyard area, which is much less traversed by human beings. Spiders are great for catching all the other little pests in our yard, as I believe you mentioned previously, and I agree that they do have a certain level of beauty if you can get past the creepy crawly factor. But when they start constructing dynamic web systems through our main walking area between our front door and the rest of the world, I have to draw a line somewhere.
I distincly remember the first time I saw one of these spiders last fall in Negishi. I was amazed with its color and its size! I really enjoy looking at these spiders, however, I suspect it is only because none have taken up residence in my house or bitten me. The little black jumping spiders, on the other hand, get no mercy since I have scars on my legs from their bites, and they can't seem to resist attacking me in my sleep. Ouch!
I'm looking forward to seeing more of your summertime pics!
OK, after googling for a few hours I think I found out what spider I saw under our front porch. I believe it was some sort of a fishing spider. They are called this because they do hunt for small fish (Yes, they are that big!) There are tons of species and they are related to the Wolf Spider. This picture (link) was the closest to what I thought we saw at our house. http://www.cirrusimage.com/Arachnid/fishing_spider_Dolomedes_2.jpg
The body of this one pictured measured 2.5 inches. (Not including the legs) After researching the only thing that doesn't make sense is why it would be close to our home. We are close to an ocean but there are no ponds, lakes, or rivers, near our house. We're close to the ocean but I didn't read anything about them hanging out near the ocean. They are fast though so fast in fact, that they can skitter across the surface of the water.
OK, that's enough about spiders I've looked at enough pictures to give me the heeby jeebies all night! If you do live in Japan and are curious about the types of spiders that you might see around town, check out this webpage: http://www.cyberoz.net/city/sekine/zukax.htm
Literally all of the hair on my body are standing up as I read your last comment about the spider being 2.5 inches.. that is HUGE! I don't know if I would be brave enough to kill these little, excuse me, BIG suckers!
Okay, live and let live works when the little critters are not in your space, but I go for survival of the fittest when it's my house (do they pay the rent??) It's bugspray, shovel etc. against those 8-legged monsters!! Okay, growing up in Sacramento, Ca. and having pest control come every other month, I may be a little paranoid about those spiders. Love to see them at a distance, but just don't crawl along my arm or anything, okay!!!??? Mom
We called them banana spiders (when we lived in Yokosuka). They're practically harmeless, but freaky enough to warrant backing away quickly. By the way, there was a familiar sound that many of us former Yokosukans miss right around this time (actually around August through early October if my memory serves me right). It was the sound of the semis (SE-meez) - Japanese for the cicada. The giant-fly-looking bugs that almost melodically whine their little hearts out for a mate. They used to bug me as a kid growing up there. Now I'd give anything to hear it again.
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