I shared this on facebook but just had to share it here too. This has to be the meanest ickiest spider I’ve ever seen. I have never seen one like this ever and don’t want to but think twice about killing it if you do ever see one because it actually eats little pests and is a helpful spider. This little guy (or gal) was on my mom’s patio. She took the photo and if she had her way, she would have smashed it I’m sure but my dad came to the rescue of the horned insect. He moved it to the tree so that it could live happily ever after. Sarah informed me that it’s a Spiny-backed Orb-weaver and that is was the kind of spider that Charlotte was in Charlotte’s Web. I did google it and yes, Charlotte was an orb-weaver/barn spider. There are many types of orb-weavers, this being one of them.
If you saw one, would you kill it or leave it be?
Google is just great, isn’t it? I know it’s icky looking…but I wouldn’t kill it – just like I wouldn’t kill a Daddy-Long-Legs (which kill a TON of insects too). Other spiders are not so lucky at ALL. They meet my foot in a heartbeat.
God gives us some amazing creatures! Can’t wait to teach my kiddo more about why all these bizarre insects live in our world. We all truly have a purpose. Thanks for sharing, A.
I just tried to STOMP on my computer screen!
oh my lordy lord… I might not kill it but I’d scream and flick my hands around and maybe cry.
Honestly, I’d be too scared to go close enough to kill it. That is by far the scariest looking spider I’ve ever seen.
I’d probably be too scared to kill it.
… I dont remember Charlotte looking so scary.
I would call my husband and make him do it, even if he was at work. Spiders scare me beyond belief.
I wouldn’t get close enough to it, but I’d make my husband take care of it!
I can handle snakes any day, but spiders……dang I hate them!!!! He would have been dead at my house!!!!
He’d be scooped in a jar and relocated :).
I don’t even know if I would know that was a spider. As with most creepy crawlers, I would be way too scared to kill it or go anywhere near it!!!
I think I’m with Becca on this one. That looks like a lethal spider, so my husband would probably relocate it, like your dad. Spiders are very helpful, but they just scare me! lol.
It was great meeting you in San Antonio, at our “carpet party,” and look forward to getting together again!
I wouldn’t be doing anything with that. I’d run as fast as I could to get away and then let the hubby deal with it. I have to say that although it’s awful scary looking, the colors are amazing.
Honestly If I ever saw this thing I would seriously smash it! lol. It does not even look like a spider looks like a toy. BTW i really hate spiders. Even daddy long legs really creep me out!
We get the white and red ones here which are even scarier. LOL!
I am petrified of spiders, but I must say, I probably would have tried to get it in a jar just so I could show it to people and try to find out what kind it was. Then I would have killed it.
So sorry, but that thing would be DEAD. Either by me stomping it or spraying it with bug killer. That thing will give me nightmares now. HOLY CRAP! That thing is scary looking.