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Piggy Back Ride


Piggy Back Ride
Photo Information
Copyright: Art Roberts (Art_R) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 193 W: 16 N: 461] (1891)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-25
Categories: Spiders
Camera: Nikon D 80, AF-S VR Micro Nikkor 105mm w/ TC20EII, 62mm UV
Exposure: f/25.0, 1/200 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Family Matters 3 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-25 14:24
Viewed: 357
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi Folks , on my last posting of a wolf spider with an egg sack , I mentioned that I would be watching out for this scene. Every time I have seen a spider on the ground since I have taken a closer look to see , I am still seeing very many with their egg sack , but today I saw this one from a bit of a distance , and I could tell right away...

wolf spiders have two unusual behaviors , one is that they carry their egg sack attached to their spinneret , the second is that once the eggs hatch the young spiders will crawl up mothers legs and crowd up on her abdomen , they will remain there from several hours to days , until they are able to go it on their own.

I have to say that this is about the most fantastic scene that I have had the pleasure of photographing , as I watched through my view finder I noticed that on occasion I could see a hatchling walk from one spot on her back to another , I would be darned if I could get a shot of that though , it was very difficult to even get a good one that really showed what was on her back...

apparently if the mother spider is threatened or attacked the young spiderlings will scatter and flee.

normally I would make every effort to not cut the legs off of my subject , but in this case I figured that an exception was in order , the shots from further back somewhat come across as a spider with a particularly hairy abdomen. so I got in a little closer and cropped the legs a bit.

I am going to post a closer view of the young in the workshop , but they are so knit together that it really just looks like a patchwork of legs and abdomens .

I hope that you like it , thanks for stopping in.
regards
Art
alikox, lise, MartinL, SueThomson, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Art,
Very interesting shot. I knew that some species of frogs and scorpions carry their hatchlings on their backs but it is the first time I see this behaviour on a spider.
Best regards,
Ali

  • Great 
  • lise Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 179 W: 52 N: 531] (2593)
  • [2008-06-25 14:47]

Hi,
This is so rare and fascinating!!
I've never seen this before.
Wonderful capture and amazing sharpness.
Very well done
Lise

Hi Art,

This is definitely something! I've never seen such behavior but it surly looks fascinating. What a way to travel and start your life. Very cool capture. TFS.

Best Regards,

Martin

Hi Art
A fascinating shot and TFS. I like the tight crop to highlight the little ones. Well done!
Cheers
Sue

Hi Art

Great stuff. Isn't nature amazing. Which wizard of evolution would have thought of allowing all these spiderling to get this close to mum.
Great image.

Chris

Hello Art,

Very nice picture of this spider with its babies on its abdomen. Excellent POV, DOF and sharpness. Great detail.
Good natural colours.
Very well done,
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello once again Art!
And this is a very good documentary picture. And a family photo too :> Very good details and sharpness. And you were licky to meet this female with her kids :)
Bravo also fo very informative note :)
Greetings,
Radomir

PS. By the way, similar species, also a female but without her children (but in "pregnant") was taken by me some time ago :)

This is truly amazing, Art.
You are justified in making the image bigger because we are able to see the young one's on their mothers's back quite clearly.
This is a shot of its own kind for which you deserve to be congratulated.
TFS and regards.
Ram
:)

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