Hibiscus and Spiders

[farmer d]

I think we're all so traumatized when we hear the word spider as hibiscus growers.  Even besides spider mites I get upset when I see many spiders in my garden use baby hibiscus leaves and make their home in them by spinning a really tight little web inside the leaf so that it curls up like a cigar for the spider's protection.  I love to have a balanced ecosystem in my garden but not at the expense of new hibiscus growth.

So unfortunately against my natural way of doing things I have disposed of my fair share of spiders this season.  Some really amazing ones that I see every year too.  Not good.  And with the use of Kontos I'm sure I've thrown off that natural balance even more so.

So it was nice to see this hairy monster on my Daisy Mae cursing at me as I soaked the plant in SuperNova.  Never seen this one before but quite the sight.  Like a mini Tarantula...



Butt Shot


Smiling for the camera


Farmer d

[Ernest]

Spectacular photos. First the hummingbirds and now the spider. Don't know what your regular job is but you should consider nature photography as a sideline.

Erny

[helixturnhelix]

Awww a little jumping spider!

Looks like an orange and black, Phidippus audax.

[blupit007]

Darren, real cool shot!  It looks like it may be pretty big? 

[farmer d]

Yeah Kristen it is bigger than most other spiders I see here.  Chris I don't know if this is a jumping spider - never saw it attempt to jump and it is pretty big.  I have seen small little jumpers here quite frequently but they are really really small though similarly colored.

Maybe this one consumed some of the HVH booster during the summer and now....

Hope it likes SuperNova spray cause there will be more coming...

Phidippus audax - cool name idea here for future seedlings of course with some twists involved

Farmer D