superficial discourse about fears

[run_atalanta]

I recently responded to a question about fears. I have some. Some are serious, and for some reason, I didn't go into them very deeply. Some are less-so, although they're awful in my head

Comments

[jesusthepirate]

i'm not really up on spiders, but i'm not sure anything common in virginia gets larger than the Garden Spider / Writer Spider?

http://www.spiderroom.info/va_gardenspider.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argiope_aurantia

note that size measurements are for the body, not the legs+body together.

[run_atalanta]

I am not looking at those links because I am almost certain the articles will contain accompanying pictures. As for whatever you thought wasn't found in VA, the spiders I'm talking about ARE found in VA... I found them. In VA. Uggh, I'm sure sometime this summer you'll see one. Usually they're smaller (still big, though), but those two were exceptional.

[baldchik]

I've seen the spiders she speaks of, and I've seen plenty of garden spiders, and these things are probably more than twice the size, and meatier. Those garden spiders are mostly legs. They look exactly like brown recluses, but more the size of a small tarantula with skinny legs.

[run_atalanta]

Yes, exactly.

[baldchik]

Ah ok, actually I found what I think I have seen, which sounds very similar to what she has seen, and they are called fishing spiders, and apparently can get up to around 4" or so...
http://www.spiderzrule.com/fishing.htm

[run_atalanta]

Ew, ew, ew... forgive me for the outbreak of girly "ews", but I couldn't help myself and clicked on the link. Alex, that's what they are. Ew.

[jesusthepirate]

i think the ones we have here are -supposed- to be small-ish, but you're probably right. i've seen them too.. honestly though i think i've seen some garden spiders just as big, and i think they are scarier because they have a web, which distracts you with it's wild pattern, and then all of a sudden you realize that a -massive- spider is present as well... with the fishing/wolf spiders, i don't think i've ever seen one with a web? granted they are also somewhat startling to see run out from under your sink or whatever, but for me it's more startling to stare right at a big spider for a few seconds and -then- realize that it's there.