Thursday, April 05, 2012

calling commissioner gordon

We usually do not get Spring weather in Melaque.  At least, not Spring as I knew it in Oregon.

Our weather tends to come in three cycles: hot, hotter, and seventh circle of Hell hot.  But something strange is going on these days.

In early March, the weather started heating up.  Right on schedule to drive us into the hotter season.  The temperatures rose hand in hand with the humidity.  The Jack and Jill of the apocalypse.

Then something odd happened. 

It got cool.  Not cool by Alberta standards.  But certainly cool for Melaque.  The temperature dropped into the 60s at night -- and then stayed there into the late morning.

Yesterday afternoon a cloud cover rolled in -- looking like one of our July thunderstorms.  But it was far too cool for that.  My neighbors started pulling out their gloves and parkas.  Even I put on a wind breaker.  And I usually stick to short sleeves until the temperature drops into the 40s.

As I sit on the patio writing this, I am not alone.  Several days ago I saw what I thought was a burr caught in a spider's web.  It turned out that the "burr" was the spider.  Well, still is the spider.

Our cool weather does not seem to be slowing down its activities.  Probably because the insects seem to like this weather.  The presence of evening bats -- not to mention leg welts -- are proof enough that there is plenty of vector for dining.

When I found the spider, I did a bit of research. 

Based on its web, it is an orb web spider.  I watched it constructing the nest, so, it is not borrowing some other spider's handiwork.

But I had no idea of its name.  I still don't.  Birds I know.  Spiders not so much. 

I thought it might be a cat's face spider.  But not with those spikes.  It looks like something Bruce Wayne might have conjured up.

Any help out there in the audience?

As for me, I am going inside to put on that wind breaker.

25 comments:

Tancho said...

I keep reading that Goggle has a way to identify pictures, haven't figured out how to do it yet....maybe it would peak your interest to forge forward to that frontier.....

NWexican said...

Looks like the Hermit Crab spider.

Steve Cotton said...

When I get home from my board meeting this morning, I will do a little experimenting.

NWexican said...

Spined Micrathena gracilis
http://www.flickr.com/photos/terribleminds/915020540/lightbox/
 

Steve Cotton said...

Possible. But its legs are not that long. At least, nt that I have seen.

Steve Cotton said...

But the abdomen looks ike a perfect match.

Steve Cotton said...

 I just took another look at the spider on the web.  Its legs are out -- and we have a winner.

Laurie Matherne said...

Weird weather all around the world. We had hail and an actual tornado here in H on Sunday. The market areas that were not destroyed in last month's fire had water damage. We are supposed to be in the HEIGHT of the dry season. It has rained daily for four days. Weird, weird, weird. 

John Calypso said...

We have had weather cycling in the exact manner you describe - very strange but a nice benefit at the moment - this will probably keep us here an extra 15 days. ;-)

Trudy said...

 http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/1848R-527983
I see you have found you answer to you spider id.  This is  another great picture I found.

Andean said...

The weather is definitely great for me in Melaque, not unbearingly hot, and definitely not cold. Beach, pool, shopping, day trips and an uncountable amount of restaurants and food stands to choose from daily--all in most pleasant weather. Never a dull moment that's for sure.

Felipe Zapata said...

Atypically cool here too.

NWexican said...

 Google'd "spider that looks like hermit crab" so I guess that Google is the winner.

Steve Cotton said...

You used a better metaphor than I did. Care to do some editing on the side?

Steve Cotton said...

 We even had a few drops of rain today.  And that should not happen until mid-June.

Steve Cotton said...

 I even broke out the long pants to go with my wins breaker today. 

Steve Cotton said...

 And my comments should not be taken as a complaint.  Given a choice between cool and hot, I will always take cool.

Steve Cotton said...

I love the cooler weather. It just felt strange donning long pants and a wind breaker to keep warm.

Steve Cotton said...

Great photograph. Looks like it should be a Star Trek badge.

I have been watching the spiders a little more closely. When their legs are extended, they look a lot like hermit crabs.

barbie said...

I have seen these lots, mostly in my mango tree.

Steve Cotton said...

They are fascinating. Now that I know what they are, I have been paying attention to how they fold up their legs when they are resting for their prey.

Andean said...

I also noticed the huge rain clouds that brought cool wind and dark skies this afternoon along with a a few drops of rain--then the sun came out in the early evening along with an almost full moon. People were wearing hoodies and sweat jackets, certainly chillier then it's been, especially on the beach tonight. Glad there were crowds--made for good wind blockers. Strange weather for sure for people living here.

NWexican said...

Editing?? HA!! You even got my wife laughing with that one. She said, "Absolutely!! and then you could recite the Gettysburg Address in Klingon"

Ewa Platt said...

looking on Wikipaedia it looks like your spider is indeed a member of the crab spider family, G. cancriformis
I hope you are glad that my daughter returned the sun!

Steve Cotton said...

The sun was welcome to return.  At least, I can now put away the wind breaker.