Spiders: fear, love, hate

I have written several columns about my fear-love-hate relationships with spiders. Well I have several friends that have much the same kind of relationship in differing degrees. Some have more fear, some more hate, and rarely some have more love. I have also by default become the spider identifier for some of them. Thank you, Google.

A few evenings ago, I got a text from daughter Angie, I thought at first it was a picture of the ground. Then I enlarged it and there in the middle of the picture was a big spider, the only size comparison I had in the picture was a horse apple but sized against that I could see it was one of the biggest I had seen. Her question, of course was, “What kind of spider is this.”

During our conversation following the text she remarked that she found it because as she was looking for one of her mama hay shed cats, she could see eyes reflecting the flashlight and she didn’t think it looked right for a cat, so she went to investigate.

After some research, we determined that it was a Carolina Wolf Spider, probably one of the biggest ground dwelling spiders in Wyoming. This one was a great specimen. Angie estimated that the leg diameter to be about 3 inches. 

While I was doing the looking for identification guess what I found? They are one of the only spiders whose eyes will reflect light. Imagine that! I didn’t know that little fact about them at all. I did know that they don’t construct webs, preferring to stalk and hunt their prey. I have had some smaller ones in my house, they are actually quite interesting to watch, but of course, they have to obey the rules in the house.

The second spider identification request came from a friend in Worland. Again, I was able to guess by just the over-all shape of the spider that it was likely an orb weaver, but it took some digging to discover what kind of orb weaver. Google and I determined that this one was an Arabesque Orb Weaver. They are a beautiful spider, very colorful, non-aggressive, very low venom and very reluctant to bite. 

My biggest problem with orb weavers is that they tend to build their webs where I walk into them. I can get a whole cardio work out and arm work out in about 20 seconds when I walk into a web.

This time of year, there are numerous spiders moving inside to spend the winter. I don’t mind them living in my house as long as they obey the rules. They are predators after all and all houses have dust mites, which are their primary food source. I do have to say, though, I will not condemn anyone who doesn’t allow them to cohabitate. Not everyone is comfortable with the residents I let live with me.

Cousin Nancy’s Salsa

16 cups tomatoes, peeled and chopped

1 clove garlic

4 large bell peppers

10 jalapenos

1 cup salt

6 small yellow chili peppers, or about 3 Serranos

¾ cup vinegar

1 cup chopped onion

Tabasco or cayenne to taste

½ cup clear gel

Chop all vegetables and place in a large pot, reserve the clear gel for later. Bring to a boil, simmer for about 10 minutes then stir in clear gel until dissolved. Pour into pint jars and process in water bath for 20 minutes. Makes about 10 pints.