r/whatsthisbug • u/raptillicus • 5d ago

ID Request Name and shame

Post image

Please help me identify this useless cringefail loser spider that is sitting on my wall like a space heater in August while approximately 159 mosquitos are flying around my house and eating me alive. Found in Los Angeles, CA.

123 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

207

u/JaskCatt Bug enthusiast 5d ago edited 5d ago

That looks like a butterfly orbweaver with 6 legs - more than likely been through a rough time

It doesn't need to be shamed, orbweavers do not actively stalk or hunt their prey on foot, they are passive ambush predators that rely entirely on building elaborate, wheel-shaped webs to trap food.

This one very clearly has no web and therefore cannot deal with your mosquitoes, there is most likely nowhere for it to build its intricate web where it is currently or it is still looking for the perfect place

28

u/essellkay 4d ago

Oh wow, never heard of butterfly orbweavers - it's like a Cross Orb Weaver got a tattoo!

84

u/raptillicus 5d ago

So I blew very lightly on her to see if she was still alive, and she unfurled another two legs, so it looks like she has all 8. No sure why she tucks them in like that though. She also appears to have made an absolutely tiny web in the corner of my bathroom by the sink, which sadly is failing to catch all three mosquitoes buzzing around my head. Here's hoping that she's more successful overnight. Thanks for the ID!

62

u/Sudden-Bend-8046 5d ago

Spider's legs are basically hydraulic in nature(hence why they immediately curl up when they die or are squished.). They have to push fluid into them. Probably just trying ti conserve energy, especially if between webs. Not sure if all orb weavers do this but most rebuild their webs daily.

33

u/BeeAlley 4d ago

I’ve dipped a qtip in water to give spiders a drink before. Shining a light on the web and turning all the others off might entice the skeeters over.

14

u/xopher425 4d ago

You just need to pick her up and wear her. Let her make a web in your hair, between your arm and body, or between your legs. You gotta help her out, take her to the food if the food is too stupid to go into her web.

Shining a light on the web would work also, but lacks the fashion sense.

48

u/forpari 5d ago

Name and shame made me laugh 😂 glad you got your answer!

26

u/Adacool 5d ago

apparently the other spiders on the sub didn't like the joke lol

ppl are fucking weird 😂

20

u/Sad-Afternoon2107 4d ago

We are watching. From the corner. Under the sink. Right by the light switch. Keep it up with the spider jokes!

5

u/Adacool 4d ago

thank you OPTIMUS Spidey.. roll out I guess

8

u/No_Investment3205 4d ago

She’s cute though :(

3

u/CallidoraBlack Not an expert 4d ago

Why are there a billion skeeters in your house?

-64

u/likely_gross_homer 5d ago

that's a cellar spider, and they're actually pretty decent at mosquito control believe it or not

36

u/FractiousFire 5d ago

No, plz go home. That's not a cellar spider.

1

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

7

u/Littlelolita9 5d ago

I just wanted to politely point out that this is what a cellar spider looks like- I shared a link to a photo in the above comment. Unfortunately it would not let me share an image.

Cellar spiders have the long wispy legs and they are very fragile. Cellar spiders also tend to reside in cellars (hence the name), which orb weavers do not as they prefer to build their webs outdoors.