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Photo#1016937
Spider - Micrathena gracilis

Spider - Micrathena gracilis
Cameron County, Texas, USA
November 1, 2014

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Awesome picture.
Awesome picture.

 
:)
I agree, Bert. It is a very excellent picture! And also, spiders are often hard to photograph, in my opinion.
My reasoning: They often come out after it rains, and make webs in dark spots in the woods.
Besides that, they are relatively small, depending on species, and that can make it hard to focus using auto. I usually use MF with spiders.
Not to mention flash: even with it, it is hard to get a good photo because you run into the 'blow-out' problem. The web often doesn't take light very well.

I believe...
A Spined Micrathena (Micrathena gracilis). The reddish coloring is throwing me (I am used to seeing them in black and white), but it is likely because the location is Texas.
Yes, I think so. Because Another specimen was seen in Texas with similar coloration: . Ah, here is another: . How amazing that bugs can differ in color based on location. :)

 
Color variation--a spiny orb weaver thing?
See the comment about Gasteracantha cancriformis here.

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