Name that Spider?

Question

Hello to all,
I recently spotted a spider in my back yard, it was about 3" in diameter and it had a blue body, with black legs and a yellow butt ( lol I know that is'nt the right word for it but im not up to date with my spider terminology) with yellow dots, I've never seen one this size or color it took 4 good shots with a bb gun to kill the thing, anyone have a clue about what kind it may be? thanks

Answer 1

Well depending on the area you are from, if you are living in either the southern United States or further south still, I would say that you saw one of the larger garden spiders (orb weavers, Aranaedae) in the genus Nephila. these large orb weavers make tremendously large and very strong orb webs. They are quite common in tropical and sub-tropical regions. If the spider you saw was in a web, then it is most likely that.

here are some images for you:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/6617
http://bugguide.net/node/view/63983

The last image submitted by the previous answer is the image of an Argiope, thye are also common all across N. America, but the size isnt really what you described.

oh, and the "Butt" is the abdomen, and the blue part of the spider is called the cephalothorax (head fused with thorax)....thought you might want to know that.....just a little added info for ya, good question!

hope this helps!

Answer 2

Sounds like a Banana Spider,the butt is yellow and shaped like a banana,also know to be called the cotton spider,because of the web.

Answer 3

Some UFC opponents say its rationale how quick he movements whilst the opponent is at the floor. He shuffles quick. Others say how he grapple and floor and pound. He crawls everywhere the opponent with tremendous velocity. Think approximately it! Spider?

Answer 4

under keyword type in "spiders" and there is a web site with pictures that identifies spiders.

Answer 5

its the you-better-run-away spider
jk

Answer 6

http://www.worldofstock.com/closeups/NIN1062.php

I found this picture.