Unknown type of spider

[ajohnw]

Found in a hedge. Not ideally positioned for my gear and the shutter speed was too low. Colour seems to vary with light level. Very bright and looks yellow, darker much more light green. The body is about 3mm across. Just about a passable result for me.



John
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[nikon66]

This is the Araniella cucurbitina (De gewone komkommerspin) is common in Belgium and Netherlands.

[ajohnw]

Thanks Steven. I found it in the back garden where insects of any types seem to be a bit thin on the ground at the moment.

From the sizes specified on the Wiki I can look forwards to some appearing that are much bigger later on.

It seems the other name is a Cucumber Spider,

John
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[nikon66]

Thanks Steven. I found it in the back garden where insects of any types seem to be a bit thin on the ground at the moment.

From the sizes specified on the Wiki I can look forwards to some appearing that are much bigger later on.

It seems the other name is a Cucumber Spider,

John
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Yes, the other name is Cucumber Spider, in dutch ' De komkommer spin'.
So you see Hey, you learn every day .
Have a nice weekend.

[Shadowman]

Nice capture.

[bnnrcn]

It is nice John I actually like the bright colours and the angle. Very different pose and the bright web adds to the image.

[ajohnw]

It is nice John I actually like the bright colours and the angle. Very different pose and the bright web adds to the image.

Thanks Binnur. I asked it to turn round but it wouldn't.

Only 2 angles possible, this one or nearly square with it's back. The colour are soc from raw. Just highlight compression to get the yellows in and some contrast lab style.

One with some of the sun removed and a bit of colour balancing but I wont be able to get the out of focus leaves green correct. Desat a bit too remove the contrast added.



Didn't really know which way to go on this as the spider is very bright. Almost reflective in appearance.

John
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[deetheturk]

John, I think this is the same spider we get in Turkey also?


#1


#2

What do you think?

Cheers David..

[nikon66]

Yes David, it's the same spider.

[ajohnw]

Yes definitely the same one. It also has the black dots on it's back. From the wiki it looks like they range all across the euro/asia continent but are absent from north America and Africa. Can't say as I have ever seen one before. At the moment all we have round here is really tiny spiders. This one at about 3mm across the body is huge compared to those.

The 1st shot I posted was about right in sunlight. By eye it was an almost reflective green but very yellow so I should have set - 1/3 EV. Another colour to add to the list. The 2nd shot was processed - 0.5EV or so. When I say reflective I mean much the same as buttercups can be which I'd guess most people see. I just went in close enough to pick up the hairs on it's back. It was in a cluster of leaves and the camera decided to focus on a bits of it's web that were in the way a few times.

In case anyone else is mad enough to try AF and macro this one used continuous. Seems to be the best option if I have to struggle to keep the camera in position.

John
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[marlunn]

Difficult one i think the first is too bright the 2nd not bright enough - but thats just on my aged monitor
I have a couple of shots of these, including one with what i believe are male and female spiders in the tricky ( for the male) process of getting together, happy to post them if it is of interest but not sure of protocol, posting images on your thread John unless invited.

[bnnrcn]

The colours in#1 closer to the ones in David's shots John I think, the bright colour of the leaf makes the image look even brighter.

[ajohnw]

The colours in#1 closer to the ones in David's shots John I think, the bright colour of the leaf makes the image look even brighter.

I'd say if the yellow and green could be mixed in all shots to make up a sort of rather yellowy green that's how they look by eye and less light seems to darken the shade more towards a light green.

John
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