Sex in the sun

[vaneramos]

I'm home for a few hours to organize camping gear, and wanted to post this picture, taken on July 1 at Lake Fletcher, of two dock spiders (Dolomedes sp.) preparing for coitus.



They each have leg spans of about 5 cm (2 in.) and can get a little larger. They are shy and mostly harmless, biting only upon serious provocation. I have never had a bite, but apparently they are not especially painful. They do not build webs, but live along the shoreline feeding on insects and small fish. They are also known as fishing spiders or raft spiders.

Every sunny day at the cottage we see them basking. Soon the female will be seen carrying around an egg case as large as her abdomen. We share the dock skittishly.

The male is lighter-coloured and has an abdomen smaller than its head, while the female is dark and has a larger abdomen. The male had already mounted when I found them. He was quite cautious and tactile, leaping away at the slightest provocation. The female held quite still. Then he mounted again, facing backwards, probing her abdomen with his palps, the two relatively short appendages near his mouth. At the height of intercourse, he folded his hind legs under her forelegs as if to hold her still. I suppose his survival depended on a correct performance.

For an image of closer arachnid intimacy,



If I have time before departure today I might post some less gruesome memories of Canada Day.

Comments

[laura-borealis.livejournal.com]

Wow, amazing spider photos!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[robearal.livejournal.com]

You pornograhper!!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I would never pass up the chance!

[grandiva1968.livejournal.com]

Somehow I guessed that…

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, fun with cameras. :-)

[grandiva1968.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm having some, too!

[progbear.livejournal.com]

Wow. Nature is amazing.

I've seen damselflies and crane-flies going at it, but never spiders. That's so totally cool.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

The act seemed much more dynamic and less automated than most insect sex I have seen. I imagine spiders are relatively moody and intelligent. Not many (around here at least) are large enough to attract attention.

[kwangjse.livejournal.com]

Very cool arachnid photos!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Re: your previous inquiry (something along the lines of why I don't photograph birds), my camera is useless for wildlife photography. After this summer I plan to start saving for a new camera. One that can handle or adapt to telephoto shots will be a priority.

[kwangjse.livejournal.com]

I was just kidding about that. But I hear ya as far as getting a better camera with a telephoto lens. I've been having problems catching birds in flight because my camera focuses so slow and takes too long to get the shot off...I've been cussing a lot on my kayak trips when I miss a great opportunity :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I also find the speed is an issue with my camera. That's another thing to keep in mind when I go shopping.

Tomorrow my eldest daughter and I will start a 3-night canoe trip in Algonquin Park, so I hope to bring back some nice photography.

[kwangjse.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah! That should be an excellant trip. I'm already looking forward to seeing your photos. Have fun!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It certainly was. I see these big spiders frequently, but have never seen them mating before. If they had been doing it on the dock, where I usually see them, they probably would have vanished underneath as soon as someone approached. They just happened to be on this fallen, lichenous tree, so I could approach them through the water, avoiding any startling vibrations.

I'm missing LJ; haven't had a chance to read for a couple of weeks now. Today has been a frenzy. This is only the second time I have planned an overnight canoe trip (Marian was my companion on the first one, two years ago, too). For the first time we'll be portaging with all our gear. It is a far cry from regular camping. All equipment has to be pared down to a bare minimum. Food must be as light as possible, too. It makes one think differently about things.

Anyway, I hope you and Bill are well. I expect to be home again on the weekend for a few days.