{"id":10024,"date":"2017-10-30T06:30:08","date_gmt":"2017-10-30T10:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=10024"},"modified":"2017-10-26T15:24:42","modified_gmt":"2017-10-26T19:24:42","slug":"take-5-spooky-spiders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-spooky-spiders\/","title":{"rendered":"Take 5: “Spooky” Spiders"},"content":{"rendered":"

This October, we’ve been leading up to Halloween with themed Take 5 posts covering critters that are spooky, creepy, and go “bump” in the night. We’ve highlighted snakes<\/a>, crows<\/a>, bats<\/a>, and vultures<\/a>, and now it’s time for the creepiest crawly of them all: spiders!<\/p>\n

Even if the thought of spiders makes you want to run shrieking in the opposite direction, you have to admit\u2014they\u2019re pretty amazing. While different spiders use different webs for different reasons (and some don\u2019t even use them), it is true that their silk has more tensile strength than steel!<\/p>\n

With a handful of rare exceptions, their diets consist entirely of insects…and other spiders! And since the vast majority of spiders in Massachusetts are not dangerous, think twice next time you encounter one in your home and are tempted to squish it. Consider carefully relocating it outside with a cup and a piece of paper so it can continue its duty of ensnaring and noshing on pesky insects.<\/p>\n

Here are five stellar photos from our Picture This: Your Great Outdoors<\/a> photo contest to honor these beautiful arachnids. Happy Halloween!<\/p>\n

\"Cross

Cross Orbweaver Spider \u00a9 Brett Melican<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Spider

Spider Web \u00a9 Ian Kinahan<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Orchard

Orchard Orbweaver Spider \u00a9 Kim Novino<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Cross

Cross Orbweaver Spider \u00a9 Jack Cotter<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Grass

Grass Spider \u00a9 Amy Harley<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This October, we’ve been leading up to Halloween with themed Take 5 posts covering critters that are spooky, creepy, and go “bump” in the night. We’ve highlighted snakes, crows, bats, and vultures, and now it’s time for the creepiest crawly of them all: spiders! Even if the thought of spiders makes you want to run […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":10029,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[158],"tags":[189,83,84,95],"class_list":["post-10024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-take-5","tag-halloween","tag-photo-contest","tag-photography","tag-spiders"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/10\/3344Brett_Melican12225_fi.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-2BG","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10008,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-turkey-vultures\/","url_meta":{"origin":10024,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Turkey Vultures","author":"Ryan D.","date":"October 23, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"While folklore holds that spotting a circling vulture is a bad omen, turkey vultures actually perform a vital function within their ecosystem: Clean-up Crew! Turkey vultures specialize in eating carrion (dead animals). They have a well-developed sense of smell that they use to find food. Their heads are naked so\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Turkey Vulture \u00a9 Phyllis Tarascio","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/10\/1007PhyllisTarascio3497_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/10\/1007PhyllisTarascio3497_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/10\/1007PhyllisTarascio3497_fi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12504,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-marsh-wren-splits\/","url_meta":{"origin":10024,"position":1},"title":"Take 5: Marsh Wren Splits","author":"Ryan D.","date":"March 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"True to their name, tiny-but-fierce Marsh Wrens are denizens of wetlands and saltmarshes of North America, returning to Massachusetts to breed in the spring. With a sharp eye, you\u2019ll spot them flitting about among the reeds, rushes, and cattails, picking at the vegetation for tasty insects and spiders and aggressively\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Marsh Wren \u00a9 Matt Filosa","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/03\/3417Matt_Filosa19510.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/03\/3417Matt_Filosa19510.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/03\/3417Matt_Filosa19510.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/03\/3417Matt_Filosa19510.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7981,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-marvelous-moths\/","url_meta":{"origin":10024,"position":2},"title":"Take 5: Marvelous Moths","author":"Ryan D.","date":"July 25, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"It's National Moth Week! Okay, maybe not everyone is as excited about it as we are\u2014but they should be! Although they sometimes\u00a0get a bad rap (only a handful of the thousands of species of moths are actually harmful pests), moths\u00a0are crucial pollinators for\u00a0many species of plants\u00a0and are also key food\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Small-eyed Sphinx Moths (Paonias myops) \u00a9 Christine Silver, Photo Contest 2013","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/07\/2363ChristineSilver8292-2013.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/07\/2363ChristineSilver8292-2013.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/07\/2363ChristineSilver8292-2013.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":288,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/dont-weed-the-milkweed\/","url_meta":{"origin":10024,"position":3},"title":"Don’t Weed the Milkweed!","author":"Kristin S.","date":"July 10, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"If a gardening catalog offered a plant that sported unique flowers, attracted butterflies, fed and protected the beloved monarch butterfly, provided nesting material for goldfinches and orioles, was easy to grow, and was native to our state, wouldn\u2019t we be eager to plant some in our gardens? So, what is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gardening"","block_context":{"text":"Gardening","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/gardening\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/07\/commonmilkweedmonarch_cropped.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/07\/commonmilkweedmonarch_cropped.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/07\/commonmilkweedmonarch_cropped.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3374,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/can-these-animals-fool-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":10024,"position":4},"title":"Can These Animals Fool You?","author":"Rosemary","date":"March 31, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Many animals have particular patterns and colors that help them avoid predators. Some blend into the background or mimic an object like a leaf or twig, and some try to direct a predator\u2019s attention to a less vulnerable body part. Test your visual skills with these tricky creatures. 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At Mass Audubon\u2019s wildlife sanctuaries, kids \u00a0are encouraged to look under rocks and rotting logs to see what they can find, because there\u2019s a whole world of wonder waiting to be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Outdoors"","block_context":{"text":"Get Outdoors","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-outdoors\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/eastern-red-backed-salamander-from-West-Mountain-by-Richard-Johnson.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/eastern-red-backed-salamander-from-West-Mountain-by-Richard-Johnson.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/eastern-red-backed-salamander-from-West-Mountain-by-Richard-Johnson.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10024"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10033,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10024\/revisions\/10033"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}