Let's Talk Spiders...!

Not just any spider, but one that is really unique, to say the least!

Now you know that here at the Hermit's, we pride ourselves on finding the unusual! Today's topic certainly fills that bill!

I've seen some really ugly critters in my life, but this guy looks to me like he was hit multiple times with the preverbial "ugly stick", ya know?

Bird dung crab spider

This spider has one of the most effective camouflages of all animals; its body is covered on blobs and warts that give it the appearance of a fresh piece of bird excrement; it often produces a small thread of white silk and sits on it so that it looks like the white stains caused by bird droppings falling onto leaves. And as if this was not amazing enough, it also smells like poop. This camouflage has a double function; it makes the spider a rather unappetizing prey for most animals (especially birds themselves), and it serves as a lure for the small, excrement-loving insects which are the spider’s favorite prey. These spiders are found in Asia, from Indonesia to Japan.

I told ya this thing was ugly! Believe me, I know ugly! Remember, I've been married more than once...and this fellow would have fit in at some of the family reunions I attended during those times!

I think we'll have our coffee out on the patio this morning. It's nice and cool out and that Autumn smell is actually in the air!