Stowaway spider on 523Dxi

[wh500special 2,168]

I am always amazed at the wildlife that shows up in unexpected places.  A couple weeks ago I was greeted by a monster black snake that slithered out from under dad's Kubota when I was poking around in the shed.  We've found some shed skins so knew there was a whopper hanging around somewhere and we finally saw him.

 

Last weekend I popped the hood on the 523Dxi to jump start it and thought I saw a mouse scurry away.  When I looked closer I discovered instead it was a a world class Wolf Spider.

 

I didn't measure it, but the black steel hood support bar he's perched on must be about an inch and a quarter or an inch and a half wide, so this is a big sucker.  I've seen a lot of these critters through the years, but I'm not sure I've seen one with such distinct coloring and markings. I should have used my camera flash as this picture doesn't do him justice.

 

He's a big fella.

 

I am not a fan of spiders, but I let it live.  I don't like killing things if it's not necessary.  Plus, I figured it's doing good work keeping other pests away.  I'm just hoping it understands that if I don't bother it, it shouldn't bother me.  I want to get the tractor cleaned up to sell so I suspect the I'll be annoying it enough that it finds somewhere else to go for a while. I hope.

 

Steve

Edited May 24 by wh500special

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,314]

  I’m not a spider fan at all! I would’ve had a tough time not taking that one out. 
  Black snakes ..are they harmless? 
 

[wh500special 2,168]

I think black snakes are harmless, Mike. They can be aggressive though.  

I never really knew what they were until a couple of years ago.  Now I seem to see them all the time.  I’m not a fan, but they serve a need. 

the one in dad’s barn made no effort to avoid me.   I was bent down airing up the front tire of the tractor and he slithered out from under the mower deck towards me as if to let me know he was in charge.   Scared the heck out of me.  Maybe this spider will eat him. 😏
 

Steve