Primeval Nature's photostream  

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A large terrestrial ctenid from Atlantic central Panama

An ornate arboreal wandering spider from Atlantic central Panama, Ctenidae

A female Rusty Wandering Spider, Cupiennius getazi, tends her precious egg sac within the retreat that she has constructed by weaving together a philodendron leaf, Santa Rita Arriba, Colon, Panama. My brother and I had found this beautiful large spider sewn up tightly in a leaf early in our stay at Sierra Llorona Panama Lodge; however, we had been loath to disturb her unduly in her nursery for the sake of photography. Eventually we observed that her chosen leaf would begin to wither soon after she'd folded it, necessitating a move to a fresh leaf every few days. We hoped to catch her in a new leaf, before she'd had time to knit it firmly together. Finally, on our last day, and to our positive glee, we found her thus exposed. Remarkably, she had begun constructing this new retreat before vacating her brown and dying former home, seeming to evince some sort of foresight.

Nikon D300, AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 lens, B&W polarising filter, SB-900 strobe handheld, Wireless Speedlight Commander SU-800, 1/160 sec. at f/13, + 1 ev, ISO 400, Gitzo GT-3540LS tripod, Really Right Stuff BH-55 ballhead, cable release

A female Rusty Wandering Spider, Cupiennius getazi, tends her precious egg sac within the retreat that she has constructed by weaving together a philodendron leaf, Santa Rita Arriba, Colon, Panama. My brother and I had found this beautiful large spider sewn up tightly in a leaf early in our stay at Sierra Llorona Panama Lodge; however, we had been loath to disturb her unduly in her nursery for the sake of photography. Eventually we observed that her chosen leaf would begin to wither soon after she'd folded it, necessitating a move to a fresh leaf every few days. We hoped to catch her in a new leaf, before she'd had time to knit it firmly together. Finally, on our last day, and to our positive glee, we found her thus exposed. Remarkably, she had begun constructing this new retreat before vacating her brown and dying former home, seeming to evince some sort of foresight.

Nikon D300, AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 lens, B&W polarising filter, SB-900 strobe handheld, Wireless Speedlight Commander SU-800, 1/160 sec. at f/13, + 1 ev, ISO 400, Gitzo GT-3540LS tripod, Really Right Stuff BH-55 ballhead, cable release