Daddy (and Mummy) Longlegs – crane fly

Taken through the kitchen window this morning… crane flies, commonly known as Daddy Longlegs.

And while on the subject of legs I've devised a personal size guide for spiders: tiny, medium, size of a kitten (large), and size of a small dog (larger, and you can hear its footfall). This one was the size of a small dog (leg span well over 2 inches, body length well over half an inch). Technical name: Tegenaria gigantea; common name 'House spider'; common reaction… :yikes:

No update yet on Cheeky. I'll have to check the trail cam footage in the morning to see how she's getting on.
Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens.

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This Post Has 12 Comments

  1. Words

    29 Sep 2010

    Thanks Erwin. It was convenient that they were on a window 😉

  2. gdare

    29 Sep 2010

    "(leg span well over 2 inches, body length well over half an inch)"

    This is a big one :eyes:

  3. Words

    29 Sep 2010

    Darko, yes. It was big. Very big!

  4. Flying Red Fox Blog

    30 Sep 2010

    Theres so many of them around, mostly around September for some reason, i guess thats why they are nicknamed Autumn Flies sometimes hehe. 😛

    I think those 2 are mating? I disturbed a couple the other day and they flew off still attached lol! 😆

  5. Words

    30 Sep 2010

    Mark, yes those two are mating. Loads of them around at the moment, so yes 'autumn flies' sounds a good name.

  6. Mickeyjoe-Irl

    1 Oct 2010

    Originally posted by Words:

    I've devised a personal size guide for spiders

    Mine goes:

    • Ick :yuck:
    • Ugh :eyes:
    • Bloody hell :yikes:
    • Run!! :no:

  7. SittingFox

    1 Oct 2010

    @Mickeyjoe – 😆

    If I ever go back to Kenya, I'm definitely getting photos of the palm spiders. With my 700mm lens, admittedly 😉 :bug:

    That is quite a monster!

  8. Words

    2 Oct 2010

    Mick, that's a reasonable useful guide 😉 My other measure is 'fine' (fits into a glass for conveying outside), and 'oh heck' (doesn't fit into a glass unless I can persuade it to tuck its legs in).

  9. Words

    2 Oct 2010

    Adele, the variety of shapes and sizes with spiders is quite astonishing, but this one was a real beauty!

  10. Ukwildlife

    3 Oct 2010

    Nice macros!

  11. Words

    4 Oct 2010

    Neil, thanks!

  12. Wulpen

    19 Oct 2012

    The first Photo Is a great shot :up:

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