tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13764032792534457852024-03-15T01:11:30.662-07:00Kiss My Big Hairy SpiderWisdom and diatribes. Primarily about "big hairy spiders" or tarantulas and my world travels in search of them and reptiles and amphibians, but I also cover other arachnids and rant about the arachnoculture hobby.mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-30938097617604470312017-06-16T10:02:00.004-07:002017-06-16T10:02:47.345-07:00NOW BLOGGING AT MJACOBI.COM<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Kiss My Big Hairy Spider was replaced by my Pikey road stories at the beginning of this year. Now I have created a new website that is home for all of my content. For my blog, images, publications, etc. please visit <a href="http://mjacobi.com/">mjacobi.com</a>. Thanks, Michael Jacobi</i></span>mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-69709307846846171952017-04-28T17:30:00.000-07:002017-04-28T17:30:59.255-07:00#142 - FIRST (last?) POST OF 2017<div style="line-height: 150%;">
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I hope the new year is treating you well. This blog sort of ran its course with my complete retirement from exotic animal breeding and sales. My only tie to arachnoculture is as Editor of the <i>Journal of the British Tarantula Society</i>. My final ties to herpetoculture ended when my last run of my Spider Shoppe began. I traded my carpet pythons and geckos and huge tarantula breeding operation in Seattle area for one last gasp of tarantula breeding when I returned to Illinois in 2013. Of course, the reason I am, now in 2017, living entirely on the road is to continue my interest in reptiles and arachnids as a naturalist, writer and photographer. 40+ years of cages is enough. I don't even like temporarily detaining creatures I find.
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Just thought I'd drop a line here to tell you that my blogging does continue. I've already posted 53 times this year at my new <a href="http://pikeygypsy.blogspot.com">PIKEY</a> blog. I don't rant much. It is a travelogue to my 2017 adventures in the United States. January and March I largely in Florida. February was Kuching, Borneo and Langkawi Island, Malaysia. April has been Texas. I write this from the far west mountains around Alpine, TX. Next week I will be meeting arachnologist Brent Hendrixson, Ph.D. and three of his honor students from Mississippi's Milsaps College to chase some scorpions in the Catalinas.
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Hopefully some of you have been catching the new blog, but I invite the rest of you to check it out. I thank everyone who checks out my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jacobipix">@jacobipix Instagram feed</a>. I have well over 100 new wildlife images captured this year posted. Last night I posted fourteen more to include scorpions, snakes and lizards from Boquillas Canyon and other areas of Big Bend National Park. I observed the psammophilous (sand-dwelling) endemic scorpion <i>Parauroctonus boquillas</i> and that was a highlight. The big, hairy spiders are represented by <i>Aphonopelma moderatum</i> from Webb County, TX and <i>A. hentzi</i> from Brewster County. True spiders range from <i>Macracantha cancriformis</i> to <i>Argiope argentite</i> to a beautiful <i>Phiddipus</i> sp. (poss. <i>arizonensis</i>) from Seminole Canyon. Snakes? Mojave Rattlesnake, Red Racer/Western Coachwhip and, from Borneo, <i>Tropidolaemus wagleri</i>from Bako National Park, Sarawak. There's loads more and croc lovers will see American Crocodiles and gators from Everglades National Park and a Texas gator. I've been doing a lot of bird photography this year and have some treasured shots from Malaysia, Florida and Texas. A hornbill image from Langkawi and a Golden-fronted Woodpecker from Big Bend are personal favorites as are the ospreys of the everglades. Mammals, birds, reptiles, arachnids ... just check out the pix. When I get more time I will be updating my SmugMug fine photo galleries with higher resolution files that may even be purchased.
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I don't feel like telling anyone to "kiss my big hairy spider" any more. I'm living the dream and off the grid. I hope you'll instead consider checking out my tales from the road in the new blog. I'll leave you with this image of me horseback on the other side of the Rio Grande in Boquillas del Carmen, México. — Cheers, MJ
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</span></div>mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-23207895547581249392016-12-27T19:18:00.002-08:002016-12-27T19:18:48.892-08:00#141 - HAPPY HOLIDAYS<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>My best wishes to you and yours. As the new year begins, please note that I will primarily now be blogging at <a href="http://pikeygypsy.blogspot.com/">pikeygypsy.blogspot.com</a>. Bookmark/follow over there for almost daily updates.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Even more frequent will be my image posts to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jacobipix/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. You can follow me both there and via my new Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/jacobipix" target="_blank">@jacobipix</a>.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I have updated <a href="http://exoticfauna.com/">ExoticFauna.com</a>, but until I start marketing my eBooks it remains a one-page site. My new website is <a href="http://mjacobi.com/">MJacobi.com</a>. Both sites will evolve during 2017. Watch my blogs and social media for announcement of 2017 eBook releases.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days ago I received my print copy of my newest release – <i>Journal of the British Tarantula Society</i> 31(3). Although I create the <i>Journal</i> (edit and design/layout) and also write for it, it still is always a treat to actually find the air mail envelope in the mailbox and finally hold the print issue in my hand. The current issue's cover feature article is mine and details why I believe the tiger spiders from near Kandy, Sri Lanka are <i>P. subfusca</i>, whereas those from the montane Nuwara Eliya region are a different species deserving a new name. Hobbyists get that backwards and now most label "highlands" as subfusca and "lowlands" as "sp. lowland" or, worse still, "bara". Incorrect. Read my article ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have plenty of content for the March <i>Journal</i>, which will be the first issue of Volume 32. Yes, thirty-two years of quality content and a publication that has progressed to be a fifty-page full-color magazine that is the finest found in arachnoculture. The sister publication, <i>BTS Newsletter</i>, will soon see its fourth release.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, best wishes for an absolutely fabulous new year. I hope you'll follow my adventures and message me during my travels. If you want to treat me to a cocktail and have me toast you with a shoutout on social media check out the Donate buttons on my websites.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheers, MJ</span></div>
mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-76746285937041147912016-12-07T05:02:00.001-08:002016-12-07T05:02:09.898-08:00#140 - NEW BLOGHello y'all,<br />
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I've decided to keep Kiss My Big Hairy Spider going even if the page visits certainly have diminished. I think it is still a great place for me to blog about issues that are specifically arachnid related. However, yesterday I made my first post to my new blog. <b><a href="http://pikeygypsy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pikey: Boondocking and Shunpiking; the Gypsy Life</a></b> is my new home for tales from the road, both my adventures in the United States and my travels abroad. As some of you know, I am taking my field trip activity to a whole new level in 2017. I have bought a brand new truck and RV and soon will leave Chicagoland for full-time living all across America. I will be blogging almost daily as I chase reptiles, arachnids, birds and other wildlife across the beautiful United States. The plan is to spend most of January in southern Florida, return to Chicago in early February because I fly to Borneo and Langkawi, Malaysia on February 8, and then - after returning to Chicago in late February - I will head south again and make my way west along the Mexico border. Weather will dictate my path as I strive to keep the temperature range between 50 and 80ºF. By July I will be up in the Pacific Northwest where I used to live and then will head to Alaska. During my 2017 road trip I will have many adventures, but my focus will be on photographing and writing about the arachnids and reptiles of the U.S. for future eBook style projects, articles and lectures. I also will be photographing birds and other wildlife for similar use. Personally, I will also be just enjoying life and working on my music. I have rekindled my interest in songwriting after composing what I feel is the best song I have ever written in celebration of a special lady's birthday. I've created a <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-251295270" target="_blank">Soundcloud</a> channel for my music and all of my projects can be accessed through my new primary website - <b><a href="http://mjacobi.com/">mjacobi.com</a></b>. I will revamp exoticfauna.com as well during the coming year as it will host the eBooks I will be creating. So please check out the new website and give it a bookmark and make sure you follow the new blog. <a href="http://pikeygypsy.blogspot.com/"><b>Pikey</b></a> will be the place I post regularly now, but if I just want to talk about arachnids I will post here as well.<br />
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Thanks for reading, MJ<br />
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mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-37758626807625064992016-11-14T18:12:00.004-08:002016-11-14T18:12:51.231-08:00#139 - BOOKS FOR SALEIn preparation for leaving Chicagoland and living as a nomad, I have been downsizing to only the essentials. For me, this means camera gear, hiking and field gear, laptop and other devices, t-shirts, shorts and a couple acoustic guitars. Everything else is clutter. It's amazing how cluttered you can become in less than four years, especially if you live alone in a three-story house. But I'm trading it in for a 31' travel trailer.<br />
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For the past month or so I have been selling off my library via Amazon Seller, but waited until yesterday to begin advertising arachno and herpeto books. I posted on AB and created a PDF listing that is available by emailing me. Sales have been brisk already and some great stuff is gone. I thought I better let my faithful KMBHS peeps know about the book sale.<br />
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The list changes often so it is easiest if I just email the updated current list rather than post it here or make it available for download. So hit me up at m.a.jacobi@icloud.com if you are interested in seeing what reptile, amphibian and invertebrate books I have available. Tomorrow I'll add what remains of my other non-animal books and such. Cheers.mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-83996803109503387922016-11-10T08:02:00.000-08:002016-11-26T15:34:27.629-08:00#138 - BTS NEWSLETTER 3<br />
As a secret special gift to those of you who still check on this now infrequent blog, I'd like to offer you a copy of the new BTS Newsletter. In chronicles my trip to Budapest, Hungary to lecture and also features an interview with my best mate and badass tattooist extraordinaire Mark Pennell. Plus it has a short article on tarantula feeding by Danni Sherwood with follow-up comments by yours truly. It is only available to members, but I've put it on my own server just for Kiss My Big Hairy Spider devotees.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.exoticfauna.com/BTS_Newsletter_3.pdf">http://www.exoticfauna.com/BTS_Newsletter_3.pdf</a></b><br />
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I guess nobody is interested in above as the link was wrong for two weeks until I just changed it and nobody commented or notified.... :(</div>
mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-48596793055938473102016-11-10T07:59:00.001-08:002016-11-10T08:10:04.500-08:00#137 - Poecilotheria subfusca and P. sp. highland<i>Poecilotheria subfusca</i> is from the Kandy region and "P. bara" is a junior synonym and using the name "bara" in any format is invalid. The highland spider from the alpine forests around Nuwara Eliya should be properly called <i>P</i>. sp. highland.<br />
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<b>Period. End of. Full stop. Finito.</b><br />
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Wanna read more and learn why? <b><a href="http://www.thebts.co.uk/bts-e-store/bts-memberships-2/" target="_blank">Join the BTS!</a></b> The December issue of the <i>Journal of the British Tarantula Society</i> will feature my article on the topic.mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-37800643029411906232016-11-10T07:59:00.000-08:002016-11-10T08:04:32.639-08:00#136 - ASSCLOWNSHello again!<br />
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It's been awhile ... I hope y'all are well.<br />
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Today I sold most of the remaining 11 spiders in my possession. Hopefully my house will sell soon and I will be on the road conducting research and creating photoessays on the arachnids and other wildlife of the United States.<br />
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This blog entry is called "Assclowns" because I just made a rare login at Arachnoboards to update my final spider sale advert of my long career, and to post an ad for BTS memberships. The British pound to American dollar exchange rate is at its best since I first traveled to the U.K. ten years ago. It's a great time to take advantage of that savings!<br />
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As I scanned the ads to find my own, I noticed - with absolutely no surprise - a whole bunch of sellers who I've never ever heard of before (weekend warriors/beginners/clueless). I also noted some ridiculous price lists from some names I at least recognized (although other than Kelly Swift I would argue that all the good dealers are gone). Who is this assclown Rossi anyway? He definitely wins the award for the most ridiculous of the incredibly ridiculous. <i>Pachistopelma rufonigrum</i> for $250?!? I was the first American to breed them and, as far as I know, still the only. I could barely give them away at $75-90. No spiderling is worth more than $150. Ever. <i>Typhochlaena</i> at $750. He's smoking crack! It's probably the most exciting spider to enter arachnoculture, but again ... a baby bug isn't worth more than a hundo and a half. Pictures of rings? Assclown! He seems to be trying to surpass Patrick Kane as the sleaziest spider seller ever. <i>Harpactira pulchripes</i> slings @ $150?!? Again, I was the first American to breed and I sold some at that price then! I've now sold all but my original breeder female (who has been paired). If she produces slings I will sell them for fifty bucks. Wait.<br />
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I've never heard one good thing about this nobody, and everyone I have talked to has used the disparaging and often profane terms. However, there are many assclowns. Can you believe Gearheart is still out there preying on the clueless?!? Boggles the imagination doesn't it? Inland Sea? Still out there selling only the most common uninteresting species at the lowest prices, and shipping illegally via the postal service... On the first ad page alone I counted five never hear of "dealers" with fairly extensive for sale lists. It will be a new five next year. Stamp collectors come and go. Many will trade their Ts for leopard geckos.<br />
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For those of you that are serious hobbyists, and can navigate through the sludge to find the honest and honorable, I wish you the best in your new projects and hope you have great success in 2017. There is still plenty of enjoyment in the hobby if you can avoid the assclowns and arachnobored.<br />
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I could go on, but my medication is kicking in LOL. We must insulate against the assclowns by whatever means necessary. They can all KISS MY BIG HAIRY SPIDER!<br />
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Yours in rant, MJmjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-58962158826970570062016-10-20T16:53:00.001-07:002016-10-20T16:53:53.141-07:00#135 - PHORMINGOCHILUS REVISIONPlease <b><a href="http://www.thebts.co.uk/bts-e-store/bts-memberships-2/">join the BTS</a></b>. Here is the <i>Phormingochilus</i> revision co-authored by Andrew Smith and myself that appeared in the <i>Journal</i> last year.<br />
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<a href="http://www.exoticfauna.com/pdf/Smith_&_Jacobi_2015_Phormingochilus.pdf">http://www.exoticfauna.com/pdf/Smith_&_Jacobi_2015_Phormingochilus.pdf</a>mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-82747228352779156322016-09-24T08:04:00.003-07:002016-09-24T08:08:17.925-07:00#134 - CATCHING UPMy entries here at Kiss My Big Hairy Spider are now few and far between, but I haven't forgotten it and, at least for now, do not intend to abandon it completely. Today I thought I would just write some random paragraphs to catch up on whatever arachnid-related topics I can.<br />
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<b><i>uno (1)</i></b><br />
I presently own eleven spiders. That's remarkable and there have been few times over the past forty years I have had less. I want the number to become zero, and am hoping one of my close friends will take what remains on permanent breeding loan. I've offered them first to Jason Newland, but communicating with him is difficult at best. Chad Campbell would be my second choice. Most of the spiders are <i>Harpactira pulchripes</i>. One is a mature male that was one of the slings from my first ever American breeding of the species. I mated him back to his mother and have one or two young females that I will also pair him with. Sadly, my largest specimen, a wild-caught that I acquired from Germany along with the smaller female that produced the first American sac, recently died. Another recent pairing is "<i>Monocentropus lambertoni</i>". I put it in quotes as I am not convinced our pet trade identification is correct. The first ultimate male I had was pickled and given to African theraphosid expert Richard Gallon to contribute to his work on the species. He said he had two other males, but I don't know if he'll ever get around to it. I'll see him soon in person and pester him. After I paired the initial male to my only female she molted so it was sheer luck that the only other specimen I had was male and matured recently. I actually paired them when John Apple was staying at my house on his last visit.<br />
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<b><i>kettő (2)</i></b><br />
I thought my October 12 departure to Budapest was going to be a week long eastern European holiday hanging out with my best mates Mark & Kim Pennell and Ray & Angela Hale, but I have now been asked to be one of the lecturers. I will be presenting a revised and updated version of the "Merian's <i>Avicularia</i> and other Tarantulas of Suriname" that I delivered at the ATS Conference in 2014. I am really looking forward to seeing Budapest and now join fellow lecturers Andrew Smith, Ray Hale, Peter Kirk, Richard Gallon, Ray Gabriel and Peter Kirk on the podium.<br />
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<b><i>drei (3)</i></b><br />
One of the eleven spiders I still have is quite remarkable. I need to photograph him soon. He is a mature male <i>Poecilotheria smithi </i>that matured – get this! – 2 years, three months, and 18 days ago!!! I'm considering a longevity article for an upcoming issue of the <i>Journal of the British Tarantula Society</i> or the <i>BTS Newsletter</i>.<br />
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<b><i>quatre (4)</i></b><br />
Speaking of the <i>Journal</i> ... The next issue, 31(3), comes out in December and my deadline for articles and other content is November 1. I will begin working on it next week.<br />
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<b><i>lima (5)</i></b><br />
I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to my Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo and Langkawi, Malaysia trip in February! I will be chasing inverts, no doubt, but hope to get some fantastic primate, bird and reptile images in Bako National Park and elsewhere.<br />
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<b><i>sex (6)</i></b><br />
As always, please keep up with my photos on Instagram at <a href="http://www.instagram.com/jacobipix">@jacobipix</a> and my full res photography at exoticfauna.smugmug.com. My <a href="http://exoticfauna.com/">exoticfauna.com</a> is website is now a single page, but check it out and also take a gander at my new website, <a href="http://mjacobi.com/">mjacobi.com</a>. The new site will tell you about my new blog that I will be starting in 2017. After the Borneo/Langkawi trip, I will be hitting the road for an American field trip with no end. I will be trying to focus as many arachnids and herps as possible, while also doing scenic photography, wildlife photography (especially birds) and much more!<br />
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Cheers, MJ<br />
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PS: FUN GAME: try to guess (without Google cheating) the languages I presented each of the numbered sections with. Hint: in some cases they relate to the content of the following paragraph; in others they definitely don't.mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-77152025565834662992016-08-16T05:19:00.000-07:002016-08-16T05:31:31.928-07:00#133 - APPLE ON WIDOWS<span style="font-family: inherit;">John Apple does love his true spiders. And not just the active hunters that people like me admire. By that, I mean that – for the most part – the araneomorphs that interest me aren't the ones who sit in webs and snare their prey. I like saltis – jumping spiders of the family Salticidae. I like wanderers – the dangerous <i>Phoneutria</i> and the less lethal <i>Cupiennius</i>. I like huntsmen – <i>Heteropoda</i>, <i>Olios</i> and their kin. I even like wolf spiders or any spider that doesn't use silk to trap. They say poison is a woman's weapon, and men kill with spear, sword, arrow, bullet, or just their bloody hands. I guess that's how I feel about spiders. I think snaring is less "courageous" than ambushing like a theraphosid. Our man Apple likes them all, even the common things you find in your cellar. He especially like widow spiders (<i>Latrodectus</i>) and has even named his beloved dog "Latro".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He recently commented on one of my blog entries, but I expect that few readers of this blog who don't comment ever see the comment section. So I have taken the liberty to re-write what he posted when I asked him to convince me that widows were interesting at all. He had mentioned other "comb-footed spiders" being interesting and I challenged him to make his case even for the more "glamorous" widows, which belong to the most recognizable genus (<i>Latrodectus</i>) of the therids, or members of the family Theridiidae (also known as tangle-web spiders, cobweb spiders or comb-footed spiders)</span>.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is John's comment as slightly edited by me:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i>Latrodectus geometricus</i> will make a scaffold many feet away from the lair, which is something I noticed from some Florida specimens. I was looking for the builder of the scaffold only to find a seven foot strand leading to the female <i>L. geometricus</i> and her lair. This was a bit of a "where is the spider?" thing I had going on, and I returned that evening and found the spider. I teased her and watched her run all the way back to the lair. Also, unlike many other Latrodectus, they will just drop out of the web and hit the ground curled up like <i>Parasteatoda</i> species (another comb-footed or therid genus).<br />
<br />
<i>Latrodectus bishopi</i> constructs a large web that is somewhat upside down, meaning that even though there is still a bit of a scaffold below they also catch the beetles feeding on palmetto flowers. Both slings and juveniles construct a very nice normal scaffold.<br />
<br />
<i>Latrodectus mactans</i> (see photo below) and <i>L. hesperus</i> will kick a glob of sticky webbing at you to defend the lair. My presumption here is that this is a good shrew and mouse repellent.<br />
<br />
<i>L. hesperus</i> "mexicanus" is now called the harlequin widow and will be elevated to full species status. This widow maintains juvenile coloration as adults and males are larger than those of <i>L. hesperus</i>. They are simply stunning spiders.<br />
<br />
<i>Latrodectus hasseltii</i>, the Aussie redback, is small like our northern <i>L. various</i> (the southern populations of <i>L. variolus</i> are quite large).</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">John lectured on true spiders at my ArachnoGathering in Tinley Park, Illinois. If you haven't watched the video on my YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tagqXT86POc">click here to view</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzprztqL5EDsoqS9tcm6b37E7FDmubiuyf3NVjeVHcKMAzBJkCE-iuy-813vhResGcAWRjJfGFA5L08jnUL8z5Als81s03yIHQmO_q0bVnX9qq1rJO4L-_wELx-LFzQocggdLuqX3bP19W/s1600/L_mactans_1_1280_LB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzprztqL5EDsoqS9tcm6b37E7FDmubiuyf3NVjeVHcKMAzBJkCE-iuy-813vhResGcAWRjJfGFA5L08jnUL8z5Als81s03yIHQmO_q0bVnX9qq1rJO4L-_wELx-LFzQocggdLuqX3bP19W/s640/L_mactans_1_1280_LB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-50534917875185649972016-08-11T18:09:00.000-07:002016-08-12T13:58:52.149-07:00#132 - SPIDER TALK<b>I'm like an STD that just lingers ... </b>chickenpox that becomes shingles, an itch that becomes a puss-oozing boil. I just won't go the fuck away.<br />
<br />
The 159 posts of <b>KMBHS</b> have 33,352 page views. That's an average of 200 per post. More recent numbers are dismal, but that's my own fault as my frequency of blogging here has diminished. By contrast, my new Triggercontrol Tactical blog has 1343 page views for 11 posts. 122 per.<br />
<br />
I don't require a lot of feedback. I enjoy comments, but other than Apple they are few and far between. I blog for myself. I like to hear myself type. I'm a quiet guy, even anti-social, but have diarrhea of the fingers. So this has always been about me.<br />
<br />
But feedback does encourage, and I just got some praise that was all I needed to post again, not even an hour after a post that may have seemed like a farewell. The person with the kind words saw my post about the blog on Instagram despite following only six people and having no posts or followers of his own. He commented that he doesn't typically read blogs, but "KMBHS blog is kick ass, whether you are talking about tarantulas or going on rants it's just an awesome read". Cheers mate. Just for you, Cody, I will post something–on topic–here.<br />
<br />
<br />
Here is some <b>SPIDER Talk</b>: This is a special blog version of the article I co-authored with Tom Patterson for the <i>Journal of the British Tarantula Society</i> 31(1). I'll add only a few of the articles images here and only my own. Thus, the figure numbers in the original article are irrelevant for this version and have been deleted. Only BTS Members with access to the print <i>Journal</i> or PDF version can enjoy the many beautiful photos Tom and I shared with this article.<br />
<br />
I'll remind you that this is just one example of the quality content that our BTS publications enjoy, and urge you once more to consider membership. If money is tight just get a digital membership and download the Journals and Newsletters as PDF.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>By the way, you can download an abridged list of my publications <a href="http://exoticfauna.com/pdf/MAJ_Pubs.pdf">here</a>.</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Huntsman Spiders of the genus <i>Heteropoda</i> (Sparassidae) in
Captivity</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i>Text and images by Michael Jacobi & Tom Patterson<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b>Introduction</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Who doesn’t love spiders that can
seemingly teleport? In the blink of an eye, most keepers of huntsman spiders
have had the experience of a blurry streak of spider vacating its enclosure and
appearing seconds later in the opposite corner of the room or beyond. Human
reflexes are no match for containing the flurry of a spirited spider at hyper
speed. Who isn’t enchanted by the myriad of colours and patterns adorning the
crab-like resting pose of many sparassids? One was even named after superstar
David Bowie due to having facial makeup that would make the king of glam rock
blush. The popular name for these spiders itself conjures images of a master
marauder. Huntsman. Stalker, assailant, attacker. Those whose arachnocultural
pursuits tend towards the predatory tarantula spiders may find spiders that
snare their prey in silken traps less appealing, but the fast and efficient
assault of the huntsman spider is certain to captivate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The family Sparassidae Bertkau,
1872 consists of 85 genera. This article will limit itself to <i>Heteropoda</i>
Latreille, 1804, which contains an astonishing 197 species (World Spider
Catalog, 2015), and a tome could be devoted to this genus alone. However,
<i>Heteropoda</i> isn’t even the largest genus of Sparassidae. Its cousin, <i>Olios</i>, is
found worldwide and currently is home to 244 species. The evolutionary success
of the huntsman spiders is astounding.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Heteropoda</i> is Asian and
Australasian in distribution, but the cosmotropical <i>H. venatoria</i> has been
introduced elsewhere. We believe that the spider marketed as “<i>Heteropoda</i> sp. Cameroon
Giant” is a large form of <i>H. venatoria</i>. The genus does not naturally occur in
Africa. In the United States, <i>H. venatoria</i> populations are succeeding in
subtropical areas of Florida, Texas, and California, and in some coastal areas
of Georgia and South Carolina. Three species currently listed as <i>Heteropoda</i>
(World Spider Catalog, 2015) from South America (two from Colombia and one from
Peru) are certainly misidentified and misplaced. One of the Colombian species,
<i>H. camelia</i>, has already been treated as misplaced by Jäger, 2014.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Clearly tackling a genus so diverse
and extensive is a daunting task. In this article we wish to just highlight a
handful of <i>Heteropoda</i> species and undescribed forms that we have worked with in
captivity and treat you to some stunning images that illustrate the beauty of
these huntsman spiders. We will provide some tips and tricks helpful in
maintaining and breeding these amazing spiders in the terrarium while providing
some brief comments on their natural history.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Natural History Notes</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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With such a large genus occurring
from Afghanistan through the Indian subcontinent, Asia, Southeast Asia,
Indonesia, Borneo, Australasia, the Pacific Islands and beyond, it is no
surprise that <i>Heteropoda</i> fills many niches from caves to rainforest canopy.
Throughout its tropical distribution it has acquired a number of vernacular
names, and, in English, they are sometimes referred to as crab spiders (not to
be confused with the “real” crab spiders of the family Thomisidae) due to their
crab-like habitus, and also as cane spiders, banana spiders and, of course,
huntsman spiders. They are active predators that possess potent venom that is
effective against their prey (in addition to insects they are known to consume
scorpions and even bats), but none are thought to be dangerous to humans. Among
their interesting traits at least one species has the ability to produce sound
without the stridulatory organs used in some theraphosid spiders (Rovner,
1980). During its courtship behaviour, a male <i>Heteropoda venatoria </i>can create a
faintly audible buzz or hum by the vibration of its long legs while its feet
(tarsi) remain in contact with the substrate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Challenges in Husbandry<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The biggest hurdle to overcome when
maintaining <i>Heteropoda</i> and other sparassids is their blinding speed and how
quickly a disturbance can initiate a flight response that results in an escaped
spider. There are some recommended protocols that should be used to contain
their apparent “teleportation”. An adult that is housed in a spacious and
well-planted natural terrarium should be able to be offered food and have
routine maintenance tasks performed without any difficulty. You just have to
ensure that you gently open the terrarium and keep disturbance to a minimum. However,
spiderlings and juveniles that are being reared in smaller containers like
vials or gallon jars present the greater problem. The senior author always,
without fail, opens these containers only inside of a large tub that acts as a
secondary containment enclosure should the spider launch itself to freedom.
More often than not, this larger tub is placed on the floor of a shower stall
that has white walls. The shower stall now acts as a third level of
containment. Of course, catch cups or jars are always at the ready, as are paintbrushes
and rubber-tipped forceps that can be used to direct the spider’s route of
travel. Whenever possible the containment vessels should be white, smooth and
free of crevices or hiding places. The white background is essential for
quickly finding escapees before they “teleport” meters away. We cannot stress
enough how a single distraction that breaks eye contact and a huntsman spider
can, presto, vanish. All escape routes must be eliminated or managed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another difficulty presented in
raising young <i>Heteropoda</i> is that they require small food that is provided more often
than tarantula keepers are accustomed to. Spiderlings should be fed almost
daily with several times each week being a minimum frequency. Newly hatched
(pinhead) crickets are preferred as these can be gut-loaded with quality feed
for maximum nutrition value before being offered as prey. Flightless fruit
flies (<i>Drosophila melanogaster </i>and then the larger <i>D. hydei</i>) can be used, and
they certainly are easy and economical to culture. However, if they are
cultured using “old school” potato flake and powdered sugar mixes they provide
minimal nutrition to their predators. Modern fruit fly media used by dart frog
keepers is preferred, and the best media is very nutritious and, thus, the
flies are healthy meals for your spiders. We also recommend dusting the flies
with a supplement. This serves two purposes: at the minimum it limits fly
movement so they are easier for you to contain during feeding and easier for
the spiders to immediately capture, and it may even provide increased
nutritional value. The latter is debatable, and perhaps doubtful based on how
spiders feed, but it certainly can’t hurt. The senior author uses Repashy
SuperVite micro-fine vitamin supplement as do other sparassid keepers and
breeders (e.g., Frank Somma, pers. comm.). The fruit fly media used is Josh’s
Frogs special blend, but we are sure there is similar vitamin-packed fly media
available in the UK and Europe.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Frank Somma (pers. comm.) has
successfully raised <i>Heteropoda</i> spiderlings communally in an enclosure that
includes a small fruit fly culture that has a hole that allows the flies to
escape so that the baby huntsman spiders can feed at will. Cannibalisation will
be experienced in any group enclosures, but this will reduce the number of weak
spiderlings and, with food being abundant, a method like Frank’s will result in
vigorous young that grow quickly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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An additional difficulty is that
young sparassids often require elevated humidity that would be ill advised for
most tarantula species. Stagnant, wet conditions will kill tarantulas and
sparassids alike, but whereas we preach “ventilate, ventilate, ventilate!” and
feel that poor ventilation kills most tarantula spiderlings, we are known to
raise <i>Heteropoda</i> spiderlings in large vials without any ventilation. The senior
author has used 50-dram clear styrene vials (inside height: 4.25 in or 10.8 cm;
inside diameter: 1.875 in or 4.763 cm) without any ventilation holes in the
lids to raise baby huntsman spiders. This prevents fruit fly prey from escaping
and keeps in essential moisture. However, feeding every other day ensures that
there is plenty of fresh air exchange (and more frequent openings of the vial
may be performed as necessary) and a careful balance is achieved between “too
wet” and “too dry” This is the result of experience and frequent attention to
the moisture cycle.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Sparassid Enclosures<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Young huntsman spiders are easily
raised in a series of progressively larger cups familiar to all
arachnoculturists. An adult huntsman spider can be housed in a vertically
oriented 10-gallon aquarium with a polycarbonate front. What would have been
the top opening is now the front-facing opening, and this is typically covered a
clear acrylic or polycarbonate panel that is hinged at the bottom third and has
one or more screen vents set into round holes. This style of
terrarium is popular among dart frog keepers and readily adaptable to
arachnoculture. They also will fare well in translucent plastic storage
containers that have been appropriately ventilated. A very simple and effective
enclosure can be created with one of these inexpensive containers with the
addition of some damp substrate and a piece of cork bark. The
addition of a length of silk or plastic plant may be aesthetically pleasing,
but the easier you make it for your huntsman spider to hide the greater your
chance of not knowing where it is when you take off the lid to offer food.
Remember that whole teleportation thing?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>An Overview of Courtship, Mating
and Reproduction<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Sparassid spiders typically have a
lengthy courtship and the male is rarely attacked after mating. In fact, many
huntsman spiders are found to live together in large colonies. The female
<i>Heteropoda</i> sp. produces a flat, oval egg sac of white papery silk containing up
to 200 eggs. Some large females, particularly in captivity, may produce even
larger sacs. She then places it under bark or a rock and stands guard over it,
without eating, for about three weeks. Some species instead protectively carry
their egg sac beneath their bodies (e.g., <i>H. venatoria</i>). When nesting or
guarding her egg sac the female can be quite aggressive, and will often rear up
in a threat/defensive display if provoked. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Notes on Breeding<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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A simple breeding arena (aka
“chamber”) can be created from a large storage container that includes a large
slab of cork bark to create a “dance floor” for the mating pair and has enough
room to place the female’s enclosure, or perhaps that of both male and female. The senior author uses a similar technique to pair <i>Poecilotheria</i>
and other tarantula spiders.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The concept behind a breeding
chamber is to provide a large and neutral area for the introduction of males
and females. A large storage tub can easily contain both a cereal container
style enclosure housing a female and a gallon jar holding a male. Both lids can
be left on for a few days and the pair will become aware of each other via
pheromones and, in the case of theraphosids, by courtship tapping. For
sparassid spiders the junior author uses the procedure described here.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Once the female’s enclosure is
placed in the breeding chamber the male is “gently” introduced. In most
cases, the lid is left on the female’s enclosure until the male has found a
place within the chamber to settle down and get comfortable. This reduces the
risk of a nervous male bolting right into an unsuspecting female’s container and
eliciting a feeding response from her. Once the male has become accustomed to
the breeding chamber and found a place to rest, the lid of the female’s enclosure
is carefully removed and the lid that covers the breeding chamber is securely
fastened. Copulation is rarely observed, and males generally don't begin
courtship ritual until the room has been dark for some time. The following day
the male is removed and placed back into his enclosure. Experience has shown
that a single night of cohabitation will result in mating and multiple pairings
are unnecessary. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Females are heavily fed during the
weeks after mating to prepare them for egg sac production. About three
weeks after the female produces her sac, her enclosure is moved into a larger airtight
container in anticipation of a couple hundred fast-moving huntsman spiderlings
escaping the airs of the adult female’s enclosure. On some occasions, the sac
is pulled and incubated in a 32 oz. (one liter) cup with some damp peat moss or
coco fiber on the bottom. Once the spiderlings hatch and are ready to be separated,
rehousing them into individual vials still needs to be done over a larger bin
with a tight fitting lid, as the babies will start to scatter once the lid of
the incubator cup is removed. Only as many spiderlings as can be reasonably
cared for are separated into vials. Others are traded to breeder friends or
offered for sale. Any remaining spiderlings are left in the incubator cup to
cull each other, and then the largest and strongest surviving ones are
eventually separated from there. That may sound cruel, but is the reality
of hatching hundreds to thousands baby sparassids each year. Raising
spiderlings of huntsman or wandering spiders is more time consuming and labor
intensive than raising young tarantulas. They require more frequent feedings,
require more caution during feeding to prevent escapes and demand small prey
that presents its own problems.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Some Popular Species<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><i>Heteropoda boiei</i> (Doleschall, 1859)</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a giant species of
<i>Heteropoda</i> with females reaching a body length of 37 mm [1.5 in].
Known from Singapore, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and Brunei, it is largely arboreal
and normally found on rainforest tree trunks.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i>Heteropoda davidbowie</i> Jäger, 2008<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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There is perhaps no huntsman spider
more spectacular than <i>Heteropoda davidbowie</i>. This species is known from
Thailand (Yala), Malaysia (Padang), Singapore and Indonesia (Sumatra) and was
given the rock star legend's name by Jäger in 2008. Females may vary from
grayish-brown to orange. Males have a median longitudinal reddish line that
runs from the eyes to the middle of the abdomen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyp2aaRiLt8CBpPcMx3Y_7fmahaGkP2NhO_j0g4Pn1dGdAZINXwZTp-Yh0Rjxny8lmpaOtT6fxpkQWC5712omdhNxxNVAKS376FRDw6adRdD-inca3xb9UX5HxKsoa4w-n8zNo_gE3pFr/s1600/H_davidbowie_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyp2aaRiLt8CBpPcMx3Y_7fmahaGkP2NhO_j0g4Pn1dGdAZINXwZTp-Yh0Rjxny8lmpaOtT6fxpkQWC5712omdhNxxNVAKS376FRDw6adRdD-inca3xb9UX5HxKsoa4w-n8zNo_gE3pFr/s640/H_davidbowie_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Heteropoda davidbowie</i>, penultimate male</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span id="goog_1016539028"></span></div>
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<b><i>Heteropoda lunula</i> (Doleschall,
1857)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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As splendid and spectacular as <i>H.
davidbowie</i> is, it could be argued that no <i>Heteropoda</i> species is more gorgeous
than <i>H. lunula</i>. Doleschall described the species as <i>Olios lunula</i> in 1857. It is
known from India to Vietnam, Malaysia, Java, Sumatra and Borneo. Taxonomically,
it was transferred to many different genera and species over the years until
Jäger reestablished called it <i>Heteropoda lunula</i> in 2002.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidT20He5qTu6ZEBDwnUciUEGWRvfOJzQYCXRw_bJ4cOmyacJFQKtzSuLZoq6EN7SDXs-y2d-rCVJOZCTwd6KjXMmbzYv_V6VIC1DAbskOJDQbgHz9mU2VAyzLphY7Nh_I9lRn3vAHeb6Nj/s1600/H_lunula_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidT20He5qTu6ZEBDwnUciUEGWRvfOJzQYCXRw_bJ4cOmyacJFQKtzSuLZoq6EN7SDXs-y2d-rCVJOZCTwd6KjXMmbzYv_V6VIC1DAbskOJDQbgHz9mU2VAyzLphY7Nh_I9lRn3vAHeb6Nj/s640/H_lunula_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Heteropoda lunula</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><i>Heteropoda tetrica</i> Thorell, 1897<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This species is primarily a
creature of the forest floor, but can also be found at the bottom of tree
trunks and among low branches. It is a large species that is widespread in
Southeast Asia. It is highly variable in appearance, but is popularly known as
the “Black Jaw Huntsman” due to its black chelicerae. This
species varies greatly in both size and colour and pattern from one locality to
another (Euseman and Jäger, 2009). For example, the spider recently known in
arachnoculture as <i>Heteropoda</i> sp. “Borneo yellow” is, in fact, <i>H. tetrica</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i>Heteropoda venatoria</i> (Linnaeus,
1767)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This pantropical species is for
many arachnoculturist’s the first introduction to the world of huntsman spider
husbandry. It is often found in homes and barns throughout its
range, but also can be found in gardens and on tree trunks. Females have a
white band across their clypeus (face) and carry their flat disc-shaped egg sac
under the body. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpx2Y6sxt-sfYYRgBNpcVQd2O_rdjFAnsXhvmKe1wvg-oEX-YKgd5w5Jr3OzH76nOHLA8GrgLa5gZoBMI7O1HlQ0qgYZmsCKefXcH8o7ynhfjVA62PrHtmTnbWi-KskH8ejD5YIBzRZ85j/s1600/20140821-DSC_0008-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpx2Y6sxt-sfYYRgBNpcVQd2O_rdjFAnsXhvmKe1wvg-oEX-YKgd5w5Jr3OzH76nOHLA8GrgLa5gZoBMI7O1HlQ0qgYZmsCKefXcH8o7ynhfjVA62PrHtmTnbWi-KskH8ejD5YIBzRZ85j/s640/20140821-DSC_0008-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Heteropoda venatoria</i>, adult female - Phetchaburi, Thailand</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A number of “new species” have
recently arrived in arachnocultural collections. These include the “Malaysian
Burgundy” and “Sumatra Violet”. All of the
above species and new forms are being bred in captivity and becoming
increasingly more available. Additionally, other sparassid taxa are
increasingly kept and bred. For example, the Cameroon, Africa species
<i>Barylestis scutatus</i> has become established in American and European breeding
collections.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b>Summary</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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There is a great allure to these
swift and diverse predators. If you’re drawn to tarantula keeping because of
their ambush hunting, you’ll be fascinated by the stealthy habits of the
huntsman spiders and their warp speed attacks. They don’t share the longevity
of theraphosid spiders and most live only two or three years. However brief it
is, a huntsman spider’s lifetime offers wonders for those who observe, and
beauty for those who look. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There’s even a species called
<i>Heteropoda jacobii </i>Strand, 1911. However, since the senior author wasn’t born
for another fifty-plus years and his Transylvanian father’s name was spelled “Jakobi” until
he reached America, this spider honours some other bloke of no relation. Since
this precludes a <i>Heteropoda</i> ever being named after him, Michael hopes to discover
a new <i>Olios</i> species instead.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b>Acknowledgements</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The authors wish to thank their
mutual friends John Apple and Frank Somma for information sharing, provided
specimens, and breeding loans of many true spiders including the sparassids
covered in this article. Both gentlemen were interviewed for contributions to
this article. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b>References</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Bertkau, P. 1872. Über die
Respirationsorgane der Araneen. <i>Archiv für Naturgeschichte</i> 38: 208-233.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Doleschall, L. 1857. Bijdrage tot
de Kenntis der Arachniden van den Indischen Archipel. <i>Natuurkundig Tijdschrift
voor Nederlandsch-Indie</i> 13: 339-434.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Doleschall, L. 1859. Tweede
Bijdrage tot de Kenntis der Arachniden van den Indischen Archipel. <i>Acta
Societatis Scientiarum Indica-Neerlandica</i> 5: 1-60.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Eusemann, P. & P. Jäger. 2009. <i>Heteropoda
tetrica </i>Thorell, 1897 – variation and biogeography, with emphasis on copulatory
organs (Araneae: Sparassidae). <i>Contrib. Nat. Hist. </i>12: 499–516. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Florida Nature. 2004. <i>Heteropoda
venatoria</i>, Huntsman Spider. <a href="http://flnature.org/species.asp?species=Heteropoda_venatoria">http://flnature.org/species.asp?species=Heteropoda_venatoria</a>.
(Accessed 20 November 2015).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jãger, P. 1999. Sparassidae - the
valid scientific name for the huntsman spiders (Arachnida: Araneae).
<i>Arachnologische Mitteilungen</i> 17: 1-10.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jäger, P. 2001. Diversität der
Riesenkrabbenspinnen im Himalaya -- die Radiation zweier Gattungen in den
Schneetropen (Araneae, Sparassidae, Heteropodinae). <i>Courier Forschungsinstitut
Senckenberg</i> 232: 1-136.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jäger, P. 2002. Heteropodinae:
transfers and synonymies (Arachnida: Araneae: Sparassidae). <i>Acta Arachnologica</i>,
Tokyo 51: 33-61.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jäger, P. 2014. <i>Heteropoda</i>
Latreille, 1804: new species, synonymies, transfers and records (Araneae:
Sparassidae: Heteropodinae). <i>Arthropoda Selecta</i> 23(2): 145-188.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Latreille, P.A. 1804. <i>Histoire
naturelle générale et particulière des Crustacés et des Insectes</i>. Paris 7,
144-305.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Rovner, J.S. 1980. Vibration in
<i>Heteropoda venatoria</i> (Sparassidae): a third method of sound production in
spiders. <i>Journal of Arachnology</i> 8, 193-200.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Strand, E. 1911. Spinnentiere aus
Neu-Guinea (Opiliones, Psechridae und Clubionidae) gesammelt von Dr.
Schlaginhaufen. <i>Abhandlungen und Berichte des Königlich-Zoologischen und
Anthropologisch-Ethnografischen Museums zu Dresden</i> 13(5): 1-16.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Thorell, T. 1897. Araneae paucae
Asiae australis. <i>Bihang till Kungliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar</i>
22(6): 1-36.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">World Spider Catalog. 2015.
<a href="http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/3115/Heteropoda">http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/3115/Heteropoda</a> (accessed 20 November 2015).</span><o:p></o:p></div>
mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-64166495443236982662016-08-11T16:23:00.000-07:002016-08-12T05:43:11.796-07:00#131 - WHATEVERIt's been awhile and I don't know where to begin. I s'pose I should start as close to "on topic" as possible and talk spider, and then meander, circumambulate and deviate as I digress and circumlocute and ramble. I wish not to write of kissing, and I'd rather not repulse you with discussions of my big and hairy. That leaves us with "spider".<br />
<br />
<b>Spider</b><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMAdqGOTqgtNM0hjC9eu62T-jbQMlnHQQBv2GRdGl_RYrgMY8d8Uh-7nhKasKSkI-wDNkEaSmas1uSRigUNu5baRwy_4oJOE8seq9N1GE5KoiHbEljuacR3U9Xvlhte41qradjcw-buxf/s1600/BTS_Journal_31%25282%2529_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMAdqGOTqgtNM0hjC9eu62T-jbQMlnHQQBv2GRdGl_RYrgMY8d8Uh-7nhKasKSkI-wDNkEaSmas1uSRigUNu5baRwy_4oJOE8seq9N1GE5KoiHbEljuacR3U9Xvlhte41qradjcw-buxf/s320/BTS_Journal_31%25282%2529_Cover.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Journal of the BTS</i> 31(2)</td></tr>
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The only recent occurrences that lend themselves to spider talk are the just released Volume 31 and Number 2 of the <i>Journal of the British Tarantula Society</i>. Although I proofread and edited the three issues of Volume 30, and unofficially took over with 30(3), it wasn't until 31(1) at the beginning of this year that I was the official Editor. One of my terms of taking over the editorship was that I also would take over the design and layout, but we had overflow from 30(3) and 31(1) came to me partially typeset. It thus had some flavor of my predecessor. With the issue that landed on UK doormats and in their quaint little letterboxes last week before spreading to Europe and beyond, including arrival in my mailbox on Tuesday afternoon, we finally have an issue that is all me. Of course, it is mine only by design, typeset and rewrite. I have the authors Ray Gabriel, Eddy Hijmensen, my dear mates Guy Tansley (article on Costa Rican honeymoon tarantula hunting) and Chad Campbell (centerfold pictorial), my Hungarian friends Maria and the two Laszlos (husband "Laci" and brother "Dudu"), and a closing piece by Sherwood, Longhorn and Kirby to thank for the content. For those of you who are not members please consider joining. Thanks to Brexit the UK pound is low against the dollar and membership is as cheap as it ever will be for Americans. Do it. For those of you who have yet to renew: what the hell are you waiting for? A personal invitation? Consider this it.<br />
<br />
My last post had my list of stragglers as I try to finally sell ALL remaining tarantulas. The experience hasn't been great. It has been a reminder of the part of peddling critters all my life that sucked. I enjoyed my charges, and found births and hatchings rewarding. It wasn't all bad, and almost everything related to the creatures themselves was wonderful. That's what kept me going. It's the people that always suck. It has been no different of late. The necessity of logging into Arachnoboards reminded me quickly. As I have bemoaned before, <i>ad nauseum</i>, spider buyers are particularly vexatious. One guy asked for a lower price on what would only be a $150 purchase. It took me a day and a half to get back to him as I had to recall my asking price and had been away a bit for my birthday week. Two days later he said he had spent the money, and was disappointed that he couldn't take advantage of my great offer. Dude, if you don't have a spare $150 you shouldn't be buying fucking bugs. Another asked for a payment plan on a more expensive spider. Where most write brusque, semi-literate inquiries, his was well-worded and polite. I agreed. Never heard from him again. Been there, done that, already have far too many fucking t-shirts. So, we plod on. If any of you want a steal on any spiders I give special blog reader discounts and extra special pick up in person discounts.<br />
<br />
That's the end of my spider talk. Perhaps forever. Or not. ;)<br />
<br />
You see this blog seems to have come to an end, but I do have arachnid projects in the works that may keep this going. We are at number #131, plus the original 15 of 2008. There were more than 113 posts in 2015; the heyday of Kiss My Big Hairy Spider. This will be the 30th of 2016. Yeah, I know, the numbers don't add up. There were some with part A and part B, etc.<br />
<br />
I recently dispatched my The Tarantula Bibliography and the online version of <i>Arachnoculture</i> into the discarded planetary dust of cyberspace. TTB is gone forever, but some day I may compile all seven issues of <i>Arachnoculture</i> into an e-Book. The Tarantula Bibliography had been loads of work over 11 years or so, but I gave little thought to ceasing publishing it. I can't be bothered. I also vaporized my fourth incarnation of the cesspool wasteland that is Faffbook. It was created only for a business page and then obliterated forever thanks to some nonsense related to The British Tarantula Society. I will never log in again, have deactivated again, and Facebook and the biting gnats that live there can Kiss My Big Hairy Spider. Fuck Facebook too; with its ridiculous rules, policies, censorship, content theft and invasive politics.<br />
<br />
My <a href="http://exoticfauna.com/">ExoticFauna.com</a> now stands as a single web page that honors my past work and leads people to my photography at <a href="http://exoticfauna.smugmug.com/">SmugMug</a> and <a href="http://www.instagram.com/jacobipix">Instagram</a>. The latter is a better way for me to connect. Although a devotee of the written word, my photos and brief descriptions and hashtags speak volumes about my life and its pursuits.<br />
<br />
Do I have any KMBHS posts left in me? Well, my work for the BTS will run at least through this membership year and perhaps beyond. If I stick to the <i>Journal</i> and <i>Newsletter</i> and keep my nose out things like membership, FB, website and such, I may carry on. That is, if I isolate myself from the membership and deal only with the authors and photographers, and I leave the politics of the society and the other swine diarrhea to the Brits, I see no reason to abandon the fine Journal. If there is one thing I have learned of late, it's that I am decidedly American – a stereotype even: alpha male, aggro, type A, impatient, unyielding. The Brits are very British. I have some great friendships within the BTS that I will not endanger. Thus, I choose to distance myself from the running of the organization. I'll keep my opinions to myself. One twat on FB had the nerve to suggest that an American is running the BTS. What a laugh. But I won't tarnish the Brit society with my American personality any longer. I'll do my editorial duty as promised, for at least the two issues of the <i>Journal</i> that remain in this membership year. I make no promises for continued attendance at the Lectures and Exhibition, although the former is likely because 1) my best mates and second family are there in Bristol, 2) Bristol is my lovely home away from whatever passes for home here and 3) it is a great time and the best chance to interact with the upper echelon of the arachnocultural world. The Exhibition is less desirable to me because 1) I don't keep, trade or buy spiders anymore, 2) it is fucking work and who wants to spend thousands to spend the day missing the event and 3) I'd rather just see the larger group of people at the Lectures and have any supplemental UK trips just be about spending time with my Bristolian friends and family or the Hales of Polegate.<br />
<br />
So, I suppose I will occasionally post here when I have something to say about my BTS publications or my field trips. I have little left to say about arachnoculture. But who will read a blog that has four posts a year? And who does anyway? I'm averaging less than 40 view for my last handful of posts. This thing may have run its course. Then again, I have more field work than just my annual exotic field trips in me. Soon I may spend a lot of time chasing arachnids and herps in the U.S. That would drive content now wouldn't it?<br />
<br />
The truth is that I am, first and foremost, a writer. I love blogging. I have created a second blog for my new business, but that hasn't been enjoyable and I haven't been prolific. The nice thing about KMBHS is that I never gave a fuck about marketing myself. I didn't avoid offending; I went out of my way to provoke, antagonize, and anger. I called a fucktard a fucktard, without pulling my punch or worrying about professional image. I can't do that elsewhere. However, I don't need to incite to write. It's been fun, but I must move on.<br />
<br />
To that end, I have created yet another blog. I'm hoping some of my KMBHS readers will end up following it and enjoying my stories. I have begun to write for it, but I am not ready to post and launch. All I'll say is that it will be dedicated to my exotic and domestic travel. @jacobipix on Instagram is a much better way of following my photos, but it will have photos in every post and bring you with me as my journeys continue. More on that to come ...<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhK-zBJpPkwr_6-ZHo6JFdff_Ql6KfNk0Tq_xIkTF_d2vW0aFZcZcVCZabJ18L_XJlBJ0LspDo5Q7PXxvd_eSuOmWNK3XxZpc7DCRgt5DbEC0hwsKfCXsTHvRY1JDwXtSaisWX7FC44VEs/s1600/IMG_6110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhK-zBJpPkwr_6-ZHo6JFdff_Ql6KfNk0Tq_xIkTF_d2vW0aFZcZcVCZabJ18L_XJlBJ0LspDo5Q7PXxvd_eSuOmWNK3XxZpc7DCRgt5DbEC0hwsKfCXsTHvRY1JDwXtSaisWX7FC44VEs/s400/IMG_6110.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chad and I at Indeed Brewing Company, Northeast (Minneapolis)</td></tr>
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In closing, I'd like to say that my 52nd birthday has come and gone with little fanfare just as I like it. I had one dinner with my sister, brother-in-law and stepfather two days beforehand, and another dinner with my stepfather alone on the day itself (August 5). The following day I drove up to Minneapolis to see my bud Chad. I picked up the 420mm lens (300 + 1.4x teleconverter) I had bought from him and we chased ospreys and Cooper's Hawk. With beer. After that adventure we had an early pub dinner and then started a Northeast brewpub tour starting with Sociable Cider Werks where his new gal pal works. I had a Stout Apple cider that, tbh, was tough to finish. I'm not a cider guy. We then hit my favorite MN brewery Indeed and met up with his friend Javi. Unfortunately, they had sold out of the Derailed Imperial Double Dangerous Chocolate Nitro Whiskey Queen Milk Stout (D.I.D.D.C.N.W.Q.M.S) that I love so much. We pushed on to Able, back to Indeed and then had a nightcap at Dangerous Man where I capped off the night with a delicious Peanut Butter Porter. I could go for one of those right now ... I had drank my share of whiskey the day before for my birthday and then woke at 5 a.m. to drive the 5 1/2 hours to Minnie so I was exhausted. I was actually surprised I made it to last call – midnight at Dangerous Man. I dropped Chad back off at Sociable to hook up with April and made my way back to my hotel. At daybreak I was on my way home.<br />
<br />
Pix from Minnie are, of course, on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/jacobipix">my Instagram</a>. It's the best social media. Just do it. I also have posted photos I took this morning at Chain O'Lakes State Park. I sleep very bizarre hours and was out of bed at 3 a.m. I could have sat in the dark pulling my pud, but decided to instead grab my camera bag and watched the sunrise over the wetland prairie of northern Illinois.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUBRZs_XvqWmGjMlmWIOzrXax_NWgqXhCwvcOC13Rb2ROIbt3Uc3gB2_O19JX-lPx9nz3dgVaaUqUXh8AZd4bzdA-czRDQ1qMwc_3MDVuUGHZXa8tJYOLel7JDca97Mn7gkyNxOG_DKPo/s1600/Wetland_Prairie_Dawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUBRZs_XvqWmGjMlmWIOzrXax_NWgqXhCwvcOC13Rb2ROIbt3Uc3gB2_O19JX-lPx9nz3dgVaaUqUXh8AZd4bzdA-czRDQ1qMwc_3MDVuUGHZXa8tJYOLel7JDca97Mn7gkyNxOG_DKPo/s640/Wetland_Prairie_Dawn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day breaks on the wetland prairie at Chain O'Lakes State Park</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
All the best, MJ<br />
<br />
PS: Don't forget my Free Movie offer from KMBHS #128. While you're at my YouTube channel you can watch other vids like my 95-minute instructional film, <i>Tarantulas in the Terrarium</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-38020005012607616572016-07-25T08:11:00.000-07:002016-07-25T08:11:12.692-07:00#130 - THE FINAL FOR SALE POSTIt's been awhile since I posted my final stragglers list at the end of my career in the exotic pet industry. Now I have posted ALL of the spiders currently in my possession for sale. It is time to completely leave live animal keeping behind. I just wish my parrot would get the message. Just kidding.<br />
<br />
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/harpactira-pulchripes-monocentropus-poecilotheria-a-sooretama.285579/<br />
<br />
<br />mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-48804948171418715062016-07-14T08:35:00.000-07:002016-07-14T09:10:59.238-07:00#129 - HALEFEST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Greetings,<br />
<br />
I'm exhausted and jet-lagged after my third trip to England this year alone. I believe it was my 12th trip to the UK overall. My first was in 2006 when I was a vendor promoting my <i>ARACHNOCULTURE</i> magazine. Around the same time my mate Andrew Smith asked me to become the British Tarantula Society's North American Representative. I returned twice the following year - the first time to be the keynote speaker at the BTS Lectures and the second to once again attend the Exhibition. By then I had put <i>ARACHNOCULTURE </i>to rest and I was there to work as a committee member. My employer at Northwest Zoological and owner of Tarantulas.com Alex Orleans was with me.<br />
<br />
Although the first two UK trips of 2016 were for the BTS Lectures (early March) and Exhibition (mid-May), this visit was to attend a party. Yep, I flew 8000 miles round trip and spent $2000+ to go to a party! It wasn't just any party though. Ray and Angela Hale have been the backbone of the BTS for 25 years and they run our Head Office and are the Exhibition Organizers/Promoters. Every year they have an early July party called "Halefest". This was #14. The theme was "Back to the 80s" and us metalhead types dressed in kind. I have been invited the past few years and finally accepted. The day of the party was also the Hales 33rd wedding anniversary. The party is largely comprised of people who have a BTS association and many are current or former BTS Committee members. That, of course, includes my brother-from-another-mother Mark Pennell and his wife Kim. I tried to surprise them with limited success. A few hints I dropped were "sussed out" by Mark and Kim and they felt the atmospheric disturbance I cause.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicl_UNM4niDF7d5zoBq7qhWN-7VI6o4VmxAzUubBDSrkb9gaMcYFi53RMUVvCM_ViEy66NJBvTv7sxOEFwpjv_I7Z_aQBxMag6TlqwuuxxklymIGg1fBBHiTM-le7dz-D0BBmkhUPmJ2t9/s1600/13653263_10153926721158392_1813116536615923829_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicl_UNM4niDF7d5zoBq7qhWN-7VI6o4VmxAzUubBDSrkb9gaMcYFi53RMUVvCM_ViEy66NJBvTv7sxOEFwpjv_I7Z_aQBxMag6TlqwuuxxklymIGg1fBBHiTM-le7dz-D0BBmkhUPmJ2t9/s400/13653263_10153926721158392_1813116536615923829_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hales. Ray in Lemmy costume. 80s party. Photo credit: © Matt Cooper</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRojToY088m4-ew1_v6IDqdGkWwnWYY1iaaRR6uZf9QvNQVd8tpYfWb3RaBmJNed0LXlSfhW_9jtJ_lgyx7NFkZfEDR_zl_ImTUSe0zlGtIfZ9-4LXcmllPzuc9bLPWZceMrx8m_1u65Z/s1600/IMG_5584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRojToY088m4-ew1_v6IDqdGkWwnWYY1iaaRR6uZf9QvNQVd8tpYfWb3RaBmJNed0LXlSfhW_9jtJ_lgyx7NFkZfEDR_zl_ImTUSe0zlGtIfZ9-4LXcmllPzuc9bLPWZceMrx8m_1u65Z/s400/IMG_5584.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Mark and Tyrion Lannister have things in common.<br />
I brought Mark's T-shirt over as a gift.<br />
This is shortly after the Pennells and the Wills arrived from Bristol<br />
#tigerlager #ftw</td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5n2Qv3IQM3jZwpn0soU-EPKjz3LyYYQ9N43d60CKkpWetpTfeAIaCUa_0sr_2wAKgxR-jzmfTu-XmY95B6b1vE48Z6D0QvrbEAj2F1iPoKoREVOXCdU4GlsQF1MzoqH42FxZm2_UShIzq/s1600/IMG_5639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5n2Qv3IQM3jZwpn0soU-EPKjz3LyYYQ9N43d60CKkpWetpTfeAIaCUa_0sr_2wAKgxR-jzmfTu-XmY95B6b1vE48Z6D0QvrbEAj2F1iPoKoREVOXCdU4GlsQF1MzoqH42FxZm2_UShIzq/s640/IMG_5639.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My costume. Me in a Venom T-shirt and denim vest and wig.<br />
My hair was never black, but it was always ridiculous in the 80s.<br />
Love the flag of England in the background as I was celebrating the<br />
New Wave of British Heavy Metal with my costume.<br />
The vest had a Venom patch on back, my nickname "Jake" on the breast<br />
and a NWOBHM patch, but all are obscured.</td></tr>
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I will see Mark and Kim and Ray and Ang soon in Budapest. This is the third year Mária and László of MaciLaci Spiders, Hungary will put on a lecture series in Budapest that features five BTS-associated presenters. This year Mark and Ray will speak, as will Andrew Smith, Stuart Longhorn and Peter Kirk. I am going to bring a lecture or two on my flash drive in case I am needed as a pinch-hitter ;) Or perhaps they want to extend the talks by another hour? No worries. The reason I am going is just to hang with the Pennells and the Hales. Seeing what everyone says is an amazing city will be a bonus, and so will having the opportunity to spend time with the Hungarian contingent.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxKlS60Kz4zxwJDITXQHWVYKvA-0ttSCF6D_3fr4u2xdXGf8ulUs0s5JeXtr2P3wM1_q2TSZQPMcX3oi-bT5QcajgvzBdyVmFZ7pdUXtl-RspjCjlnCzUULlhZ291z_JAf97c4rrx_csz/s1600/IMG_3312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxKlS60Kz4zxwJDITXQHWVYKvA-0ttSCF6D_3fr4u2xdXGf8ulUs0s5JeXtr2P3wM1_q2TSZQPMcX3oi-bT5QcajgvzBdyVmFZ7pdUXtl-RspjCjlnCzUULlhZ291z_JAf97c4rrx_csz/s640/IMG_3312.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kim, "Lemmy" Ray, Haidee and Mark.<br />
The Pennells and the Wills came as Bucks Fizz.<br />
They danced along with the hit "Making My Mind Up"<br />
#sillybrits</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxWK4kojidA2h95RB98890Rd38EMB3DnIjJ9UOW3exL7f74ntsXzZ5oznRZ4ABGyBpOZebTs-yQFrUOHGKX_DCStq1w9iCU97ssvup-zLnZWoxvITrLWSiycQYJmhdfnZ94bQqrB-YxQr/s1600/IMG_5748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxWK4kojidA2h95RB98890Rd38EMB3DnIjJ9UOW3exL7f74ntsXzZ5oznRZ4ABGyBpOZebTs-yQFrUOHGKX_DCStq1w9iCU97ssvup-zLnZWoxvITrLWSiycQYJmhdfnZ94bQqrB-YxQr/s640/IMG_5748.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and the mad genius that is Carl Portman.<br />
METAL GODS!<br />
Not sure why I look so constipated.<br />
But I am sure why I look so sunburned. Tricky English clouds.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
So as I spend the day recovering from exhaustion and jet-lag I reflect on trips past and adventures to come. Budapest October will be here before I know it. Then I will be counting down the days until my February 2017 trip back to Langkawi Island, Malaysia where this year the Hales will join us. The week before many of our group will also be in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo where I hope to find vipers and spiders in the jungles of Bako National Park. In between hopefully I'll be able to swing England 2016 #4 with yet another visit to Bristol.<br />
<br />
All the best, MJ<br />
<br />
<br />mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-13426596606809853702016-07-01T20:47:00.001-07:002016-07-01T20:47:41.555-07:00#128 - FREE MOVIESince I made my documentary "In Search of Costa Rican Tarantulas", it has only been available as a paid download at Andrew M. Smith's LoveTarantulas.com. It was only 3 quid, about $4.50 or so, but everybody wants everything for free. I think I saw my half of the proceeds once or twice, but even at dirt cheap prices these downloads are few and far between.<br />
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Now, for the first time, I GIVE to you my documentary of our 2006 field trip to Costa Rica, which found 14 varieties of tarantula, for about what it's worth. If you are so inclined you can find this film on my YouTube channel split into two parts as the Love Tarantulas downloads have been. Even for FREE I imagine I'll have to lead some of you ponies to the water, so here are the direct links to watch. If nothing else you can laugh at our neckerchiefs and listen to Andrew.<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KQsusHO6yc">In Search of Costa Rican Tarantulas - Part 1, 720p</a></b><br />
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<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2B3oD7seUI">In Search of Costa Rican Tarantulas - Part 2, 720p</a></b>mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-9728264904060248672016-07-01T08:04:00.000-07:002016-07-02T08:26:50.515-07:00#127 - END OF AN ERAAnd you thought I was a quitter when I shut down Michael Jacobi's SPIDERSHOPPE ...<br />
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Last night I vaporized ExoticFauna.com. It launched in 2000 and had a major overhaul in 2013. After 16 years online, I have deleted all the pages and files. This includes The Tarantula Bibliography, which I created in 2005 and had over a ten year run. I have zero desire, no interest, <i>y nada tiempo</i> to continue to update changes in theraphosid taxonomy. It also includes the digital versions of the seven issues of <i>ARACHNOCULTURE</i> I published between 2005 and 2007. If you hadn't read them by now you weren't likely to.<br />
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The new <a href="http://exoticfauna.com/">ExoticFauna.com</a> is simple. It has a single, elegant page with links to where I reside in cyberspace. Most importantly, it links to my SmugMug page where my photography lives. I will be uploading hundreds of more photos to this site as time allows. Other links include this blog, my YouTube channel and social media. It also mentions my business website - <a href="http://triggercontroltactical.com/">TriggercontrolTactical.com</a>.<br />
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I posted a screenshot of the new single-page site to my Instagram feed moments ago. I won't do that here and instead hope you'll click on the link above and give the new site a visit. It wouldn't take more than five minutes to read the whole page. Minimalistic. Concise. Refined.<br />
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Then again maybe you don't give a fuck. I'm not bothered.<br />
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All the best, MJmjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-75335956104958699142016-06-05T10:24:00.000-07:002016-06-05T10:27:16.900-07:00#126 - TARANTULAS (ANIMAL PLANET PET CARE LIBRARY)<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">I'm proud of this</span></i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVMVexX25p9o4aFJ4INnfQtkj4-PaBlAif5CTIc3rnYJFwKXTH7ShprWxvDH6lFsH64symr1RC9hkEuxmCKEKQ3o6gxWRQ4sPWcdP0w6-laVYEFrmnvc76XIx2mZ8tdv2zWITSvA_IluZC/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-06-05+at+11.46.58.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVMVexX25p9o4aFJ4INnfQtkj4-PaBlAif5CTIc3rnYJFwKXTH7ShprWxvDH6lFsH64symr1RC9hkEuxmCKEKQ3o6gxWRQ4sPWcdP0w6-laVYEFrmnvc76XIx2mZ8tdv2zWITSvA_IluZC/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-06-05+at+11.46.58.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Released in September 2011, my tarantula book, <b><i>Tarantulas</i></b>, was written for one purpose: To give tarantula keepers, especially novice and intermediate arachnoculturists, the definitive word directly from one of the hobby's top breeders. It was specifically written because the book people call "The Bible" is about as useful as its namesake. I was approached by T.F.H. to write a manuscript for their joint project with Animal Planet – the Pet Care Library. I was given 27,000 words. I took that as a challenge. A fan of minimalistic novelists like Hempel and Palahniuk, I wanted none of the fluff or editorial twaddle of "The Bible". I strived for concise and clear. I shared the experience of about four decades. I offered instruction based on the breeding of countless species. I didn't think about my colleagues who were also leading breeders. I wasn't writing for them. I was writing for the family in Petco. I was writing for the girl at the reptile show. I was writing for the boy in the library. I think my goal was achieved.<br />
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I wonder how many copies it has sold. I haven't a clue. I was a hired gun payed for 27,000 words. I was paid a set fee for producing the manuscript. I receive no royalties. I stripped down the essence of modern entry-level keeping and tarantula biology down to 30,000 words, and then convinced my Editor Tom Mazorlig that it was honed and polished, and I needed the extra three thousand.<br />
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I no longer stock these books, but I'm thinking about ordering another box of 50 and offering signed copies again.<br />
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T.F.H. also paid me for my manuscript <i>Geckos</i> for their Complete Herp Care series. That was 5,000 words and an appropriate larger set fee. That check was cashed maybe four years ago. The book has never been printed. The editor who I worked with for both manuscript moved on to another job. I contacted the new editor of <i>Geckos</i> after the delay went on. She said that due to the economy the book publication date had been moved back to X (I don't remember the date). She's never contact me. I've never asked again. I had already earned all the money I would. That may sound mercenary, but I got out of the additional work that I would have put into the project as we worked on final edits, photo selection, etc. I was happy to take the money and run, even though I was, of course, disappointed that my book wouldn't reach the herpetoculturists that would benefit from my experience as a gecko breeder. I was hoping to leave two legacies: one to arachnoculture (tarantulas), and another to herpetoculture (geckos). My commissioned monograph on the African bush vipers had never been finished or published. I put so many hours of work into researching that book and corresponding with experts around the world. It was to be the comprehensive work much like publisher Klaus Dieter-Shulz's monograph on rat snakes (<i>Elapse</i>). Not having the gecko book was also disappointing, but I was paid and didn't take nearly as much time as my <i>Atheris</i> project.<br />
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At that time I had a website devoted to the Tribe Atherini called <i>World of Atheris</i>. I put countless hours of effort into that as well, and it ran for years before a German copycat's "borrowing" of all my hard-earned content forced me to make the site evaporate. Now I consider the same fate for my Tarantula Bibliography. I've poured time into it for many years and really can't be bothered with it anymore.<br />
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Anyway, I'm glad <b><i>Tarantulas</i></b> is out there. I'll let you know if I offer a limited run of signed copies. But you can get it cheap and easy from Amazon in both print and Kindle editions.<br />
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MJmjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-64874891275456407242016-06-04T07:41:00.001-07:002016-06-04T07:56:09.308-07:00#125 - SATURDAY SURPRISE (AND MUSINGS)It isn't easy to see something surprising after so many years of tarantula keeping. Today I went into my home office, which used to be called "my spider room" but now houses less than 40 lingerers and loiterers, and was shocked. Truly. I decided to clean/feed/water my tub of crickets and saw something strange in one of the big tubs that serve as enclosures for the five adult female <i>Monocentropus balfouri</i> I still have. Perched near the lid was a <i>balfouri</i>, but it was about 1/6 the size of the spider that supposedly lived alone in the enclosure. It didn't take me long to realize that it had to be one of her offspring that somehow avoided detection for a long, long time. I looked at the info labels on the female's tub. Her last sac hatched on June 8, 2015. One year ago this coming Wednesday. The female's young had been sold over the past 6-10 months. Apparently not all though ... This about-to-be-yearling phantom tarantula seemed to be coming out into the open to remind me to buy a birthday gift. I hope it's a male. If so he'd have five dates once he matured including an incestuous romp with mum.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwURid4FU_vTMhota1hbjzpJ-K5vRcAZFtmM8ZVk3qwsVoE1j7rJIsu1fJ3wnCXo-SuXoUGuKsgP5g6KGcE04QSMyoD4_phn0Ik-6AHYqT7LR-2_K3Q48tqHNN7_mumvCMKIw5Djnu9BVj/s1600/IMG_5036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwURid4FU_vTMhota1hbjzpJ-K5vRcAZFtmM8ZVk3qwsVoE1j7rJIsu1fJ3wnCXo-SuXoUGuKsgP5g6KGcE04QSMyoD4_phn0Ik-6AHYqT7LR-2_K3Q48tqHNN7_mumvCMKIw5Djnu9BVj/s400/IMG_5036.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Solo"</td></tr>
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Expecting an Apple visit tonight as he'll crash at my pad after getting scratched out in Belvedere. I'll be in my basement guest house glued to the TV as I switch between UFC 199 and Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. I invited Jason over and hope he'll have the energy after returning from a trip to California for a Brazilian Jui Jitsu tournament. If Jason isn't interested I may be tempted to head to a bar to watch the sports rather than pay the obscene pay per view fee and just text John the code to my garage keypad.<br />
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Travel is always on the mind. I'm always looking to get out of Illinois. My dear mates Mark and Kim Pennell are chillaxing in Langkawi, Malaysia where I will return February 2017. Mark is spider hunting on Monday (top secret spoiler alert: there is a new species of <i>Omothymus</i> there that he saw this past February). We're pretty sure it's not <i>O. schioedtei</i>, but an island cousin of it. Remember that you heard it in KISS MY BIG HAIRY SPIDER first. There are perks to reading my twaddle.<br />
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While Mark and Kim have been in Malaysia my stepdad, sister and brother-in-law have been on a tour of Spain that has included Portugal, Gibraltar and Tangier, Morocco. Jealousy isn't a desirable thing, but I confess.<br />
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So what's on my own wanderlust-fueled agenda? Budapest, Hungary - October. I'll be going there for a week mid-month. For the past two years, Mária and László of macilaci spiders have worked in conjunction with TerraPlaza to put on what has been called The BTS Big 6. Basically they invited some of our BTS Committee former and present and also longtime BTS stalwart Ray Gabriel to lecture. They asked me about speaking in year 4, but this will still be year 3 and is the first time that Mark is lecturing. So there will lectures by: 1. Mark Pennell 2. Andrew Smith 3. Ray Gabriel 4. Peter Kirk 5. Ray Hale 6. Dr. Stuart Longhorn. I think. They aren't exactly good about updating webpage info and such. Doesn't matter. They're all my mates and I've heard them all speak many times. I'm mostly excited about seeing Budapest and the beautiful Eastern European women who call it home ;)<br />
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With my new business now underway (moved into my new classroom/office one week ago), I guess that will be it until Langkawi, Malaysia 2017, which I hope might include an excursion to Borneo.<br />
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Of course I will always be tempted for a jaunt back to my home away from home in Bristol. I actually discussed the possibility of Xmas with Mark and Kim's daughter Brandon. But, hopefully, Mark will be visiting me the last week of September. We've talked about him maybe flying into another city where I'd meet him in my car. It would be great to show him more of the USA. As of now, his plan is to not work (not tattoo) and just enjoy some American down time. That would be amazing (especially if he cheats by inking me some more). Regardless of what we plan, I know it will include Tiger lager, great food and shooting.<br />
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Until next time... MJmjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-47365987261813500802016-05-31T11:12:00.003-07:002016-05-31T13:39:58.724-07:00#124 - BTS EXHIBITION 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My customary jet lag is finally shaken and I thought I'd file a report on the 31st annual BTS Exhibition while I have my first cup of coffee of the day.</div>
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31 years. It may be hard to believe, but the BTS is the world's oldest ongoing tarantula society and by far the best and most successful. The annual exhibition has been organized by Ray and Angela Hale for the past 25 years, and they do an absolutely brilliant job of making it better each year. The Hales are the backbone of the BTS. Ange has been responsible for our Head Office for quite some time, and Rayzor now sits as Vice Chairman of our great society.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczDGdikbc5kqyzinHmMN-Llmq7Gsax1Huy6DV6RsPXyIsgDfejbDJ6cmTmy6cxLtY_W__tt1sPJrsrh77jde7-tNJw-aIrOihYRkOzAtBIXCgqtxwCiYOLlPZIT6peiG7rWRPoG_7RBw5/s1600/Hale.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczDGdikbc5kqyzinHmMN-Llmq7Gsax1Huy6DV6RsPXyIsgDfejbDJ6cmTmy6cxLtY_W__tt1sPJrsrh77jde7-tNJw-aIrOihYRkOzAtBIXCgqtxwCiYOLlPZIT6peiG7rWRPoG_7RBw5/s400/Hale.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great photo by sukisuki.co.uk of Ray and Ange Hale. Such a lovely couple. Can't believe they have been married for 33 years. He must have married Ange when she was 7. They are responsible for the best arachnid exhibition in the world.</td></tr>
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This was my 10th trip to the UK. My first was for the 2006 Exhibition, where I was actually a vendor. Yes, that's right. I didn't bring spiders, of course. Europe has always been the world power in arachnoculture with America not much more than a far distant imposter. But in 2005 I had launched my <i>ARACHNOCULTURE</i> magazine, and my stand at the 2006 event marketed subscriptions and back issues along with some American tarantula books (e.g., Marshall and Schultz). My own <i>T<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tarantulas-Animal-Planet-Care-Library/dp/0793837103/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464690955&sr=1-1&keywords=tarantulas+animal+planet">arantulas</a></i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tarantulas-Animal-Planet-Care-Library/dp/0793837103/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464690955&sr=1-1&keywords=tarantulas+animal+planet"> (Animal Planet Pet Care Library)</a> wasn't published until 2011.<br />
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For as long as I have been aware of it, the BTS Exhibition has always been held in England's Midlands. This gives a central location for UK residents. In 2014, the Exhibition made a huge leap. It had grown continually over the years and traders from all over Europe were now showcasing their wares. Previous events were primarily held at schools. My first in 2006 was in a school gymnasium that had been used for years. However, with the 2014 Exhibition we hired Ricoh Arena, a first class venue and put on what was the best Exhibition yet. It is located in Coventry, which is in the Midlands, just south of Birmingham. There were some hiccups including using a second floor exhibit hall that necessitated using a freight elevator (or as they say, "lift"). I was in charge of running the traders up and down in the lift and I worked it so hard it finally broke. We ended up having to help late-arriving exhibitors up the stairs with their stuff. In 2015, we rented the larger exhibit hall on the ground floor of the Ricoh and put on what we thought was the show to end all shows. We didn't think we'd ever move elsewhere. However, the Arena had new owners and they attempted to extort us to resign for this year. They were politely told to fuck off.<br />
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So, Ray and Ange did what they've always done. They've busted their asses to make the BTS Exhibition the finest arachnid/invertebrate show. That's not my own hyperbole. People always talk about Hamm and Marbach in Germany, but every single European trader including the Germans tell us straight up that the BTS Exhibition is the best in the world. When we started at the Ricoh the Hales partnered up with Pandora Events who would help with the hotel bookings and such. Working with Pandora, Ray and Ange located the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre in Leamington Spa. Not as fancy and modern as the Ricoh, but even larger at 2200 square meters of exhibition space, the WEC proved to be the ideal venue. Attendees and traders alike preferred it to the Ricoh. The staff were brilliant and every single thing about the day from the parking to the food to the lighting to the access was superior to the Ricoh Arena. Our host hotel was the Holiday Inn Leamington Spa and it was a modern establishment that lived up to my upscale American standards. The 31st annual event was, by far, the most successful event for arachnoculturists and invertebrate dealers ever held. Until next year, that is... (The 32nd BTS Exhibition will be held at the same location on May 20, 2017).<br />
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This year I was entrusted with new duties. When Peter Kirk resigned as <i>Journal</i> Editor and the BTS Committee honored me with seceding Pete (and Richard Gallon before him), Peter also asked me to take on judging the Exhibition's competition and photographing the winning spiders, scorpions, photography, and both adult and children's artwork. So, in addition to 10 days worth of clothing, gifts for the Pennells and all the other stuff I had to haul overseas, I brought my 30 pound camera bag. Foolish, again. I should have just brought my macro rig. I used it to photograph the winning spiders and scorpion, but every other shot I took during the whole trip was taken with my iPhone 6S Plus. Anyway, I'll leave you with some of my favorite photos. I posted many of my own on my @exoticfauna Instagram. Many of the below were "borrowed" from other people (with photo credit given). If you haven't checked out my Instagram feed yet please do. There also have been some great images posted to the BTS Facebook Group.<br />
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The upcoming second issue of the <i>BTS Newsletter</i> will be a special issue devoted to the Competition. So those of you who are members will see both the winners and their entries. The Best in Show spider, which was a gorgeous <i>Lasiodorides striatus</i> owned by Britain Kitten, will also be featured on the annual membership card and bookmark.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAj_F7Zkgvl7tHKwEb2kZe0mYBHOkiV-yr7jqhhrGmsgMEVHQyAeAsyWcSU2eqgU-xdRavgCPEedHDr7YmtBqSegwA96W92sNXbJvlQGHpXbdlAsXkoMgskHTNXrSCXUswauKB0hZRz-s/s1600/Me_Maria.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAj_F7Zkgvl7tHKwEb2kZe0mYBHOkiV-yr7jqhhrGmsgMEVHQyAeAsyWcSU2eqgU-xdRavgCPEedHDr7YmtBqSegwA96W92sNXbJvlQGHpXbdlAsXkoMgskHTNXrSCXUswauKB0hZRz-s/s640/Me_Maria.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a personal favorite. Mária of Macilaci Spiders, Hungary is lovely and always happy. She is such a great supporter of the BTS and her display is very professional with an incredible variety of tarantulas at exceptional prices. She (aka Maci) and her husband László (Laci) work with Mária's brother László (Dudu) who is seen here in the background doing a great photobomb. Laci took the picture. I'm sporting the new BTS international logo t-shirt. I surprised the family later at the hotel when I purchased a ticket to join the BTS envoy that is visiting Budapest in October. This will be the third year that Macilaci Spiders works in conjunction with TerraPlaza Budapest to bring BTS lecturers to Budapest. I won't be speaking this year, but I'm excited to see the beautiful city and spend time with my BTS friends.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqo4eHEHh1OXA1MfEsMLWJm1uer94RjzXKBjwNMBjR020gsEMGUT6g-9QNSqRdSjGrVlHlFxhVkzQWklbi-x0aMQSHaylU-XfVur9JN4EexjPUpH2JxNuvjoM_KBUuJWzCTIRBouwcs0L/s1600/Brandon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqo4eHEHh1OXA1MfEsMLWJm1uer94RjzXKBjwNMBjR020gsEMGUT6g-9QNSqRdSjGrVlHlFxhVkzQWklbi-x0aMQSHaylU-XfVur9JN4EexjPUpH2JxNuvjoM_KBUuJWzCTIRBouwcs0L/s640/Brandon.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My "niece" Brandon, daughter of my dearest friends Mark and Kim Pennell. She's holding one of the incredible plush spiders that were being offered by sukisuki.co.uk who took the photo of the Hales seen above.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBo0QnH0WYKR2ndOo22i1wI97zpKrzkutd7WV-rt5M7m4Y4JIBLy_-30vwfwVo380Q8DI5MCSYZAqHuAeWxdDjuHUGHi-Eu7xMqo78XOFmDdCmyn7KxaQ0_uY_LoeyBx4q9gE5pDgVRsM/s1600/badasses.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBo0QnH0WYKR2ndOo22i1wI97zpKrzkutd7WV-rt5M7m4Y4JIBLy_-30vwfwVo380Q8DI5MCSYZAqHuAeWxdDjuHUGHi-Eu7xMqo78XOFmDdCmyn7KxaQ0_uY_LoeyBx4q9gE5pDgVRsM/s640/badasses.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This shot has become an annual tradition. These are the four badasses of the BTS Committee and why nobody gives us any lip. We try our best to look hard, but we're all sweethearts. Last year I ruined the pic with a smile and this year it was Ray. Left to right: Me, Lee Cole, Mark Pennell, Ray Hale. Here's a contest for you ... Put in the comments your guess for ranking us oldest to youngest. Bet nobody gets it...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-1qMAPiNt64HrGNeoOG05tR4KdKIHqpp7fnHgMqI7WTWsyZC9myEIl_BYIFVXdJr7e3bEadSdiOQ6Sr6gz4p36jzzlV0Wajpvfs1JCyujh95eOycqQsq0w4_9wcMi-a35b8DxNdciTlZ/s1600/frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-1qMAPiNt64HrGNeoOG05tR4KdKIHqpp7fnHgMqI7WTWsyZC9myEIl_BYIFVXdJr7e3bEadSdiOQ6Sr6gz4p36jzzlV0Wajpvfs1JCyujh95eOycqQsq0w4_9wcMi-a35b8DxNdciTlZ/s640/frame.jpg" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me best mate. This year Mark made a "selfie frame" for people to take a pic of themselves at the Exhibition. Here we are before the ride northeast to the Midlands. Mark is acting himself and I'm giving him the look of someone used to it. I'm repping one of my favorite bands, while he is repping Peter Kirk's side business, Precision Piercing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Speaking of mates, here are three more of my favorite Brits. This is the field team. On the outside are the bearded Andrew Smith and the clean shaven Paul Carpenter. I first traveled with them in 2006 to Costa Rica. Andrew and I had become fast friends a few years earlier when he lectured two years for the ATS (once in Carlsbad, once in Phoenix). In the middle is Guy Tansley who traveled with Andy and Paul to other places before the four of us had our field trip to Suriname in 2012. Guy, Paul and myself went to Sri Lanka in 2014 without Andy. Guy is another of my favorite people and, sadly, he didn't make it to the February lectures this year. So, this was the first time the four of us had all been together since the February 2014 BTS Lectures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMaCbq2kvwHOkpeWANyIdSISlUyzr22QzCFiEnnek_mL3T4z52DC0NdX4RF2nDeDk3lNgoScn5wMnWqRMXZY08gmVYdjuvPMp1we6c3T22ojGAuREC-KPToGB4oB6dFyhCVBIdmaJOLrd/s1600/Set_up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMaCbq2kvwHOkpeWANyIdSISlUyzr22QzCFiEnnek_mL3T4z52DC0NdX4RF2nDeDk3lNgoScn5wMnWqRMXZY08gmVYdjuvPMp1we6c3T22ojGAuREC-KPToGB4oB6dFyhCVBIdmaJOLrd/s640/Set_up.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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This final image was taken early on during vendor set up. It cuts off much of the room. For many pix of the event check out the BTS Facebook Group. Macilaci Spiders and SukiSuki have particularly good photo collections.<br />
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<b>MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND NEXT YEAR!</b></td></tr>
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mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-82957598116422849752016-05-26T06:45:00.000-07:002016-06-04T07:43:06.864-07:00#123 - FREE COPY OF THE PREMIERE ISSUE OF THE BTS NEWSLETTERI've mentioned in earlier entries that when I assumed the Editorship of the prestigious <i>Journal of the British Tarantula Society</i> I decided to create a sister publication. The new <i>BTS Newsletter</i> was launched to provide members more "bang for their buck", as well as to become home for some features that I deemed unsuitable for the <i>Journal</i>.<br />
<br />
Today I posted a link in the BTS Facebook Group that allows the general public to download the premier issue of the <i>Newsletter</i> for FREE. I wanted it to reach a greater audience and, hopefully, entice more people who haven't become BTS members to join. Our membership year runs June 1 to May 31 and all memberships are due for renewal. My post also serves to remind people to renew.<br />
<br />
Now I realize many of my blog readership is American. Perhaps you've never joined the BTS because you've considered it a foreign organization. I assure you that the BTS is global in its reach and is truly an international society. I also think all of you have learned by now that our American Tarantula Society has never become even a fraction of what the great BTS is. The ATS has always been a disappointment and likely always will be. The annual conference has always been its one success. To be clear, I am not discouraging supporting them. With more support perhaps the new regime will finally make it a society worth being a member of. But for 31 years the BTS has been that and much more. I highly recommend at least a digital-only membership so you get the SIX Newsletters and THREE 50-page full color Journals per annum. If you can afford it, choosing the print option (about $53/year) allows you to hold the beautiful publication that I now have the honor of editing and designing.<br />
<br />
Anyway, without further ado and advertisement, here is the link to download BTS Newsletter 1:<br />
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<a href="http://www.thebts.co.uk/download/bts-newsletter/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.thebts.co.uk/download/bts-newsletter/</a><br />
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Please SHARE this blog entry or at least the above link everywhere and anywhere. Let's spread the word about this FREE issue of the debut Newsletter to as many people as possible. Cheers, MJmjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-87388229676390857922016-05-25T05:07:00.002-07:002016-05-25T05:30:07.962-07:00#122 - AN APOLOGYThe reason this blog is called Kiss My Big Hairy Spider is both arachnocultural and because I am often irreverent and I speak my mind. I am a "pull no punches" sort of guy and I tend to hit very hard. This is what makes my ironic friend Chad call me "unlikable". I say what I want with a "fuck them all with no fucking regrets"attitude, which I hope at least some of you will recognize as Metallica lyrics. One of my posts even stated that if I haven't offended you yet, eventually I will. You'd think with my attitude I would be completely unapologetic. Not so.<br />
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I am a "nice guy" and do care about hurting people's feelings. I also am always willing to admit when I'm wrong. This apology is directed to German tarantula dealer Michael Scheller. Not that I think he reads my blog, but I know something I wrote got back to him. In a recent blog I wrote something about him being a bit of a prick. That was out of line and unjust. The truth is I've only met him once and barely know him as a person. I had no right to be so callous. Word got back to me at the BTS Exhibition that he had been "hurt" by what I wrote. He didn't attend this year so I didn't have the opportunity to speak to him personally. Now this concept - being hurt by words - could be a topic for a whole politically-charged rant. I am sick and tired of "politically correct" and people being offended and hurt by words. I won't go there. I will instead simply say, "I'm sorry".<br />
<i><b><br />Es tut mir leid für das, was ich über Sie geschrieben</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
Two things led to my conflict with Michael, which then resulted in my off-hand and out of line remark. One was language. Michael's English is admittedly much better than my German, although I can somewhat read it. But the more important thing that caused our dispute that led to what I wrote is something that plagues the Internet. Actually, it's not just the Internet, but written word in general. Conversation is something for voices and faces to do, not typing fingers. Tone is lost. Intended meaning is clouded. Misinterpretation is commonplace. These facts are only exacerbated when one or more "communicating" are not using their native tongue.<br />
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When I was still actively dealing in tarantulas and importing from Lee Ardern at The Spider Shop in Wales I contacted Michael about the possibility of him exporting to me. His response was that he had an exclusive arrangement for the U.S. with Ken "the bug guy". The rest of our conversation is privileged. We promised each other we would keep our Facebook Messenger chat private. I will honor that promise to Michael, but I will reveal some of what I typed that day, at least a little bit in general terms. I informed Michael that when talking with an alcohol-fueled Ken at last year's ATS Conference he admitted that times were tough. I'm not going to betray Ken's confidence here, as despite our differences, I like the man and I think he likes me. So I'll leave it at that. Now retired and no longer a competitor of his, there is no reason I should threaten him. But I will say that the gist of what got Michael angry with me is that I stated some facts - truths from my own experience - about Ken that were negative. I only stated emotionless hard facts about the faults of Ken's business practises, and continually reminded Michael that it was not personal and I liked Ken. Unfortunately, due to both tone and sentiment being lost in the written word, and the fact that Michael wasn't using his native tongue, things were misconstrued. Michael couldn't reconcile my being somewhat friendly with a person with my criticizing that same person. I did not attack Ken as a man. I just commented on how he runs his business and his lack of experience with it and the hobby. I made it quite clear (but again, this was likely lost in translation and not interacting face to face) that my opinions were not personal, but based on my vast experience and 30+ years in the business as compared to a guy who originally worked with computers. Michael and I clashed. I am sure some of it had to do with my strong American personality. What some have called arrogance. What some have said makes me "unlikable".<br />
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My friends like me. That's all that matters. Michael and Ken work in a business that I've left behind. End of story.<br />
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So, the bold italicized German words written above state "I am sorry for what I wrote". And I am. I don't know the man. Therefore, I was out of line. I apologize.<br />
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Ich entschuldige mich, Michael Jacobimjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-36946139564453762552016-05-08T07:11:00.000-07:002016-05-08T10:35:56.253-07:00#121 - SUNDAY, FUNDAY #WHATEVERLONG TIME NO RANT, EDUCATE, RAMBLE, STORY TELL, AND INFO DUMP ...<br />
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I've been busy with my new business. I've been busy writing music. I've been busy shooting. I've been busy working out. I've been busy watching the NHL playoffs.<br />
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I have NOT been busy with anything that really relates to BIG HAIRY SPIDERS except for working on the next issue of the BTS Journal. That leaves me with little to offer in the way of ranting, educating, rambling and storytelling.<br />
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I'm sure many of you are sick of my mentions of the BTS. I understand. It's a "foreign thing". Many of you haven't bothered to become members of the best and world's longest ongoing tarantula society. Those of you who have know what's what. But really my BIG HAIRY SPIDER activity is primarily associated with my BTS duties. And Friday I leave again for the UK - this time for the 31st BTS Exhibition. I'll post pix from the weekend here and on my @exoticfauna Instagram.<br />
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Yesterday I wrote one of the few German dealers I actually like. Olaf Hopp is a really nice guy and he has disassociated himself from Michael Scheller who, in my experience, is a bit of a prick. Olaf's English is better too. For those of you who may not know, Olaf used to be Michael's assistant of sorts, but they've had a falling out and now Olaf has surpassed Michael IMO, at least as far as tarantula dealers go. Both Germans survive mostly because they take advantage of the American market. Olaf supplies Paul Becker and Scheller supplies Ken MacNeill. These two Americans support German sales instead of focusing on strengthening the American marketplace. Neither are much in the way of breeders. I'm surprised both (or either!) are still active, especially "the bug guy" who should have tossed it in some time ago. That's one sad commentary on American tarantulaculture and its commerce.<br />
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This year we have booked more traders than ever before so there will be new faces and I expect plenty to marvel at if not buy. The phasmids always catch my eye. However, not only does the USDA frown on such magnificent creatures, but I also don't really desire periodic bramble collecting.<br />
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Anyway, Olaf and I exchanged our greetings and arranged to get together in the British Midlands and he sent me a list of what he currently has available. It was odd to review a somewhat lengthy and diverse list and have ZERO interest in anything on it. The only thing I really am still working with are two African species and a couple of Pokies. I could use some young of those species for future breeding males, but Olaf was offering none of the above. He does have one juvie female H. pulchripes that I may have to pick up. But shopping isn't really something I do any longer. I could buy a bunch of young M. balfouri for future males for the five females I still have, but wouldn't it be much more pleasant to just sell the five females? Less is more. Down to 30 spiders now. 25 would be even better.<br />
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So, it's Sunday, Funday and it's a beautiful day. I'll watch some soccer and hockey. Workout. Clean the house. Next Sunday, Funday I'll be chillaxing in Bristol, England and emptying Tiger bottles with my mate Mark.<br />
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I know some people are looking forward to an ATS conference in Tucson this July. It seems the ATS will continue only to perpetuate their only success - the con. I have no intention of registering and officially attending, but perhaps will make a surprise visit as Arizona is definitely calling my name. Again.<br />
<br />
Have fun. I'll do a little reporting from the BTS Exhibition on the weekend of the 21-22. MJ<br />
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<br />mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-22567604614482168172016-04-08T05:04:00.000-07:002016-04-08T06:33:43.827-07:00#120 - RANDOM SHIT & THE BTS EXHIBITIONI posted in the comments of yesterday's "Happy Birthday" blog stating that those of you who are eager beavers and read my blogs as soon as they post are getting rough drafts. It a strange dichotomy. I painstakingly edit and rewrite my articles. I complete re-work articles submitted to the BTS for publication in the <i>Journal</i> or <i>Newsletter</i>. I mercilessly weigh every word and look for any that can be removed. I run through spell-check set to UK English (for the BTS). I scrutinize, analyze and circumsise. Then I get a fresh set of eyes on it, usually those of Stuart Longhorn and Guy Tansley.<br />
<br />
However, this blog is just my free-form speed typing, and I can type pretty damn rapidly. I usually hit the spell-check, but it mostly highlights technical and arachno words that just aren't in this Blogger's dictionary. After pecking out my blog entry I click publish. Then I re-read and find errors. Then an hour later I remember something I wanted to add, or clarify, or delete. Then I notice other minor errors and I end up editing each blog entry another several times.<br />
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The point: I usually post early in the morning when the sun is still sleeping and I am on my first cup of coffee. The smart reader will wait until afternoon, or perhaps the following day, to read my blog. It evolves over its first few hours online. I know I should spend time editing it, but this isn't a <i>Journal</i> article. It's just my conversation (albeit one-sided, for the most part) with you. It has warts. That may add character, but those like Mr. Patterson and Mr. Campbell, who I know catch up weekly, get to read finished products. The handful of people that view the post within minutes of posting are getting only the initial draft.<br />
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*****<br />
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One thing I edited into yesterday's entry was further comment about one unnamed dealer (you're smart, you'll figure it out). I'm fresh out of fucks and out of business so I really am not bothered, but I just wanted to educate y'all about the disturbing trend where American importer dealers are really making money for their German exporters and are struggling themselves because the American tarantula hobby is shit - at least from a commercial standpoint. One ill-advised practice is buying what you can't afford and having to quickly pay off an order after the fact. I prepaid every import I every transacted. I am a cash sort of guy. I don't believe in credit. I can afford what I want. But struggling dealers will try to put up half and pay half upon arrival. That means they must quickly make some sales and get money to send to Germany. YES, YOU ARE SUPPORTING GERMAN DEALERS not "buying American". So, especially in the case of the dealer I hinted at, who knows even less about business than he does about tarantulas, he has developed a secret list of friends and loyal customers. He offers species dirt cheap, shitting on market values, to his exclusive group of secret handshake buyers so he can get the funds to pay back an exporter who told me point blank in person at the BTS Exhibition last year that he can only stay in business if he has this American distributing his spiders for him. So our American friend is just a tool. Double entendre perhaps? Allegedly? Everything is alleged ;)<br />
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*****<br />
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Since I mentioned the BTS Exhibition, I may as well go on about how excited I am for the May 22, 2016 event. I no longer buy anything and have allowed my import permit to lapse. So, why am I so damn excited. Because it is my 10th trip to the UK and I will be spending a week before the Exhibition in my home-away-from-home Bristol with my brother-from-another-mother Mark Pennell and his lovely wife Kim and my special "niece" Brandon! Plus the complete crew of Pennell family and friends that have become my second family. Only about 35 days until I catch yet another flight to Dublin and then on to Bristol. One week later the Pennell's and I will drive 90 minutes northeast to the Midlands where the event will be held this year for the first time at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre. We will have 2200 square meters with about 190 tables of arachnids, phasmids, mantids, beetles, books, art, supplies, etc. etc. etc. I care nothing about the live goods, but will look for books and art. I also am the official competition judge and photographer this year. That is another duty that Chairman Peter Kirk has passed on to me. My dear mates Rayzor and Ange Hale are the hosts and organizers of the Exhibition, which this year will celebrate its 31st year. It's a fabulous weekend, despite the fact that everyone is so friggin' busy. The Committee is, the traders are, and even the buyers are distracted and only focused on bug buying. As I've said before, the February Lectures is the better place to socialize.<br />
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*****<br />
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I certainly am anxious to travel again. I just don't feel right when I am at home for any stretch of time. However, my new business is getting closer to opening and - IF ALL GOES WELL - I will begin moving into my new space just before I leave for the UK. So, I will have to reduce my traveling a bit as I focus on earning a living once again. I prefer retirement and could just keep coasting along, but I need to keep busy and get out of the house.<br />
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I do think I'll be making a quick Texas camping trip in two weeks. I originally had another 3 week road trip to Arizona planned, but cancelled that to focus on other responsibilities. However, a couple hotel rooms are paid for and can't be refunded so I think I am going to go chase a few spiders and do some photography. I have a brand new one-man tent and a new sleeping bag designed for side-sleepers like me that I am looking forward to trying out. I think I'll hit the State Park near Laredo and the same on Lake Amistad near Del Rio. Hopefully I can scare up some <i>A. anax</i> and <i>A. moderatum </i>and maybe some herps.<br />
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For those keeping score, it continues to rain, sleet, snow here and I'd love to get south. As I type this (on the 8th of April), I am watching some snow fall.<br />
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All the best, MJmjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376403279253445785.post-29158431334107075232016-04-07T10:25:00.000-07:002016-04-07T20:22:16.354-07:00#119 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY: THE TALE OF THE GOLDEN BLUE-LEGGED BABOON SPIDERThe spider in the photograph below is one year old today. This image was captured only moments ago. The depicted yearling tarantula is one of only three remaining holdbacks of the offspring of the <i>Harpactira pulchripes</i> sac I successfully hatched. It was the first American breeding, and was the crown jewel of a half dozen or so American firsts I produced in a short stretch. Today seems like a good time to tell the complete saga of how these then highly coveted "golden blue-legged baboon spiders" made it to America. I was the first to import the species into the US and the first to breed it. Therefore, I feel like I am the only one to tell its American story. It was a passionate pet project of mine that didn't live up to expectations despite the great success. I invested a great deal of money and my was able to produce them and drop the US price from $350 to about $200. But they did not sell as briskly as one would have thought. American hobbyists - overall - are cash poor. Perhaps they should spend less time on Faffbook and work more. And now it seems like at least one dealer is hastily reducing its value. His business model has become: I'll sell cheap to my friends as soon as import lands so I can pay back my German exporter who is the only one making money off of American spider sales. But that's a whole 'nother rant ... Still, that was inevitable as even <i>Thrigmopoeus psychedelicus</i>, or whatever the current flavor of the month now, will quickly follow suit. Fact is, no bug is worth many dollars. It's an illusion that dealers (including myself during my former career) create. Some are just more larcenous than others, and others just clueless. Bugs are just bugs, but everyone chases the next wonder, especially if it's blue. There's no money in bugs. The high rollers are in the reptile world. They've created the illusion that this long-named paint job makes this ball python more than just a friggin' $25 snake. Kudos to them. Tell ya what, the next time I hatch <i>H. pulchripes</i> (<i>I'm still working with 3 females and have the three yearlings for a hopeful male</i>), I'll make sure they are affordable to all.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpP-ka78VdqoiO3Vir-aIn1pEHCUqzNzhUdmitVr7cZl-U2d3fYCotJgG5RTfZymAq_9obPm7FvMUWeuOEZnJIHGo1SRZ_KcEOlalJbeLfI8EWE6gZm0Omuyo12AMbhWafnAQs2S4EYY0-/s1600/Yearling_Harpactira_pulchripes_1280_NOWM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpP-ka78VdqoiO3Vir-aIn1pEHCUqzNzhUdmitVr7cZl-U2d3fYCotJgG5RTfZymAq_9obPm7FvMUWeuOEZnJIHGo1SRZ_KcEOlalJbeLfI8EWE6gZm0Omuyo12AMbhWafnAQs2S4EYY0-/s640/Yearling_Harpactira_pulchripes_1280_NOWM.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This yearling <i>Harpactira pulchripes</i> reached 2nd instar on April 7, 2015. It was the first hatched in the U.S.</td></tr>
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<br />
It seemed like the South African species popped out of nowhere. It was virtually unknown before "someone" allegedly "collected" [read: smuggled] it from its dry earth home in eastern South Africa to a "European" spider room. Then there was a hatching. I was able to import one single spiderling <i>Harpactira pulchripes</i> from that small, and in rabid demand, eggsac. It was the gem among a big import order I placed with Lee Ardern of The Spider Shop, Wales, UK. I paid £140 for the lone spiderling. With the exchange rate at the time and all the costs of the shipment spread out across the value of the 500 or so spiders imported, my cost was $249.19. This first spiderling to live in America arrived on June 16, 2013. He eventually matured male. Sadly, it was long before I had mature females. 250 bucks wasn't bad for the only one in the U.S., especially as it will still be a long time before American dealers had them and they would ask for $350-400.<br />
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Of interest are some of the other species received along with my first lone <i>H. pulchripes</i>. The other highlights in the box were <i>Avicularia hirschii</i> (which I would go on to produce a sac of but never hatch), Avic and Tap Colombia (both of which I would be the first to produce), and the first "<i>Omothymus</i> sp. hatihati" in the U.S. plus some Ornithoctoninae sp. Laos and <i>Pterinopelma sazamai</i>.<br />
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My next three <i>H. pulchripes</i> were also imported from Lee. They found their way to my spider room on September 10, 2013. They were a bit bigger and the demand had begun to grow. Few were available at it would still be some time before these would be offered in the states. This time his price was £165 and he only had three available to me. I snapped them up and my final adjusted cost was $300.96 each.<br />
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The goodies that shared that box included <i>Heterometrus swammerdami</i>, both <i>Pachistopelma rufonigrum</i> and <i>P. bromelicola</i> (both I would go on to be the first American breeder of), more "hatihati", <i>Haplocosmia himalayana</i>, <i>Xenesthis immanis</i>, <i>Monocentropus balfouri </i>and some of the first <i>Dolicothele</i> (then <i>Oligoxystre</i>) <i>diamantinensis</i> plus about twenty other species.<br />
<br />
I now had four slings and fed them well. A short time later I heard that a few others had trickled into the U.S. I knew I would be the first to breed them if I could only get some females. However, as these four grew (just ask Chad or Jason on how fast my Ts grow!), they were all confirmed male. If I was a tinfoil hat conspiracy nut, I'd think that the fucking Germans could sex them right out of the sac. I had to buy a female!<br />
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In March 2014, I acquired two females and a mature male. That would be the short story. The long one is quite involved and I will divulge it here. Until now, only a handful of confidants are privy to the tale I'm about to tell. But I won't tease you along. Your first question will probably be how much I paid for these two females and the male. The truth is that I don't recall. The amount was obscene. Previous to these two girls the most I had ever paid for a spider was $500 for an adult female <i>Poecilotheria metallica </i>when they were relatively new to the hobby. That's a story in itself so allow me to digress a bit here ... The reader's digest version is that one of my most annoying customers at the retail shop I had in Nashville (The Living Terrarium & Spider Shoppe) bought all kinds of expensive bugs from me. Then he had to have an adult female <i>P. metallica</i> and Kelly Swift sold him one. For $1000! This young customer changed his mind every five minutes and had more money than sense by a longshot. Not too long after coughing up a cool grand to Swifty I was able to talk him out of it for $500. He ate the other five bills just because that week he happened to be in a <i>Xenesthis</i> or monitor lizard mood.<br />
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OK, back to the über-expensive <i>Harpactira pulchripes</i> females ... on the record sheet that I tracked every single spider that went through SPIDERSHOPPE I have their price recorded as "mega". Don't believe me? Check out this screen cap:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsZ3RQWHxJICsaj_aiavnecb76XHr-VWzMCNAFI4oXShZZ7P_1C3wbjeJpG7_hro0q8hQE8HV7eIVZNejDCyx0qTdgXCJ4nim8sKtgx79Yjile-lvIriBgx3B55fUDj6gUQhhXYaRZv9v/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-04-07+at+11.25.54.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsZ3RQWHxJICsaj_aiavnecb76XHr-VWzMCNAFI4oXShZZ7P_1C3wbjeJpG7_hro0q8hQE8HV7eIVZNejDCyx0qTdgXCJ4nim8sKtgx79Yjile-lvIriBgx3B55fUDj6gUQhhXYaRZv9v/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-04-07+at+11.25.54.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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For the sake of discussion let's just say that the three spiders were three thousand dollars. That's an even figure in the vicinity at least. There were also the costs of importing and shipping and, as you are about to read, the path to me was a convoluted corkscrew of possum shit.</div>
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I eventually did receive the spiders alive on March 13, 2014, as you can see from the screen cap. It was the day of the first ArachnoGathering. And the spiders were at Tinley with us.</div>
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To be honest, my memory isn't what it used to be, but I'll try to recount the events. I became obsessed with locating female <i>H. pulchripes</i>, but realized full well that it was a search that was likely to be unsuccessful. Who would want to give up females of what was then the hot new spider? My persistence eventually paid off. On <a href="http://www.terraristik.com/tb/list_classifieds.php">Terraristik Anzeigen</a> I caught wind of a group that might be available and negotiations also took place via Facebook. The seller was a German. That was no surprise. I make no accusations. I allege nothing. But almost every single "new species" pops up in Germany first. You do the math.</div>
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However, I will tell you the facts. I have nothing against Germans and have some good friends among German arachnoculturists. However, the country has had more than its share of sellers of animals of questionable origin. Let's just say that. Those that might have access to surprising species often use assumed names on social media. That was the case with my seller. I began to know him by a completely fictitious name that he used on Facebook (Tim Köhler). I did not learn his real name until it came time for me to wire him a significant sum of money. In addition to the very high cost of my 1.2 <i>Harpactira pulchripes</i>, I was also obtaining a pair of Theraphosinae sp. Panama from him for Jason Newland.</div>
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Before I sent the money, "Tim" was in contact with me frequently. We went back and forth via Facebook Messenger. The first thing that struck me with how his ability to write English went back and forth from terrible to good. This isn't the first time I've encountered this phenomenon among animal peddlers. He could understand what he wanted to hear, but not what he didn't. He could write what he wanted from you, but not write a response to your own questions. I began to consider backing out of the deal, but I was completely obsessed with the species and I had to acquire females regardless of cost or hassle. I started looking at plane tickets to Germany to pick them up by hand. The big Hamm reptile show was coming up and, at some point, Tim (turned out that is his first name, but Köhler, which means "cool" is a pseudonym), said he would be at the show. I started thinking my safest bet was to travel to Germany, but Tim wanted the money first. The only thing that kept me from backing out of the deal is that I was chatting with Russ Gurley and found out that he had done business with him as well. It was then that I learned that Russ had a few of the species himself.</div>
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After much deliberation I sent this anonymous German four grand or so. I had asked everyone I knew about him and everyone agreed that he was a complete flake and a shady character, but that it was very unlikely I would be ripped off. I actually didn't worry so much about the latter. I had made my purchase high profile enough that the European community would be aware of any rip off and he would be done, plus I had no qualms about catching a plane to Deutschland to stand my boot upon his temple.</div>
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With the money sent and received, I began to hear very little from Tim. He was constantly in contact when he wanted my money, but disappeared for long stretches after he had it. I became very anxious and very angry. We had cooked up a plan where Russ would pick up the spiders at the Hamm show. He was going there and could then drop them off with Reptile Industries' European distributor. They were running a service for American buyers at the German reptile show where they would export your purchases back to the Reptile Industries compound in Florida and then ship them via FedEx to the buyer. So many things to go wrong ...</div>
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Eventually I got in touch with both Tim and Russ (Russ is also notoriously difficult to reach via either phone or email!) and they agreed to text each other while at the show. But then I heard nothing from them for an excruciatingly frustrating amount of time. I was wound like a top. I sent so many unanswered messages to both of them. I was cussing myself out for being so reckless. I wanted to head to O'Hare and get my ass to Germany.</div>
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Somehow, some way, I eventually got word from Russ that he had the spiders. I almost had a cardiac event. He said that this douchebag (Tim Ranl is his real name) texted him, but refused to go out of his way to meet Russ somewhere at the venue. He ended up unceremoniously just leaving them at some friends booth where, thankfully, Russ was able to retrieve them.</div>
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In the meantime, I had been doing some paperwork and correspondence with Reptile Industries in Florida, which is owned by Mark and Kim Bell, two reptile world legends who have an amazing facility. I first met them when they were much greener and were mostly selling colubrid snakes that Mark was breeding. They were living in Michigan and actually exhibited at our podunk local show when it was still Lee Watson's Reptile Swap. I was going to IHS symposia thirty years ago that the Bell's would attend. Nowadays, Kim runs the business and Mark enjoys his herds of tortoises and other critters. It's become huge. It seems Kim has gone out of her way to create a largely female office staff and I did not enjoy working with them at all. I was beginning to wonder if one competent person would ever be involved in this transaction, which, let's remember, was five spiders and a fistful of hundos. Even dealing with RI became a hassle.</div>
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I heard nothing more from Tim, Russ or even the girls at RI for some time. Eventually, I contacted RI to ask when they were going to ship my spiders. They said they were all fine and in their office. They said they "looked skinny" so a couple had been offered crickets and ate. They had planned to ship in a couple of days. I heard nothing more so I called and said, "will you be shipping soon?" They said they had the day before. I said, 'WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!!". No word on shipping, no email with tracking number, no nothing. I said do you have a tracking number. They did. But it proved that they had shipped by spiders to FUCKING ARIZONA! I lost my mind. Some poor girl had to listen to me berate her about the cost of these spiders and the brutal experience the entire process of obtaining them had already been. It turns out they sent them to some gecko guy in AZ. Don't know how they could make that big of a mistake. They never even apologized. I learned after the fact that RI ceased doing the Hamm imports because my error was the final straw in their frustration with facilitating the export and import. They blamed their European distributor for everything. One big problem was all I instructed Ranl was to put my name and species on containers as RI had instructed me. Instead, the moron put Gurley's name and you could barely read it and no species. RI got confused. And, once again, never apologized. They did, however, get the gecko guy in AZ on the phone. He had received the spiders and, no doubt, was shocked when he opened his box. Reptile Industries asked for his return shipment and said they would provide the shipping label and send a FedEx driver to pick it up. The gecko guy said he had no heat packs and, get this, didn't have enough money to buy hand warmers at Home Depot or something. I was furious. RI said they would send him heat packs. It may have been mild in AZ and Florida, but it wouldn't be in between.</div>
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So now, after being shipped from Germany to wherever to Florida to Arizona, the spiders would be shipped back to Florida for repacking and then sent on to me outside of Chicago. What an ordeal. It turns out that RI would re-ship them on the Thursday before the NARBC Tinley Park, which was the day before my first ArachnoGathering and set-up for the show. I had planned to leave my house with my truckload of booth at 9:30 a.m., but now would have to wait on the FedEx driver. I had rented a big cargo van and filled it with spiders and displays, plus all the stuff for ArachnoGathering and my luggage. I sat in my cold Huntley driveway with the van running waiting for the FedEx guy. It was March in Chicago and, even with all of the problems so far, all I was worried about that morning was that the spiders weren't freezing on the FedEx delivery truck. Once he arrived, I quickly opened the box while sitting behind the driver's seat. To my horror, the spiders were terribly packed. This idiot Tim had delivered them to Hamm on that clay desert lizard substrate in big, cheap plastic deli containers. Of course, Reptile Industries is used to shipping wild-caught rose hairs in the same deli cups they were imported in. They don't know any better. Much to my surprise all the spiders were alive and unharmed. They couldn't have been packed worse. I was pissed at everyone involved, but overjoyed to see a mature male and two females, one of which was larger than I had any idea the species I could get.</div>
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Many of the people who attended Tinley at the first ArachnoGathering got to take a peak at my prize spiders. The smaller of the two females from Ranl is the mother of the spider that began this long blog entry. One of the second group I imported - the three larger spiderlings - was the father of my <i>H. pulchripes </i>sac (if memory serves). The details would be in the linked posts below.</div>
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That is the tale of how the first "golden blue-legged baboon spiders" made it to America and the story of the ordeal of obtaining adults in order to successfully breed them. There is an <a href="http://arachnoboards.com/threads/harpactira-pulchripes-24k-south-african-gold.250136/page-2#post-2404334">Arachnoboards photo thread</a> I created with my pix from various stages of the process. There also is a <a href="http://arachnoboards.com/threads/repost-of-breeding-report-on-my-usa-first-bred-harpactira-pulchripes.272999/#post-2371849">Breeding Report</a> that details my first American breeding. If you have the time, these two AB threads are good companions to this lengthy tale. I hope you've enjoyed.</div>
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MJ</div>
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<br />mjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274616327223792656noreply@blogger.com6