Today I got some images of a gorgeous sunset over Thanda. The word Thanda means love in the Zulu language. A very fitting name for a beautiful place.
And while I was driving through some over-grown areas I heard a slight impact on the seat next to me. When I looked I saw, what I first thought was, a small piece of bark of a tree. But when I looked more closely it was a small spider (approx. 2cm or 3/4″) in size. This species is called Darwin’s Bark Spider. It looks exactly like a piece of bark when it pulls its legs in. I took a small stick, let it climb onto the stick and put it back into a tree. The picture below is of a second bark spider I saw later in the day hanging in its web.
More about the Bark Spider:
Darwin’s Bark Spider (Caerostris darwini) is an orb-weaver spider. The species was named in honor of the naturalist Charles Darwin, with the description being prepared precisely 150 years after the publication of The Origin of Species.
Darwin’s Bark spider occurs in Madagascar and some parts of South Africa. It is the architect of the largest web in the world. Webs are woven across entire rivers and span up to 30 square feet.
Its silk is the toughest biological material ever studied, over ten times tougher than a similarly-sized piece of Kevlar.
Is this spider only found in Africa?
Darwin’s Bark spider occurs in Madagascar and some parts of South Africa. It is the architect of the largest web in the world. Webs are woven across entire rivers and span up to 30 square feet.
Sure glad the bark spider landed on the seat beside you and not on you! Absolutely georgous sunset. Thanks for sharing something new and interesting with us every day.
Oh my Gosh, what a beautiful sunset.You just keep on amazing me with beautiful pictures.I hope the spider is a harmless one. If that had been me,my first reaction would probably jump from the truck and run!! Then probably get eaten or something like that.Have A Great Day!
ouuuuuuu! Gives me a little shiver up the spine to hear about a spider hitting the seat beside you! I noticed you said you were driving in overgrown wilderness. That sounds very dangerous and scarey too! On a lighter note, the sunset is beautiful!
I enjoyed hearing about the meaning of the word Thanda. Is it pronounced the way it appears? I am grateful that you are sharing with us. I so love your pictures and learning of new species (and cultures, etc)!! Thank you!
Thanda is pronounced “tanda”. Thanks for your comment!