Spyder

[Ozzy]

Last January I went to North Carolina. While I was there I got a sample of U.gibba from a roadside ditch near Jones Lake State Park. I put it in a container, brought it home to Ohio. As the dirt and sand started to settle in the small tank that I had it in I would start to catch glimpse of something living inside with the U.gibba. It was very fast and since the water was still cloudy I could only see it for a split second, then it would disappear back into the sand. Soon the water settled and I could see the animal very good, but I have no idea what he is. I had Doug (Death66) take some pics of it for me. Here they are.

I became quite fond of this little guy and I named him Spyder.
Even though I have lived most of my life in the same county that Spyder came from I have don't know what he is. Does anybody have any idea what Spyder may be?

Even though I really wanted to keep spyder I thought it would be best to let him live free in the same ditch I got him from. So I planned that when I go back to North Carolina again I would set him free in the same ditch that I got him from. Tragically that never happened. Last summer during a very bad storm the wind blew over his tank and I couldn't find him on the ground where it fell. I have wondered what he was ever since I first saw him. If anybody have any ideas I would love to hear em.

 

[NickHubbell]

I maybe wrong, but it looks similar to a dragonfly nymph.

 

[droseradude]

 

. . . you stole some u. gibba from the roadside mr. conservation moderator

yeah, it was probably legal though
dont know what spyder was

 

[Ozzy]

I followed every rule accourding to the ICPS guildlines. I first found this plant in July of 2002. I waited until I knew what the laws and regulations were before I took a sample. I even got Barry Rices opinion first. I then legally took a sample of a non-theatened plant.
That is totally different than taking a pitcher plant or a vft.
That don't mean that you can go out and take any bladderwort you want. You must do it legal.

 

[sarracenialuver]

Hello,
It appears to be what I called them like when I was 5, a boatmen. After the confirmation in my Audobon guide to North American insects, it appears to be either a common backswimmer, Kirby's backswimmer, or water boatmen. Sorry to hear about him.

Kevin

 

[droseradude]

hehe thats a lot of work to get a u. gibba!

 

[fatboy]

I'm pretty sure Nick is right, looks like a dragonfly nymph to me too.
Here's a pic of one Ozzy

Cheers, Troy.

 

[sarracenialuver]

Hello,
       This common backswimmer resembles the picture when Josh has it in his hand

This one looks like the one in the container, in the second picture.

If you notice the 2 appendages when Ozzy is holding it in his hand, you can look in the second picture I found, and can notice that they both have them. Just my 2 cents.
                           Kevin