Arachtober in Action: Amazing Photos of Spiders from Around the World

It's October, and for photographers on the photo-sharing site Flickr that can mean only one thing: It's the perfect time to share amazing pictures of spiders! Members of the Arachtober group have been posting their best spider shots on the site for eight years, and this year some members have also begun sharing their photos with the hashtag #Arachtober on Twitter. Here are some of the coolest shots of the eight-legged critters from the photographers and researchers who participate in this yearly photo exchange. [Read the full story about Arachtober] (All photos used with permission.)

Halloween Weaver

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"This species is very common where I live [in Texas], so I end up taking many photos of them. Females can reach an inch long with webs that can span several feet. My dad got a surprise one morning when he nearly walked into one that had been built across the doorway overnight. There is a lot of variety in the coloration and pattern of this species. They are also much more colorful when they are young, often having a bright green patch on their abdomen. It took me a long time to realize those were the same species. Happy Halloween!" [Credit: ©Joseph Connors IV]

"I watched these guys' mother for three months in my backyard. She never moved her orb web more than a few feet. In that time, I saw her regrow two missing legs, which can be done when spiders molt. She produced a number of egg sacks, so I got to see new babies several times. Spider babies are one of my favorite subjects. They are really cute at around 2 millimeters [0.08 inches] each. As adults, the females can measure over an inch long." [Credit: ©Joseph Connors IV]

"These spiders can be found worldwide, and are probably the type I most often find. They do not build webs, but instead wait to ambush prey, often on flowers. Their colors and patterns vary and usually provide great camouflage; some species can even change color over several days. When I can find one on a flower with contrasting color, that can make a great photo." [Credit: ©Joseph Connors IV]

"Unlike most spiders, these only have six eyes, which makes their faces look like skulls to me. Their common name comes from their method of catching prey by spitting sticky venom. I have never been spit at, but I read they can spit more than 10 times their body length (so maybe a few inches). I always find them on vinyl siding at my grandparents' house [in Louisiana], living between the slats. They come out to hunt at night." [Credit: ©Joseph Connors IV]

"Found in a web at the bottom of a friend's shower curtain in Alexandria, Virginia. He knew I like photographing spiders, so he gave her to me. I was nervous to have her out, free on my table, but then I found she moved slowly. I learned that black widows have very poor eyesight, and so they don't care to wander much. They find a corner they like, set up house and stay there." – Ashley M. Bradford [Credit: ©Ashley M. Bradford]

"After years of seeing photos of these and thinking they must be some exotic tropical species, I was surprised to start finding them right in my own backyard. This one is a tiny juvenile, and as you can imagine, they blend in well with foliage. They are jumping spiders, which hunt on foot rather than making webs. Their eyesight is better than other species', and they tend to look right at you when they notice you notice them, making for photographs like this one." – Ashley M. Bradford [Credit: ©Ashley M. Bradford]

"Another one found at my local park and wetlands. These spiders are common throughout the entire eastern half and into the center of the U.S. — from up into Canada to down in Florida. They are a beautiful green color, and their silvery abdomens have pretty patterns of yellow, green and red. The red markings are distinctive, forming a smiley face on the bottom, visible even on the smallest young." – Ashley M. Bradford [Credit: ©Ashley M. Bradford]

"I think my favorite spider image that I have shared so far is this picture of Habronattus americanus — just a stunning little jumping spider found in western North America. It is a gorgeous animal, and definitely as pretty as the peacock jumpers of Australia. If people realize they can find these things almost in their backyards (I found this one at a regional park near Victoria, B.C., in Canada), well, that has got to be some motivation to go out and explore!" — Sean McCann [Credit: ©Sean McCann]

"This is an orb-weaver type spider. The species is Metellina segmentata, and this is a female sitting in the center of her perfect orb web [in County Down, Northern Ireland]. I love how these spiders give the photographer an opportunity to take a picture of a natural history subject next to the abstract image that the web makes in the low angle sun." — Conall McCaughey [Credit: ©Conall McCaughey]