Author Topic: Texas - another place dropped from the list of places to visit (Read 11053 times)

vaskidmark · « **on:** September 12, 2012, 05:59:37 AM »

This has got to stop! Pretty soon there will be nowhere safe to go visit.

stay safe.

http://tinyurl.com/9dnkrbz

Quote

While biologists may be rejoicing over the recent discovery of a rare spider that was thought to be extinct, not everyone is elated -- particularly commuters around San Antonio, Texas.

Workers found the Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver (Cicurina venii) spider, which hasn't been seen in three decades, in the middle of a $15.1 million highway construction project in northwestern San Antonio. The eyeless arachnid is on the endangered species list—since construction would disrupt the spider's natural habitat, the project has been halted for the foreseeable future.

Jean Krejca, a biologist and President of Zara Environmental who was consulting on the project, made the extraordinary discovery after a downpour of rain revealed a 6-foot deep spider hole. After dissecting the spider, a taxonomist later confirmed that the distinct-looking arachnid was, in fact, the Meshweaver, named for its pattern of webbing.

The Meshweaver was placed on the federal endangered species list in 2000, along with eight other spiders found only in the Texas county. George Veni first identified the spider in 1980 in a location five miles away from the construction site.

MrsSmith · « **Reply #1 on:** September 12, 2012, 09:53:48 AM »

Like I'm going to click that link. Puh-lease.

I knew there was something I didn't like about San Antonio. Liberals who would put a bug that was already thought to be extinct (and yet in the 30 years since anyone has seen one, the world hasn't ended, so clearly we can live without it) ahead of a $15 million dollar road project - and IIRC, the roads in San Antonio need all the help they can get. Ridiculous.

AZRedhawk44 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 12, 2012, 10:31:00 AM »

6 foot deep spider hole?

Styrofoam, gasoline, stir well. Pour and ignite.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #3 on:** September 12, 2012, 10:52:54 AM »

Funny, it was the Texans in Texas that kept me from visiting.

Chris

Stetson · « **Reply #4 on:** September 12, 2012, 10:55:45 AM »

Anyone that can't read the context of "Dissected" and is afraid of a dead spider needs to stay out of Texas anyway. There are other things there that might scare you....a live bunny or something.

roo_ster · « **Reply #5 on:** September 12, 2012, 11:12:08 AM »

Pave the ~~rainforest~~ caves.

zahc · « **Reply #6 on:** September 12, 2012, 11:27:34 AM »

Since I have only a few spots in my yard that turn brown, I have been spot-watering those areas to save water keeping my grass green. To reduce evaporation losses, I go out after dark with a flashlight to set my little sprinklers.

So I was out in my yard in bare feet shining my flashlight and saw the yard looked like it was wet, because of all the little points of light reflecting back. I was confused until I realized it was thousands of wolf spiders all sitting on top of the grass, and the little points of light were their beady little eyes. There was probably at least 1 per square foot. I don't know why they like my yard so much.

ArfinGreebly · « **Reply #7 on:** September 12, 2012, 06:20:56 PM »

Quote from: zahc on September 12, 2012, 11:27:34 AM

Since I have only a few spots in my yard that turn brown, I have been spot-watering those areas to save water keeping my grass green. To reduce evaporation losses, I go out after dark with a flashlight to set my little sprinklers.

So I was out in my yard in bare feet shining my flashlight and saw the yard looked like it was wet, because of all the little points of light reflecting back. I was confused until I realized it was thousands of wolf spiders all sitting on top of the grass, and the little points of light were their beady little eyes. There was probably at least 1 per square foot. I don't know why they like my yard so much.

Please post close-up pix.

Use Spoiler wrap.

I live in an area where this phenomenon is possible. Need to know what it looks like.

Scout26 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 12, 2012, 06:21:42 PM »

I'm confused.

VA has crossed Tejas off the list of places to visit because of the dime-sized, blind spider that dig 6 foot holes or the flaming libtard, enviro-wackos that halted a road construction project?

vaskidmark · « **Reply #9 on:** September 12, 2012, 06:37:45 PM »

Quote from: scout26 on September 12, 2012, 06:21:42 PM

VA has crossed Tejas off the list of places to visit because of the dime-sized, blind spider that dig 6 foot holes or the flaming libtard, enviro-wackos that halted a road construction project?

Precisely!

stay safe.

Tallpine · « **Reply #10 on:** September 12, 2012, 06:55:32 PM »

Quote

I don't know why they like my yard so much.

It's your bare feet that they like

charby · « **Reply #11 on:** September 12, 2012, 08:24:31 PM »

Well I think it pretty cool they found an animal that was thought to have been extinct.

Tallpine · « **Reply #12 on:** September 12, 2012, 09:26:40 PM »

Quote from: charby on September 12, 2012, 08:24:31 PM

Well I think it pretty cool they found an animal that was thought to have been extinct.

Yeah, I remember twenty-something years ago there was some plant in Utah that was thought to be virtually extinct, and then someone found a whole field of it growing right across the road from the state environmental office

Sergeant Bob · « **Reply #13 on:** September 12, 2012, 09:29:44 PM »

Quote

Jean Krejca, a biologist and President of Zara Environmental who was consulting on the project, made the extraordinary discovery after a downpour of rain revealed a 6-foot deep spider hole. After dissecting the spider, a taxonomist later confirmed that the distinct-looking arachnid was, in fact, the Meshweaver, named for its pattern of webbing.

Now it's extinct!

Tallpine · « **Reply #14 on:** September 12, 2012, 10:14:44 PM »

Quote

the Meshweaver, named for its pattern of webbing

Radiant!

MechAg94 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 12, 2012, 11:27:54 PM »

Texas is a big place. I hadn't even heard of this. 300+ miles away at least.

However, since the endangered species act is a federal law, there must be 49 states that you dont visit anymore.

TommyGunn · « **Reply #16 on:** September 12, 2012, 11:31:19 PM »

Quote from: charby on September 12, 2012, 08:24:31 PM

Well I think it pretty cool they found an animal that was thought to have been extinct.

To bad it wasn't something more interesting than a spider.

MrsSmith · « **Reply #17 on:** September 13, 2012, 12:05:39 AM »

Now THAT would be something to talk about!

HankB · « **Reply #18 on:** September 13, 2012, 06:16:01 AM »

What puzzles me is that when the construction crews opened up the hole, someone apparently thought to call the Federal Spider Cops instead of getting a can of Raid and dealing with the problem the way any rational person would.

And with a $16,000,000,000,000+ national debt, it's rather upsetting to know that we're spending money on Federal Spider Cops.

charby · « **Reply #19 on:** September 13, 2012, 05:36:59 PM »

Quote from: HankB on September 13, 2012, 06:16:01 AM

What puzzles me is that when the construction crews opened up the hole, someone apparently thought to call the Federal Spider Cops instead of getting a can of Raid and dealing with the problem the way any rational person would.

And with a $16,000,000,000,000+ national debt, it's rather upsetting to know that we're spending money on Federal Spider Cops.

Maybe you its just a blind spider but what if the next protected species is a bug that in 20 years science discovers it secretes a chemical that cures certain cancers?

Tallpine · « **Reply #20 on:** September 13, 2012, 06:10:30 PM »

Quote from: charby on September 13, 2012, 05:36:59 PM

Maybe you its just a blind spider but what if the next protected species is a bug that in 20 years science discovers it secretes a chemical that cures certain cancers?

No juju in sky flower.

Sky flower home for bugs.

TommyGunn · « **Reply #21 on:** September 13, 2012, 07:13:04 PM »

Quote from: charby on September 13, 2012, 05:36:59 PM

Maybe you its just a blind spider but what if the next protected species is a bug that in 20 years science discovers it secretes a chemical that cures certain cancers?

Does this ever happen outside of 1970s made-for-TV-movies?

Tallpine · « **Reply #22 on:** September 13, 2012, 07:32:41 PM »

Quote from: TommyGunn on September 13, 2012, 07:13:04 PM

Does this ever happen outside of 1970s made-for-TV-movies?

TommyGunn · « **Reply #23 on:** September 13, 2012, 07:53:24 PM »

Or any movie at all? ?

MrsSmith · « **Reply #24 on:** September 13, 2012, 11:57:57 PM »

If a spider has ever saved mankind from any freakin' thing, I'll wear Monkeyleg's moccasins.

Yeah, I see y'all scurrying to research the topic. Let me just say, the Horseshoe Crab doesn't count.

News:

Author Topic: Texas - another place dropped from the list of places to visit (Read 11053 times)