The Guardian is asking for nominations for the Invertebrate of the Year, and you can submit your choice!
I made a safe and conventional pick.
Parasteatoda tepidariorum
This is not the most glamorous spider — it’s extremely common, found in pretty much every home (although you may not know about them!), and represents a diverse group of invertebrate predators. In the last few decades it has become a useful standard model system in developmental biology. This spider is a workhorse for science!
They’re also pretty. I’ve got one on my computer desk, in a vial, and I occasionally give her a mealworm. She’s a quiet and pleasant pet.
Nice choice but it does have me asking the admittedly speculative question – what is the most glamourous spider?
One of the tarantula family or a maybe one of the peacock ones?
Eg Maratus consellatus* which I reckon is a star – or number of stars anyhow!
.* See : https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-12/peacock-spiders-colourful-displays-as-species-faces-threats/104334008
I nominate Mike Johnson. He is so spineless, I can’t think of a single issue on which he has even attempted to stand up to the president.
O.K. everybody, let’s have some fun: we all go the guardian site and nominate PZ’s spider!
@2 Reginald Selkirk wrote: I nominate Mike Johnson. He is so spineless, I can’t think of a single issue on which he has even attempted to stand up to the president.
I agree, but here is the reason: It’s hard to stand up to someone when your nose is always up their ass!
It’s specifically against the Rules of this particular poll to nominate a politician. They spend a whole paragraph on it. :)
I nominated Parasteatoda tepidariorum for my first choice with some nice steady reasons. Then for second choice I did the Luna Moth with slightly looney reasons.
Not S. triangulosa? :(