What spider chases people from a suspended web?

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   breathe2travelposted 11 years ago

   What spider chases people from a suspended web?
   
   I noticed a spider spinning a small ball while supsended midair in my kitchen. I called  two of my sons to see. At first, it scrambled up its line. We backed off. Then, we inched towards it again. The spider lunged - mid-air - towards my boys, they backed away quickly, it CHASED them - in the air! What kind of spider does this? It was a rusty brown color. I'd estimate its body to be about 3/4 inch. Couldn't tell it's legspan - maybe about a half dollar size or smaller. Do you have any idea what kind of spider it is? I'm hesitant even to go in the kitchen! We live off of the Gulf Coast. Thanks!

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2. 93

   Bedbugabscondposted 11 years ago

   It sounds like some type of Wolf Spider. There are many varieties of Wolf Spiders in the Gulf Coast. They are creepy and can be quite mean. At times it even seems like they can jump. They can be very aggressive, unlike a brown recluse, who would run from people.

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   1. 74

      breathe2travelposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I've had a wolf spider jump at me after studying me... a rather large one at that. This was not a wolf spider. It was rusty-yellow-brown. Thank you for answering.

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   2. 93

      Bedbugabscondposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hrm, if you can get a picture of it (with out it chasing you) post it. That might help with identification.

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3. 96

   cat on a soapboxposted 11 years ago

   I'm not sure, but your description of the spider with a white ball suspended from it makes me think it was a bola spider. They cast the sticky ball, suspended from a silky thread, out toward their prey to catch it, then reel it back in. It can give the impression that the actual spider is jumping forwards- toward YOU!

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