Luciano, Bradley's Pet Spider

Luciano Eats a Fly

My husband finally admits that he's keeping this spider as a pet. It's right above/behind his computer monitor, where BP spends most of his time. My picture shows Luciano (the spider) eating a fly that Bradley threw (live) into the web. Below, the screen grab shows BP's FB confession.

Luciano is a Long Legged Cellar Spider from the Family Pholcidae (a.k.a. Cobweb Spider Pholcus phalangioides). According to the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, "It was hoped that this spider [Luciano's near relative Holocnemus pluchei, to be precise] would displace the black widow in many areas when it became established; however this has not proven to be the case."

Tell me about it! We can't open the clothes washer enclosure or the recycling roller-can without disturbing a big-old Black Widow. Our neighbor's stone retaining wall holds at least a dozen honker Black Widows at night. (We counted!)