Ask The Steward
By Dan Ernst
Question: What are the hard-shelled woodland spiders whose web I keep walking through? Are they poisonous?
Answer: I know exactly what you’re referring to. Like many of you, I’d often come home from a day in the woods, especially in later summer, with spider webs crisscrossing the lenses of my glasses. It was not uncommon to walk through a hundred, or more, waist to head high webs a day with a spiny arachnid often poised in the hub awaiting its’ prey. Just part of nature- right? Keep on trekking and knock down webs as you go. After all it’s just a spider. And, with only 2 of the 400 or so spider species in Indiana capable of inflicting serious injury (black widow and brown recluse) what’s the worry- this armored spider was neither of the venomous duo. This was the Spined Micrathena (Micrathena gracilis), also called the Spiny orb weaver, or Castle-back orb weaver. It is quite common in Indiana woodlands and as you take a close look the name is very fitting. It’s an odd looking, yet beautifully distinct spider that seems to be carrying a spiny conch shell on its back. The female builds and maintains the orb (web), generally dismantling it daily except for the main frame and rebuilding the orb at dawn. The male Spiny orb weaver is generally absent from the orb- unless courting. And is significantly smaller than the female with less spines on its hunched abdomen. The species feeds on insects and is found in nearly every state east of the Rockies. While the webs are annoying, this spiny arachnid is harmless to humans. Lesson learned: carry a web stick or walk behind someone taller than you.
Question: My high school senior is considering forestry as a career. Are there any foresters who offer job shadowing opportunities?
Answer: Thank you for this question as many students (and parents) are faced with tough decisions as high school graduation nears and college choices, class selection and areas of study decisions loom. The short answer is YES. There are a good number of foresters and forestry employers in Indiana who welcome the opportunity to host a student and provide forestry shadowing opportunities. At the same time please realize the opportunities are somewhat limited by both time and job safety constraints. Where to start: forest industry, forestry consulting, and government (e.g. Indiana DNR Division of Forestry and the US Forest Service/Hoosier National Forest) are among the top employers of foresters in Indiana. Each may offer shadowing opportunities, and even summer internships while in college. For industry and forestry consulting go to www.findindianaforester.org to find a forestry operator near you. For the Indiana DNR Division of Forestry contact the main DNR Forestry office in Indianapolis or, the State Forest or District Forester office in your area (www.in.gov/dnr/forestry). For the US Forest Service/Hoosier National Forest contact the forest headquarters in Bedford or Tell City, Indiana (www.fs.usda.gov/hoosier). Shadowing opportunities vary by employer but are generally short in duration- perhaps 1-5 days. Shadowing with a couple foresters can offer a broader perspective. Congratulations and good luck to the graduates.
Dan Ernst is a professional forester and past Assistant State Forester with the Indiana Division of Forestry. He has authored ‘Ask the Steward’ since 1992 and can be reached at foresterdan@yahoo.com