Boris... the spider

Discussion in 'Wildlife in the Garden' started by cherylad, Jul 13, 2010.

  1. cherylad

    cherylad Countess of Cute-ification Plants Contributor

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    I am NOT a fan of spiders. Yes... they have their purpose in life... but they're better off just keeping their distance from me (or vice versa).
    However... I've been watching this one spider for a few weeks. He's set up home right over one of my larger flower containers. I wasn't so much interested in him, but how he was making his web. So I let him stay since I've never seen him leave his web.
    Yesterday, he was having a great day, food wise.
    When I got home, he had captured what was probably a fly, a grasshopper and a small butterfly.
    I watched him devour the butterfly's inerts and then kick the remains out of the web. This morning, the fly and grasshopper were both gone. Wonder what he'll do now that his belly is full?


    [​IMG]
    spider's backside ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )





    [​IMG]
    spider's belly ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )



    Oh yeah... anybody know what kind of spider this is?
     
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  3. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Looks like a Black and Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia.) Great shots of the insects he's caught all bound up in silk. :-D
     
  4. cherylad

    cherylad Countess of Cute-ification Plants Contributor

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    I wanted to get closer for the photos... but I was too scared to! :sete_079:

    Even the rest of the evening, everytime I felt something brush against me, I'd jump and swat at it.
    :snicker:
     
  5. glendann

    glendann Official Garden Angel

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    Toni can tell you her name.She is a writting Spider.I had about 5 of them one year. She will make a big sack and lay her eggs in it and then hundreds of babies will hatch from it and the wind will spread them to you neighbors and miles away.They are the best insect catchers.
     



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  6. cherylad

    cherylad Countess of Cute-ification Plants Contributor

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    Gives me shivers thinking about hundreds of baby spiders floating around!
     
  7. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Glenda is right another name for this spider is Writing Soider. This name comes from the large white zigzag in the centre of its web called the stabilimentum or web decoration which can look like writing.
    It's also known as a Corn Spider or Golden Garden Spider.
     
  8. cuatro-gatos

    cuatro-gatos In Flower

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    That is one beautiful spidy. Wish we had a few in
    our backyard.
     
  9. mart

    mart Strong Ash

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    In Texas we call them cotton or cottonwood spiders. They are harmless and fascinating to watch. We have a few here yearly !! Make a huge web and helps with fly control.
     
  10. Delly

    Delly In Flower

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    wow can someone ship some of those babies this way, the flies are absolutely NUTS this time of year around here!
     
  11. glendann

    glendann Official Garden Angel

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    Yes,here in this part of Texas they are a site to behold.I am not afraid of spiders but (my kids) Heather and Kevin fear them and I'm not sure why .If you leave them alone they will you.I do kill them if they are in the house.I don't have that many inside ones.
     
  12. cherylad

    cherylad Countess of Cute-ification Plants Contributor

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    Hope he just keeps to himself and keep on doing his thing!
     
  13. Kay

    Kay Girl with Green Thumbs

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    I don't really care for spiders, but the garden spiders just fascinate me. They can be pretty big, and the webs they weave are strong! Whenever I come across one in my gardening travels, I just leave it alone. :-o
     
  14. featherphobia

    featherphobia Seedling

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    Those are great to have around, and pretty too. I hate when you walk into a web unexpectedly though those might be big enough to avoid.
     
  15. daisybeans

    daisybeans Hardy Maple

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    Cool. I don't mind spiders. I don't like getting the web all over me. The big ones are very fun to watch. This guy is a real beauty.
     
  16. Lil Bug

    Lil Bug New Seed

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    This guy has a lot of names also goes as a banana spider , or golden orb.I had one on my tomato plant but he moved on before I could get a picture.
     

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