Spider pic's

[Mr. McD]

This fellow has been living outside my dinning room window for about a week now. I have never seen a web quite like this. There is the usual flat web in the center with an elaborate three dimensional support structure. The center of the main portion is stitched up like a football. It gets more complex each day. It is attached to a passionflower vine. He is about 2 inches toe to toe.

[olddem43]

1. Very unusual looking arachnid - I would like to know

the species.

[NJCher]

2. how fascinating!

There are so many spiders at my place that I've thought about calling it "Spider Hollow." And with all those spiders, I've never seen anything like this! The center of the web is fascinating. Lucky you--I'd love to have this spider and a passionflower outside my window.


Cher

[BlackVelvetElvis]

3. A writing spider.

Here's a little link:

http://monitor.admin.musc.edu/~cfs/aurantia/

[Mr. McD]

4. I guess she isn't a fellow after all

The body is over 2 cm.

Thanks for the link.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Where do you live?

It looks like a banana spider. They are very common down here in Florida.

[Mr. McD]

7. Southern California

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. Here's some info about banana spiders

They also go by a few other names, garden spider, golden silk spider, etc.

They are found across the southern US, so it is possible that you would find them in So. CA.




http://www.shadygrovetrainingcenter.com/Wildlife/bannana_spider_photo_gallery.htm

[Unperson 309]

6. The web Is Made That Way To Help Her Catch Food.

Note that the spider has her body parallel to the white zig-zags. This presents the visual effect of looking like a twig or branch. Flying insects will avoid the center and flit to one or the other side of the "barrier".

The zig-zag sections are non sticky silk and in addition to acting as the "twig", they enable the spider to center herself on the web. She keeps her legs in an X shape to look more like a twig and less like a spider. It also allows for maximum tactile contact with the sensing strands of her web.

Thinking like a spider enables us to realize that it is best for her if the prey hits a side of her web instead of dead center. fewer strands to replace and her food isn't in her way as she sits in her webbing.

The white X formed the zigzags also alerts birds of an obstruction so they don't fly through her home.

See?

Even common spiders are brighter than our Commander In Thief!

309

[Pithlet]

8. This is why I wish I weren't severely arachnophobic

Because spiders really are pretty damn clever.

[NJCher]

12. very interesting!

Thanks you for that post, unperson309.

I saw a spider exhibit over 12 years ago at one of the Smithsonian Museums in DC and ever since then, I've been admiring spiders.


Cher

[TexasProgresive]

9. An orb weaver-maybe a golden orb weaver

They used silk from these spiders for the famous bombsights of WWII. I can't reacal the name-Norton or something similar. Very strong silk.

[bowens43]

10. I've had a few of these spiders around my home.

They're beautiful.