Look at this big girl (spider)

[MuseRider]

Found her on the hose inside my barn this afternoon. I get lots of these but this year they are very large. This one was probably the size of my palm had she spread out. I moved her outside. Isn't she pretty? Orb Weaver as far as I can tell. Picture quality poor, used my phone camera.

[bigwillq]

1. That's a beautiful looking spider

I love spiders. They are such interesting, complex creatures.

[MuseRider]

2. I get tons of these.

They are so pretty and build big webs all over my barn, lay their eggs and die. I have named them before and god help the person who tries to kill one. I look forward to them every fall.

[bigwillq]

7. I never kill any insect that happens to find its way

into my home.

I always get a napkin or tissue, scoop it up gently and then send it outside.

[MuseRider]

13. I like the little

spiders that winter inside. I let them stay and just keep track of them. Wasps I have a problem with and will try to get them outside but if not they are goners. I hate being stung and am afraid of them. Pretty sad for a farmer but a truth none the less.

[Renew Deal]

19. Including roaches?

I have no sympathy for them.

[DrWeird]

3. OMG! She's bigger than the train!

Look out, John Kerry!

[MuseRider]

15. LOL. n/t

[librechik]

4. crap!-and the nuclear accident was how far away from you?

If that is normal corrugated steel behind it, I think I have to go change my underwear.

Where do you live? No offense, but I hope it's not Colorado...

[MuseRider]

8. Close, dear.

Kansas. They are big this year, lots of moisture and lots of bugs to consume. That is normal corrugated steel. It is in the horse washing room. I had a tiny little ringneck snake(worm sized) living in there and she either ate him or scared him off!

[NJCher]

5. That is one big spider!

Read somewhere that there will be a lot of spiders this year for some reason.

They are all over my place, that's for sure. I don't mind. I like watching them and what they capture in their webs.

I even call my place "Spider Hollow."


Cher

[MuseRider]

10. Adequate moisture and bugs

is the reason here. Have you ever captured one of their webs on paper? Black construction paper, hairspray and you have a lovely picture. But the spider then has no web so I only do it for little ones to teach them. Spider hollow, great name.

[Lisa]

29. has it been warm there this summer?

I notice that the spiders around my place seem to be bigger when the autumns are long and warm.

Re: capturing webs, an antique dealer mentioned that the Victorians used to trap intact webs between glass panes -- some of the nicer examples can fetch quite a high price these days. (I don't think they used hairspray though!)

[Lovecrafty]

6. Spiders: The farmer's friend!

[MuseRider]

11. You betcha!

I usually have a barn full of crickets about now but I have yet to see more than one at a time this year.

[UpsideDownFlag]

9. i have an intense fear and loathing of spiders.

we have these horrible jumping spiders in my basement....horrible.

[MuseRider]

12. Basement spiders

and I have a problem, they kinda creep (or jump) when you are not expecting them. Them and the hangy down spiders in the trees. Ewwwww.

[okasha]

14. Spider

Definitely an orb weaver. We get the silver ones in S. Texas.

Okasha

[MuseRider]

17. I will have

to go back to the spider site and look them up. Beautiful.

[UpsideDownFlag]

16. i discovered them by accident, when i was sleeping in the basement

i was sleeping in the basement in a sleeping bag, and i noticed something small jump from one side of me to the other...

baaad juju.

[MuseRider]

18. Are you talking about

the little black spiders or the bigger black ones with the white spots? The little ones are funny, the bigger ones look like biters, I would avoid them too.

[UpsideDownFlag]

21. these were like, wolf spiders with cricket legs.

i dunno. i think there's something in the water.

[MuseRider]

23. OMG

you mean BIG spiders. They are wonderful but scary looking. They eat all the crickets. I know they are there because I find cricket parts in my basement. I am with you, I would not sleep in the basement with them either.

[DoYouEverWonder]

20. Yes, it's an orb weaver

It goes by a couple of names, garden spider, golden orb weaver or banana spider.

They get very big and IMHO very pretty. The big ones are female and often in the web you can find a very small, insignificant male.

[MuseRider]

22. Thanks.

About the other info in your post I am only going to sit here and snicker.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. What a beauty!

She looks almost like one I nearly ran into face-first the other day. Yours looks more yellow, though. I love spiders! :loveya:

[MuseRider]

26. They are mellow.

I just picked her up and moved her. To qualify, I picked her up with the end of a lunge whip but she never seemed upset.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

25. Hey muserider, do I "know" you? I think I cyberknow you! eom

[MuseRider]

27. ?????????

I sent you a PM.

[Lisa]

28. I saw an orb weaver building a web inside the bus the other day ...

She was doing a pretty good job, even with the jiggling of the vehicle and people coming and going. I thought of taking her outside but she was too high up for me to reach.