Out side in the flower graden we spotted and unusal spider web. The web is in a cork screw shape and about the size of a pencil. I have taken a picture of it, at the time the spider was behind the web but his legs show. If this picture isn't good enough I will try to get one when all of him is showing.
How unusual. I've never seen anything like it. Thanks for posting the photo.
I think that it is the yellow and black one that used to reside in the tomato patch..will check for name.
I think that it is the yellow and black one that used to reside in the tomato patch..will check for name.
Ask.com...Argipe Aurantia
aka Black and yellow garden spider, writing spider, banana spider,corn spider
Not known to be harmful to humans.
Just thank you, your answer is appreciated
You are welcome..fun memories of seeing it in the farm garden.
This is my very favorite spider! I like to call it a Garden Spider, but it is really an argiope. Haven't had one here for a few seasons. They are so beautiful!
We call them Golden Orb Weavers here. They can get huge and scary looking, but they are harmless to us. They love the bigger bugs, like grasshoppers. And they'll steal my butterflies if I'm not paying attention.
The "zipper" in their web reinforces the web, making it stronger. They expend so much energy creating the web that they usually won't build another one if that one gets damaged. They'll try to repair it instead.
Smaller spiders like to hang out in the corners to eat the smaller bugs that get caught in the web. The Golden Orb Weaver won't bother with anything it thinks is too small, so these smaller spiders keep the web clean.
They're fascinating to watch. I have a few every year and they get huge. I try not to damage their webs while working in the gardens but they like to attach to so many plants and sometimes I don't realize they're there until I've done my damage.
Thank you Butterfly, when you say they get huge, how big is huge? Something clobbered the one we had and a heavy rain washed web and all away. The spider itsself was spindly but about 2 inches log.
I don't know how big they ultimately get. I've seen some whose bodies alone were 2 to 2.5 inches long--just the body. They get pretty fat off the grasshoppers here. I love them. I think they're beautiful creatures. I enjoy watching them. I don't want them touching me though. I don't want to get into the web or have one crawling on me. I keep a respectful distance and just admire them.
After they mate, they'll "tie a sack of eggs" up somewhere, like in the eaves of the house. Now that I know what it is, I don't disturb it. Yet it doesn't seem like I'm ever invaded with numerous weavers, just a few scattered throughout my gardens each year. I even help them by catching some grasshoppers and tossing them in the web. Oooooh, the malicious pleasure I get from that! LOL
Way to go!! I tried to toss a Japanese beetle into unknown web..too heavy. My garden shoe had to do its' thing :)
Look at St Andrew's Cross spider (order: Araneae) in Bug Files. I have several of these around my house. They are very beneficial and will not bite unless you handle them. Even if they do bite it will not harm you.
