This is a common "garden spider" in Florida, but lacks the horizontal bands on the abdomin of most Arigiope aurantia. I have found no pictures of this one. She large (2-3") and the web spans 15 ft. She has been in the same web for at least a week and does not seem to respin every night as I have read is common with Arigiope. She also does not spin the zig-zag "writing" in the center.
The web has a yellow tint and she looks like the Nephila clavipes
Check out this link: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1127056/
Melody, thanks. Yes the web is made with "gold" silk, very strong. I apologise for misleading anyone with my assumption (always dangerous!) that she was arigiope - the size and bands on the legs led me there.
An interesting and informative article is here:
http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/golden_silk_spider.htm
John
This message was edited Sep 5, 2010 10:54 AM
I'm not sure that I could convince myself that she tasted like peanut butter...sounds suspiciously similar to..."tastes like chicken"
I agree, I wonder which of the bug guys at UF determined that - some poor freshman entomology major...??
Funny!
