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Elspeth6 Georgetown, TX Jul 25, 2015

The spider is 3-5" including legs. The casing looks like it was molted? Just curious about what they are.

Thanks

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Jul 25, 2015

The spider is Argiope aurantia, a very common orb weaver; the 'shell' is the shed exoskeleton of a cicada, likely one of the so-called dog-day/annual cicadas in the genus Neotibicen.

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1lisac Liberty Hill, TX(Zone 8a) Jul 25, 2015

Those pics are great!

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Elspeth6 Georgetown, TX Jul 26, 2015

Thanks...the spider was very impressive. I just found his/her web in decay shortly after I visited to see how it was doing.

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1lisac Liberty Hill, TX(Zone 8a) Jul 26, 2015

I think it's a she. We had one by the front door (they are in more places now) a few years ago and I did some research on them, I can't remember everything I found out. But I remember I found some egg sacs in the web, I think it was in the fall, then I found her body shortly there after. We were all upset even though we knew it was just nature's way. My kids were young then....but we missed that spider!

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Elspeth6 Georgetown, TX Jul 26, 2015

A nice story. I didn't post the picture on Facebook because I know it would freak out a girlfriend. I keep my distance but love to learn about all things natural. I will look for her next year although being July, she might have gotten taken by a predator.

Thanks again to all.....

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