It was early evening yesterday when I went out to check on the zinnias and sunflowers. Timing is everything. So is the light. Because the light was just right, I saw a huge web, attached to a couple of zinnias and the purple hyacinth bean vine. And I saw this magnificent creature, spinning silk around her prey.
The prey is a stink bug, I think.
Do you see those markings?
She is at least 4 inches long, including her legs. I think her body is about an inch long. Very big spider. I was in awe. She may be the most beautiful spider I’ve ever seen.
Of course, after taking about 40 pictures, I ran inside to google ‘black and yellow spider.’ A photo, not unlike mine, immediately came up. Her name? Argiope Autantia commonly known as the black and yellow garden spider, or the writing spider, or corn spider. According to Wikipedia, that dense center area of the web is called a stabilimentum. Some think it acts as camouflage, which is what I was thinking. She stayed very close to this area of the web. Others think it might attract prey. Each night, she will consume the circular interior part of the web and then rebuild it the next morning with fresh silk. That stink bug was injected with venom and then the spider wrapped it in cocoon of silk, which is where I came in.
You, dear readers, may not like spiders. I don’t mind them at all. But even if you don’t particularly like them, you have to admit this is a beauty. I was so fortunate to see her, in just the right light. My little camera came through for me. Thanks little Canon bridge camera!
I went out this morning. Sure enough, she rebuilt the center:
I feel like we’re buddies now.
Don’t forget, our weekly party starts tonight. I’ll have the post up and ready for you to link at 8:00 pm EST.
Oh goodness. I forgot to draw a winner for the book giveaway. It’s Lynn! Congratulations, Lynn. I’ll drop you an email.
Happy Friday.
Claudia, your new friend is beautiful. Amazing photos!
She`s lovely, Claudia, but I hate spiders!!!
Your photos are exquisite! She’s beautiful ( in a icky – spidery sort of way )….happy Friday!
Lori
Those are some amazing photos! While I love seeing them I’m not a spider fan~ they creep me out.
hugs, Linda
Hi Claudia,
Awesome photos, but I still do not like spiders :) xoxo Debbie
I had to speed through your pics today Claudia. I have a hard time even looking at spiders….can’t help it…I have a major fear of them. I am sure the photography is spectacular too! ~Hugs, Patti
wow! I would have been the same way Claudia- I like spiders and I think they are fascinating. What incredible pictures!!!
I have to admit that spiders kind of freak me out. We have so many of them by the bay. They leave webs all over everything including the clothes lines and hammock and chairs. That one is very unusual looking though- xo Diana
Beautiful photos..Your new friend is beautiful as well..unusual coloring, I thought..
The intricate web reminds one of lace curtains . . . the markings are menacing ~ those of a warrior woman defending her nest : great contrast, Claudia.
That’s incredible, Claudia! And your photographs are so beautiful. What a miracle nature is! I love finding spiders in the garden because they do so much good. But if I find anything larger than a little white house spider inside, it gets a very swift escort out the door!? Have a lovely weekend.
Great photos, Claudia! The spider looks like he/she has an African mask in it’s back. Pretty cool markings, even though I’d really freak if I found it in my house.
I have a garden spider that has spun her web right outside our back door. They are so interesting to watch. When I was in elementary school they would put these spiders in the classrooms on a special wood frame with a water mote in the bottom so the students could feed them and observe. They were fun to learn about!
I’m definitely not a spider lover, but she’s a real beauty. and your photos are spectacular :)
Claudia – Fantastic photos but I can hardly stand to look at spiders. They scare me even when they are itsy bitsy!!
Judy
Absolutely fascinating, my entire family had to come and ooh and aah over the pictures and the information. So glad you took pics and looked up the information. Now we learned something, so much fun! Mary
She is a beauty! I think the webs of the garden spiders are just the most perfectly shaped web of all! If you can find them with the dew drops sparkling it is sheer brilliance! :)
Dear Claudia, you took some amazing photoes of your beautiful spider…
I don`t like them too much, but also don`t fear them- only do not want too many inside my house :-)
Happy weekend to you.
XO,Dorthe
Oh my, if I went out to check my zinnias and sunflowers and saw a 4″ spider I’d probably still be running. She is a beauty though… I think I even saw her smiling. :)
I had a garden spider just outside my dining room window. That’s where I sit in the morning because I can see the front flower beds so well, plus it’s shady in the morning. I watched that spider daily, delighting in every grasshopper she devoured. After rain, after wind, she was always still there. Monday morning she was gone, web and all! I’m looking all over the yard for her, wondering just what happened. I miss my morning companion.