Cindy, From My Corner of Katy sponsors Three for Thursday every week, and the nice thing about this meme is that you can choose whatever three things you want. This week, I’m all about the insects living in my garden, and this time of year, there are a lot of creepy crawlers out there. Here’s one locavore who makes it her business to eat locally, and she’s not even an insect. She’s an amazing arachnid instead.
Araneidae, Golden Orb Weaving spider
This large and impressive spider wove her huge web over the entire first tier of the raised border next to the deck. Can you see how large she is in this picture? That’s my rain gutter, and she’s nearly the size of it. When I saw her, I about jumped out of my chair because my other garden spiders are more elongated and not so uhm, voluptuous. So, I consulted the Internet and my spider loving friends, and they all agreed she was an orb weaver, also called a zig zag spider, but officially a black and yellow Argiope. Although she quite frankly creeped me out a bit, I also felt sorry for her. The wind had damaged her magnificent web. For two days, she just sat on the edge of it as though defeated and a bit depressed.
This morning, I went to check on her, and I discovered why she was so large and why she didn’t move much. I found her or perhaps her mate, much smaller, sitting in the middle of a reconstructed, if somewhat less ambitious web.
Egg sack of Argiope
Above, where she’d been sitting patiently only the day before is the largest egg sack I’ve ever seen, and it explains both her reticence to move and large size. She was in the family way, and having been pregnant myself three times, I can tell you I didn’t do much those last three days before giving birth. In fact, when pregnant with Bear, Non-Gardening Best Friend, Aimee, came over the day before I went to the hospital and vacuumed for me because I just didn’t have the energy. If spiders can feel, and perhaps they can, I bet she was panting for air and didn’t care that her web was a mess.
Back to her original beautiful size, or is that her mate? I learned online she is supposed to die after laying her egg sack.
I’ll watch the egg sack and protect it from humans. In the spring, if I’m home when the babies hatch, I’ll take a picture and show you. Oh, and these spiders don’t want to bite humans. They are a beneficial creature in the garden eating lots of insects. You know, part of the wonderful circle of life. Just look at those markings. The good Lord didn’t need to make them so colorful and interesting for us to observe, so be nice and don’t squish them. Please.
For more information on these beneficial and beautiful spiders, please visit Mark Moran’s article.
She’s wonderful…can you believe that she spends her life upside down waiting for food! I’ve noticed a few in the garden this past month~They always say end of summer to me…gail
Gail, I guess upside down is right side up for her? Yes, they are the end of summer darlings along with your Buckeye butterfly.
What a beautiful girl she is/was! I haven’t had any Argiopes in my garden in a while and I miss them. I remember seeing a horde of infant OrbWeavers on a shrub once … good thing I’m not an arachnophobic!
Thanks for joining in Three for Thursday!
Cindy, it’s funny you should say that because I went several years without them, and now they’re back. I always wonder about these things, but I don’t have any answers.
Great little architects. I can relate. Tireless too. I am always amazed how working in the garden, I see webs between two shrubs that seem to go on and on. You have to wonder how they get from point A to point B. The other thing, if you accidentally destroy the web, it is back the next morning. I like spiders.
Donna, I like them too. Some of them give me the willies, but they are amazing creatures and I’m grateful to have them in my garden. Thanks for stopping by.
Wow, and I didn’t scream, or shudder, or….well anyways, I am sure you know how I feel about spidys, but I don’t kill them.
She is gorgeous, and not at all hairy and running after me, you are very brave to take those photos.
What an amazing insect, and we will look forward to seeing all those babies.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Jen, I’m impressed because quite frankly I gave a little shudder when I first saw her. She was huge. No, she’s not a hairy spider at all. We do have the hairier ones too. Yes, when the baby Zigs hatch, I’ll let everyone know.
Oh joy of joys, Dee, I can click and comment! Wonderful! Where to begin? The bulging mama was certainly full of babies, that is a huge egg sack! I admire you for allowing her to be a part of your garden. Some people are afraid and see them as enemies of humans when that is not the case at all. Not for Mrs. Zig Zag, anyway. Great shots and info here, my dear friend. 🙂
Frances
Frances, first, yay! I’m glad you can comment again. I used to be terrible afraid of insects and other garden creatures, but I had to let that go to see all of the flowers. I dearly love Mrs. Zig Zag. Love her name too.
We have noticed what we take to be Argiope Bruennichi near us – which are also orb spiders (with the hallmark messy webs) but they have black and yellow stripes. (Nothing like this creature here!) The picture at the top – I peered at it a lot because it looks like a plastic toy . . . is very special. What an extraordinary thing to find – and she may have been lumpy when filled with eggs but what delicate legs and tippy toes she has!
Esther
Esther, that was so interesting. She does look like a plastic toy, and I didn’t enhance the photo hardly at all. I think it’s just she was about to pop. Her little feet look like she’s teetering on high heels.
Ours are really gaining in size. We watched on in one of our new park projects devour some unidentifiable insect yesterday. I’m with everyone’s response to having the web molded to your face like a piece of plastic wrap, yuck!
Jim, I wonder if yours will grow as big my lady? I don’t like the webs across my face either. I’m glad when they take them up for the day.
The first picture of her looks almost like a fake spider, so big! I’m like Layanee, I don’t like to be surprised by spiders or run into their webs. Very good info, very interesting.
I know she does look fake. I don’t like running into the webs either. Decidedly creepy, but I love the work the spiders do in the garden.
YIKES!!
Kelly, she really is something to behold isn’t she?
I don’t like to be surprised by spiders but they are quite interesting once discovered and, as you say, great architects.
Well, Layanee, she was a bit of a surprise, but I’m glad I noticed her. I’m also glad I didn’t find her in the roses I was deadheading.
It would be great to see one of these eggs hatch. I would imagine that some critter will find it before next spring. Hopefully not.
Yes, Lisa, it would. I’m hoping nothing finds it so high up. Will keep everyone advised.
Oh you sweetheart, YOU KNOW I LOVE THIS ENTRY. The Argiopes are one of my favorites in spider land. I have a HUGE Charlotte (Argiope cavaticus) outside the front ocean side window. I turn the lamp on every night and watch her hunt. Amazing.
Love you,
S
Sharon, I thought of you as I wrote it. So glad you like her too.~~Dee
That spider was huge!
MMD, Huge, and as you convinced me, beautiful too.
What a great job you did researching your spider and giving us beautiful photos of her.
We often have what we call “porch spiders.” Those are the ones who make their webs off our porch where we can see them. They are facinating to watch and I tell myself they’re catching all those millers that want to fly in the door at night. 🙂
Thanks so much GSS. I did my best. I love “porch spiders.” We can see her mate from the kitchen breakfast nook, so I think he also qualifies.