I spy a garden spider, and she’s not alone
Everyone’s been talking this month about the common but uncommonly large garden spider, also known as black-and-yellow argiope. As it happens, my garden is home to at least one of these colorful, creepy, yet beneficial predators.
She’s a big ‘un! She builds her web in the curbside garden between a softleaf yucca and a cluster of Salvia greggii. She’s large enough that I can see her as I slow the car to turn into the driveway each day. I have a mild phobia of spiders and won’t tolerate them in the house. Outside, however, I appreciate the essential part they play in keeping other insect populations in check, and I’m even willing to admire them a little.
A strolling path runs behind that garden bed, so I can get a good look at her underside as well. My breath disturbed her as I was taking her photo, and she vibrated the web with her legs, perhaps in an effort to scare me off.
As I stepped back to give her space, I noticed a papery, brown-and-green orb dangling from sticky strands amid the yucca leaves. An egg sac! It’s about an inch in diameter and hidden just to the right of her web. Charlotte has ensured that a new batch of argiopes will continue her work next season.
All material © 2006-2014 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
After all these years I have never seen the egg case. I will have to have a look around to see if I can find one. All the spiders are prepping for winter. I have seen others. The webs all over look like fairy lace.
I’d never seen one for this kind of spider before. But last year I watched a green lynx spider for a while and saw her egg case too. —Pam
Totally cool – that egg sac is impressive. It looks like you’ll be spying these lovelies for some time to come. I’m sad to say the largest female spider in our back beds has disappeared and I suspect fowl play (pun intended). Some smaller females remain and though they are probably too young yet I’m out right this minute to look for any signs of egg sacs.
I thought this one had been eaten one day when I saw only a tattered web where she’d been hanging out. She was gone an entire day — perhaps laying her eggs? But a couple days later I noticed she’d returned. Perhaps your spider moved off to happier hunting grounds. —Pam
That’s a pretty one! This time of year we have quite a few garden spiders in our garden too, but not Argiope, a different, smaller species, also orb-makers. I have a mild phobia of spiders too, so I don’t tolerate them in the house either.
Luckily these don’t seem inclined to come indoors. Can you imagine? —Pam
Still haven’t seen one of those here. She’s a pretty one. And, I’ve never seen an egg sac.
We have LOTS of spiders here, though. Too many, sometimes. They can make a mess.
I’d never seen so many spiders as I saw in and around the N.H. lake house we rented last month. Whew! I’m glad to be back to Texas levels, which are quite high enough, thank you. —Pam
Such a beautiful spider! I’m weird, so I like spiders. My garden favorite here is a jumping spider with turquoise eyes. Wish one or two like yours would show up! I just remembered Daddy Longlegs spiders. Anyone seen these lately? Used to be lots here but I haven’t seen one in years.
Jumping spiders totally creep me out, Sandy — ha! But I try to be tolerant, I really do. I saw plenty of daddy longlegs spiders in N.H. recently but not here at home. —Pam
she’s beautiful! I’ve never found the egg ssac either… will have to pay more attention.
I guess they generally hide them well. But I’ve read they like to suspend them, so they must hang them inside shrubs and other plants. —Pam
Not only is she beautiful she is smart! She did a great job hiding her eggs in a safe place : )
I don’t want to think about a spider being TOO smart, if you know what I mean, Laurin. 🙂 —Pam
I’ve seen egg cases, although not of this magnificent spider, but this spring I saw some tiny newly hatched spiders in their cobweb playpen. Quite amazing. I told my squeamish cousin that I read somewhere we are never more than three feet from a spider. She did not like that.
Hmm, I’m not too keen on that tidbit either, Commonweeder. —Pam
Yes, spider talk is all the rage right now. Weird. I saw a post this last week for a recipe for spider repellant. I thought that was a bit crazy! Although a bit creepy sometimes, I am constantly amazed at what great architects and buIlders spiders are. This girl is a beauty! Love those zper spiders.
And it’s not even Halloween yet. It’ll be interesting to see if the spider talk continues until then, or if we’re all just recording a late-summer web extravaganza. —Pam
Agh! I am so torn on these (and all spiders). Yes, they are great for the garden and are even interesting to look at, and I leave them alone, but gosh, I don’t like to see them in my garden. 🙂 So big. They give me shivers.
I’m not a spider lover either, Jenny, even though, like you, I recognize the good work they do in a garden. But I try to make myself be appreciative of all beneficial creatures, and it was just begging to have its picture made. Sorry to creep you out on my blog though! 😉 —Pam