Another name the spider

[jen74145]

I just call these garden spiders, and am grateful they have a taste for grasshoppers. This one has been on my porch since it was the size of my fingernail, now it's a spider to be reckoned with.

They also make really cool webs, with a zigzag down the middle, if that helps.

[jen74145]

Didn't think you'd be able to see the zigzag... I don't know if it's their version of a resting spot or web repair from struggling suppers.

[ruby_jane]

Orb weaver! When I did pest control, we got them once or twice...they are beutiful as much as I can't stand spiders...

[jen74145]

Aha! I knew I kept calling them orb spiders for some reason...

I keep having to scold DH for wanting to squish them; he still needs to get ovber that 'all spiders will kill you" complex of his.

[NWoods_Hippie]

Jen,

They are Orb Weaver spiders and very cool. When I was a kid we used to catch crickets and grasshoppers to gently toss into the web, those are some FAST spiders when prey gets in the web.

Show DH the website www.whatsthatbug.com there are pages of information about "good" spiders there!!

Margie

[BlueHeronFarm]

Ugh - we have TONS of these. I am not fond of spiders, but now must try the grasshopper throwing trick, I must admit being intrigued.

[sancraft]

We call them Writer spiders. I hate spiders, but these guys are such gentlemen. If their web is in your path and you walk into it a time or two, they will raise it up out of your way.

[michiganfarmer]

Originally Posted by sancraft

We call them Writer spiders. I hate spiders, but these guys are such gentlemen. If their web is in your path and you walk into it a time or two, they will raise it up out of your way.

what? lol

[BlueHeronFarm]

XX

[chris30523]

We always called them "golden Orb" spiders. Almost always find one to watch.Spiders give me the creeps too but these seem to stay on their web. When we were kids we were canoeing and went through one of the webs(It was in a spring in Fla. with alligators in the water) My sister spazzed out cause the web hit her and she just knew that big ole spider was sitting on her head.Long story short she dumped the canoe . Wasn't too worried about the alligators cause the roucus she made would have scared the devil away.

[cseger1]

BlueHeron hates it when I pet the one in the milking stall.

[Danaus29]

I'ld call her Goldie. LOL
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.ed..._aurantia.html

[BlueHeronFarm]

Blech - they MOSTLY stay on their webs, so I don't freak out on the ones in our milking stall - but then my husband (Cseger1) thought he'd show the neices how he likes to pet them and (I heard - was nowhere to be found when THIS happened) the one in question flipped out and jumped around the stall.

[[[shudder]]]

I am just brave enough not to kill them.

[Hears The Water]

Oooh, I LOVE Orb Weavers! One summer we had 13 different Orb Weavers with their webs around the outside of our home. Most of them were on the outsides of the windows. They were smart, waiting for bugs to fly to the light reflected from the windows at night! We are not your traditional family, I let the spiders make their webs in my house as long as they are up out of my way (I'm 6'2" tall).I knock down the old webs every once in a while or when ever my friend that is phobic of spiders, comes over. But we have enjoyed watching spiders for years now. They fascinate me. In fact just last night the kids and I were out under the magnolia tree watching a garden spider make its web. Once there was this wonderful garden spider that made a new web each night. It made the web in the same area, at at the same time, dusk in the window across from John's recliner. He told me once that he got the most enjoyment watching that spider each night. It got to the point that we would all sit still and watch the spider together. Ahhh, good memories.
God bless you and yours
Deb

[Scrounger]

Charlotte?

[lmnde]

Yes - that is Charlotte as in the movie...

The colored markings on ours go anywhere from almost neon green to yellow to burt orange. And big buggers too!

[Oggie]

I've heard some speculation that the zug zag down the middle is so that birds can see the web and won't fly into it.

I would name it "Spinner."

[Tricky Grama]

We always called them garden spiders. Some years we have tons & some only a couple. I think they KNOW when there will be a lot of grasshoppers.

We once lived in a small house w/small yard & had one. The grasshoppers were awful that year & we caught them & threw 'em into her web. She got huge!

Patty

[nikkers]

When I was little, I used to hold these beautiful spiders in my hand. As small as my hand was, they looked HUGE! I've grown up since and no longer have an urge to hold them, but it makes me smile to see them in the garden. One year I saw an egg sack hatch. It was fascinating! The babies looked like gold dust. They hung on ultrafine threads and let the wind blow them away. I will not forget it.

Jo

[YounGrey]

Sweet pic, love the web.