Friday, August 12, 2011

Black-and-yellow Garden Spider

Black-and-yellow Garden Spider, Argiope aurantia.

I photographed this big, beautiful female yesterday. The appearance of these orbweavers and their large webs is a sure sign that summer is waning. Black-and-yellow garden spiders will be with us until the first killing frosts of fall. The male was nearby; he is but a fraction of the female's size and must tread cautiously when approaching her to mate. Garden spider are harmless enough to us, though, and valuable cogs in the food chain. It's best to just leave them be.

12 comments:

Nellie from Beyond My Garden said...

I haven't seen any yet but I do like them, taking care not to bother the webs.
nellie

JSK said...

It's interesting that you know them as a sign of summer waning. Until the last couple of years when we've been under a bad drought, I'd see quite a number of these spiders relatively early in the year and follow spiders and their webs throughout the summer into the fall. I've really missed them. I only saw a couple in the Fall last year.

Anna Marie said...

Loved your blog post! I got one of these spiders last week, right next to my front door. I am attempting to get everyone to leave her alone, as she is in a good place to catch and eat mosquitoes before they enter my house and eat on me. And she is very pretty. She is growing very quickly. I think the male has already left, I haven't seen him in a couple of days. And I totally agree with your thoughts on nature appreciation.

Anonymous said...

Found one of these tonight. She's gourgeous!

Anonymous said...

I just found one today and was shocked as heck

Anonymous said...

i have never heard or seen of this type of spider. im not a huge spider fan but at the same time i know the advantages of having them. i freaked out because it looked poisonous. im very allergic to a lot of things and didnt want kids to play with it. i now know and will leave these creatures alone as long as they dont over populate like wolf spiders. thanks

Unknown said...

I remember as a child looking for these in the fall now I get to share this with my 3 1/2 year old. We have one outside our living room window and we watch her daily. Such a beautiful spider and web!!

BKVBarbosa said...

Just saw this on my native clematis. Thank you Jim for the info.

Dave said...

65 years ago as a child I saw lots of these in a tomato field south of Chicago.

Unknown said...

I was trimming plants today and found one of these. Give me a frayed at first but then she was beautiful to watch. I left her alone and try to trim around where she had a web

Unknown said...

Just saw one for the first time ever here in Prior Lake, MN amidst my Hostas. I'm from California and its shape reminded me of a Black Widow..but it sure is beautiful and its web incredible!

Unknown said...

found one in the garden this morning - gorgeous. 2 and 1/8 inches long. look at the bottom of the web. looks like a ladder - my husband says it looks like writing. one of the best things i have seen yet.