My New Friend
@GardenGerty (157551)
United States
September 16, 2016 7:04am CST
This spider is called a golden orb spider, I believe. I may research later. He is a fairly common spider, or she is.
She has taken up residence by my front flower bed, on a "shepherd's crook" where I have plants hanging.
She is wrapping tasty bundles of insects like moths for later meals. I do not mind at all. I do not believe this kind ever comes in the house.
I am updating after research. Never take someone's word for something scientific. Someone now deceased said this was a Golden Orb spider. The Golden Orb spider lives in Australia. Her web is golden, and round. My friend here is finishing her web. It has a zig zag or ladder like pattern in the center. She is sometimes called the writing spider because of the extra parts of the web.The female is larger than the male and they like to live near open fields for camouflage.
She looks a bit gruesome, but I consider her quite benevolent.
22 people like this
21 responses
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
17 Sep 16
I do that as well. I want them to be able to keep eating other bugs.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
17 Sep 16
we had one out front last year, was HUGE, I was sad when she vanished one day
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
I wonder where they go in the winter?
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
19 Sep 16
@Jessicalynnt Perhaps a predatory bird ate yours last year. They do die at the first freeze, I did my research last night. They leave behind an egg sack that does not hatch out until the weather is warm enough for the spider babies.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
18 Sep 16
@GardenGerty well she vanished before then, but good point, I have no idea, you'd think the cold would kill them
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Sep 16
Yes, she does look gruesome. I call these 'garden spiders' usually have the big orbus bodies. Glad they keep the other insects and such down but do we really have to see them? Maybe they want a pat on the head. Oooh!
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
I got around to doing some research, and yes, this is properly called a garden spider. A golden orb spider would have a golden web and be in Australia I read that they generally like to be some place camouflaged, like near fields.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Sep 16
@GardenGerty ...Ah, yes. Animals and insects do enjoy their camouflage.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
I am going to research and make sure I have named it correctly. It is a garden spider, but I am thinking you mean the brown garden spider.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
I am wrong. It is a Yellow Garden Spider, also sometimes called a writing spider. The Golden Orb is in Australia and the web is golden.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
18 Sep 16
@GardenGerty Yes, all our garden spiders are brown.
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
17 Sep 16
i'm with Valerie... @just4him as long as he's outside... all is well...
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
I think he or she wants to be outside. Lots of flying bugs to eat.
4 people like this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
16 Sep 16
Haha, your friend is making your house messy, but its okay maybe Spiderman will come to help you to clean.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
17 Sep 16
She is staying outside and helping clear away other bugs.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
16 Sep 16
Wow she is really something to look at huh?
A bit scary looking Heather.
But yes, benevolent I imagine.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
I think she wants to scare people or enemies away with this fierce look.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
16 Sep 16
We leave the spiders that are outside alone. Anything that comes in, we escort out!
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
That sounds much like us. I saw the tiniest pink spider the other day.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
I have not seen one in the house. I read that they like to stay in the same area for their entire life.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
18 Sep 16
@GardenGerty This is great news, at least it will stay there.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Sep 16
I don't like any kind of spiders, especially the bigs one. But, as long as they are outside and not in my immediate area, I will leave them alone. We have a spider about that big outside one of our windows. It has a red cast to it. I don't know what kind it is.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
I am not sure either about a reddish one. I am fine with it outside, but would not want it in.
3 people like this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
18 Sep 16
@GardenGerty I've never seen one like this before.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
The first time I saw this species of spider it had webbed across a garage type lifting door where we parked the school buses. I was talking and nearly backed into it. I do not think they are at all dangerous to humans. I wonder if their markings are to scare off enemies.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
17 Sep 16
I have seen a wolf spider this big as well. I agree, they need to be outside.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
Oh, Claudia, I am sorry. This one looks fierce, I know. Now she is adding a ladder or zig zag part to her web in thicker silk.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
19 Sep 16
@CRK109 I found that this spider is sometimes called a "writing spider" and wonder if it was the model for the spider in Charlotte's Web.
1 person likes this
@CRK109 (14558)
• United States
18 Sep 16
@GardenGerty Don't be sorry. I wish I could share in your fascination of her. I remember in college having to read "Charlotte's Web" and listening to all the discussions about Charlotte and wishing I could put my heart into it. I mean, a spider in a book is one thing. If I see one in real life...well, I shake a lot.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
No, the only spiders I know of in the US that are poisonous are much smaller than this. One is the black widow and the other the brown recluse. I understand that the brown recluse can get very aggressive.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
19 Sep 16
@ridingbet I did read that this spider can bite but the bite will generally be harmless and not make one sick.
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
18 Sep 16
@GardenGerty i know about that black widow. but i have not seen one here. hope i will never see one.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
In this image she is just getting started. The web starts with the regular circular pattern and then it is finished with a zig zag bit of thicker silk up the middle. I call it a ladder when talking to myself about it. I understand that this spider is sometimes called a writing spider so I wonder if this was the spider in the childhood book "Charlotte's Web". I also wonder if she is waiting for me to invite her to write at myLot.
3 people like this
@CinnamonGrl (7083)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
16 Sep 16
I wish I had a better attitude toward spiders, especially the big ones. I can't seem to get over my "creeps" about them.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
I have always been fond of the little black wooly spiders. I guess I am not too creeped out by anything.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6408)
•
16 Sep 16
yes, we have the same sort of friend around here lately (as i shiver because i hate spiders)
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Sep 16
I like them to do their jobs. This one does not seem to move much and so does not frighten me. I saw a wolf spider about this big RUN across the yard and that concerned me.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205760)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Jan 18
We have a spider that looks kind of like that that likes to make its (lovely) webs on corn plants or between trees. I believe it's a common garden spider. They are large enough that you would feel a slight "thump" if one landed on you, but they are harmless to humans. I'll see if I can find my picture of one that I took in our garden in Oakland.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
25 Jan 18
They are probably from the same family.Since she is called a writing spider I wonder if this is the spider from Charlotte's Web.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129470)
• Israel
17 May 18
@GardenGerty
Heather, thank you for sharing that with us.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
17 May 18
It is really fun to watch nature.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129470)
• Israel
18 May 18
@GardenGerty
Heather, there is a lot that is very interesting in watching nature.
@teresatrotter (4073)
• Jacksonville, Florida
19 Sep 16
How does a spider that comes from Australia, get to America?
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
19 Sep 16
No, I had named my image wrong. She is a yellow garden spider. Someone told me it was a golden orb spider, but they told me wrong. However, spiders from other countries have been found in the grocery stores in bananas and grapes when they are in bags. Guess we do need to be careful.
1 person likes this
