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Thursday, September 18, 2014

Golden Garden Spider




A golden garden spider (argiope aurantia) drifts on a breeze-blown string, drops to the deck; a surprise too large to ignore.  

Legs, mostly black turn red near her egg-shaped body, golden yellow markings on her shiny black back, carapace covered in short, silvery hairs ... she holds herself motionless.  It is impossible to stop looking at her one-inch body and elegant legs. 

Soon, she climbs a strand of light, returns to her web under the leafy shadows.

2 comments:

Jane Brideson said...

Ugh Carol -:( I know she's beautiful but your pic made me shudder! Have a phobia about spiders, which I've been getting over since I started living in the countryside and have had to realise how important and useful they are. You're a better woman than I am for getting so close.

Carol Steel said...

Hello Jane. I shuddered when she dropped beside me too. But after getting over that shock, I was fascinated with her markings. When I looked her up online, I discovered these spiders are useful at culling the insects that try to bite me; consequently I felt more hospitable toward her.