| Author | Content |
KyWoods
Melbourne, KY
(Zone 6a)
October 31, 2007
12:26 AM Post #4142080
| Yes, we have them, and I admire them and their webs! I had no idea they had that many offspring, and that they withstand our winters--amazing creatures. Thanks for the interesting info and pretty pictures. Next one I see, I will name "Cindy" in your honor. LOL |
Dyson
Rocky Mount, VA
(Zone 7a)
October 31, 2007
07:59 AM Post #4142481
| When a friend showed up at the house, I told him on the way in the front door "don't mess with the spider web" referring to the enormous web spun between the front wall and the porch railing. The web is looking sad now and I believe the occupants have moved on so I will clean it out (no hurry) and wait for next springs arrival. |
melody
Benton, KY
(Zone 7a)
 October 31, 2007
08:26 AM Post #4142559
| They only live for more than one year where there is no frost. Unfortunately, we have freezing temps here in KY, so our gals only have a summer.
Lucky folks in south TX and south FL will be the only ones that have them longer. Sorry.
I loved doing this article, it almost wrote itself. I'll be doing more insect articles throughout the year, but I fear they won't be quite as poetic. She just inspired me. |
LouC
Desoto, TX
(Zone 8a)
October 31, 2007
09:39 AM Post #4142848
| We have them here but I didn't know much about them. Only that they are beneficials so I have left them alone. The zig-zag in the web is so unique. Great article that gives more understanding.
LouC |
randbponder
Hornick, IA
(Zone 4b)
October 31, 2007
03:58 PM Post #4143990
| I have never noticed that they ate their web. Since they seem to have it in the same place each day. But I do leave them be, as I have seen many a grasshopper meet his demise. Then too a large grasshopper can reek havoc with the web. and she will patiently make the necessary repairs. I do tend to work around them cautiously as all spiders make me feel creepy. I don't like getting bit by any eight legged critter. My sister in law had the unfortunate experience with a trap door spider. They had quite a go around with getting the wound to heal.
But knowing more about this little gal, I will make sure she will always have a place in my garden. |
Islandshari
Kwajalein
Marshall Islands
(Zone 11)
October 31, 2007
04:32 PM Post #4144084
| Lovely article about one of Nature's beneficial spooks...and such timing...did you do that intentionally? |
melody
Benton, KY
(Zone 7a)
October 31, 2007
05:36 PM Post #4144285
| Timing was all Dave... |
JanetS
Braselton, GA
(Zone 7b)
October 31, 2007
10:33 PM Post #4145365
| I had one earlier this season and she seems to have disappeared, but her TWO very large egg sacks are still hanging on...is there anyway to protect them, or are they best just left to nature? |
melody
Benton, KY
(Zone 7a)
November 01, 2007
08:11 AM Post #4146163
| Just leave them be. They're perfectly fine where they are unless they are in danger from lawnmowers or other similar stuff.
It won't hurt anything for them to be out in the weather. |
JanetS
Braselton, GA
(Zone 7b)
November 01, 2007
11:12 AM Post #4146813
| No, they are not in that type of danger...I just didn't know if I should put them into a cage of some sort for them to hatch out...and maybe save some from being eaten...just a thought...lol |
melody
Benton, KY
(Zone 7a)
November 01, 2007
01:40 PM Post #4147326
| I generally don't mess with nature unless it's a 'have to' case. As a rule, things left to the natural happenings tend to do just what is needed.
(I can't bring myself to actually hatch several hundred spiders voluntarily, regardless of how beautiful she is) |
KyWoods
Melbourne, KY
(Zone 6a)
November 01, 2007
08:41 PM Post #4148547
| Janet, you're as bad as I am--I'll bet you'd take in all the wildlife for the winter if you could, just like me! LOL, I guess we just have to trust that Mother Nature knows what's best in the big picture. Besides, you'd have to be running to the pet store buying crickets for those hundreds of little hungry spider mouths, all winter long...and if they escaped, well, let's not go there. LOL |
JanetS
Braselton, GA
(Zone 7b)
November 02, 2007
10:59 AM Post #4150164
| Well I was thinking more along of the lines of putting them into a "bug catcher" little cage and when they hatch letting them go in the garden..lol I guess it they are in the garden already then that would not give them much of a head start...I just hated to think that most of them do not make it because they get eaten...lol They are just so pretty!! I will show you pictures of the bags of eggs when I get home...I am not home at this time. I took pictures though and they are really cool. They remind me of Figs. |
cnswift
San Diego, CA
(Zone 10b)
November 05, 2007
11:20 AM Post #4159825
| That was a great addition to the newsletter! I really enjoyed the article and learned a lot about this beautiful spider. I actually have a photo of one I saw while I was on vacation, but didn't know anything about it until now. I just thought she was interesting and now I know that my fear of her was unjust. I'd post the photo, but it doesn't look like you can do that here - bummer.
Hope you're all having a great start to your week! Christina
|
JanetS
Braselton, GA
(Zone 7b)
November 05, 2007
11:36 AM Post #4159879
| I was going to post a picture of the egg sacks, but I do not see that option on this thread...sorry. |
melody
Benton, KY
(Zone 7a)
November 05, 2007
12:19 PM Post #4160003
| http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/69/
You are invited to post your images here on her BugFiles page. Please check off your zip code too, so that we can keep track of where she has been seen. |
tswilb
Latrobe, PA
(Zone 5b)
November 05, 2007
02:52 PM Post #4160522
| Melody, thank you for writing about one of my favorite neighbors (at my house, her name is Genevieve). Genevieve lived at the corner of my porch for quite a while this summer. All of my human neighbors knew her name -- she had many visitors, and she graciously allowed many photos to be taken. I'm looking forward to seeing her descendants and relatives next year. Your article made me smile and got my week off to a good start. |
MsDepp
Murfreesboro, TN
November 05, 2007
09:13 PM Post #4161881
| I have several this year, but can't remember a year I haven't seen them. My kids always called them writing spiders and were afraid of them. I always told them to leave alone they won't hurt you if you don't hurt them. |
jkf
Bay Shore, NY
September 04, 2008
03:32 PM Post #5508266
| I live in Bay Shore, NY (Long Island), and just discovered one of these spiders in the small garden by my front door. The web's been there for a few weeks, but today's the first day I noticed the HUGE spider (and the "writing" in the web). I do feel a bit better after reading this thread, but I still have to admit that the web is way too close to my door for comfort. I tend to take a "live & let live" approach to the creatures in my gardens, but the idea of accidentally walking into this spider in the dark is freaking me out - spiders are my big fear. I know I'm having nightmares tonight... |
melody
Benton, KY
(Zone 7a)
September 04, 2008
03:36 PM Post #5508275
| Gently break a couple of corners of her web each day. She will get the idea that this may not be a great place to live, and move it. I've done this on occasion when one is blocking a walkway or path. When the web cannot catch her supper, she will look for a more web-friendly area. It will not hurt her, and she usually finds a spot a few feet away. |
