One day in August 2016 I was working in the front garden and came across a large garden spider among the iris leaves. The colours of yellow and brown and the pattern on the big fat body caught my eye and I had to do some research to find out the type of spider.
These spiders are large, orb-weaving arachnids, meaning that they spin a circular web. Most spiders have two claws on each foot, but orb-weavers have an additional claw to help them spin their complex webs.
These spiders spin webs in sunny areas with plants on which to anchor and then lay in wait for some prey. They produce venom that is harmless to humans, but helps to immobilize its prey of flies, bees, and other flying insects that are caught in the sticky web.
Females average 19 to 28 mm in body length, which is up to three times larger than the males.
After taking numerous photos, we both went about our job, mine of tidying the garden and his/hers of catching some prey. Remember – the more you look the more you see.
I’m sharing with Saturday’s Critters.
Take a peek at more lens friends from the garden.
