Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Garden Spider

Last week I went outside to put some vegetable scraps in the compost and got quite a scare. I saw a huge, colorful spider hanging from a massive web on the side of the compost bin and immediately thought it was out to get me. Well, not really, but I did keep my eye on it. But the more I looked the more I was in awe and had to snap a photo.


Last Friday night my friend Angela was over, and since she works for the Department of Conservation, I figured she knew her spiders and had her identify it for me. Apparently it's a very common garden spider, but I'd never seen one before.

The most important thing I learned about them is they are not aggressive and not poisonous to humans. Phew! One cool fact I read is that each night they eat the interior part of the web and spin a new web the following morning. Seems like a lot of work to me, but I guess they don't have anything better to do while waiting for prey to fall into their web!

~Tammy

2 comments:

  1. I think we may have been separated at birth. I found the exact same kind of spider guarding my trash cans outside the horse stall yesterday. I am petrified -read that: scream like a girl and run away from- of ALL spiders and gave this one a wide berth, but I, too, snapped a picture.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So funny! I was scared of it at first, but after learning that it can't harm me I don't mind it as much now. I kind of like it actually! As long as it stays away from me haha.

      Delete

Thank you so much for visiting! We enjoy reading each and every one of your lovely comments.