We have a cool spider that's been hangin just outside our back door, building webs in the early evening near the light by the door. It tears them down by the time I get in the morning (around dawn). And usually has it back up by 7 or 7:30pm. I can't get a good picture of it, but I have some bad ones. Either the light is too bright (it's only a foot or so away from the light), ot the focus is off.
The last two are very large (unintentionally) so I'll just link to them:
http://danisaacs.com/images/new/incoming/030826/120_2083.jpg
http://danisaacs.com/images/new/incoming/030826/120_2084.jpg
From what I've been reading, it seems to be an orb weaving spider. From the pictures, you can see the legs have hair and are banded. There is a shape on it's abdomen that i can't really describe. Not a Recluse (since it's hanging where it is) and not an imature female Black Widow, as the shape is clearly not the hourglass they have. I think it's most noticable in the first picture.
I haven't seen it in any of the pictures online, but there are hundreds of orb weavers. I hope it's not a hazardous one, as I quite like watching it, and I dig the benefits of having somethign that eats insects near an entrance.
[update] Kristi found some good pictures online that are certainly the same type of spider we have. Here and Here are clearer shots of what the abdomen looks like.
Posted by danisaacs at August 28, 2003 10:05 PM | TrackBack
Yeah, I've seent he pics of those webs with the zig-zags. Look pretty cool. I may end up moving this one to the side of the house where it won't be bothered by (or bothering) humans.
Posted by: ArachnoDan on August 29, 2003 10:46 AMIf you go to www.google.com and type in "banana spider" and then hit the search key, I think you'll find that this is in fact the spider you've got. I've got one on my back porch too...It's got a great zipper right in the middle of its web too...really pretty, but staying away from it :) Take Care!
Posted by: Jennifer on July 17, 2004 09:36 AM