Orb Weaver - Neoscona crucifera

The garden was alive with bees visiting the last of the Aster praealtus, when I turned to watch a bumble fly to another flower stalk.

There she was~dangling by a thin piece of thread, doing what orb weaving spiders do: slowly wrapping her captured prey.

An amazing feat of spider acrobatic skill~holding onto what was left of her web to spin a bee mimic into submission.

She spun while it dangled, she worked while life went on around her. Bumbles flew back and forth to visit the remaining flowers, the wind blew in the trees and the sky provided a marvelous blue background to her amazing dance.

I've never been afraid of spiders and appreciate the important role that orb weavers play in our gardens. They keep insects in check and provide food for birds. I've been lucky enough to see baby spiders hatch and catch the wind with their gossamer threads. I've watched for them all summer and usually discover a few in the late Summer warmth...waiting patiently for unsuspecting critters to get caught in their web.

Each morning they rebuild their tattered webs ~almost always in the same place. I am hoping my orb weaver has mated. But, right now she is catching flies, bee mimics and even bees. She lives to reproduce. She uses the last of her energy to make her egg sac, lay the eggs and hide it someplace safe. Then she will die.

click to enlarge~If you dare!

Until then Neoscona crucifera is a ferocious hunter.

Gail