Photo of the Week

Whether you are a spider fan or not, you must admit that this is one beautiful arachnid. And it’s okay to keep her at a distance; she’s not interested in you either, unless you’re a fly or a grasshopper.

This week’s featured photo was submitted by Mrs. Tobie Totsch of Waynesboro. She noticed this lovely and interesting spider on her porch awhile back and asked if we could do a little research on it. This is what we found.

This is a female yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia), a harmless and highly beneficial orb-weaver common across North America. These spiders are easily recognized by their striking black and yellow patterns on the abdomen, a silvery-white cephalothorax (head region), and long legs that are reddish-brown near the body and black at the tips. The females are much larger and more colorful than the males.

The thick, zigzagging white silk line running down the center of the web is called a stabilimentum. While experts still debate its exact purpose, it likely helps make the web visible to birds so they don't fly through it. It attracts prey by reflecting UV light and provides camouflage for the spider.

Yellow garden spiders are not dangerous to humans. They are generally docile and will usually shake their web or run away if disturbed. In the rare event of a bite, the venom is comparable to a mild bee sting and causes only temporary, localized pain and swelling. They act as excellent natural pest controllers, catching large numbers of annoying insects like mosquitoes, flies, wasps, and grasshoppers.

“I am not at all fond of spiders, especially one of this size,” said Mrs. Tobie. “But you have to admit, she is beautiful and is quite the talented seamstress.”

Thank you to Mrs. Tobie for the great photo, and thank you from spider lovers everywhere for allowing this lovely orb-weaver to continue residing on your porch.