There’s something mesmerizing about sunlight shining on a spider web. The light accentuates its intricate structure and dimension. You can’t help but admire the hours of work and beautiful details.
“For a construction job done right, get a spider to do it.” ~James MacDonald
There seem to be a number of Black and Yellow Garden Spiders making their home among the vegetation around the boardwalk at the lake. These large-orb spiders are also known as the “Writing Spider”, “Zig-Zag Spider” or “Zipper Spider” because of the heavy white silk decorations which are spun into the center of their elaborate webs. The decorations resemble writing, and differ from web to web.
One of the webs caught my attention because of the way the spider was vibrating it back and forth. This is called “web flexing” and is thought to be a defense from predators or a way to entangle prey. Whatever the reason, the action is enough to make one dizzy if watched for very long.
“Your life is your story. Write well. Edit often.” ~Susan Statham
The black and yellow garden spider is an orb spider that is often seen in the late summer. These brightly colored spiders build wheel-shaped webs with a zig-zag of thicker silk in the center. There, they patiently await their prey, which is then injected with venom and wrapped in a cocoon of silk for a future meal.
These two orb weavers had webs secured up high between two trees where they patiently laid in wait.
This funnel-web spider built a sheet-like web and positioned itself right outside of its burrow to await its next meal.
Though technically not a spider, but an arachnid, this harvestmen or “daddy longlegs” and his shadow were crawling along on a fallen tree in the woods, probably scavenging for food. Harvestmen are most often seen in the late summer and early fall around harvest time, thus their name. This one seems to be missing some legs which, unfortunately, will not grow back.
“Will you walk into my parlour? Said the spider to a fly: ‘Tis the prettiest little parlour That ever you did spy.” ~Mary Howitt
Hiking on the boardwalk around the edge of Reelfoot Lake is a good way to see native plant and animal life, with each season offering up its own variety of treasures.
“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery … I thought ‘this is what it is to be happy.'” ~Sylvia Plath
We spotted these two beauties sitting in their own individual webs, located near each other in a flower garden. Black and Yellow Garden Spiders are also known as zig-zag or writing spiders because of the thick silk pattern which is found near the center of their orb-shaped webs. The pattern is thought to deter birds from flying into the web and messing it up, as well as, perhaps, to camouflage the spider. These colorful spiders are not harmful to humans and, in fact, are beneficial since their webs catch many flying insects which are nuisances during the late summer and early fall.
“Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” ~Charles Addams
Sitting snugly between the layers of a flowering plant sat a little spider, intently peeking out. Momentarily, it ducked behind the layers and out of sight.
“Let’s all take a moment and be thankful that spiders don’t fly.” ~Unknown
One of the spiders that I have seen frequently this summer and fall is the female Black and Yellow Garden Spider. She is conspicuous because of her large size and bright color pattern. Her orb web is also large in size, sometimes reaching up to two feet. The web is normally decorated with a white zigzag band of silk near the center where the female can often be seen waiting patiently for or enjoying her prey.
“The spider’s touch, how exquisitely fine!
Feels at each thread, and lives along the line.”
~ Alexander Pope
“With six small diamonds for his eyes
He walks upon the summer skies,
Drawing from his silken blouse
The lacework of his dwelling house.”
~ Robert P. Tristram Coffin
“Seeing a spider isn’t a problem. It becomes a problem when it disappears.” ~Unknown
walking on a country road 