Grateful Dead

This female of the species is striking in appearance with distinct yellow and black markings, including banding on the legs. Despite the vivid color, the garden spider is well camouflaged, blending in easily with partially sunlit areas. The female of the species grows much larger than the male. Females have large rounded bodies that may grow to 40 mm (1 1/2 inches), excluding the legs. If the length of the legs is added, the female can reach 75 mm (3") in diameter. Males are thin-bodied and only 20 mm (¾") long. A. aurantia has three claws on each foot, and does not spin orb-webs. The third claw helps them manage the strands of silk while they spin the complicated web. The young of the species resemble the adults, except for size and the development of reproductive organs. "These spiders are not dangerous to people, and their bites result in nothing more than a sore, itchy swelling that goes away in a few days. The medical literature contains at least one report of a bite by A. aurantia. Extreme pain some distance from the site of the bite was suggestive of a neurotoxin." (Gorham and Rheney 1968). The Garden Spider can oscillate her web vigorously while she remains firmly attached in the center. This action might prevent predators like wasps and birds from drawing a good bead, and also to fully entangle an insect before it cuts itself loose. In a daily ritual, the spider consumes the circular interior part of the web and then rebuilds it each morning with fresh new silk. The radial framework and anchoring lines are not usually replaced when the spider rebuilds the web. The spider may be recycling the chemicals used in web building. Additionally, the fine threads that she consumes appear to have tiny particles of what may be minuscule insects and organic matter that may contain nutrition

nice pic. im kinda new around here but ill never see a lightning bolt the same again.anyone wanna clue a kid in on what the 13 points are about and "steal your face..." i can never keep a dead head in one place long enought to finish the story

"Walk me out in the morning dew my spidey." Very cool pic.