Navigating the Web by Artlady
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Description
This lovely creature spun it's magic across the lattice of our deck gate, giving me an opportunity to study and photograph it for a period of time.
Although I watched the spider and web, rising and falling with the afternoon breeze, I could never determine the reasoning for why the consistency of the web was different in the central area. Mostly it was the airy net-like construction familiar to most spiders but, the area in front of, and behind, was more of a dense pathway.
But, alas, since "it's pathway" was in "our pathway", it had to be safely removed and placed further out in the yard. My time of observation came to an end but my curiosity lingers on. If anyone knows why the spider created the more dense area, I would be very interested in hearing about it.
Comments (15)
Ger50
super macro, well done
Dianthus
Fantastic macro:)
TheRealBlueWizard
I saw the thumbnail and said "wow." Then I oened the big image and said "WOW!" Excellent capture. The detail on the spider is amazing. Almost too beautiful to be afraid of. I am sure that if you saw the web from a fly's eyes, it would look thoroughly different and even "attractive." They see in such a broader spectrum then humans. The spiders design for what the flies seem to like most.
mylemonblue
That's one of the best macros of a spider I've seen. :)
Zacko
OH MY GOD!!! What an amazing, and nasty, looking spider!!! Fabolous macro!!! I dont think i would have had the guts to photograph it even if i had a 500mm strapped on my cam. LOL. Have a great day. #:O)
Metonicus
Once, when I was in my teens, I was canoing on a church trip. Me, ever being the explorer, decided to row between a tree and the shore. I didn't see it until it was too late. A HUGE spider, exactly like the one you photographed, had spun a giant web across the water between the tree and the bushes on shore. I freaked! It was the same height as my head and it was too late to stop the boat. The girl paddling behind me, who didn't want to go between the tree and the shore to begin with, continued paddling. I lost a very large quantity of cool points as the web came closer. I can always console myself with the fact that the spider was far more frightened of me, than I was of it . . . but it's not much consolation, that spider must have been terrified. I went throught the web and was covered in it... then the worse part happened: I lost track of the spider. Didn't know where it was, couldn't find it... more cool points fluttered from my grasp as I really lost myself. Almost dumpted the canoe and everything. Anyway, this has been a lengthy comment. I should say thanks for posting, but .... thanks from bringing back old memories.
danob
A nice example of the Argiope web which has two zig-zag bands of silk radiating outwards from the hub (centre) to the bottom corners of the web. These are called stabilimenta and serve various functions; stabilize and strengthen the web, make the web visible perhaps serving as a decoy for birds, or also to reflect ultraviolet light thereby deceiving and attracting insects. Hope that satisfies your curiosity!!
busi2ness
Amazing detail indeed and a beautiful spider. Scientist have no definite answer for the thick silk. Opinions differ: it has to with its own camoflage, or tensioning the web or just getting rid of some chitine-like substances. Great to know you cared about the spider. Edit: There you have an explanation from Danny!
GBCalls
Very nice macro of this Garden spider. Far better than I have ever managed. Excellent work!
Syrup
I hate spiders but deeply admire them from a distance thanks for sharing! :B eaver !
CavalierLady
Nice closeup... we watched one on our porch one summer... even all the way to the point where it created a ball of eggs which were safely moved to a tree. Clever title. :)
mamabobbijo
One of my boys has three passions, arachnids computers and a lady who embraces his other two. I'm sending this to him, I hope you don't mind. Thanks for sharing it is tremendous. Thanks to danob for the data.
Leeco
Danob pretty well summed it up. I had always been informed that it provided camoflage for the spider who sits in the middle of it but his other points sound just as valid. By the way, it is a female Yellow and Black Argiope, also known as a garden spider. My grandma called them Jacob spiders because the zig-ziggy area looked like the "string and finger lacing game where one creates a "Jacobs Ladder" shape. I just posted a series of images of the same type spider but mine was a lousy web weaver, lol. No zig-zags or circular web, just strands of silk haphazardly put together. Very good detail on this image.
kimariehere
I am in awe of this find and shot and surprised to know that Danny know the exact word for it stabulmenta wow stablising the web in zig zag pattern ... what an amazing work of nature smart and like a little architect.. you know something? i can never bring myself to tear down a spiders web i think of how hard much work they put into it ( less its in my house lol then i take the spider outside without harming it lol my Mom thinks i am crazy haha) ... this marco work is brilliant and you should be proud of it!! EXCELLENT!! ...
DreamersWish
Oh man that is a fantastic shot! I was taking pictures of the same type spider a couple of weeks ago. I just love the fact you could get so darn close to it. It is a fantastic image to say the least. I am quite proud of you! Well done my friend!