Sunday, September 07, 2008

Silken Strings and Spiders

Not all spiders can be called cute and most all spiders spin webs. This very small Goldenrod Crab Spider however, is an exception. This spider relies upon camouflage and instead of spinning a web, it just sits and waits for it prey to come along. It is often white but can change its colour to yellow also. Its name 'Goldenrod' gives us a clue as to what yellow flowers are a favourite of this tiny predator.
Delicately intricate and skillfully woven, spider webs have an elusive transparency about them, "now you see them, now you don't". Some mornings, while the sun is still low in the east and the dew still dampens the grass, the beauty of these delicate silky orbs can be seen adorning the spaces between the branches of our Cherry tree. However, when searching for them in late afternoon they often seem to have entirely dis- appeared with the diminishing of the strong early morning light. Often while walking in the woods, the transparency of these webs catch me in stride, unaware of their presence strung between trees and branches, until I feel the silken threads stretch and break across my body.
Not all webs are constructed in the same way. When searching for other styled webs they were not difficult to find. To the upper right is a dewy construction hidden in the grasses waiting for prey. To the upper left is a 'basket' looking sort of web found among low bushes and wildflower stalks.
A unique web is that which is woven by the Black and Yellow Garden Spider. This spider weaves a zigzag stitch in the middle of its web that reminds me of a similar stitch made by a sewing machine. However, not all garden spiders structure their webs in the same way. This garden spider above, with the beautifully designed cross on its back, weaves a silken orb without the zigzag stitch in it.
.
For more photos on this weeks theme of 'string' at Photo Hunter you many click on the icon in the side bar. Happy Photo Hunting to all!
.
The 'spiders' are my contribution today to Camera Critters. To see other participant's photo contributions just click HERE or on the Camera Critters logo on the side panel.

45 comments:

YTSL said...

Some of your photos are seriously stunning! Well done! :)

Mike said...

Great web shots stunning detail.

Anonymous said...

Interesting info on a fascinating creature...and yes...stringy!

Hootin Anni said...

Amazing photography....silken strings....wonderful.

My strings are strung and strummed...stop by if you can find time. Happy Hunting!

Mary said...

Very nice Ann! So interesting and you captured so many different kinds. Your eye always sees what mine misses and makes it interesting for me. I posted a million yellow flowers today...now I want to go back and search them for crab spiders!

Brine Queen said...

Nice string shots. I really liked the golden crab spider. That is something I would not mind finding on a walk.

Maria Verivaki said...

i love spider's webs - they are such an artistic creative

Rayne said...

Fantastic photos. I've seen many white crab spiders around our house and now I am wondering if they can turn yellow, too. I'll have to be more observant.

Anonymous said...

Simply BEAUTIFUL photos! Love that second shot:)
Mine is HERE if you have a time! Thanks! Happy CC!

bobbie said...

Wonderful post, Ann. Beautiful pictures and really interesting observations.

Anonymous said...

Awesome! A nature lesson with beautiful shots too!

Reader Wil said...

A great and interesting post with good photos to go with the text! Thanks for all the work you spent to write this post.

Norm said...

excellent post! love all the your spider photos..great capture..

2sweetnsaxy said...

I think this was very apropo for string. You have some awesome shots here. I walked into a web the other day. Never say it but sure felt it cover my face like a blanket. Eeeeewww! This reminded me of one I forgot to post that looked like a tornado. :-)

Kerri Farley said...

Wonderful images!!!

I used a spider for my camera critter too.

Dina said...

You present it by talking with awe and the pictures make even spiders beautiful. I am impressed, I who got bitten by a brown recluse spider. So thanks for your good post.

Juliana said...

omg...awesome shots

Please stop by also at my CC post : in HERE and HERE Thanks

Mare said...

I don't like spiders, but I love spider webs. Mother Nature fascinates me. So many different animals, insects, flowers, etc. and so many unusual patterns and creative defenses.
Loved your post.

Becky said...

These pictures are spectacular. These spiders are different from the ones around here.
Great shots Ann.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Ann: Wonderful post and I think I like the yellow spider beat of all. What wonderful comoflauge.

Kingsdowner said...

'Strordinary - your Black and Yellow Garden Spider is similarly coloured to our new arrival, the European Wasp Spider, which also weaves a zig-zag pattern on its web.
How did these two evolve so far apart, with such similarities?

Ramblings of a Villas Girl said...

These are great pcitures. I love the spider web pictures.

Cecelia---Sis---Mom said...

Stunning photos, the webs are beautiful and I haev wanted to capture a pic of the writing spider forever. You definitely have what it takes behind the camera.

cece

Anonymous said...

Amazing shots and great accompanying notes. As someone who has, in spite of myself, a strong aversion to spiders (and I'm workin' on it) I am still fascinated by their various webs. This post is a delight!

Anonymous said...

They are amazing engineers. I am always amazed how strong their webs are. Fantastic.

Anonymous said...

They are amazing engineers. I am always amazed how strong their webs are. Fantastic.

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed your post. I like looking at spider webs, but never took the time to notice the difference. One thing I do not like is running into a web unaware.

i beati said...

such ornateness and excellent photography sk

Misty DawnS said...

This is an absolutely fantastic post! You really did an awesome job with this. I got a shot of a Black and Yellow Garden Spider today and it had captured some prey - I got some really neat shots of it. They really are beautiful spiders.

Catherine said...

Wow! Fantastic captures! Love the double web capture..beautiful photos!
Enjoy your day!
Cat

AppleDebbie said...

Thank you for the informative post. The Goldenrod Crab Spider was particularly interesting... it's amazing how it can change colors to match the flower it's on! Wonderful photos!

Anonymous said...

Great photos, Ann. I just learned about crab spiders this year and find them most interesting.

Cátia said...

great captures!fantastic

ratmammy said...

im' sorry.. these photos gave me the heeby jeebies!!!! wagh!!! great photos though.. but i freak out with spiders....

magiceye said...

amazing macros! and the info is very interesting. thank you.

Anonymous said...

Wow! those are gorgeous critters. Interesting different kind of spiders...

Dirkjogt said...

Fantastic photo and thanks for explaining. From the last one we have many of them in the garden, love to watch them, fascinating.
Dirkjogt, Belgium

Lilli & Nevada said...

I don't like spiders but you captured them so well thanks for sharing

HeatherK said...

That's great. My first for seeing a yellow spider

kjpweb said...

Wonderful - especially love the 2nd one - these webs are perfect!
Cheers, Klaus

Cath said...

That was absolutely fascinating. I am not fond of spiders, but I do admire their abilities. I had no idea there were so many types of webs or that one spider didn't even weave a web!

Brilliant critter post. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Great photo! Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I can't say I like spiders much, but the photos are great! I love watching them make their web; its totally amazing!

Ruth said...

Great post and wonderful photos. I shall look more closely at webs...

Rambling Woods said...

Ann..this is a fantastic post with the photos and info. I am not a fan of spiders, but I am working on it. Great photos..wow...