Spider at Work

[OLLIE]

Found this guy at work today. He had a leg span of around 2.5". Trying to determine what kind he is. May have came in from a crate out of state or even the country?

[smslavin]

wow. now, that's a spider. i don't think i've ever seen anything that big stateside.

[VCCruzr]

Looks like a garden spider, pretty common around here, and yes, they are big. Cool shots, thanks.

[jgorm]

Cool! I saw this monster in thailand.


I made this video on killing widow spiders (my house is infested)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eacqRg1uOhk

[BlueFJ]

Am I seeing that right? Only four legs?

[OLLIE]

Am I seeing that right? Only four legs?

This spider is an Argiope (spider). This web made by Argiope is pure white, and some species make an "X" form, or a zigzag type of web (often with a hollow center). The spider then aligns one pair of its legs with each of the four lines in the hollow "X," making a complete "X" of white lines with a very eye-catching spider colored bright yellow on a field of black or variegated red white and yellow stripes forming its center. The white patterns are called stabilimentum and reflect UV light. They have been shown to play a role in attracting prey to the web, and possibly to prevent its destruction by large animals. Their centers of their large webs are often just under 1 meter above the ground, so they are too low for anything much larger than a rabbit to walk under. The overtness of the spider and its web thus has been speculated to prevent larger creatures from accidentally destroying the web and possibly crushing the spider underfoot. So there is actually eight legs but the spider makes it look like four.