photo shoot with a spider

[fizzgig]

this emeffer was the size of a silver dollar and the husband was horrified that i got right up under it to get some of these pictures.

it was hanging out right next to the light and i'm a bit unsteady on my feet tonight, so i fussed with the settings and just went with it.

[elleng]

1. NOOOOOOOO!

[Fumesucker]

2. Crikey mate, she's a beauty!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. You're a LOT braver than I would have been, my dear fizzgig!

The last two photos have some very interesting effects. Well done!

[catbyte]

4. Gorgeous, fizzgig! Spiders don't freak me out, but then again I've never encountered a camel

spider, or one of those poisonous ones. The ones in Michigan are unscary.

[blondie58]

5. I Had a Phobia of them as a Child

But now i appreciate them and Even put them Outside, if i can!

Great pictures! She is a Beauty!

[passiveporcupine]

6. this is my favorite spider.

They love building a big beautiful web on your porch. I feed mine whatever flying critters I can find.

That is Charlotte, from Charlotte's Web. They are commonly called barn spiders, and are not easily frightened, nor are they aggressive. They build massive perfect webs. They often have two pointed humps on their backs, which I call boobs.

The Araneus cavaticus is a common orb weaver native to North America.

I've had webs over a foot and a half in diameter. I toss moths and other flying critters into the webs to see them run for dinner. I guess you could say I keep them as pets. One thing I love about them, is they don't invade my house. They may take over a porch or doorway, but they prefer to be outdoors.

[Gloria]

7. Recluse spiders and black widows hang around here

and I worry about my dogs when they go out, for their brief pee runs...

Did see a tarantula in my front entry a couple of times...assumed it had a burrow nearby, but never saw it again....