Cross Orb Weaver

[Trent Watts]

One of the most amazing structures is the iconic spider web with its intricate carefully planed structure. These orb weavers will actually vary the distance between the lines depending on the size of the prey they are catching. They typically eat the silk threads of the web once it is damaged and digest the proteins to aid in building a new one, pretty much each day. You can see some of the damaged areas in this web. I saw this about 10:00 in the morning and the next day all that was left was the very top strand that spanned about 6 ft. between two bushes.

The black blob at her (this is a female) mouth is some insect that she has captured.

 

[AlanLichty]

Nice detail shot of the dining event. It would be difficult to ID the menu item de jour at this point. I presume all of the pointy appendages on the spider are for securing prey once they are entangled in the web?

 

[Trent Watts]

Thanks Alan.. I never thought about the spikes but you are probably correct.

 

[JimFox]

Very interesting Trent, and great captures of the webs.

 

[Trent Watts]

Very interesting Trent, and great captures of the webs.

Thanks Jim.