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The
golden orb weaver, Argiope spp., is commonly encountered in the fall.
The round web is usually prominently displayed between shrubs, tomato
plants, or whatever. The spider is large, with a gold-and-black pattern
on the abdomen. It usually sits facing head-down on its web. The
web usually has a zig-zag of heavier silk near the center. Some say
that the zig-zag is to warn birds (the spiders aren't that big), others
say the extra webbing reflects ultraviolet like in a way that imitates the
sky. This tricks small insects into flying into it. In any event,
it's a lot of fun to feed these spiders by placing a grasshopper or cricket
in the web. You can easily watch the spider wrap the victim in silk,
spin it around, and inject poison with a bite. It will then walk away, to
return and dine at its leisure.
I still need to look up and see what sort of spider this is; but in the meantime I thought you'd "enjoy" this picture of a spider with "babies on board":
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