If you've been following the blog this summer, you know that my son (aka future bug scientist) has been dragging me to look at all kinds of icky creepy crawlies which I then have to take pictures of.
Most recently, we've been following the adventures of "Webhead" (hey, the kid named her) in my back yard. Webhead is a Golden Orb Weaver spider (also known as a Yellow and Black Garden Spider) who has been hanging over my impatiens bed most of the summer and has done a fantabulous job cutting down on the local fly population.
Go, Webhead!
All of a sudden, yesterday, she was gone. This is the first time she's been out of her web since she showed up a few months ago. We thought maybe it had gotten too hot for her or that our gardener had scared her away.
This morning we discovered where she'd been and what she'd been up to.
Apparently, Webhead has been a bit free and easy with her virtue when it comes to male spiders with the result that she is going to be a Baby Momma any time now.
She was back in her web this morning along with this ginormous egg sac.
Looks like I will be hip-deep in baby spiderlings pretty soon. Normally, I'd be out getting a court order to force the dad to pay his child support, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Webhead already ate him.
Gives a whole new meaning to the idea of "you play, you pay" doesn't it?
KJ
12 comments:
AHHHHH! I would be relocating that little thing right quick!! I imagine there will be hundreds if not thousands of spiders coming out of that thing. It would give me nightmares for a month!
Uh Oh,
I hope you have brushed up on your "Birds and Bees" better make that Spiders chat!! :) There is no 6 year old boy especially a budding etomologist who will not be wondering just how this all came about. Of course don't be surprised when he wants to know where your egg sacks are. :) If I remember correctly this is one of those "perfect learning/teaching experiences" Welcome to MOBC (the Mothers of Boys Club) :)
Keep us posted on nursery centrol. And just how long is the gestation of spiders and how many eggs does one spider lay???
Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx.
Best. Movie. Ever! Saw a tweet that someone saw the license plate: toblave Cracked me up :)
I don't think webheads's kind eat the baby daddy so there's hope for a two parent home!
I just loved this post the photos the bugoligy lesson and the whole " Charlote " thing Hope they do not eat her when they hatch.
very cool that you guys have been watching her... i mean really, how many people would notice that she'd gone missing! too awesome... i now need to look these up as i have no idea what the size is and my interest is piqued...
I love watching these huge spiders. I have one that builds a web right outside my back door every night. Keep updating. Love the spacer beads. Those are beautiful.
How funny! I don't know what the deal is- but we've been having some extremely large spiders around here lately! Really freakin me out!
Cool photos! :)
Hilarious! I think your little scientist in training has a great eye...and you are very brave for going along with it! I would be running for the hills, especially with impending babies on the way. I like the colors she has...maybe that will inspire you? That egg sack would make a great idea for a pendant...what can you use to mimic it? Thanks for the inspiration! Enjoy the day! Erin
Marie - they kinda creep me out, too, but they ARE beneficial. So, I have a rule. As long as they stay OUTSIDE, they're safe. If they come in the house, it's GAME ON!
Pattie,
ROFL - we've already been through that when he was oh, maybe 4 or so. We were walking through the lobby of a movie theater and they had a poster up for an upcoming movie (don't remember which one) which depicted a human embryo. He saw that, recognized it as being a human "baby" and began asking me all the dreaded questions. He knows an "age appropriate" amount about where babies come from.
Mellisa - If you thought the movie was good, you should read the book! I first discovered it when I was about 10 or 12 years old and read it on a car trip. My parents kept wanting to know why I was cracking up so hard in the back seat for hours. They finally got so intrigued that they read the book, too, and recommended it to their friends.
Oh, and the baby daddy was definitely dinner. We saw what was left of him in her web.
Thanks, everyone else, for all the comments. I'll keep you posted on "spider status."
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