The next “chapter” in the photographic life of our garden spider involves him capturing and eating prey. This photo was taken today in the late afternoon during a rain storm. The web hung from the front overhang and was kept dry (as was I).

While I was photographing the underside of said spider, I noticed that a small insect had been just caught in the web. You can see it in the upper left of the image. While I was watching, the spider reeled in the catch by pulling on the web much the same way a fisherman might reel in a fish.

Within 10 seconds, the spider sprung the trap and when it was near enough, pounced on the prey with lightening speed. My photo of the event was extremely blurred by the sudden action.

In the second shot here the spider has just made its move and you can just make out the insect within grasp (also upper left just at the tip of the middle leg). Another photo (not here) has the spider with the captured insect at his mouth.

Images taken with the Canon 40D and Canon 2.8 Macro+off camera fill flash. I will be posting other photos of this spider in the macro gallery (see link on the right side of this page).

Garden Spider on Web

Another view of our garden spider with lunch. This one was taken from the back and you may not be able to see the food bolus.

However, you can clearly see the complex web and how the spider is climbing on it. The web spirals out from the center and can be two feet across.

The female’ web is longer than the male’s and the male’s is a zig-zag of silk. You can see the zig-zag web here so this very well might be a male!

Argiope aurantia

Here is shot of another Argiope aurantia in the yard. This one has packaged her lunch and is getting ready to escape to her lair above the dangling web. Look just above the black mass to see her mouth and eyes. You can also easily see the web and her legs attached.

Garden Spiders often build webs in areas adjacent to open sunny fields where they stay concealed and protected from the wind. The spider can also be found along the eaves of houses and outbuildings or in any tall vegetation where they can securely stretch a web. The circular part of the female’s web may reach two feet in diameter. Webs are built at elevations from two to eight feet off the ground. (Wikipedia)

Click the image for an even closer (and scarier) view.

Araneidae: Argiope aurantia

This spider was spinning his web on the front porch to my house. The nerve! He is smaller than my pinkie nail and the photo captures him about 3 times life size. The critter is one of the “orb” spinning spiders common in the northeast. Probably an Argiope aurantia of the “yellow and black garden” variety.

I took a variety of shots with my Canon 100 f2.8 macro on a tripod. This one captures his body and head in focus, as well as some of his legs. The web is virtually invisible but there is a trace of it below his body. If you look carefully, you can easily see his eyes.

Click on the photo for a larger version of the image.