The above, yellow garden spider has taken up housekeeping behind a mailbox on the edge of a field in northwest Guilford County. She is about the size of a fifty-cent piece. Also known as writing, or corn spiders, they are common throughout the United States. These curious creatures can make their webs wiggle and they can zig-zag write, not unlike Charlotte in Charlotte's web. This is one of North Carolina's largest and most brightly colored spiders. They are masters of trapping prey. If you want to teach children about the food chain, this arachnid is a great specimen. It is not uncommon to find moths and butterflies in their strong webs.
Females live for about a year, at least until the first hard frost. If brought indoors, they can live for several years. Anyone want a pet spider? We know where "Charlotte" lives in Greensboro. On the other hand, if we wake up to find the message RADIANT, TERRIFIC or HUMBLE in her web, we'll rush her off to the Central Carolina Fair, which begins September 7th and and runs through Sunday, September 16th at the Coliseum Complex. This is the 120th year for the Central Carolina Fair.* Yes, the fair is 105 years older than a Starbuck's pumpkin spice late. In the 21st century edition of Charlotte's Web, instead of SOME PIG, do you think she might write, SOME LATTE?
*more information, here.
Quite a macro shot!
Posted by: William Kendall | Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 11:11 AM