Orb Weaver at Work!

[NMTs]

I had the chance to watch this beauty building her web for a few minutes tonight. I believe it's a Cross Orb Weaver (Araneus diadematus) but feel free to correct me if you know better. One anchor line was connected to the roof on a storage building about 12 feet up, and another was connected to the tomato plants in my garden. I find it amazing how graceful and precise they are, not to mention beautifully marked and colored... Enjoy this short clip!

 

[viper69]

I was watching one a few days ago, silk line had to be at least 10’, and I’ve seen larger- always amazes me.

The silk comes out as a liquid and rapidly becomes a solid- miracles of nature

 

[The Snark]

A human attempting to do what an orb weaver does would be hopelessly confused in short order: Don't forget, you have four forearms and four legs, each equipped with sophisticated combs. Just attempting to draw a reasonable facsimile accounting for multiple spinnerets and guy lines would be a supreme challenge requiring observing the spider from start to finish.

 

[Brewser]

Orb Weavers are natural artists, they are marvelous Masters of Design.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I still have dreams of catching these spiders as a kid ! They had huge webs and big body sizes for some types of weavers. 🫡 impressive!!!!

 

[NMTs]

Web complete...


And a not so great photo of the architect...

 

[NMTs]

Bad news, friends. I checked on our little orb weaver lady today and it seems as if something tried to make a meal out of her (probably a bird). She's in pretty bad shape - down a couple legs and very lethargic. I decided to bring her in and see if I can help her recover. For now, she's in a 32oz deli cup with a few twigs and a cloth lid, which she's been hanging on since I put her in there. That works, though, because I'm able to push some drops of water through the cloth, which she's been drinking from regularly. Hopefully she's still with us in the morning, but I'll post updates here regardless.




Such a pretty spider...

 

[zsiciarz]

Fingers crossed! She's pretty, but she's not an Araneus diadematus. Rather one of your American Neoscona species.

 

[Charliemum]

Bad news, friends. I checked on our little orb weaver lady today and it seems as if something tried to make a meal out of her (probably a bird). She's in pretty bad shape - down a couple legs and very lethargic. I decided to bring her in and see if I can help her recover. For now, she's in a 32oz deli cup with a few twigs and a cloth lid, which she's been hanging on since I put her in there. That works, though, because I'm able to push some drops of water through the cloth, which she's been drinking from regularly. Hopefully she's still with us in the morning, but I'll post updates here regardless.
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Such a pretty spider...

If anyone can help her you can. I wish yous both the best of luck

 

[darkness975]

That sucks.

 

[TheraMygale]

The video and pictures brought out such intense textures.

Its a bummer for the spider. It is life in a way. And even arachnids arent on top of the food chain. Atleast you got to watch her!

It still has a chance to survive in your care. Good luck.

 

[NMTs]

Fingers crossed! She's pretty, but she's not an Araneus diadematus. Rather one of your American Neoscona species.

Yes, you're right - Neoscona oaxacensis:

New Mexico Orb Weaver - Neoscona oaxacensis

An online resource devoted to North American insects, spiders and their kin, offering identification, images, and information.

bugguide.net

Thanks!

She's not looking much better today, but she's still hanging around and drinking water (sorry for the blurry pic)...


Thanks everyone for sending good energy! I'll update if there are any significant developments.

 

[Charliemum]

Yes, you're right - Neoscona oaxacensis:

New Mexico Orb Weaver - Neoscona oaxacensis

An online resource devoted to North American insects, spiders and their kin, offering identification, images, and information.

bugguide.net

Thanks!

She's not looking much better today, but she's still hanging around and drinking water (sorry for the blurry pic)...
View attachment 483008

Thanks everyone for sending good energy! I'll update if there are any significant developments.

I remember reading ages ago that orb weavers will eat pollin caught in their web i cant remember where though... probably here but might be worth a shot if its true, I know it's true for jumpers so imagine where ever I read it was right. Sending hope to you both !

 

[NMTs]

A bit of good news - I managed to get this girl to eat a small mealworm:


And now she's made a little bit of webbing and is hanging in it rather than being scrunched up on the lid:


If I can get another meal or 2 into her, I'll set her up in a more appropriate enclosure than this temporary deli cup.

 

[NMTs]

Update:

I've gotten this girl to eat a couple small crickets in the last 10 days or so - she's taken them right out of my tweezers, then adeptly wraps them in webbing and bites them repeatedly during the process. It's really interesting to watch, and it reminds me of the way a black widow wraps up prey, only this orb weaver mainly uses her front legs to wrap and the widow mainly uses her back legs...




If she keeps eating like this, she'll molt and regenerate those missing legs in no time.