GARDEN TALK

Wonder Weavers

Autumn is known for its cooler weather, gorgeous fall colors of trees, roadside flowers of all shades, and of course, football. But if you spend time outside or take a leisurely stroll along a path this fall, you can’t help but notice all the spider webs. Like it or not, autumn is also the time to observe or be spooked by some really neat spiders and their amazing webs.

By late summer and early fall, there is a population peak of insects and spiders. A hike along a forest trail or drive down an old field road often reveals all kinds of spiders and webs. You may even walk right into a web and be eye level with a spider if you are not paying attention. Don’t be frightened; they may appear scary, but these spiders are all harmless.

Although most people do not care for them, especially when running into their webs, these fall spiders are unique creatures. Most fall spiders that spin those familiar, large, flat, circular webs belong to a group called orb weavers. They are typically the ones that suspend their large, foot-wide webs between shrubs, along porches, across paths and along widow frames. Their webs are very organized and resemble circular grids; many are spectacular, especially in the morning dew. According to the University of Kentucky, these spiders need weeds, fences, trees, walls or other upright structures to build their webs. But they often become nuisances when building large webs in places inconvenient for humans. Orb weavers eat almost

anything small enough to get trapped in their webs, especially small insects and other spiders. Like most webbuilding spiders, orb weavers tend to have poor vision; they don’t need to see very well to hunt because they can feel it when prey gets caught in their webs. The variety of colors, shapes and sizes of orb weavers is quite interesting. Some are itsy bitsy, and others are large and sort of creepy. The coolest orb weaver is the Black and GARDEN TALK Yellow Argiope. It is a large spider – well over 1 inch long, which could be intimidating – but it’s friendly. The Black and Yellow Argiope is often nicknamed the garden spider, as it may construct its web between two shrubs or amongst the flowers in the garden or near the house. The web is beautiful and may have zigzag pattern in the middle. The Argiope spider is beneficial since it feeds on insects in the garden. But if you get too close, the spider might vibrate its web to try to look menacing or scare you away. The most common orb weaver spider found around houses and other buildings in the fall Shane Harris is the Spotted Orb Weaver, sometimes referred to as the barn spider. Almost 1 inch long, it is mostly dull brown in color with reddish tinted markings on its legs. It appears in late summer Friends of the Garden to early fall and may be discovered on porches or eaves of Facing Page: Golden houses or barns. This spider has been known for building Silk Spiders are the most its web in front of an exterior door during the night or impressive weavers in suddenly appearing at the edge of the porch under a light. Alabama; Below Left: The Marbled Orb Weaver is seen while deer hunting; Below Right: The Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver sometimes waddles as it Amazingly, the Spotted Orb Weaver somehow knows to place its large web near floodlights where night flying insect activity is high, so moths and other bugs will be caught. The most impressive orb weavers found in Alabama are the Golden Silk Spiders. Ranging from 1 to 2 inches in moves about its web. length, females are among the largest non-tarantula-like

spiders in North America and are, perhaps, the largest orb weavers in the U.S.These large orange and brown spiders, with golden tubular abdomens, are all legs with feathery tufts. Stretched out and resting in their webs, female Golden Silk Spiders could have leg spans of 3 to 4 inches long. These spiders and their 3-foot webs are found most frequently at edges of forest clearings, shady woods and alongside forest trails.

Another large and colorful spider you might see is the Marbled Orb Weaver. It is about 3/4-inch long, has a bright yellow abdomen with dark camouflage-like markings and an orange head and legs. This spider and its web is often found between trees, shrubs and tall weeds and among grasses in moist, wooded settings. Unlike the argiopespider, the Marbled Orb Weaver often builds a silken retreat of folded leaves that might look like a tent to the side of the web. It will hide there until prey is caught in its web. This spider reminds me of fall the most because of its orange and yellow body, and it’s often Halloween Décor stumbled upon while deer Left: The Black and hunting. Yellow Argiope will Ever seen a triangle shaped vibrate its web if onlookers come too close; Below: Spotted Orb Weavers are known for building spider or a crab-like spider? Some of the smaller orb weavers have very neat shapes, distinctive spikes and vibrant webs over exterior colors. The Arrow-shaped doors during the night. Micrathena, Spined Micrathena

and Arrowhead Spiders are about 1/2-inch long and are common in meadows, along the edges of forests and along woodland trails.

The most bizarre may be the Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver, which is about the size of a dime but looks vicious with its white or yellow body and spines. It tends to waddle as it moves throughout its web. All of these spiders are notorious for weaving their webs at face-level along trails or amongst landscape plants.

If you can tolerate the presence of fall spiders, enjoy them for now. Despite looking creepy, they are neat and beneficial. These spiders eat lots of small insects, including flies, moths, beetles, wasps and mosquitoes. During the day, these spiders may hide and rest near their webs. They are most active at night when adult females could be found sitting in the middle of their webs waiting for visitors and snacks.

It’s showtime for the spider when prey gets trapped in the web. The orb weaver spider senses or feels the vibrations in the web. She quickly grabs it, injects the moth with venom to paralyze it and wraps it in silk webbing from its spinneret, located on the abdomen. Later, when it is hungry, the orb weaver will feed on the captured insect’s now liquefied inside contents. Yuck!

Watching these orb weaver spiders build their webs is interesting. But you may choose to admire them from a distance. If you wish to get rid of them, try washing them off with a forceful jet of water or sweeping them down with a broom. Reduce outdoor lighting, so it does not attract insects. That could help to discourage spiderweb building.

On the other hand, Halloween is just around the corner. If you have the spiders and their amazing webs, there is no need for spooky decorating. The real ones are a scream.

~ Shane Harris is the County Extension Coordinator for Tallapoosa County. Email him at aharris@aces.edu or call him at 256-825-1050.

FEELING THE CALL OF FALL? MAKE SURE YOUR HEART IS HEALTHY

As the heat of summer fades and cooler temperatures come calling, we look forward to that feeling of fall. It’s the perfect time to be outdoors with family and friends, and a great time to be alive.

Make sure your heart is ready for the season with an appointment at the UAB Heart & Vascular Clinic at Russell Medical.

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Our clinic is backed by the knowledge and expertise of UAB Medicine, including: • Advanced ultrasound testing • Nuclear medicine imaging in fully accredited labs • Management of cardiac rhythm disorders • Interventional cardiology care

Our expanded clinical team is ready to serve you. Schedule a visit today by calling 256-234-2644.