A very photogenic spider
Last weekend I had a chance in the morning to get out and take some photos. I found some interesting bugs, some of which I will blog about at later dates. After a bit of time I found an interesting moth on the side of my shed. Perhaps unfairly to the moth, I had an ill feeling about it from growing up in upstate New York where gypsy moths devastated quite a few trees.
Still, I used the opportunity to get a number of shots of it. It clearly was on its last legs as it was no longer able to fly – just crawl around. I debated a bit about what to do with it when I noticed a spider web with on orb weaver spider next to our house. Naturally, you can guess what my idea was.
I put the moth in the spider web after some difficulty, but this turned out to be a poor choice. The moth (which I still have not identified) was extremely strong and tore through the spider web, much to the dismay of the spider which wisely stayed off to the side safe on a leaf.
I felt bad for the spider, as this was my fault. The moth fell to the ground and after a few moments the spider hurried back to its web to assess the damage. It then started the long process of repairing its web, which I took several shots of.
After searching for a bit longer, I found what appears to be some type of cricket laying upside down on a leaf. I prodded it a bit and it moved – still alive. However, it was unable to right itself and seemed resolved to its fate. I then decided to atone for my making a mess of the spider’s web. I placed the bug, much smaller than the moth, in the web and the spider quickly came towards it.
Unfortunately, my photographing scared the spider a bit and it moved away from its prey. It is also possible that the spider envenomated its prey and was simply waiting for it to pass away. Either way, this was the only shot I was able to get off (unfortunately a bit overexposed) and I waited patiently for the spider to return to finish the job. It was then that I got the unfortunate call that our own family wanted to eat and it was my turn to make waffles.
I left the kitchen door open and, after mixing the batter, proceeded to check up on the spider in between waffles cooking. At last the spider returned to its prey and I ran for my camera (after starting a new batch of waffles).
Within a period of about 3 minutes (or enough time for one set of waffles to cook), I took around 60 shots of the spider in different poses. Interestingly, I wound up with a good variation of objects in and out of focus – which enabled me to try out focus stacking for the first time. I have other shots which at some time or another I intend to stack.
Here’s another shot of the spider with its prey.
These types of spiders are very common here around Seattle. Almost every home has them and they are especially common around gardens. They seem to like hanging their webs near Rhododendron bushes – where this one was found. They also don’t mind their picture taken and I have more photos of this type of spider than any other.
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Tags: macro, orb weaver, photography, prey, spider
Thank you for the amazing photos of this gorgeous spider in action. I live in Seattle too, and although I am in an apartment with no garden or yard, I still see these spiders around my home.
I had one in the corner of my living room near the ceiling that was so enormous, I don’t think I have ever seen a bigger spider. A friend named it “The Big Hideous”, and it looked very much like your spider here. It must have lived there for nearly a year – I fed it when I could – and it finally died about two weeks ago.
I have come to terms with my apartment full of spiders (there are so many), and have been fascinated by their various methods of trap and nest building. You take stunning photos, and it is a real treat to see their activities close up. Nicely done.
Thanks for your comment! You needn’t worry about the large spider on the ceiling. As you may know, the only spider to worry about here around Seattle is the Hobo Spider.
However, the Hobo spider is becoming less common here, is preyed upon by other spiders here, and is not a good climber so would unlikely be seen on a ceiling.
In our house we commonly see large spiders. My wife is freaked out about them and squishes them on sight, but the truth is they are great helpers in keeping other pests out.