Please help me identify this HUGE spider (size of small mouse)

[wreckersteve]

Not sure but glad its at your house and not mine.

[LeeH]

Orb weaver.

[kstar]

Looks like an Agriope.



http://canyoncrestgardenclub.org/gardening%20tips.htm

The web of the black and yellow Argiopes spirals out and can be two feet across. The female builds the large web and the male builds a smaller web on the outer part of her web. The male's is a thick zig-zag of white silk. Like all spiders, Argiopes use venom to subdue their prey, and they will bite if harassed. That venom, though, is apparently not particularly harmful to humans. If you find one living near your home, there is no need to be afraid or destroy it. Argiopes are not very aggressive, are reluctant to leave their webs, and they - like other spiders -are providing a beneficial service by feeding on pest insects in and around our gardens and homes.

Best,

Kurt

[Porsche-O-Phile]

What's it taste like?

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

What's it taste like?

Chicken!

[JFK713]

Hey Wayne,

that's a Golden Garden spider, Argiope aurantia and a big female at that. The male is smaller and black and usually hangs out around the sides of the females web. They are not dangerous to humans, only bugs. I work with venomous snakes and crocodiles all day, and I have to admit running into one of these girls webs is the only time I have ever screamed like a schoolgirl at work


John

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by kstarnes

Looks like an Agriope.



http://canyoncrestgardenclub.org/gardening%20tips.htm

The web of the black and yellow Argiopes spirals out and can be two feet across. The female builds the large web and the male builds a smaller web on the outer part of her web. The male's is a thick zig-zag of white silk. Like all spiders, Argiopes use venom to subdue their prey, and they will bite if harassed. That venom, though, is apparently not particularly harmful to humans. If you find one living near your home, there is no need to be afraid or destroy it. Argiopes are not very aggressive, are reluctant to leave their webs, and they - like other spiders -are providing a beneficial service by feeding on pest insects in and around our gardens and homes.

Best,

Kurt

Do they have them in the NE? I had some big ugly thing hanging out this weekend. It made a web with that exact same zigzag pattern. I thought the pattern was just an anomoly.

Pretty cool.

[Jeff Higgins]

That would make a nice grill badge.

[DARISC]

One of these spun a HUGE web across the outdoor lunch area where I worked about 6 years ago - huge spider, quite beautiful, real scary.

[masraum]

I've seen lots like that. One had a web built right by the front porch light once in front of a window, so I turned the light on, opened the blinds and watched it for over an hour. Amazing thing. Scary as heck though.

[Rick Lee]

We had them all over the place in TX. Nothing to worry about at all.

[FrayAdjacent911]

KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!


Nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure!

[David]

We get some orb weavers too. Even though I know they're safe, they scare the bejesus out of me!

Here's a spider I found in Belize recently. It makes two types of webs, one really strong and one really sticky. It's a couple inches across. Notice his friend :

[BertBeagle]

As kids in NC we called those "writing spiders". The story was that if it wrote your name or anything that looked even close you would be dead in a couple of days. If you saw one it was your duty to put a bb through the head or gut before he had time to write any names. Worked every time for me and my buddies.

[DonDavis]

We called those "writing Spiders" when I was a kid in Tenn. I had several as "pets" and they are harmless. Freaked out the girls. Good times!

Originally Posted by FrayAdjacent911

Nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure!

This quote is one of my all time favorites. It's from Aliens. Pretty sure it was Michael Bien (Terminator) that said it. After they found out just how bad things were, they were talking about taking off and nuking the site from orbit. Heh heh. Great movie.

[M.D. Holloway]

If you want to preserve it, fill that jug with rubbing alcohol - the pigment will be saved and the spider will not rot. Thats what we do with the Black Widows

[on-ramp]

Wayne, for the love of God, stop torturing that poor animal in the upside down glass. and please don't kill it. release it in the back woods somewhere and let it go on... you'll feel better.

[nostatic]

no, offer it for free on craigslist. Someone will surely call and come pick it up...

[on-ramp]

Originally Posted by nostatic

no, offer it for free on craigslist. Someone will surely call and come pick it up...

at least I'm memorable

[Aerkuld]

Infamous