dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

In my backyard there is always a spider web that spans approximately 10 feet from my avocado tree to a patio umbrella. One of the photos I am submitting attempts to show the distance. The other photo ATTEMPTS to show the type of web. I did measure and it is about 10 feet.

My question is how does a spider make a huge net spanning from the top of the umbrella to the outermost branch on the left in the photo of the avocado tree. Does he use the wind to blow him across the distance while he feeds out web material as the wind carries him.

Next question is how can he make the web so quickly. As the web runs directly across a walking area used every day I generally need to knock it down on a daily basis. The next morning it is up again. The web spans approximately 2 feet top to bottom.

Next question, the spider is never seen on the web itself but dead insects are. I am assuming the spider lives or spends most of its time at one end or the other of the web.

Last question, can someone tell me what type of spider it is from the shape of the web and the length of the strands holding it up?

Dennis

(Download)


(Download)

wjones8637 Loc: Burleson, TX

Something I would like to watch. We have had two houses where spiders built in a similarly sized area. Both spiders were about the size of a quarter. The one at the previous hose built right outside the front door where I would meet it eye to eye as I left for work.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thanks for taking a look. Spiders outside and some inside don't really bother me a lot. Those that look somewhat menacing are scooped up and dropped in the toilet or somewhere quickly accessible. I don't really hate them, don't really even dislike them much unless they are on my food. But I am not a spider lover either.

This web is over 10 feet long and just about eye level as I walk through it. But I have never seen a spider on it. Something has to have built it.

Dennis

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

One of the orb weavers, probably in the genus Araneus, maybe this one, which is common in your state: https://bugguide.net/node/view/982500. I've had a related species that for some time who would build a similarly large web under our cherry tree. They often rebuild their web from scratch every evening, starting shortly after sunset. They will commonly sit in the center of the web at night, and retreat to some hidden-place during the day. Its possible to see them in a curled leaf at about the 2- or 10-oclock position. But Sometimes I can't find them, only to see a new web the next day. Where they go, I don't always know.
To start a web, they begin with the top frame by letting the breeze blow a stand of silk out of their abdomen, reeling it out until it latches onto something horizontal to them. They attach the other end, and now they have a bridge that will go across the top of the web. Other steps are shown in the picture.
A very fun thing to do is to go out at dusk / shortly after sunset, and just watch them build. If nothing is happening, check back every 30 minutes or so. What impresses me most is they work briskly, without hesitation, and its all done by instinct without being learned.

(Download)

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Great find, Dennis. It would be a joy to watch it build the web so I hope that it makes itself present for you to share with us.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

Years ago, when I lived on Merritt Island, Florida, there was a rather large spider that made it web between the orange trees in the many groves. It was known as the banana spider. It was black, with a large yellow abdomen about a inch or so long with a banana shape. The webs were so strong when you ran into them it felt like wire. The maker of the web was usually found in the center of the web. I was told that the filaments of old rifle scopes were made of this spiders web.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

I should add that since they build at night, they are working in darkness.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thank you Mark for answering my question in such a professional manner and also for using the KISS principle. I sort of thought the spider would have to let a strand of webbing to out until it caught on the other tying off point. It is amazing to me a spider can make a web this size, maybe two feet in diameter, overnight. That the web is so strong to resist wind, rain and other natural problems is another miracle in my opinion.

Thanks again,

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

As I will be leaving CA for ID in a few days I had better knock it down if I get a chance and try to watch what happens when the sun goes down. If I get a chance to do that I will sure record it and let members know. For the matter I may have a similar web in Idaho.

Thanks for your comment,

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

That would sort of make sense. Of course if this was a Disney movie there would be lightning bugs to illuminate the area. Might make for a good movie scene.

Dennis