The Urban Pantheist

When someone local (Boston area) says they saw a huge spider in a web, this is my first guess: cross orbweaver Araneus diadematus*. This spider has seemed more common in recent years, but that may be my impression since I've realized what they are. These are what across the pond they simply call "garden spiders." We also have garden spiders in eastern North America, but they are a different, larger, yellower species. In fact, it seems to me that I haven't seen a native garden spider in years, while I keep seeing more and more cross orbweavers. Not that native garden spiders are disappearing--friends and acquaintances post pictures of them regularly, usually terrified that something dangerous is in their yard. Neither garden spider is at all dangerous to humans of course.


*Araneus is simply "spider." Diadematus comes from diadem: The word derives from the Greek διάδημα diádēma, "band" or "fillet",[1] from διαδέω diadéō, "I bind round", or "I fasten". Apparently this specific name comes from the spider's "crown-shaped" markings, but I am fond of this double meaning for this animal that binds others.

Early on Sunday we discovered two charismatic predators in the yard. Neither one is native to North America, which is a little sad-making. I wonder how we could get some Argiope spiders onto the property...


This tiny Chinese mantis hunts on the tops of the sunflower leaves. That's great for now, as it will likely catch mostly pests feeding on the plant. If it is still there later, when the flowers open, the mantis will be something of a pest itself, feeding on pollinators that visit the blossoms.


The clumps of pinpoint baby spiders are gone, and now this 2mm cross orbweaver sits in a web by itself, hopefully catching aphids and whiteflies as they pass along the grapevined fence.

Sunday morning there were clouds of flying insects emanating like smoke from the ground! ( Read more... )